The Feb. 18, 2008 Bristol (Tn) Herald Courier reported that Tennessee had joined the Civil War trails Program (an excellent idea), when the Battle of Blountville, Tennessee, was marked. The battle had a five-hour artillery barrage of the town September 22, 1863, in which two civilians were killed.
Half the town was burned. About 3,000 Union troops from Knoxville accompanied the artillery which fired from the Blountville Cemetery. The first shell hit the county courthouse and destroyed it. Three major businesses, 4 hotels, and 11 private residences were destroyed. The home of Confederate officer Matthew Haynes survived, but still has a cannonball lodged in a wall.
While the courthouse was being rebuilt, they found a pile of pre-Revolutionary War Spanish gold beneath the rubble.
CIVIL WAR TOURISM
A recent study shows that Civil War tourism can be big business. Tennessee's 60 battle sites attract 5 million visitors a year. There were a total of 2,931 military engagements in the state between 1861 and 1865.
The Civil War Trails Program expects to attract even more. A total of four markers (sometimes called History on a Stick) are planned for the Battle of Blountville. They cost $1,100 to erect and another $200 a year in maintenance.
Civil War Trails Program--Good for History. --Old Blockade-R
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
More on the Blockade Runner Georgiana
Harry Ridgeway, the Civil War Relicman has several artillery shells from the Georgiana for sale.
One was a Britten bolt, 2.9-inches in diameter and 6 -inches long with salt water damage to the outer shin.
There is also another with a star-shaped interior for superior fragmentation with a lead-sleeved time fuse. Sounds like quite a nasty bit of ordnance.
The Georgiana sank March 19, 1863, while attempting to run the blockade into Charleston. After its propeller and rudder were damaged by Union fire, the captain ran the vessel aground, scuttled it, and the crew escaped.
Dr. E. Lee Spence believes that the ship's owner, George Albert Trenholm, who ran a blockade-running firm and owned the Georgiana, was the person Margaret Mitchell based her Rhett Butler on of Gone With the Wind fame.
Today, the boiler is five feet below the surface and covered with sea life. Large sections of the hull are still intact. On the starboard side, parts protrude nine feet above the sand.
Maffitt's Channel, where the Georgiana sank, is considered the second main entrance to Charleston Harbor. The Union's Stone Fleet was sunk there in January of 1862.
More Than I Ever Knew About a Ship I Didn't Know About. --B-Runner
One was a Britten bolt, 2.9-inches in diameter and 6 -inches long with salt water damage to the outer shin.
There is also another with a star-shaped interior for superior fragmentation with a lead-sleeved time fuse. Sounds like quite a nasty bit of ordnance.
The Georgiana sank March 19, 1863, while attempting to run the blockade into Charleston. After its propeller and rudder were damaged by Union fire, the captain ran the vessel aground, scuttled it, and the crew escaped.
Dr. E. Lee Spence believes that the ship's owner, George Albert Trenholm, who ran a blockade-running firm and owned the Georgiana, was the person Margaret Mitchell based her Rhett Butler on of Gone With the Wind fame.
Today, the boiler is five feet below the surface and covered with sea life. Large sections of the hull are still intact. On the starboard side, parts protrude nine feet above the sand.
Maffitt's Channel, where the Georgiana sank, is considered the second main entrance to Charleston Harbor. The Union's Stone Fleet was sunk there in January of 1862.
More Than I Ever Knew About a Ship I Didn't Know About. --B-Runner
Jefferson Davis Swearing In
Last year, WLOX, ABC TV in Bolixi, Ms, reported that the 200th birthday of Jefferson Davis was celebrated at the birthplace of the Confederacy, in Montgomery, Alabama. Davis' great-great grandson recreated the swearing in of Davis. This was the first of many events planned throughout the year.
Said Bertram Hayes-Davis, president of the Davis Family Association, "I stand here representing a family that is very proud of their ancestor."
