From the US Navy Civil War Chronology.
SEPTEMBER 16, 1861
The Ironclad Board reported to Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles: "For river and harbor service we consider ironclad vessels of light draught, or floating batteries this shielded, as very important...Armored ships or batteries may be employed advantageously to pass fortifications on land for ulterior objects of attack, to run a blockade, or to reduce temporary batteries on the shores of rivers and the approaches to our harbors."
They recommended the construction of three ironclads: The New Ironsides, Monitor and Galena.
These ships and the ones that followed completely revolutionized naval warfare.
SEPTEMBER 16-17
Landing parties from the USS Pawnee destroyed guns and fortifications on Beacon Island, this closing Ocracoke Inlet. Hatteras Inlet had been closed in August. This deprived blockade runners of an important access to land and gave he Union an important foothold in North Carolina.
SEPTEMBER 17
Confederates evacuated Ship Island, Mississippi, and a landing party from the USS Massachusetts took possession, giving the Union an important staging area and base for operations along the Gulf Coast.
Thus, these two days were very important in the overall Union war effort. The taking of the NC inlets and Ship island are little-known today, but important nonetheless.
Of the three first ironclads, only the Galena proved to be ineffective.
Important Events. --Old B-Runner
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
Showing posts with label Ship Island. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ship Island. Show all posts
Monday, September 19, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
CSS Oregon and CSS Arrow
I'd never heard of these two ships before so some more research was necessary. As usual, good old Wikipedia provided a nice, concise treatment.
CSS OREGON
216 feet long, 26.6 ft. beam. Mounted 1X8-inch, 1X32-pdr. and two howitzers.
Was a wooden steam gunboat built in New York City in 1846. Seized by the state of Louisiana sometime in 1861 and used as a blockade-runner for awhile, supposedly running the blockade 92 times (I find this hard to believe).
Then the Confederate Army took the ship and turned it into a gunboat. (Again, the army with a gunboat?) I'd expect it to be the Navy.
It operated in the Mississippi Sound and in July was at Ship Island (see the last entry). In September 1861, the Oregon assisted in the evacuation of Confederate troops and supplies from Ship Island.
After the fall of New Orleans in April 1862, the ship was destroyed to prevent capture by Union forces.
CSS ARROW
I couldn't find any other mention of this ship.
Some More Confederate Ships. --Old B-R'er
CSS OREGON
216 feet long, 26.6 ft. beam. Mounted 1X8-inch, 1X32-pdr. and two howitzers.
Was a wooden steam gunboat built in New York City in 1846. Seized by the state of Louisiana sometime in 1861 and used as a blockade-runner for awhile, supposedly running the blockade 92 times (I find this hard to believe).
Then the Confederate Army took the ship and turned it into a gunboat. (Again, the army with a gunboat?) I'd expect it to be the Navy.
It operated in the Mississippi Sound and in July was at Ship Island (see the last entry). In September 1861, the Oregon assisted in the evacuation of Confederate troops and supplies from Ship Island.
After the fall of New Orleans in April 1862, the ship was destroyed to prevent capture by Union forces.
CSS ARROW
I couldn't find any other mention of this ship.
Some More Confederate Ships. --Old B-R'er
Confederates Take Control of Ship Island, Mississippi-- Part 2
Continuing from the August 26th entry.
On July 6, 1861, Captain Edward Higgins took command of the CSS Oregon and CSS Swain and left New Orleans looking for the USS Massachusetts. They didn't find the federal ship, but placed guns and men on Ship island including 55 CS Marines and 30 members of the 4th Louisiana.
On July 9th, the USS Massachusetts confirmed Confederate occupation of the island, counting four gin emplacements and 39 tents.
The ship, under command of Cmdr. Melancton Smith, then moved toward the island with intention of battle but found their gins were out of range but Confederate shells could hit the ship.
Shots were exchanged and the Massachusetts withdrew to Chandeleur Island.
On July 13th, the Smith returned and exchanged shots with the CSS Oregon and Arrow. The Confederate ships tried to lure the Union ship to get close to Ship Island, but he didn't take the bait.
A Little-Known Part of the War. --Old B-Runner
On July 6, 1861, Captain Edward Higgins took command of the CSS Oregon and CSS Swain and left New Orleans looking for the USS Massachusetts. They didn't find the federal ship, but placed guns and men on Ship island including 55 CS Marines and 30 members of the 4th Louisiana.
On July 9th, the USS Massachusetts confirmed Confederate occupation of the island, counting four gin emplacements and 39 tents.
The ship, under command of Cmdr. Melancton Smith, then moved toward the island with intention of battle but found their gins were out of range but Confederate shells could hit the ship.
Shots were exchanged and the Massachusetts withdrew to Chandeleur Island.
On July 13th, the Smith returned and exchanged shots with the CSS Oregon and Arrow. The Confederate ships tried to lure the Union ship to get close to Ship Island, but he didn't take the bait.
A Little-Known Part of the War. --Old B-Runner
Friday, August 26, 2011
Confederates Take Control of Ship Island-- Part 1
From the July 2nd Sun Herald (Biloxi-Gulfport, Ms.).
Ship Island, now East and West Ship Island since Hurricane Camille split the place in two in 1969, is located in the Gulf of Mexico off Gulfport, Mississippi. The construction of a fort on it had commenced in 1859, but by 1861, it wasn't nearly completed. It is considered an important defensive position for the Mississippi coast as well as New Orleans to the west and Mobile to the east.
By June 1861, the Gulf Blockading Squadron was getting more active and Confederate Brigadier General David Twiggs decided that a garrison was needed for Ship island because of its strategic significance.
The as of yet unnamed fort on it was incomplete and it was no vacation spot with few trees, high temperatures and humidity. All structures on the island had already been burned by command of Confederate Brigadier General William Hardee, so occupying troops would have to live in tents.
General Twiggs had the soldiers to occupy it, but not the heavy cannons to defend it. There were some guns of heavy calibre at the New Orleans Navy Yard and some were ordered to the island.
Ship Those Guns to the Island. --Old B-Runner
Ship Island, now East and West Ship Island since Hurricane Camille split the place in two in 1969, is located in the Gulf of Mexico off Gulfport, Mississippi. The construction of a fort on it had commenced in 1859, but by 1861, it wasn't nearly completed. It is considered an important defensive position for the Mississippi coast as well as New Orleans to the west and Mobile to the east.
By June 1861, the Gulf Blockading Squadron was getting more active and Confederate Brigadier General David Twiggs decided that a garrison was needed for Ship island because of its strategic significance.
The as of yet unnamed fort on it was incomplete and it was no vacation spot with few trees, high temperatures and humidity. All structures on the island had already been burned by command of Confederate Brigadier General William Hardee, so occupying troops would have to live in tents.
General Twiggs had the soldiers to occupy it, but not the heavy cannons to defend it. There were some guns of heavy calibre at the New Orleans Navy Yard and some were ordered to the island.
Ship Those Guns to the Island. --Old B-Runner
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