The Tecumseh was a monitor, 2,100 tons, 225 feet long, 43 feet wide, had a crew of 100 officers and men and mounted 2 X 15-inch Dahlgren guns. It was commissioned April 19, 1864 and sank August 5, 1864.
Om the Battle of Mobile Bay, it was the lead monitor and was turning to meet the oncoming ironclad CSS Tennessee, when, at 7:40 am, it struck a Confederate torpedo (mine) and began to heel rapidly. Men scrambled to get off. Commander Tunis A.M. Craven arrived at the foot of the ladder leading to the main deck the same time as the pilot John Collins, stepped back and said "After you, pilot." Collins hurried up the ladder, but the act of courtesy cost Craven his life.
The Tecumseh sank in 25 seconds. As she rolled over, two shells from Fort Morgan struck her unarmored side.
Along with Commander Cravin, 92 others died.
A Sad Loss. --Old B-R'er
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
Showing posts with label USS Tecumseh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USS Tecumseh. Show all posts
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
USS Farragut Honor Civil War Dead on the USS Tecumseh
From the March 4th Mobile (Al) Press-Register.
The event was greeted with rough weather, lots of wind and 6-8 foot seas, but US Naval re-enactors Paul Leonard and Judson Locke rode aboard a launch out to the guided missile destroyer USS Farragut in the Gulf of Mexico off Dixey Bar, to lay a wreath over the wreck of the monitor USS Tecumseh which hit a torpedo (mine) at the Battle of Mobile Bay August 5, 1864. It sank quickly, taking 93 men to their deaths. They still remain in the ship.
The USS Farragut, named for the Union Admiral David Glasgow Farragut, who commanded at the battle, was on its way to dock at Mobile for the Mardi Gras celebration (Mobile is where the first Mardi Gras in the US was held).
This is the fifth ship in the US Navy to carry the name Farragut. The first four were commissioned in 1898, 1920, 1944 and 1965.
The 1898 ship was a torpedo boat. All the others were destroyers. The newest USS Farragut was commissioned in 2006.
For the ceremony, the crew manned the starboard side facing Fort Morgan while the two re-enactors three the wreath in the water off the aft deck. The Farragut then sounded a long blast on the whistle and a lone cannon boomed out from the fort.
David G. Farragut was famous for his quote "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead" at the Battle of Mobile Bay. The Union fleet slowed down when it came to the Confederate mine field and Farragut ordered it to steam ahead regardless. The USS Tecumseh then hit a torpedo (mine) and sank. The battle ended with a Union victory.
The new USS Farragut calls itself "Full Speed" and is 590 feet long, 55 feet wide and has a crew of 265.
An Honor Well-Deserved. --Old B-R'er
The event was greeted with rough weather, lots of wind and 6-8 foot seas, but US Naval re-enactors Paul Leonard and Judson Locke rode aboard a launch out to the guided missile destroyer USS Farragut in the Gulf of Mexico off Dixey Bar, to lay a wreath over the wreck of the monitor USS Tecumseh which hit a torpedo (mine) at the Battle of Mobile Bay August 5, 1864. It sank quickly, taking 93 men to their deaths. They still remain in the ship.
The USS Farragut, named for the Union Admiral David Glasgow Farragut, who commanded at the battle, was on its way to dock at Mobile for the Mardi Gras celebration (Mobile is where the first Mardi Gras in the US was held).
This is the fifth ship in the US Navy to carry the name Farragut. The first four were commissioned in 1898, 1920, 1944 and 1965.
The 1898 ship was a torpedo boat. All the others were destroyers. The newest USS Farragut was commissioned in 2006.
For the ceremony, the crew manned the starboard side facing Fort Morgan while the two re-enactors three the wreath in the water off the aft deck. The Farragut then sounded a long blast on the whistle and a lone cannon boomed out from the fort.
David G. Farragut was famous for his quote "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead" at the Battle of Mobile Bay. The Union fleet slowed down when it came to the Confederate mine field and Farragut ordered it to steam ahead regardless. The USS Tecumseh then hit a torpedo (mine) and sank. The battle ended with a Union victory.
The new USS Farragut calls itself "Full Speed" and is 590 feet long, 55 feet wide and has a crew of 265.
An Honor Well-Deserved. --Old B-R'er
Friday, February 25, 2011
USS Tecumseh Honored
From Feb. 24th Fox10 TV, Mobile. Alabama.