Hayes-Davis stood on the bronze star atop the capitol steps where Davis took the oath of office Feb. 18, 1861, and put his hand on the same Bible which was held by Leonadis Milton Leathers, III, of Athens, Georgia, whose great-great grandfather, Georgia Governor Howard Cobb, held it on that auspicious occasion.
A Great Way to Recreate History. --Old B-R
Said Bertram Hayes-Davis, president of the Davis Family Association, "I stand here representing a family that is very proud of their ancestor."
Hayes-Davis stood on the bronze star atop the capitol steps where Davis took the oath of office Feb. 18, 1861, and put his hand on the same Bible which was held by Leonadis Milton Leathers, III, of Athens, Georgia, whose great-great grandfather, Georgia Governor Howard Cobb, held it on that auspicious occasion.
A Great Way to Recreate History. --Old B-R
Friday, February 20, 2009
Ships Sunk by the Georgiana: Norseman, Constance Ducimer, Mary Bowers
While on the subject of the blockade runner Georgiana, I saw that it's wreck had been responsible for sinking three other blockade runners.
NORSEMAN-- a three-masted, 49-197 ton screw blockade running steamer carrying a cargo of cotton and possibly gold. On May 19, 1863, it hit the Georgiana and sank in 8-12 feet of water in Maffitt's Channel off Long island (now Isle of Pines) near 39th Street. Any gold that was aboard was probably salvaged due to the shallow depth.
CONSTANCE DUCIMER-- A 140 ton, sidewheel blockade runner, 201.4 feet long and 20.5 beam carrying 29 crew coming in from Nova Scotia, possibly carrying gold. Hit the Georgiana October 6, 1864, and sank in 15-35 feet of water. The wreck has been located, but probably no treasure on it.
MARY BOWERS-- 226 feet side wheel steamer. Sank after hitting the Georgiana. A Federal boarding party removed the ship's bell and other items. The forward end of the starboard boiler is aligned with the starboard of the Georgiana. The Bowers' port boiler has rolled into the sand and is largely buried. The remains of the ship away from the Georgiana are relatively in tact. The sides of the forward cargo hold are still standing up from the bottom. The ship is heavily sanded in and about 18 feet deep.
The Blockade-Runner Georgiana, Sinker of Blockade Runners. --Old B-R'er
NORSEMAN-- a three-masted, 49-197 ton screw blockade running steamer carrying a cargo of cotton and possibly gold. On May 19, 1863, it hit the Georgiana and sank in 8-12 feet of water in Maffitt's Channel off Long island (now Isle of Pines) near 39th Street. Any gold that was aboard was probably salvaged due to the shallow depth.
CONSTANCE DUCIMER-- A 140 ton, sidewheel blockade runner, 201.4 feet long and 20.5 beam carrying 29 crew coming in from Nova Scotia, possibly carrying gold. Hit the Georgiana October 6, 1864, and sank in 15-35 feet of water. The wreck has been located, but probably no treasure on it.
MARY BOWERS-- 226 feet side wheel steamer. Sank after hitting the Georgiana. A Federal boarding party removed the ship's bell and other items. The forward end of the starboard boiler is aligned with the starboard of the Georgiana. The Bowers' port boiler has rolled into the sand and is largely buried. The remains of the ship away from the Georgiana are relatively in tact. The sides of the forward cargo hold are still standing up from the bottom. The ship is heavily sanded in and about 18 feet deep.
The Blockade-Runner Georgiana, Sinker of Blockade Runners. --Old B-R'er
Another Museum of Interest-- National Civil War Naval Museum
Last year, Andrew Duppstadt in his Civil War Navy blog, went to this fine institution.
He said they have mock ups of the casemate of the CSS Ablemarle, USS Monitor turret, and the interior of the USS Hartford.
Among other items of interest are the sword carried by Confederate Surgeon Daniel Conrad in the Underwriter expedition and the personal flag of Union Admiral David D. Porter.
If I recall, the place is also making a full-size replica of a Civil War ship that was in both the Union and Confederate navies which will be open in April.
