From the April 29th Daily Press.
Three weeks after Virginia seceded, the Confederate government became alarmed at the increasingly aggressive patrols by Union gunboats and ordered a company of the Richmond Howitzers to man colonial-era earthworks at Gloucester Point.
They had been in place only a few hours when they fired on the USS Yankee, the first shots fired in defense of Virginia.
It is not sure who started the fight.
Union Lt. Thomas O. Selfridge, Jr., fired the Union's first shots in Virginia. Later, he also served aboard the first ship sunk by an ironclad ship, first Union submarine and first US warship to be sunk by a torpedo (mine). He had a very interesting war record, worth checking out.
Reports have the Confederates initiating the fight when Selfridge steamed to within 2000 yards from shore. Others say Selfridge started it.
The USS Yankee was a 148-foot long tug mointing two 32-pdr. guns.
After the action, the Confederates began building forts by the shore.
Nearby Fort Monroe gave the Union anchorage for the fleet and a path to Richmond. Plus, the defense of Norfolk and the Gosport Navy Yard was so important that famed railroad engineer Major Walter Gwynn, who designed and constructed the Charleston batteries vs. Fort Sumter, came to the area.
Build Them Forts. --Old B-Runner
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
Showing posts with label Thomas O. Selfridge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thomas O. Selfridge. Show all posts
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Anniversary re-Enactment of the Capture of the USS Water Witch-- Part 2
I have to admit, Water Witch is just not the name you'd expect to find on a warship.
At 9 pm Friday and Saturday, a re-enactment of the capture took place at the full-scale replica of the actual ship. People in attendance can watch from the newly-built dock which can seat 200. Onlookers were close to the action.
Lt. Austin Pendergrass was the second in command of the USS Congress when it was attacked by the Confederate ironclad Virginia. The Congress was burning and sinking when its commander told Pendergrass to surrender to save the remaining crew members.
He did and was "pilloried" by the Navy, becoming a "marked man." This is one reason he was commanding a ship like the Water Witch instead of an ironclad or bigger warship.
It happened again with the loss of the Water Witch. The officers fought, but enlisted men whose enlistments were up did not.
Pendergrass was wounded three or four times.
For his effort, he was suspended two years without pay and censured in a court martial. Despite this Pendergrass died in naval service. (I'll have to do some more research on him.)
All the while, another naval officer, Thomas O. Selfridge was sinking ships and walking away with no attacks of his ability to command.
Peter McIntosh, was the only black Water Witch sailor to survive. He jumped overboard, swam to safety and later served on the USS Philadelphia. At the end of his enlistment, he just disappeared from history.
Tickets for the show were $5 to $6.50.
I Sure Would Have Liked to Be There. Maybe for 2014. --Old B-Runner
At 9 pm Friday and Saturday, a re-enactment of the capture took place at the full-scale replica of the actual ship. People in attendance can watch from the newly-built dock which can seat 200. Onlookers were close to the action.
Lt. Austin Pendergrass was the second in command of the USS Congress when it was attacked by the Confederate ironclad Virginia. The Congress was burning and sinking when its commander told Pendergrass to surrender to save the remaining crew members.
He did and was "pilloried" by the Navy, becoming a "marked man." This is one reason he was commanding a ship like the Water Witch instead of an ironclad or bigger warship.
It happened again with the loss of the Water Witch. The officers fought, but enlisted men whose enlistments were up did not.
Pendergrass was wounded three or four times.
For his effort, he was suspended two years without pay and censured in a court martial. Despite this Pendergrass died in naval service. (I'll have to do some more research on him.)
All the while, another naval officer, Thomas O. Selfridge was sinking ships and walking away with no attacks of his ability to command.
Peter McIntosh, was the only black Water Witch sailor to survive. He jumped overboard, swam to safety and later served on the USS Philadelphia. At the end of his enlistment, he just disappeared from history.
Tickets for the show were $5 to $6.50.
I Sure Would Have Liked to Be There. Maybe for 2014. --Old B-Runner
Friday, September 24, 2010
Thomas O. Selfridge, Sr.
The father of Thomas O' Selfridge, Jr., April 24, 1804 to October 15, 1902.
Eventually reached the rank of Rear-Admiral, US Navy. During his career, he served in The Mexican and Civil Wars along with the East India, Mediterranean and Pacific squadrons.
Commanding the sloop USS Dale in May, 1847, took part in the capture of Mazatlan and Guaymas, Mexico.
He was badly wounded at Guaymas and an invalid in 1848. Assigned to Boston Navy Yard until 1861.
Commanded the USS Mississippi, the flagship of the Gulf Squadron at the blockades of Mobile, Alabama and the passes of the Mississippi River until the old wound forced him to relinquish command in 1862 and served ashore the rest of the war. He retired in 1866.