The USS Farragut, an Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyer, will make a stop at historic Fort Morgan in Mobile Bay to lay a wreath March 4th at the site where the monitor Tecumseh sank in action during the Battle of Mobile Bay Aug. 5, 1864.
The fated ship struck a Confederate torpedo (mine) and sank quickly becoming the final resting place of many of its crew.
The Farragut is on its way to Mobile to become the 2011 Mardi Gras ship.
An Honor. --Old B-Runner
The USS Farragut, an Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyer, will make a stop at historic Fort Morgan in Mobile Bay to lay a wreath March 4th at the site where the monitor Tecumseh sank in action during the Battle of Mobile Bay Aug. 5, 1864.
The fated ship struck a Confederate torpedo (mine) and sank quickly becoming the final resting place of many of its crew.
The Farragut is on its way to Mobile to become the 2011 Mardi Gras ship.
An Honor. --Old B-Runner
Saturday, July 11, 2009
USS Tecumseh Memorial Planned-- Part 2
Randy Atkins hopes to have the memorial in place by the time of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Mobile Bay, August 5, 2014. He was in Tecumseh, Oklahoma, last week drumming up support from the town and county as well as local Indian Nation.
The fact that just a single buoy marks the spot bothers him greatly.
After the Tecumseh sank August 5, 1864, it was largely forgotten until the US government sold salvage rights to a local firm for $50 which planned on using explosives to break it apart. However, relatives of the dead crew organized and it did not come to pass.
In 1974, there was thought of raising it. About 90% of the ship is covered with mud and as such, it is in excellent condition. However, it was estimated the project would cost $10 million so it was dropped. Today it would cost $80 million to raise.
An estimated 500,000 artifacts are aboard along with two 15-inch Dahlgren guns. In 1967, the Smithsonian Institution dove on the wreck and recovered the ship's anchor and dishes from the wreck.
Hats Off to Mr. Atkins!! --B-Runner
The fact that just a single buoy marks the spot bothers him greatly.
After the Tecumseh sank August 5, 1864, it was largely forgotten until the US government sold salvage rights to a local firm for $50 which planned on using explosives to break it apart. However, relatives of the dead crew organized and it did not come to pass.
In 1974, there was thought of raising it. About 90% of the ship is covered with mud and as such, it is in excellent condition. However, it was estimated the project would cost $10 million so it was dropped. Today it would cost $80 million to raise.
An estimated 500,000 artifacts are aboard along with two 15-inch Dahlgren guns. In 1967, the Smithsonian Institution dove on the wreck and recovered the ship's anchor and dishes from the wreck.
Hats Off to Mr. Atkins!! --B-Runner
Friday, July 10, 2009
USS Tecumseh Memorial Planned-- Part 1
From the Tecumseh Countywide News, July 9th, Tecumseh, Oklahoma. "Drive Begins to Recognize Lost Crew of USS Tecumseh."
The USS Tecumseh, a Civil War Monitor ironclad sits at the bottom of Mobile Bay near where it sank off Fort Morgan as Admiral Farragut was running past the fort. His order to proceed full-speed ahead, regardless of torpedoes (mines) was followed, and the Tecumseh hit one and rapidly sank, taking 93 of her crew down. Only 20 escaped.
With few exceptions, it has mostly been forgotten, until now.
Randy Atkins visited Fort Morgan in 1986 and was surprised that only a single buoy marks the final resting place of the gallant crew. He has been back several times and now has permission to build a memorial. What he needs is money, which is estimated to be at between $5,000 and $250,000 depending upon how elaborate it will be.
He has a website at www.usstecumsehmemorialproject.com
Best of Luck to You Mr. Atkins. --Old B-Runner
The USS Tecumseh, a Civil War Monitor ironclad sits at the bottom of Mobile Bay near where it sank off Fort Morgan as Admiral Farragut was running past the fort. His order to proceed full-speed ahead, regardless of torpedoes (mines) was followed, and the Tecumseh hit one and rapidly sank, taking 93 of her crew down. Only 20 escaped.
With few exceptions, it has mostly been forgotten, until now.
Randy Atkins visited Fort Morgan in 1986 and was surprised that only a single buoy marks the final resting place of the gallant crew. He has been back several times and now has permission to build a memorial. What he needs is money, which is estimated to be at between $5,000 and $250,000 depending upon how elaborate it will be.
He has a website at www.usstecumsehmemorialproject.com
Best of Luck to You Mr. Atkins. --Old B-Runner
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