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Drewry's Bluff (Virginia, United States) (search for this): chapter 31
th such limited means and opportunity. And this opinion was to be strengthened, from time to time, by the brilliant flashes of naval daring that came to illumine some of the darkest hours of the war. Who does not remember that defense of Drewry's Bluff when Eben Farrand had only three gunboat crews and three hastily mounted guns, with which to drive back the heavy fleet that knew Richmond city lay helpless at its mercy? And those desperate, yet brilliant fights off New Orleans, against People forgot the noble achievements of the ship under naval guidance; that, if destroyed by naval men, she was the offspring of naval genius. With no discussion of facts, the cry against the navy went on, even after that splendid defense of Drewry's Bluff by Farrand, which alone saved Richmond! As a pioneer, the Virginia was a great success and fully demonstrated the theory of her projector. But there were many points about her open to grave objections; and she was, as a whole, far inferi
Yorktown (Virginia, United States) (search for this): chapter 31
blockading the mouth of James river and cutting off communication from Norfolk. The Congress frigate was lying near her, off the News; while the Minnesota lay below, under the guns of Fortress Monroe. The Ericsson Monitor — the first of her class, and equally an experiment as her rebel rival-had come round a few days before to watch the Virginia, as the new iron-clad was now rechristened. The great ship being ready, Flag-Officer Buchanan ordered the Jamestown, Captain Barney, and the Yorktown, Captain Tucker, down from Richmond; while he went out with the Raleigh and Beaufort --two of the smallest class of gunboats, saved by Captain Lynch from Roanoke Island. This combined force-four of the vessels being frail wooden shells, formerly used as river passenger boats-carried only twenty-seven guns. But Buchanan steamed boldly out, on the morning of the 8th of March, to attack an enemy carrying quite two hundred and twenty of the heaviest guns in the United States navy! It was
Susquehanna, Pa. (Pennsylvania, United States) (search for this): chapter 31
t length, after weary work and weary waiting, took on her armament; then her crew was picked carefully from eager volunteers: her grand old captain took his place, and all was ready for the trial. During all this time Hampton Roads had been gay with Federal shipping. Frigates, gunboats, transports and supply ships ran defiantly up and down; laughing at the futile efforts of the point batteries to annoy them, and indulging in a dream of security that was to be most rudely broken. The Susquehanna frigate, with heaviest armament in the Federal navy, laid in the channel at Newport News, blockading the mouth of James river and cutting off communication from Norfolk. The Congress frigate was lying near her, off the News; while the Minnesota lay below, under the guns of Fortress Monroe. The Ericsson Monitor — the first of her class, and equally an experiment as her rebel rival-had come round a few days before to watch the Virginia, as the new iron-clad was now rechristened. The
Plymouth, N. C. (North Carolina, United States) (search for this): chapter 31
difficulty; surrounded on every side by numberless active foes; and finally dying, not from the blow of an enemy, but from the fault of those who sent her forth unfinished and incomplete! Those trying times recall the conduct of Captain Lynch and his squadron of shells; and of the veteran Cooke in the batteries, on the dark day that lost Roanoke Island. Nor may we lose sight of the splendid conduct of that latter grim old seadog, when, returning wounded and prison-worn, he bore down on Plymouth in the Albemarle and crushed the Federal gunboats like egg-shells. And conspicuous, even among these fellow-sailors, stands John Taylor Wood. Quick to plan and strong to strike, he ever and anon would collect a few trusty men and picked officers; glide silently out from Richmond, where his duties as colonel of cavalry on the President's staff chained him most of the time. Soon would come an echo from the frontier, telling of quick, sharp struggle; victorious boarding and a Federal gun
Cumberland (Maryland, United States) (search for this): chapter 31
tion were due to Commander John M. Brooke; and the terrible banded rifle-gun and bolt, she used with such effect on the Cumberland, was his undisputed invention. Much wonder had the good people of Norfolk expressed in their frequent visits to theed on-down the harbor-past the river batteries-out into the Roads. Steadily she kept her way, heading straight for the Cumberland; and close to her stuck the frail wooden boats that a single shell might have shattered. On she went --into full rangeing over her, hissing into the water-bounding from her side like raindrops from a rock! On she headed-straight for the Cumberland; the crew of that ship steadily working their heated guns and wondering at the strange, silent monster that came on so d scattering death along its course. Shocked and staggered, Uncle Sam's tars still stuck to their work. Once more the Cumberland delivered her whole broadside, full in her enemy's face at pistol range. It was her death volley. The submerged ram h
