Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

October 19, 1861 – Bold Exploit on the Lower Potomac

Burning a Confederate Schooner in Quantico Creek, by a Detachment of the Potomac Flotilla under Lieutenant Harrell.

Washington, Oct. 12.—The Navy Department this morning received the following despatch:

United States Steamer Union,
Off Aquia Creek, Oct. 11. ’61.

Sir —l have the honor to submit the following report for your information:

Being informed of a large schooner lying in Quanitico or Dumfries’ Creek—knowing also, that a large number of troops were collected at that point, with the view of crossing the Potomac river, as was reported to me, I conceived it to be my duty to destroy the schooner. With this object in view, I took two launches and my boat and pulled in for the vessel at hall past 2 o’clock this morning.

Posted inUS Civil War

October 18, 1861 – Our Army Correspondence

Camp McClellan
Davenport, Oct. 11, 1861

DEAR JOURNAL: –Here we are at last, the members of Capt. Ben. Beach’s company, snugly ensconced in comfortable quarters at Camp McClellan. We are not disappointed as to the position of our camp; its location is beautiful and healthful, but at present thoroughly “muddled” from recent rains, which causes us some inconvenience in “navigatin ;” however. I think one or two days of this beautiful sunshine will dry things up.—

We arrived at Davenport at 7 o’clock Thursday evening, where our friend and fellow soldier, Capt. Charles E. Compton, was waiting to receive us but owing to the inclemency of the weather, we were directed to the Railroad depot, which was furnished us for temporary quarters: While supper was being prepared for us at the Le Claire House, we amused ourselves in sundry ways, singing and dancing being the chief amusement. At the hour of 9, the company was formed and marched down town, where we engaged in supplying the wants of the inner man. Supper over, songs were sung by the “Sardine Club,” the performance closing with Charles Fowler’s inimitable woman’s rights speech, which was loudly applauded by the curious spectators.

Posted inAviation Daily News

ZR-3 Changes Course to Head for Newfoundland

Zeppelin landing at Lakehurst, NJ

Giant Dirigible Takes Northerly Path to Avoid Storms—Speeds Along at 75-Mile Rate

By United Press

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14.—Her wireless crackling out cheering that all aboard are well, at least three of her four motors roaring rymthically and speeding her towards her goal, the Zeppelin ZR-3 with four Americans and twenty-eight Germans, officers and men, was drawing near the United States today.

“We are headed directly for Newfoundland, making seventy-five nautical miles per hour. All our crew are well and the engines are in perfect condition.”

Shortly after 1 p. m. today the above message was relayed to the United Press from the Zeppelin ZR-3 by the Radio Corporation of America’s station at Chatham, Mass.

Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

October 14, 1861 – The Great Naval Victory

Confederate ironclad ram CSS Manassas attacks the USS Richmond in the Battle of the Head of the Passes, 12 October 1861. Harper's weekly, 1861 Dec. 7, p. 773.

Last Saturday, the 12th day of October 1861, has now a place in history, and a place, too, inferior to none connected with the history of the people of America, the Fourth of July only excepted. Thursday gave to the South also another hero, one who will rank with the Jones’, the Hulls, the Perrys, and the Decaturs, those glorious defenders of the rights of the old Union. Yes, henceforth the name of Hollins will be mentioned with pride throughout the broad extent of the Southern Confederacy. He has fought against odds, we believe, which have never before been encountered, and obtained a victory which, so for as we recollect, has no parallel in history. Five extemporised gun boats, armed with 17 guns all told, attacked a fleet of four men of war, armed with about 40 guns, sunk one of them, put the balance to flight, ran them ashore, and captured a transport schooner from them.

This expedition, which had such a glorious termination, was fitted out here and over in Algiers by Capt. Hollins, amidst the most profound secrecy, not the slightest hint of what was intended getting noised abroad until the vessels were almost ready for departure, and even then nothing definite could be learned, nor did any one know exactly what was going to be done.

Posted inUS Civil War

October 13, 1861 – Important From Fort Pickens

Fight Between Col. Wilson’s Zouaves and Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama Soldiers on Santa Rosa Island

Baltimore, Oct. 12,1811.

The Norfolk Day Book, received this morning, contains despatches from New Orleans giving an account of a surprise and attack made on Col. Wm. Wilson’s Zouaves, at Rosa Island, on the 8th inst. Detachments from several Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama regiments made a landing in the night and drove in Wilson’s pickets, and shortly afterwards a fierce fight began. The Zouaves of Colonel Wilson are credited with having fought with great bravery, and the rebels admit a loss of forty killed and about double that number wounded. The rebels claim to have spiked the guns of the Zouaves and destroyed all their camp equipage. They also claim to have committed great slaughter among the Zouaves, but give no number of the killed. The rebels also say they carried off a number of prisoners.

Posted inLocal Histories Maritime & Naval History Shipwrecks & Nautical Disasters

Wrecking

The coal from the wrecked schooners Florida, and Laura A. Watson in being landed at the village and Old Harbor, under the careful supervision of Mr. Stephen J. Smith, Underwriters’ Agent, who is on hand at all times, attending to business with his usual dilligence and promptness. The men are at work at almost all hours of the day, and sometimes late into the night. The tides have served so early during the past week, that they were obliged to start by three or four o’clock in the morning. There has been no accident beyond the staving of a few boats, although the weather has been very boistrous, and the sea rough.