Cape Hatteras Commemoration-- Part 1

From the Summer Hallowed Ground Magazine of the CWPT.

The Friends of The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum has formed a "Flags Over Hatteras" committee which has organized two events to commemorate the events at Hatteras Inlet 150 years ago.

The BLUE GRAY REUNION is by invitation only to descendants of military personnel who participated in the action at Hatteras Inlet August 28-29, the capture of the USS Fanny on October 1, 1861, (I wrote about this ship earlier this month) and the Chicamacomico Races of August-October 1861.

Activities will include sharing ancestor information, memoirs, journals, photos, relics and artifacts. Speakers and era music will be provided, but registration is required.

I think they should have this open to anyone.

Then, There's a Civil War Conference. --Old B-Runner

USS/CSS Fanny

This past Wednesday, I noted that the first balloon ascension from a self-propelled warship took place on August 3, 1861. In effect, making the USS Fanny, the first aircraft carrier. (Several times earlier, balloons were launched from a barge, but that had to be towed.)

I looked up the Fanny and found that it was classified as either a gunboat, a supply ship and that it was operated by the US Quartermaster Corps.

Balloonist John LaMountain made several ascensions from it.

Later in the war, the Fanny was captured by Confederates and became the CSS Fanny and part of the North Carolina Mosquito Fleet before it was burned to prevent capture February 10, 1862.

Not Exactly an Impressive Name for a Warship. --Old B-R'er