Father of T. O. Selfridge, Jr., who was at Fort Fisher and had the misfortune to have three ships sink while he was aboard or in command.
So That's How Selfridge, Jr. Was a "Golden Boy." --B-R'er
Eventually reached the rank of Rear-Admiral, US Navy. During his career, he served in The Mexican and Civil Wars along with the East India, Mediterranean and Pacific squadrons.
Commanding the sloop USS Dale in May, 1847, took part in the capture of Mazatlan and Guaymas, Mexico.
He was badly wounded at Guaymas and an invalid in 1848. Assigned to Boston Navy Yard until 1861.
Commanded the USS Mississippi, the flagship of the Gulf Squadron at the blockades of Mobile, Alabama and the passes of the Mississippi River until the old wound forced him to relinquish command in 1862 and served ashore the rest of the war. He retired in 1866.
Father of T. O. Selfridge, Jr., who was at Fort Fisher and had the misfortune to have three ships sink while he was aboard or in command.
So That's How Selfridge, Jr. Was a "Golden Boy." --B-R'er
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
USS Nipsic
On April 9th, I posted about William L. Churchill, executive officer on the USS Nipsic who headed an early search for the Hunley.
The USS Nipsic was built for the US Navy at Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine, near Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It was commissioned September 2, 1863.
Stats: 592 tons, 179.6 feet long, 30 foot beam, 11.6 foot draft, 11 knots.
Armament-- 1 X 150 pdr. rifle, 1 X 30 pdr. rifle, 2 X 9 inch Dahlgren smoothbores, 2 X 24 pdr. howitzers, 2 X 12 pdr guns.
Arrived South Atlantic Blockading Squadron at Charleston, SC on Nov. 5th. On June 27, 1864, captured the schooner Julia running the blockade.
After the war, it was stationed off Latin America. In 1870, the Nipsic, USS Gurad and USS Nyack began the Darien Expedition under the command of Commander Thomas O. Selfridge at Darien, Panama. This was to look into a possible canal across that area.
In 1873, the Nipsic was off Brazil. After that, it was decommissioned and broken up. It was rebuilt larger as an Adams-class gunboat. It was recommissioned in 1879 and served in the Mediterranean 1880-1873.
In 1889, it was in the Apia Hurricane and survived by grounding itself. In 1890, it was completely rebuilt again and served in the Pacific. From 1892 to 1913 it was the receiving ship at the Puget Sound Navy Yard before being sold in 1913.
The History of a Ship. --Old B-Runner
The USS Nipsic was built for the US Navy at Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine, near Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It was commissioned September 2, 1863.
Stats: 592 tons, 179.6 feet long, 30 foot beam, 11.6 foot draft, 11 knots.
Armament-- 1 X 150 pdr. rifle, 1 X 30 pdr. rifle, 2 X 9 inch Dahlgren smoothbores, 2 X 24 pdr. howitzers, 2 X 12 pdr guns.
Arrived South Atlantic Blockading Squadron at Charleston, SC on Nov. 5th. On June 27, 1864, captured the schooner Julia running the blockade.
After the war, it was stationed off Latin America. In 1870, the Nipsic, USS Gurad and USS Nyack began the Darien Expedition under the command of Commander Thomas O. Selfridge at Darien, Panama. This was to look into a possible canal across that area.
In 1873, the Nipsic was off Brazil. After that, it was decommissioned and broken up. It was rebuilt larger as an Adams-class gunboat. It was recommissioned in 1879 and served in the Mediterranean 1880-1873.
In 1889, it was in the Apia Hurricane and survived by grounding itself. In 1890, it was completely rebuilt again and served in the Pacific. From 1892 to 1913 it was the receiving ship at the Puget Sound Navy Yard before being sold in 1913.
The History of a Ship. --Old B-Runner
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Thomas O. Selfridge, USN
Selfridge garduated from the US Naval Academy at age 17 and at the head of his class.
The US News and World report of April 18th had mention of him. He also participated in teh Fort Fisher, Fort Anderson and Wilmington campaigns. In 1862, he was in command of the USS Cairo when it was sunk by a Confederate mine in the Yazoo River near Vicksburg, December 12th.
Earlier, he had helped destroy the Norfolk Navy Yard and was an officer on the USS Cumberland when that ship was sunk by the CSS Virginia.
He briefly commanded the USS Monitor after Lt. John L. Worden was wounded. The Monitor later sank.
He also was briefly in command of the submarine USS Alligator and didn't think much of it. That vessel also sank (but not under his command at the time).
Transferred to the Mississippi Squadron, he also commanded the timberclad USS Conestoga, which also sank after a collision with the USS General Price. From March to May 1864, he commanded the USS Osage, which later sank.
