Wreck of the CSS Appomattox Found-- Part 1

After a ten year search and the discovery of a wreck in the Pasquotank River was found in 2007, the North Carolina Underwater Archaeology Branch has reported that he ship is the CSS Appomattox. This is based on the discovery of a spoon with the name J Skeritt inscribed on a silver plated spoon in the wreck.

It is known that he was on loan to the Appomattox from the ironclad CSS Virginia. The four member dive team discovered the wreck in August of 2007. It was part of a fleet of small steamers put together to protect the coast of North Carolina dubbed the "Mosquito Fleet."

It was set on fire in 1862 by Confederates to prevent capture.

Always Great to Find Something That Was Lost. --Old B-Runner

Cape Lookout Lighthouse-- Part 3

At the beginning of the Civil War, theConfederate Lighthouse Service went to all lighthouses, removed the lenses, and took them to interior places for safety. This included the first order lens at Cape Lookout.

Raphael Semmes, later admiral of the Confederate Navy, was at one time commander of the lighthouse service.

After Federal forces took control of the lighthouse, a temporary third order lens was installed in March 1863. The original lens was found in Raleigh but had been damaged so was sent to StatenIsland Lighthouse Depot for repair. It was reinstalled in 1868.

Until 1885, whale oil was the primary fuel.

We'll Leave the Light On. --B-R'er

Woodstock Square Civil War Monument-- Part 1

From the November 4th Northwest Herald "Enthusiasts rededicate Woodstock Civil War monument, launch funding drive" by Diana Sroka.

The Women's Relief Corps, an auxiliary of the Grand Army of the Republic raised the $3,000 needed for the statue and monument over a ten year period by selling items like food and quilts at county fairs and other events. The Grand Army of the Republic, or GAR, was comprised of Union veterans of the war.

The Woodstock Infantry, a support group for the Woodstock, Illinois National Guard unit, plans to raise the $10,000 to clean and repair the monument. At first, I didn't think it needed much in the way of repairs, but upon closer inspection, it surely does need it.

The Women's Relief Corps began planning for the monument in 1897, and it was dedicated November 3, 1909, so this marked the 100th anniversary of it. It was unveiled before a crowd of 3,000 at the time, including veterans and widows of veterans. There was a lot of enthusiasm at the time.

Tuesday's rededication drew about 25 people, but I didn't think there was much in the way of publicity. I wouldn't have known about it except for my wife Liz finding out about it. None of my web searches had anything about it.

Keeping in Touch With History. --Old B-Runner

USS Ivy and USS Red Rover

Thursday, I wrote about Michael Huskey, USN, not receiving his Medal of Honor in 1864 because he had died. I did some more research on the ships he was involved with. Besides the USS Carondolet, which he served on, there was the USS Ivy which he helped save under very adverse conditions, then, it said he died on the Hospital Ship Pinkney.

Good old Wikipedia said the USS Ivy was a tugboat originally built for the Army, but transferred to the Navy for use as a tugboat, dispatch boat and often Admiral Porter's flagship.

I couldn't find anything about a USS Pinkney, but most likely he died aboard he USS Red Rover, a former Confederate ship launched at Cape Girardeau, Missouri in 1859 and captured after the fall of Island No. 10 in 1862. It became the US Navy's first hospital ship and cared for sick and wounded on western waters. A Ninian Pinkney was fleet surgeon in charge of the vessel and that was probably where the confusion of the ship's name emanated.

And, the Rest of the Story. --Old B-Runner

Congratulations to Chris Fonvielle

Wilmington (NC) Star-News November 5th by Ben Steelman.

Chris E. Fonvielle was selected by the Society of Cincinnati's George Washington Distinguished Professor of North Carolina
award and will be receiving a $6,000 stipend for research on his upcoming book on the Revolutionary War's February 17, 1775 Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in North Carolina.

He is a Wilmington native with a BA in anthropology from University of North Carolina Wilmington, an MA from East Carolina University and Ph.D from the University of South Carolina and currently an Assistant Professor of History at UNCW.

At one time, he also ran the Blockade Runner Museum in Carolina Beach, North Carolina. He probably has the most knowledge of Wilmington and Fort Fisher than anyone.

He has written three books on the Civil War in the Wilmington area:

The Wilmington Campaign: Last Rays of Departing Hope
Fort Anderson: The Battle of Wilmington
and co-authored Louis Froelich: Arms Maker of the Confederacy with John H. McAdam

The Society of Cincinnati was founded in 1783 and is the oldest patriotic organization in the US composed of descendants of officers from the Continental Army and Navy.

