Continuing from the August 26th entry.
On July 6, 1861, Captain Edward Higgins took command of the CSS Oregon and CSS Swain and left New Orleans looking for the USS Massachusetts. They didn't find the federal ship, but placed guns and men on Ship island including 55 CS Marines and 30 members of the 4th Louisiana.
On July 9th, the USS Massachusetts confirmed Confederate occupation of the island, counting four gin emplacements and 39 tents.
The ship, under command of Cmdr. Melancton Smith, then moved toward the island with intention of battle but found their gins were out of range but Confederate shells could hit the ship.
Shots were exchanged and the Massachusetts withdrew to Chandeleur Island.
On July 13th, the Smith returned and exchanged shots with the CSS Oregon and Arrow. The Confederate ships tried to lure the Union ship to get close to Ship Island, but he didn't take the bait.
A Little-Known Part of the War. --Old B-Runner
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
Showing posts with label USS Massachusetts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USS Massachusetts. Show all posts
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Fort Massachusetts and USS Massachusetts
Fort Massachusetts is part of the National Park Service on West Ship Island, off the coast of Mississippi. It is a masonry fort and accessible only by boat or passenger ferry for $24.
The US Navy used it as a base for supplies and repairs, and Farragut's fleet used it as a staging area before the attack on Mobile. At one time, there were 40 buildings and as many as 18,000 troops at the fort and island.
The USS Massachusetts was built in 1860 and purchased by the US Navy in 1861 and sent to the Gulf of Mexico where it captured several blockade runners and helped recapture Ship Island.
After that, it carried supplies and personnel in the Atlantic and, on March 19, 1865, struck a mine in Charleston Harbor which failed to explode.
The article stated that there was not a name for the fort on Ship Island before the war and that it might have been named for the ship. I find it hard to believe the US government would go through the expense of building a stone fort and not have a name for it.
Which Came First, the Fort or the Ship. --Blockade-R
The US Navy used it as a base for supplies and repairs, and Farragut's fleet used it as a staging area before the attack on Mobile. At one time, there were 40 buildings and as many as 18,000 troops at the fort and island.
The USS Massachusetts was built in 1860 and purchased by the US Navy in 1861 and sent to the Gulf of Mexico where it captured several blockade runners and helped recapture Ship Island.
After that, it carried supplies and personnel in the Atlantic and, on March 19, 1865, struck a mine in Charleston Harbor which failed to explode.
The article stated that there was not a name for the fort on Ship Island before the war and that it might have been named for the ship. I find it hard to believe the US government would go through the expense of building a stone fort and not have a name for it.
Which Came First, the Fort or the Ship. --Blockade-R
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