During the attacks on forts Fisher and Anderson, he commanded the USS Huron, which did not sink.
This man seems to have had bad luck with ships.
Woe is to the Union Sailor Under His Command. Can You Swim?--Old B-Runner
The US News and World report of April 18th had mention of him. He also participated in teh Fort Fisher, Fort Anderson and Wilmington campaigns. In 1862, he was in command of the USS Cairo when it was sunk by a Confederate mine in the Yazoo River near Vicksburg, December 12th.
Earlier, he had helped destroy the Norfolk Navy Yard and was an officer on the USS Cumberland when that ship was sunk by the CSS Virginia.
He briefly commanded the USS Monitor after Lt. John L. Worden was wounded. The Monitor later sank.
He also was briefly in command of the submarine USS Alligator and didn't think much of it. That vessel also sank (but not under his command at the time).
Transferred to the Mississippi Squadron, he also commanded the timberclad USS Conestoga, which also sank after a collision with the USS General Price. From March to May 1864, he commanded the USS Osage, which later sank.
During the attacks on forts Fisher and Anderson, he commanded the USS Huron, which did not sink.
This man seems to have had bad luck with ships.
Woe is to the Union Sailor Under His Command. Can You Swim?--Old B-Runner
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
USS Osage
Reportedly, the first use of a periscope by the US Navy occurred April 12, 1864, when a gun fired from the USS Osage, a river Monitor using a periscope, hit Confederate General Thomas Green and took his head off. A marker was placed there within the last two years at the Lock and Dam No. 4 access road at what is called the Battle of Blair's Landing.
The periscope was invented a few days earlier by Lt. Cmdr, Thomas Selfridge who was also the one who fired the gun. He wrote about it in his memoirs.
The reason I'm writing about the Osage was that it was sunk by a mine the day after the USS Milwaukee off Spanish Fort, Alabama.
So, Even Though Selfridge wasn't on the Osage When It Sank, He Had Commanded It Earlier. Bad Luck Officer. --Old B-Runner
The periscope was invented a few days earlier by Lt. Cmdr, Thomas Selfridge who was also the one who fired the gun. He wrote about it in his memoirs.
The reason I'm writing about the Osage was that it was sunk by a mine the day after the USS Milwaukee off Spanish Fort, Alabama.
So, Even Though Selfridge wasn't on the Osage When It Sank, He Had Commanded It Earlier. Bad Luck Officer. --Old B-Runner
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Battle of Blair's Landing Part 2
Interesting to note that Lt. Cmdr Thomas O' Selfridge of the Osage did not take credit for Gen. Green's death or for using the telescope in his official report to Admiral David Dixon Porter.
Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series I, Volume 26, page 49.
Selfridge said that he was protecting the transport Alice Vivian when he was attcked by two brigades of dismounted cavalry and three pieces of artillery under the command of General Green. He estimated Green's command at not less than 2,500 men.
"I waited till they got into easy shelling range, and opened upon them a heavy fire of shrapnel and canister. The rebels fought with unusual pertinacity for over an hour, delivering the heaviest and most concentrated fire of musketry that I have ever witnessed.
They finally broke in great confusion, leaving the ground covered with their dead and wounded, muskets, knapsacks, etc., for many yards from the bank."
He received orders to rejoin Porter so wasn't able to inspect the battlefield, but estimated Confederate losses at 200. General Green had been killed.
The Lexington, under Lt. Commanding Bache also contributed a "most destructive enfilading fire" on the Confederates.
"General Green will prove a great loss, he standing as one of the best rebel generals this side of the Mississippi."
Dated April 16, 1864.
I Wonder Why Selfridge Would Not Have Mentioned the Periscope and Personal Killing of Green? -- Old Blockade Runner
Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series I, Volume 26, page 49.
Selfridge said that he was protecting the transport Alice Vivian when he was attcked by two brigades of dismounted cavalry and three pieces of artillery under the command of General Green. He estimated Green's command at not less than 2,500 men.
"I waited till they got into easy shelling range, and opened upon them a heavy fire of shrapnel and canister. The rebels fought with unusual pertinacity for over an hour, delivering the heaviest and most concentrated fire of musketry that I have ever witnessed.
They finally broke in great confusion, leaving the ground covered with their dead and wounded, muskets, knapsacks, etc., for many yards from the bank."
He received orders to rejoin Porter so wasn't able to inspect the battlefield, but estimated Confederate losses at 200. General Green had been killed.
The Lexington, under Lt. Commanding Bache also contributed a "most destructive enfilading fire" on the Confederates.
"General Green will prove a great loss, he standing as one of the best rebel generals this side of the Mississippi."
Dated April 16, 1864.
I Wonder Why Selfridge Would Not Have Mentioned the Periscope and Personal Killing of Green? -- Old Blockade Runner
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