Thanks, Andrew. --Old B-R
He said they have mock ups of the casemate of the CSS Ablemarle, USS Monitor turret, and the interior of the USS Hartford.
Among other items of interest are the sword carried by Confederate Surgeon Daniel Conrad in the Underwriter expedition and the personal flag of Union Admiral David D. Porter.
If I recall, the place is also making a full-size replica of a Civil War ship that was in both the Union and Confederate navies which will be open in April.
Thanks, Andrew. --Old B-R
South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum
Founded in 1891, it is the oldest museum in the Columbia area.
Among the Civil War items it has is a letter from Union General Judson Kilpatrick calling SC the "hellhole of secession" and vowing that vile things would happen to the state as the commander of Sherman's cavalry.
Also, the battle flags of nine SC regiments and what's left of the flag of the Union's 2nd SC Infantry composed of freed SC slaves.
Items from other wars, the flag of the Palmetto regiment of the Mexican War which helped capture the Mexican capital, artifacts from the USS Columbia, a WW II light cruiser which fought in the Pacific.
In 2002, the museum reopened in a 17,000 square foot area in the old Columbia Mills Building next to the State Museum. It has items from the revolutionary War right up to the War in Iraq.
www.crr.sc.gov.
Sounds Like a Good Place to Visit. --B-R
Among the Civil War items it has is a letter from Union General Judson Kilpatrick calling SC the "hellhole of secession" and vowing that vile things would happen to the state as the commander of Sherman's cavalry.
Also, the battle flags of nine SC regiments and what's left of the flag of the Union's 2nd SC Infantry composed of freed SC slaves.
Items from other wars, the flag of the Palmetto regiment of the Mexican War which helped capture the Mexican capital, artifacts from the USS Columbia, a WW II light cruiser which fought in the Pacific.
In 2002, the museum reopened in a 17,000 square foot area in the old Columbia Mills Building next to the State Museum. It has items from the revolutionary War right up to the War in Iraq.
www.crr.sc.gov.
Sounds Like a Good Place to Visit. --B-R
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Remembering the Old Days on the Cape Fear River-- Part 4-- Fort Fisher
Continued from Feb. 17th.
Captain Galloway "sent a runner to find the men and they began to show up late on the evening of Jan. 15. Some of them went to the last battery where they had been before. His company was about 140 men strong so could be placed anywhere."
Union forces, this time landed five miles north of the Fort Fisher, out of range of the guns. "It was almost 10 o'clock that evening before they fought their way to the last battery where Grandpa Joe and his buddies were manning cannons and rifles."
His grandfather felt it "was heavily barricaded and they felt they could hold the invaders off. Finally, he heard them beating at the door with battering rams. Some gunners were still working on reinforcing the tunnel door with heavy timbers. The next thing he knew, someone came through the door followed by more figures as the Union troops came pouring through."
"In the dim light of pine tar torches, Grandpa said he could only see figures and he began to shoot his rifle, but his gun jammed and he didn't have time to reload before they were fighting hand-to-hand."
"Using the butt of his gun, he began to swing it as a club, but was soon over powered. Some have said that Grandpa Joe was the last man to surrender inside the fort."
He was taken prisoner and sent to New York where he was put on a train and sent to Elmira, NY where he remained until the end of the war when he made his way home with other survivors of his company, part of the way courtesy of Union trains and walking the rest of the way.
Very interesting account of the final battle for Fort Fisher. A bit confusing and with what I expect some incorrect times and situations. Was the last battery Fort Buchanan? Or perhaps the end of the fort's main sea defenses? Not surprising as this was oral history and many years after the war.
Good Story. --Old B-R'er
Captain Galloway "sent a runner to find the men and they began to show up late on the evening of Jan. 15. Some of them went to the last battery where they had been before. His company was about 140 men strong so could be placed anywhere."
Union forces, this time landed five miles north of the Fort Fisher, out of range of the guns. "It was almost 10 o'clock that evening before they fought their way to the last battery where Grandpa Joe and his buddies were manning cannons and rifles."