I have his first two books.

This Guy Knows His Stuff. --Old B-Runner

Sherman Goes to the Monitor

I follow the Sherman's Lagoon comic strip in the Chicago Tribune. This past week Sherman, a great white shark, and his friend took a trip to the wreck of the USS Monitor because the friend, a fish, was studying the Civil War.

One problem, though, was that they had the Monitor located off the coast of South Carolina. They are very shocked to find the wreck is a retirement home for fish.

Today's strip balloons:

FIRST PANEL-- The friend: "I can't believe this famous Civil War shipwreck is now a retirement home for fish,"


SECOND PANEL-- The friend: "I mean, come on. The Monitor is a major historical landmark." Sherman, "Yeah."


THIRD PANEL-- The friend: "And they made it into a retirement home?"


FOURTH PANEL-- Sherman: "Should've at least become a casino."

Friend: "It's like talking to soup."

Well, It IS a Marine Sanctuary. --B-Runner

Fort Hood Tragedy

A gunman killed seven and wounded fifteen at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas today. Killeen is half way between Austin and Waco and is named for Confederate general John Bell Hood who commanded Hood's Texas Brigade. It is base to the 53,168 members of the 1st Cavalry and 4th Infantry divisions and refers to itself as the Home of America's Armored Corps.

It opened during World War II as Camp Hood because of a need for wide open spaces to test tank destroyers to be used against the German Blitzkrieg. It became permanent during the Korean War and the name was changed to Fort Hood.

Mass killings have come to Killeen before. In 1991, a killer drove a pickup truck into a Luby's Restaurant and opened fire, killing 23 and wounding 20 before killing himself. This remained the worst mass killing in US history until Virginia Tech.

In the last two years, three servicemen at Fort Hood were killed in separate incidents.

Sad News.

Michael Huskey-- Medal of Honor Winner-- Part 2

The November 2nd Lockport Union-Sun & Observer also wrote that the USS Carondolet fought in more naval engagements than any US ship until World War II. Fireman Huskey volunteered to put out fires on the deck of the USS Ivy and did so under Confederate fire and with animals and snakes dropping from the trees onto the deck.

Michael Huskey was described as being 5 foot 7 inches tall and an Irish immigrant. He died on or about October 28, 1864, of illness aboard the hospital ship Pinkney and is probably one of 8,000 unknown soldiers buried at the Memphis Cemetery.

The USS Ivy was a screw tug originally built by the Army but transferred to the Navy where it served as a tugboat and dispatch boat. On occasion, it also served as Admiral Porter's flagship. From Wikipedia.

No Longer So Unknown. --B-R

Michael Huskey-- Medal of Honor Winner-- Part 1

Efforts spearheaded by US Senator Charles E. Schumer are underway in New York state to have Michael Huskey's unclaimed Medal of Honor found and given to Niagara County for display.

He received it for gallant actions in March 1863 during the Steele's Bayou/Deer Creek Expedition, part of US Grant's attempts to get around Vicksburg's defenses. This involved sending a naval force into bayous and tight waters which ended in defeat.

On November 3rd, a Navy honor guard held a ceremony at the Niagara County legislative session. Senator Schumer wants the Navy and National Archives to search for it so it can be pit on display at the Niagara County Courthouse. I'm sure that if they can't find it, they would be happy to get a new one issued.

Michael Huskey is the 14th known Niagara County resident to receive a Medal of Honor. However, he died in 1864 before receiving it. He helped save the ironclad USS Carondolet and, according to the citation, volunteered to go to the aid of the tugboat USS Ivy which was on fire and under heavy Confederate fire and for "general meritorious conduct during this hazardous mission."

He was a fireman, US Navy who enlisted in NY, NY. By General Order No.:32, 16 April 1864. Only, he died before he could receive it.

Nov. 4th Lockport Union-Sun & Journal "Medal of Honor: Michael Huskey memorialized at Legislative session" by Bill Wolcott.

Here's Hoping They Are Able to Find the Original. --Old B-Runner

Charleston's Castle Pinckney-- Part 2

I've often seen pictures of it and its location on maps, but never knew much about it. It always looked like a formidable fortification, but yet, I never read about it in war accounts.

Some repairs were made and a lighthouse was added in 1855. The fort also served as the city's arsenal.

On December 20, 1860, South Carolina seceded from the Union and on the 27th a small group of militia "stormed" Castle Pinckney, using ladders to climb over the parapet and "captured the two Union soldiers, some women and children and about 36 mechanics and laborers. No shots were fired, but it was the first seizure of federal property.

