MCCWRT: Artillery--Part 4: Parrott Rifles Exploding at Fort Fisher

On the subject of Parrott rifled guns exploding as mentioned a couple posts ago.

Captain James Alden of the USS Brooklyn moved his two 100-pounder Parrotts to the side of his ship not firing at Fort Fisher after finding out other ones on the fleet had blown up.

The two three-day bombardments of Fort Fisher were the largest naval bombardments of the war.

The December 1864 bombardments caused several 100-pounder Parrott rifles to explode, killing and wounding 45 Union sailors and officers.  Confederate fire from the fort claimed just 11 casualties in December.

--Old Secesh

Naval Chronology May to June 1861: Blockade and Privateers

Some things happening back these dates in 1861 that pertain to some of the things I've posted about recently.

MAY 26th-- The USS Brooklyn, Cmdr. Charles H. Poor, set the blockade at the mouth of the Mississippi River and New Orleans.

USS Union, Cmdr, John R. Goldsborough, set the blockade of Savannah.

USS Powhattan, Lt. D.D. Porter, set blockade of Mobile.


MAY 29th-- The Confederate privateer J.C. Calhoun captured the American brig Panama and took it to New Orleans along with two other prizes it had captured, the schooners Mermaid and John Adams.

MAY 31st-- The USS Perry, Lt. Parrott, captured the blockade-runner Hannah M. Johnson.

JUNE 3rd-- Confederate privateer Savannah, Capt. Baker, captured the American brig Joseph with a cargo of sugar. Then, the Savannah was captured by the USS Perry, Lt. Parrot.

Lots of Naval Stuff happening. --Old B-Runner