His grandfather felt it "was heavily barricaded and they felt they could hold the invaders off. Finally, he heard them beating at the door with battering rams. Some gunners were still working on reinforcing the tunnel door with heavy timbers. The next thing he knew, someone came through the door followed by more figures as the Union troops came pouring through."
"In the dim light of pine tar torches, Grandpa said he could only see figures and he began to shoot his rifle, but his gun jammed and he didn't have time to reload before they were fighting hand-to-hand."
"Using the butt of his gun, he began to swing it as a club, but was soon over powered. Some have said that Grandpa Joe was the last man to surrender inside the fort."
He was taken prisoner and sent to New York where he was put on a train and sent to Elmira, NY where he remained until the end of the war when he made his way home with other survivors of his company, part of the way courtesy of Union trains and walking the rest of the way.
Very interesting account of the final battle for Fort Fisher. A bit confusing and with what I expect some incorrect times and situations. Was the last battery Fort Buchanan? Or perhaps the end of the fort's main sea defenses? Not surprising as this was oral history and many years after the war.
Good Story. --Old B-R'er
Blockade Runner Georgiana
While looking up stuff on the USS Wissahickon, I came across information that it and the USS America ran the blockade runner Georgiana ashore by Charleston Harbor. I'd also never heard of the Georgiana, so looked it up.
The Georgiana was a 580-ton, 205.6 feet long, 25.2 beam, brig-rigged steamer built in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1862. In 1863, it ran the blockade into Charleston harbor with 140 crew, 18 cannons, 10,000 Enfield rifles, and $90,000 in gold.
It was to be converted into a Confederate warship and under the command of Br. Commander A.B. Davidson.
It flashed the Confederate flag in Maffit's Channel and was attacked by the USS Wissahickon and USS America early on the morning of March 19, 1863 and run aground. The gold was supposedly removed. Union troops boarded it and removed some of the cargo. Attempts to refloat her failed and the ship was burned.
Later, the blockade-runners Norseman, Mary Bowers, and Constance Decimer ran into the submerged hull and sank.
Further salvage occurred in the 1870s and more recently artifacts have been recovered from it.
Never Heard of It. --Old B-Runner
The Georgiana was a 580-ton, 205.6 feet long, 25.2 beam, brig-rigged steamer built in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1862. In 1863, it ran the blockade into Charleston harbor with 140 crew, 18 cannons, 10,000 Enfield rifles, and $90,000 in gold.
It was to be converted into a Confederate warship and under the command of Br. Commander A.B. Davidson.
It flashed the Confederate flag in Maffit's Channel and was attacked by the USS Wissahickon and USS America early on the morning of March 19, 1863 and run aground. The gold was supposedly removed. Union troops boarded it and removed some of the cargo. Attempts to refloat her failed and the ship was burned.
Later, the blockade-runners Norseman, Mary Bowers, and Constance Decimer ran into the submerged hull and sank.
Further salvage occurred in the 1870s and more recently artifacts have been recovered from it.
Never Heard of It. --Old B-Runner
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
On the Subject of Submarines-- Hunley Crewmembers
The H.L. Hunley sank on Feb. 17, 1864. Yesterday marked the 145th anniversary of its successful attack on the Housatonic and demise.
The Where Are famous People Buried blog had a short bit on two of the Hunley's crew members.
SEAMAN LUMPKIN-- Only his last name is known, but a recently discovered Confederate States Navy pay roster from October 3, 1863, lists a C. Lumpkins. Also, a hand-written note by William Alexander, one of the Hunley's builders, states that Lumpkin was on board the submarine.
SEAMAN AUGUSTUS MILLER-- Also a crewman and perhaps the most elusive. Few details known about him. He stood 5'8", about the average height for a Civil War era man, but he was one of the shortest on the crew. From Europe.
These men and the others met their death Feb. 17, 1864.
The Where Are famous People Buried blog had a short bit on two of the Hunley's crew members.
SEAMAN LUMPKIN-- Only his last name is known, but a recently discovered Confederate States Navy pay roster from October 3, 1863, lists a C. Lumpkins. Also, a hand-written note by William Alexander, one of the Hunley's builders, states that Lumpkin was on board the submarine.