After Fort Sumter was attacked, the Castle became a prison, holding 154 Union troops captured at the First Battle of Bull Run. I saw one picture where they were guarded by young Confederate cadets

During the war, it was heavily bombarded twice in 1863 and once in 1864, but remained in Confederate hands until Charleston fell and it was reoccupied by Union troops February 18, 1865.


After the War to the Present Next. --Old B-Runner

Charleston's Castle Pinckney

A little-known fort in Charleston Harbor, vastly overshadowed by Forts Moultrie, Sumter and Wagner.

From October 13th National Parks Traveler.

The NPS acquired Castle Pinckney in 1933, but were glad to turn it back over to South Carolina in the 1950s. It has no glorious past and is very expensive to maintain.

In 1791, George Washington visited Charleston and saw the little Shutes Folly island strategically located and ordered a fort built there. It was named Fort Pinckney after Charles tesworth Pinckney, a local planter, Revolutionary War general and signer of the US Constitution.

A log fort was built on Shutes Folly in 1804, but was immediately destroyed by a hurricane. A brick masonry fort was completed in 1810 featuring multiple tiers of enclosed and casemated gun positions.

It became known as Castle Pinckney for its resemblance to a castle.

It played no role in the War of 1812 and was demoted to "secondary line of defense" in 1826. The next year, construction on Fort Sumter began and Castle Pinckneys importance essentially ceased. It was lightly garrisoned until 1836 and then not at all until 1860.

When is a Castle Not a Fort? --B-R'er

Cape Lookout Lighthouse-- Part 2

The Friends of Cape Lookout National Seashore said that the construction of the lighthouse was under the supervision of (and probably designed by) William Henry Chase Whiting, Corps of Engineers US Army.

An original drawing of the lighthouse has been found and is noted "Drawn under the direction of Lieut. Wm. H. C. Whiting, Corps Engr."

It is undated, but known that Whiting was promoted to captain in late 1858.

So the Lighthouse is a Whiting House. --Old B-Runner

Cape Lookout Lighthouse

The US Department of the Interior has given $487,000 to repair the spiral staircase inside the lighthouse so people with the gumption can climb to the top again. Not me.

The lighthouse is known for its distinctive black and white diamonds. Yesterday marked the 150th anniversary of its first lighting, November 1, 1859.

The first lighthouse was built in 1812, but it was found to be too short. Of great interest to me, it was designed and built by W. H. C. Whiting of the US Army Corps of Engineers. He is also connected with the construction and defense of North Carolina's Fort Fisher.

After the war, it served as the model of the Hatteras, Bodie Island and Currituck Beach lighthouses. And, I always thought Cape Hatteras was built first.

Definitely Not Climbing to the Top, Even If Whiting Did Build It. --Old B-Runner

Some More on the Woodstock Square Rededication

The Woodstock Library, on its Flickr Photo stream, has an early black and white photograph of the monument on their website saying that it was erected in 1909 by the Grand Army of the Republic and that Zoia Monuments mounted the statue on the base with symbols of the four branches: Army, Cavalry, Navy and Marines on the sides. Evidently, this company still exists.

It was also featured in the movie "Groundhog Day" where the snowball fight took place.

Don Peasley said that it originally cost $30,000 and was funded by the Woodstock Women's Relief Corps with money collected over a twelve year period..

The Woodstock Chamber of Commerce offered a Christmas ornament of it in 2004.

Looking Forward to This Event and Will Be Representing the Camp Douglas Sons of Confederate Veterans. --Old B-Runner

Rededication in Woodstock, Illinois

Tomorrow, I am driving out to Woodstock, Illinois, for the rededication of the Civil War monument honoring soldiers from McHenry County who died in the Civil War. This will mark the 100th anniversary of the first dedication back on November 3, 1909.

Chad Miller, commander of the Woodstock Infantry is leading an effort to raise funds for repairs to the ornamental fencing, anchor and facings of the monument.

It was built by Antonio Zoia, and his grandson, Jim Zoia and his son Tony will be in charge of the monument's restoration.

The names of 330 McHenry County soldiers who died in the war were added in 2000 through the efforts of Jim Clegg who did a lot of research. More than 100 of them died from disease.

Four marble slabs surround the monument listing the names of 16 McHenry communities which sent troops to the war.

From the Northwest Herald. Don Peasley's column.

Civil War Close to Home (About 18 Miles). --Old B-Runner