With the Atlanta grounded and unable to use its guns, the fight did not take long to be over.
The USS Weehawken advanced and held its fire until 300 yards. It hit the Atlanta five times with its 350 pound shot and punched a hole in the casemate. The pilot house and port shutter were crushed severely wounding the pilot and several helmsmen.
Webb was forced to surrender his ship after only a few minutes.
The monitor Nahant did not fire a shot. Casualties aboard the Confederate ironclad were 1 killed and 11 wounded. Eleven officers and 124 men surrendered and were put on the USS Cimarron and USS Oleander.
The Atlanta was condemned in prize court September 1863. The US Navy bought it, repaired the ship and commissioned it the USS Atlanta February 2, 1864.
It spent most of its US career stationed on the James River, Virginia. It was sold at auction in 1869.
The Weehawken's commander, John Rodgers, became a national hero and was promoted to commander. He later became a Rear Admiral.
The Weehawken sank while at anchor in a gale off Charleston, SC, December 6, 1863 with a loss of 4 officers and 27 men. The Nahant was sold in 1904.
The CSS Isondiga was burned to prevent capture in 1864. The CSS Resolute was captured and taken into US naval service.
I Didn't Know the Fight Was Called the Battle of Wassaw Sound. --B-R'er
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
Showing posts with label Battle of Wassaw Sound. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Battle of Wassaw Sound. Show all posts
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
The Battle of Wassaw Sound-- Part 1
From Wikipedia.
The battle between the Confederate ironclad Atlanta and the two Union monitors Weehawken and Nahant.
Both monitors were of the Passaic-class.
On June 10, 1863, South Atlantic Blockading Squadron commander, Rear Admiral DuPont received word that the CSS Atlanta was getting ready to descend he Wilmington River to strike Union blockaders at Wassau Sound, Georgia.
Captain John Rodgers of the Weehawken was put in overall command of vessels at that place.
On June 15th, the Atlanta got underway, passing obstructions on the Wilmington River and coaling that night.
The Atlanta was accompanied by the CSS Isondiga and the CSS Resolute. They all got underway before daylight on the 17th. The Atlanta had also been fitted with a percussion torpedo at the end of a long spar to be used to explode under the Weehawken.
Unfortunately for the Atlanata, it ran aground and swayed to an angle that made it difficult to fire its guns.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
The battle between the Confederate ironclad Atlanta and the two Union monitors Weehawken and Nahant.
Both monitors were of the Passaic-class.
On June 10, 1863, South Atlantic Blockading Squadron commander, Rear Admiral DuPont received word that the CSS Atlanta was getting ready to descend he Wilmington River to strike Union blockaders at Wassau Sound, Georgia.
Captain John Rodgers of the Weehawken was put in overall command of vessels at that place.
On June 15th, the Atlanta got underway, passing obstructions on the Wilmington River and coaling that night.
The Atlanta was accompanied by the CSS Isondiga and the CSS Resolute. They all got underway before daylight on the 17th. The Atlanta had also been fitted with a percussion torpedo at the end of a long spar to be used to explode under the Weehawken.
Unfortunately for the Atlanata, it ran aground and swayed to an angle that made it difficult to fire its guns.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
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