SEAMAN AUGUSTUS MILLER-- Also a crewman and perhaps the most elusive. Few details known about him. He stood 5'8", about the average height for a Civil War era man, but he was one of the shortest on the crew. From Europe.
These men and the others met their death Feb. 17, 1864.
The USS Alligator, the US Navy's First Submarine
Again, you hear a lot about the Confederacy's Hunley submarine, but very little about this one.
According to Wikipedia, it was 30 feet long and 6 or 8 feet in diameter. It's construction was supervised by Brutus DeVilleroi. Originally powered by oars, but in July 1862, the Navy replaced them with a hand crank.
The vessel was launched May 1862 and accepted into service in June. It was to be used against a bridge at Swift Creek, a tributary of the Appomattox River, and also to clear obstructions at Fort Darling on the James River, but it never happened.
The Union sinker of ships, Thomas O. Selfridge was given command and a naval crew assigned to it. After tests, Selfridge declared it a complete failure.
In April 1863, it was being towed to Charleston by the USS Sumpter, but sank off Cape Hatteras.
WOULDN'T IT HAVE BEEN SOMETHING
That would have been something if the Alligator had engaged the Hunley. The first battle of the submarines.
IT'S OUT THERE SOMEWHERE
The hunt for the Alligator "The US Navy's First Submarine" has a website at http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/alligator/. A search was made in 2005 for several days, but the submarine wasn't found. They'll be back to look.
Here a Sub, there a Sub. --B-Runner
According to Wikipedia, it was 30 feet long and 6 or 8 feet in diameter. It's construction was supervised by Brutus DeVilleroi. Originally powered by oars, but in July 1862, the Navy replaced them with a hand crank.
The vessel was launched May 1862 and accepted into service in June. It was to be used against a bridge at Swift Creek, a tributary of the Appomattox River, and also to clear obstructions at Fort Darling on the James River, but it never happened.
The Union sinker of ships, Thomas O. Selfridge was given command and a naval crew assigned to it. After tests, Selfridge declared it a complete failure.
In April 1863, it was being towed to Charleston by the USS Sumpter, but sank off Cape Hatteras.
WOULDN'T IT HAVE BEEN SOMETHING
That would have been something if the Alligator had engaged the Hunley. The first battle of the submarines.
IT'S OUT THERE SOMEWHERE
The hunt for the Alligator "The US Navy's First Submarine" has a website at http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/alligator/. A search was made in 2005 for several days, but the submarine wasn't found. They'll be back to look.
Here a Sub, there a Sub. --B-Runner
Running the Blockade: Battle of Forks Road-- USS Seneca-- Davis to Beauvoir
Some New News About an Old War.
1. BATTLE OF FORKS ROAD-- This weekend, the Battle of Forks Road, outside Wilmington, NC, will have an re-enactment marking the 144th anniversary of the battle. After the fall of Fort Fisher, January 15, 1865, Confederate forces fought a series of delaying battles as Federal forces approached Wilmington.
Confederate forces under Gen. Robert F. Hoke, fought one final battle here, before the city was captured. The battle will be recreated on the actual battlefield, the grounds of the Cameron Art Museum. There will also be artillery and firearm demonstrations and a talk by noted expert Chris Fonville.
2. USS SENECA-- Was a 90-Day Gunboat, so-named because of the amount of time to build them. These ships were built and hurriedly part in both attacks on Fort Fisher and on February 17th, the attack on Fort Anderson on the Cape Fear River.
3. DAVIS TO BEAUVOIR-- The February 11th Clarion (Ms) Ledger reports that the life-size bronze statue of Jefferson Davis may be placed at his final home, Beauvoir in Biloxi, Mississippi. He was originally going to the American Civil War Center at Richmond, but pc politics stopped that. Plans for putting it at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson also fell through.
The statue shows Davis with his son Joe and the black boy, Joe Lumber, who was adopted by the Davis family.
