Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

June 23, 1861 – Naval Engagement – Gallant and Daring Chase of a Federal Steamer

On Sunday evening, about 7 o’clock, while the Confederate steamer Empire was engaged in reconnoitering the enemy’s works at Newport News, Captain Parrish discovered the Federal steamer Cataline, some distance off and under headway for Old Point. Chase was immediately given, and when within a few miles of Hampton Creek, the Empire fired two shots, one of which is believed to have taken effect on the Cataline and but for the proximity of the Cumberland frigate, which promptly opened her battery to stop the chase, the Cataline would in all probability have fallen into our hands.

Posted inLocal Histories US Civil War

June 21, 1861 – A Skirmish

A little fight occurred near Seneca Mill, which is on the Maryland side of the Potomac, some 28 miles above Washington. Lt. Col. Everett in command of three companies of District volunteers, about 200 men, being a detachment of Col. Stone’s column, who started in canal boats from Georgetown, and were obliged to leave them a few miles up, and march, the Confederates having cut the dam.

Posted inUS Civil War

June 20, 1861 – Evacuation of Harper’s Ferry

The most important event of the past week was the evacuation of Harper’s Ferry on Friday last by the Confederate troops. This step had so often been predicted, and denied with, such confident assertions of the impregnable fortifications erected there and of the determination of the Confederate leaders to make it the chosen point for a desperate stand, that the first reports were received with doubts and incredulity.— Confirmatory statements, however, of the withdrawal of pickets from all points above and below the Ferry, of the burning of the railroad bridge, and the destruction of provisions they were unable to carry off, finally confirmed the evacuation. The troops left in two columns. One column going toward Winchester with the presumed intention of joining the force at Manassas Junction ; the other retreating through Loudon county toward Leesburg. Col. Stone’s column of United States troops is in that vicinity, though it is supposed on the Maryland side of the Potomac, and a collision is among the contingencies.

Posted inMaritime & Naval History

No Sign of Missing Submarine “A 7” Which Sank of England

HMS A7

Plymouth. Eng., Jan. 18—A dozen torpedo boat destroyers and minesweepers plied up and down Whitesand bay from early morning today until darkness set in, but failed to locate the submarine “A-7” which sank during maneuvers Friday.

Plymouth, Eng., Jan. 18.—An all-day search by a fleet of torpedo boats, to which were attached cables to sweep the bottom of Whitesand bay, failed to locate the sunken British submarine A-7. When darkness fell Saturday the commanding officers reluctantly ordered the vessels to return to their moorings.

Posted inMaritime & Naval History

Lack Air Pressure Cause of Blast on U.S.S. Mississippi

USS Mississippi (c. 1918-1919)

San Pedro, Calif., June 16.—Evidence given the naval court today pointed at lack of air pressure in the gun mechanism as the cause, or at least one of the causes, explosion aboard the U. S. S. Mississippi, Thursday, when 48 men were killed.

Walter C. Ebell, turret captain of Turret No. 3 of the Mississippi, corroborated the evidence Saturday of Francis Majewski, plug-man in Turret No. 2, when the blast occurred, that the air pressure to clean out the gun barrels between shots and to close the gun breeches was weak.

Posted inDaily News

Saved by Swans

From the Pittsburg Dispatch.

Butte, Mont., June 14.—Owing to the fact that the assistant manager of Columbia Gardens, the pleasure resort of this city, has trained the swans in the little artificial lake to bring to the shore articles thrown into the water, little Gertrude Onell owes her life.