Showing results for "Mississippi River Squadron"
Town Between the Rivers: Cairo, Illinois
A blue-coated rider appeared atop the riverbank above the steamer Belle Memphis. Rebels massed in the cornfield behind him fired volleys that whistled by the horseman, whanged through the tall smokestacks, and thudded into the vessel’s superstructure. Hundreds of Iowa and Illinois infantry had slithered down the muddy incline and scrambled aboard to escape numerically […]
Read more...Misgovernance or Treason? April 1861, Part 1
April Fool’s Day, 1861, about 6:00 p.m.: The portly figure of Navy Secretary Gideon Welles charged into the Executive Mansion and into the commander in chief’s office with a sheaf of papers. Abraham Lincoln looked up from his writing, noted the secretary’s countenance, and inquired, “What have I done wrong?” Welles had “received with surprise” […]
Read more...Commanding the Regiment – Navy Edition: Lieutenant Thomas B. Huger, CSS McRae
When Emerging Civil War announced a series spotlighting regimental commanders, they kindly expanded it to include warship captains. Since my first book was a unit history of the Confederate war-steamer McRae, it seemed fitting to take some time to dive a little deeper into that vessel’s captain, Lieutenant Thomas Bee Huger. It is understandable if […]
Read more...Most Formidable Engine of Destruction: Torpedo Boat “Spuyten Duyvil”
“Your little torpedo boats should be able to whip a ram apiece,” wrote Admiral David D. Porter to the commander of his James River Division in January 1865.[1] One he had in mind was the steam-driven, iron armored, semi-submersible, rapid firing (relatively) spar-torpedo boat USS Spuyten Duyvil. She was to be deployed against powerful Confederate […]
Read more...Repurposing Captured Enemy Vessels Part 4: Star of the West
In Part 1 of this four-part series, I examined how the United States was able to capture and repurpose three Confederate ironclad warships. In Part 2, I continued that examination, expanding it to examine wooden vessels of the Confederacy captured and repurposed by the United States. In Part 3, I looked at United States vessels […]
Read more...Repurposing Captured Enemy Vessels Part 2: Confederate Wooden Vessels Flying the US Flag
In Part 1 of this four-part series, I examined how the United States was able to capture three Confederate ironclad warships, repurposing them into the US Navy. In Part 2, I will continue that examination, expanding it to include wooden vessels of the Confederacy captured and repurposed by the United States. For the most part, […]
Read more...Repurposing Captured Enemy Vessels Part 1: Confederate Ironclads Flying the US Flag
Ever wonder why there was a US Navy warship during the Civil War named after Confederate General Braxton Bragg? Or why there is a Confederate warship named after US President James Buchannan’s niece and de facto first lady? These confusing ship names have a simple explanation that adds to the complexities of naval warfare. Simply […]
Read more...What If. . .Vicksburg Had Fallen in July ’62?
In his memoirs, Admiral David D. Porter recollected a November 1861 meeting with President Lincoln and navy secretary Gideon Welles in which—he says—he suggested the plan to seize New Orleans from the sea. Lincoln liked the idea and added: “while we are about it, we can push on to Vicksburg and open the river all […]
Read more...George N. Hollins’ Fall From Grace
Circumstances change amidst battle and combat leaders often have great discretion in carrying out orders. The maxim of marching to the sound of the guns comes to mind, especially during the US Civil War. Commanders were often praised for following the spirit of their orders, if not the letter, and for showing initiative. In numerous […]
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