Now You Know. --Old B-R
1. BATTLE OF FORKS ROAD-- This weekend, the Battle of Forks Road, outside Wilmington, NC, will have an re-enactment marking the 144th anniversary of the battle. After the fall of Fort Fisher, January 15, 1865, Confederate forces fought a series of delaying battles as Federal forces approached Wilmington.
Confederate forces under Gen. Robert F. Hoke, fought one final battle here, before the city was captured. The battle will be recreated on the actual battlefield, the grounds of the Cameron Art Museum. There will also be artillery and firearm demonstrations and a talk by noted expert Chris Fonville.
2. USS SENECA-- Was a 90-Day Gunboat, so-named because of the amount of time to build them. These ships were built and hurriedly part in both attacks on Fort Fisher and on February 17th, the attack on Fort Anderson on the Cape Fear River.
3. DAVIS TO BEAUVOIR-- The February 11th Clarion (Ms) Ledger reports that the life-size bronze statue of Jefferson Davis may be placed at his final home, Beauvoir in Biloxi, Mississippi. He was originally going to the American Civil War Center at Richmond, but pc politics stopped that. Plans for putting it at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson also fell through.
The statue shows Davis with his son Joe and the black boy, Joe Lumber, who was adopted by the Davis family.
Now You Know. --Old B-R
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Remembering the Old Days on the Cape Fear River-- Part 3-- Battle of Fort Fisher
Back on Jan. 28th, I started recounting some of a column that appeared back in February of 2008 in Brunswick's "A Bit of History."
Continuing.
By the fall of 1864, rumors of an attack on Fort Fisher began spreading. This is an account of the first battle.
"The fort's gunners had the beach zeroed in; it was pure murder and the Union troops were taking heavy casualties from the hail of gunfire coming from the fort."
"After the Union withdrawal, Captain Galloway told his men that there was no need to go back to their guns at Lockwood's Folly Inlet because no blockade runners were coming in with so many federal ships offshore."
The fort was in bad shape, "Many in the fort had come down with dysentery because of spoiled meat. Captain Galloway formed a hunting party to go to Green Swamp, hoping to get back in time with fresh meat and some supplies like flour and cornmeal from the residents of Brunswick County."
Of course, these were stories told by old men and then written down as remembered. Union sailors and marines were on the beach in the second attack. I hadn't heard of dysentery in the fort after the first attack.
A New Story On Fort Fisher. --Blockade-R
Continuing.
By the fall of 1864, rumors of an attack on Fort Fisher began spreading. This is an account of the first battle.
"The fort's gunners had the beach zeroed in; it was pure murder and the Union troops were taking heavy casualties from the hail of gunfire coming from the fort."
"After the Union withdrawal, Captain Galloway told his men that there was no need to go back to their guns at Lockwood's Folly Inlet because no blockade runners were coming in with so many federal ships offshore."
The fort was in bad shape, "Many in the fort had come down with dysentery because of spoiled meat. Captain Galloway formed a hunting party to go to Green Swamp, hoping to get back in time with fresh meat and some supplies like flour and cornmeal from the residents of Brunswick County."
Of course, these were stories told by old men and then written down as remembered. Union sailors and marines were on the beach in the second attack. I hadn't heard of dysentery in the fort after the first attack.
A New Story On Fort Fisher. --Blockade-R
USS Wissahickon
I'd never heard of the USS Wissahickon before, especially as an ironclad. I am somewhat familiar with many of the Union ironclads names, but not this one, so I went to good old Wipkipedia for some more information.
It turns out that the Wissahickon was not an ironclad, but a 691-ton Unadilla Class screw steamer gunboat built in Philadelphia and commissioned in November, 1861. It took part in the campaign to capture New Orleans that year, in the bombardment of Grand Gulf, and made two runs past Vicksburg.
Later, it was transferred to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and took parts in bombardments of Fort McAllister three times in 1862 and 1863 and participated in the destruction of the Rattlesnake/CSS Nashville on February 28, 1863, along with the Monitor USS Montauk, USS Seneca and USS Dawn.
