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Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Army Life in a Black Regiment, Chapter 4: up the St. John's. (search)
the strange receptacle would have held nearly a gallon. We went on shore, too, and were shown a rather pathetic little garden, which the naval officers had laid out, indulging a dream of vegetables. They lingered over the little microscopic sprouts, pointing them out tenderly, as if they were cradled babies. I have often noticed this touching weakness, in gentlemen of that profession, on lonely stations. We wandered among the bluffs, too, in the little deserted hamlet once called Pilot town. The ever-shifting sand had in some cases almost buried the small houses, and had swept around others a circular drift, at a few yards' distance, over-topping their eaves, and leaving each the untouched citadel of this natural redoubt. There was also a dismantled lighthouse, an object which always seems the most dreary symbol of the barbarism of war, when one considers the national beneficence which reared and kindled it. Despite the service rendered by this once brilliant light, there w
Robert Underwood Johnson, Clarence Clough Buell, Battles and Leaders of the Civil War: Volume 2., The opening of the lower Mississippi. (search)
ropeller half out of water, thumping on the wreck as she was driven in by the wind and sea. Pilots had been procured at Pilot Town, near by; but they were either treacherous or nervous, and all their attempts to get the heavy ships over the bar were had grounded seven times when in charge of a pilot, I succeeded at the first attempt, crossed the bar, and anchored off Pilot Town. The next trial was with the frigate Mississippi. The vessel was lightened as much as possible by taking out her sparreleased her from her disagreeable position. The next day at 12 o'clock I passed her over the bar and anchored her off Pilot Town. The U. S. Coast Survey steamer Sachem, commanded by a very competent officer, Mr. F. H. Gerdes, had been added to tng, when their bomb-shells were all expended. On the 26th instant I ordered the schooners to get under way, proceed to Pilot Town, and fill up with ammunition. Six of them were ordered to cross the bar and proceed to the rear of Fort Jackson, and b
Admiral David D. Porter, The Naval History of the Civil War., Chapter 19: battle of the forts and capture of New Orleans. (search)
tes Sloop-of-war Portsmouth. United States Sloop-of-War Portsmouth, off Pilot Town, Mississippi River, April 28, 1862. Sir-In compliance with your orders, I ered from the forecastle by me. Four of my wounded men are in the hospital at Pilot Town; the dead I buried on the left bank of the river, a short distance below our ll, United States gun-boat Itasca. United States Steam Gun-Boat Itasca, Pilot Town, Mississippi River, April 24, 1862. Sir — Agreeably to your instructions, s laborious work, succeeded in getting the ships through and anchored them at Pilot Town. I do not hesitate to say, but for the exertions of Commander Renshaw, Lieut that morning, I received General Butler and staff on board, and proceeded to Pilot Town for the boats which I was ordered to procure. After obtaining them, I immeran to the main chain. These anchors were buoyed with can-buoys taken from Pilot Town. In a few months a raft formed on the upper side of this chain which reached
Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 3. (ed. Frank Moore), chapter 82 (search)
off. The Nightingale is hard and fast ashore on the end of the bar. I have succeeded in reducing the leak of this ship so that our small engines keep the ship free. This is only temporary, and the ship will have to go to some place and have three planks put in. I have received rifle guns, and placed the 32-pounder on the forecastle and the 12-pounder on the poop. Could I have possibly managed this ship in any other way than keeping her head up and down the river, I would have stopped at Pilot Town to give battle, but this was found too hazardous, owing to her extreme length. The attempt was made, but a broadside could not be brought to bear without running the ship ashore. I then concluded, as advised, to start for the bar, and trust to the chance of finding water enough to cross. In narrating the affair of the river, I omitted to state that the ram sunk one of our large cutters, and a shot from the enemy stove the gig. I am pleased to say that the Vincennes is afloat, and a
Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 3. (ed. Frank Moore), chapter 164 (search)
the Preble and stood up the river, when Acting-Master Wilcox reporting we were getting too close to the starboard shore, the helm was put up, and the ship rapdily fell off, presenting her broadside up and down the river. As soon as she had drifted near the head of the Passes, ineffectual attempts were made to get her head up stream, when I found myself a mile and a half down the Southwest Pass. I then put the helm up, continued down the river, hoping to be able to get her head round off Pilot Town. In doing this she drifted some distance below, grounding broadside too. Soon after this, the enemy opened their fire upon us, which was kept up for about two hours. The day before leaving the head of the Passes I had succeeded in placing one of our 9-inch broadside guns on the top-gallant forecastle, giving a long range, and it was continually fired during the engagement. About nine o'clock A. M., during the firing, it was reported to me that several boats filled with men were leaving t
Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 4. (ed. Frank Moore), chapter 153 (search)
subject of his wrongs. The chain, as first stretched across the river, was quite a formidable obstacle. The chain was brought from Pensacola, and was a very heavy one. It was supported by heavy logs, thirty feet long, only a few feet apart, to the under side of each of which the chain was pinned near the upstream end. The chain was kept from sagging down too far by seven heavy anchors, from which smaller chains ran to the main chain. These anchors was buoyed with can-buoys taken from Pilot Town. In a few months a raft formed on the upper side of this chain which reached up to the Forts, and its weight swept away the whole obstruction and went to sea, carrying the buoys with it. It was then replaced by the lighter chain, buoyed by hulks, which we found there three weeks ago. Two of the large can-buoys were placed in the magazine in the water-battery. The night that Flag-Officer Farragut's fleet passed up, Col. Higgins was so sure of destroying it that he allowed the firs
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Davis, John Lee, 1825-1889 (search)
Davis, John Lee, 1825-1889 Naval officer; born in Carlisle, Ind., Sept. 3, 1825; joined the navy in 1841; served with the Gulf blockading squadron in 1861 as executive officer of the Water Witch; and on Oct. 12 of that year took part in the action with the Confederate ram Manassas, and in that with the fleet near Pilot Town. During the remainder of the war he was active in other engagements. He was promoted rear-admiral, and retired in November, 1886. He died in Washington, March 12, 1889.
The Daily Dispatch: November 5, 1861., [Electronic resource], Postponed. (search)
ghtingale is hard and fast ashore to the end of the bar. I have succeeded in reducing the leak of this ship so that our small engines keep the ship free.--This is only temporary, and the ship will have to go to some place and have three planks put in. I have received rifle-guns and placed the thirty two-pounder on the forecastle, and the twelve-pounder on the poop. Could I have possibly managed this ship in any other way than keeping her head up and down the river, I would have stopped at Pilot Town, to give battle; but this was found too hazardous, owing to her extreme length.--The attempt was made, but a broadside could not be brought to bear without running the ship ashore. I then concluded, as advised, to start for the bar, and trust to the chance of finding water enough to cross. In narrating the affair of the river, I omitted to state that the ram sunk one of our large cutters, and a shot from the enemy stove the gig. I am pleased to state that the Vincennes is afloat