Europe (search for this): chapter 31
era seemed opened in naval warfare. But however great the meed of praise deserved by the iron ship and her crew, at least as much was due to those of the wooden gunboats that had so gallantly seconded her efforts. All day long had those frail shells been urged into the thickest of that terrific fire. Shot flew by, over and through them; and it seemed miraculous that they were not torn into shreds! The success of the Virginia, while it gave food for much comment at the North and in Europe, had the effect of stimulating the Department to renewed exertions elsewhere. At the same time it raised the navy greatly in the estimation of the people, who began now to see of what material it was composed, to accomplish so much with such limited means and opportunity. And this opinion was to be strengthened, from time to time, by the brilliant flashes of naval daring that came to illumine some of the darkest hours of the war. Who does not remember that defense of Drewry's Bluff whe
Tatnall (search for this): chapter 31
ans might not have fallen as she did. Later still, when the Virginia was blown up on the evacuation of Norfolk, a howl of indignation was raised against Secretary, Department and all connected with it. A Court of Inquiry was called; and Commodore Tatnall himself demanded a court-martial, upon the first court not ordering one. The facts proved were that the ship, with her iron coating and heavy armament, drew far too much water to pass the shoal at Harrison's Bar-between her and Richmondar all access to the river. It was essential to lighten her, if. possible; and the effort was made by sacrificing her splendid armament. Even then she would not lighten enough by two feet; the enemy pressed upon her, now perfectly unarmed; and Tatnall was forced to leave and fire her. People forgot the noble achievements of the ship under naval guidance; that, if destroyed by naval men, she was the offspring of naval genius. With no discussion of facts, the cry against the navy went on,
William R. Smith (search for this): chapter 31
A great rent yawned in the ship's side; she filled rapidly-careened --went down by the bows — her flag still flying-her men still at quarters! On past her-scarce checked in her deadly-slow course-moved the Virginia. Then she closed on the Congress, and one terrific broadside after another raked the frigate; till, trembling like a cardhouse, she hauled down her colors and raised the white flag. The Beaufort ranged alongside and received the flag of the Congress, and her captain, William R. Smith, and Lieutenant Pendergrast as prisoners of war. These officers left their side-arms on the Beaufort and returned to the Congress; whennotwithstand-ing the white flag — a hot fire was opened from shore upon the Beaufort, and she was compelled to withdraw. Lieutenant Robert Minor was then sent in a boat from the Virginia to fire the frigate; but was badly wounded by a Minie-ball, from under the white flag; and Captain Buchanan was seriously hit in the leg by the same volley. Then it wa
Shenandoah (search for this): chapter 31
an her work, she was soon followed by the Florida --a vessel somewhat better, but still of the same class. Under the dashing and efficient Maffitt, the Florida, too, wrought daring destruction. Her record, like that of her rival, is too familiar for repetition; ag is the later substitution of the Alabama for the worn-out Sumter. During the long war, these three vessels-and but two of them at one time — were the only cruisers the Confederacy had afloat; until just before its close, the Shenandoah went out to strike fresh terror to the heart and pocket of New England. Then, also, that stronghanded and cool-headed amphiboid, Colonel John Taylor Wood, made --with wretched vessels and hastily-chosen crews-most effective raids on the coasting shipping of the Northeast. One popular error pervades all which has been said or written, on both sides of the line, about the Confederate navy. This is the general title of privateer, given to all vessels not cooped up in southern harbors.
Raphael Semmes (search for this): chapter 31
Mr. Mallory iron-clads vs. cruisers the parole of Pirate Semmes what iron-clads might have done Treasury and Navy the a few weeks she ran out of New Orleans, in command of Raphael Semmes, and the stars and bars were floating solitary, but de held power in 1866. In the January of that year, Raphael Semmes was seized and thrown into prison. He was now chargedxisted! From incontrovertible testimony, we know that Captain Semmes only raised the white flag, after his vessel began to vengeance on a disarmed enemy, raised the absurd plea that Semmes became a prisoner of war by raising the white flag; that bIt would have no doubt been chivalric and beautiful in Raphael Semmes to have drowned in the ocean, because the boat of the f, a release. There is no necessity for defense of Captain Semmes' position; but it may be well to record how blind is torthern-nothing but glory under the southern flag. If Raphael Semmes be a pirate, then was the northern recognition of bell
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