It mounted an 11-inch Dahlgren gun, a 20-pdr. and 2 X 24 pdrs. It was 158.4 feet long and had a 28-foot beam.
A Ship By Another Name. --Old B-Runner
It turns out that the Wissahickon was not an ironclad, but a 691-ton Unadilla Class screw steamer gunboat built in Philadelphia and commissioned in November, 1861. It took part in the campaign to capture New Orleans that year, in the bombardment of Grand Gulf, and made two runs past Vicksburg.
Later, it was transferred to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and took parts in bombardments of Fort McAllister three times in 1862 and 1863 and participated in the destruction of the Rattlesnake/CSS Nashville on February 28, 1863, along with the Monitor USS Montauk, USS Seneca and USS Dawn.
It mounted an 11-inch Dahlgren gun, a 20-pdr. and 2 X 24 pdrs. It was 158.4 feet long and had a 28-foot beam.
A Ship By Another Name. --Old B-Runner
Naval Attacks on Fort McAllister, Georgia
The good folks at HMdb, Historical Marker data base recently featured the historical marker at Fort McAllister detailing times the fort came under naval attack.
July 1st and 29th, 1862, and Nov. 19th-- by ironclad Wissahickon and two escorts. The Wissahickon was hit below the waterline and withdrew after firing seventeen 11-inch and 25 other shells. The escorts fired forty-nine 100-pdr and forty-two other shells.
JANUARY 27, 1863-- Monitor Montauk fired sixty-one 15-inch and thirty-five 11-inch shells (first time 15-inch shells had been used against a land battery)
FEBRUARY 1, 1863-- shelled fort for five hours
FEBRUARY 28th-- destroyed blockade runner Rattlesnake, former CSS Nashville
MARCH 3, 1863 Monitors Passaic, Patapsco, and Nahant under Captain P. Drayton engaged fort for eight hours.
I had never heard of an ironclad by the name Wissahickon.
Watch Out for Those Shells. --Old B-Runner
July 1st and 29th, 1862, and Nov. 19th-- by ironclad Wissahickon and two escorts. The Wissahickon was hit below the waterline and withdrew after firing seventeen 11-inch and 25 other shells. The escorts fired forty-nine 100-pdr and forty-two other shells.
JANUARY 27, 1863-- Monitor Montauk fired sixty-one 15-inch and thirty-five 11-inch shells (first time 15-inch shells had been used against a land battery)
FEBRUARY 1, 1863-- shelled fort for five hours
FEBRUARY 28th-- destroyed blockade runner Rattlesnake, former CSS Nashville
MARCH 3, 1863 Monitors Passaic, Patapsco, and Nahant under Captain P. Drayton engaged fort for eight hours.
I had never heard of an ironclad by the name Wissahickon.
Watch Out for Those Shells. --Old B-Runner
Monday, February 16, 2009
Civil War Cannonball Found in South Carolina
The Feb. 13th State of South Carolina reports that a six pound unarmed cannonball was found recently in the Broad River and turned over to the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum which plans to stabilize it from corrosion.
It was likely fired by Confederates as Sherman's army approached Columbia in 1865. This provides further evidence that the Civil War era River Road bridge was located north of the current bridge. It is known that Wiggins Battery of Arkansas Artillery burned the bridge and fire at the abutment on the west side of the river.
This action slowed Sherman's troops, who built a pontoon bridge and crossed the river February 17, 1865.
The finder and circumstances of its discovery were not revealed.
And the War Goes On. --Old B-R
It was likely fired by Confederates as Sherman's army approached Columbia in 1865. This provides further evidence that the Civil War era River Road bridge was located north of the current bridge. It is known that Wiggins Battery of Arkansas Artillery burned the bridge and fire at the abutment on the west side of the river.
This action slowed Sherman's troops, who built a pontoon bridge and crossed the river February 17, 1865.
The finder and circumstances of its discovery were not revealed.
And the War Goes On. --Old B-R
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