Posted inUS Civil War

April 16, 1861 – A Richmond Vessel Hoists the Confederate Flag

In East Baltimore, on Sunday, great excitement was occasioned in consequence of the hoisting on the mizzen-top mast of the bark Fannie Crenshaw, lying at Chase’s wharf, lower end of Thames and Caroline streets, of the Confederate States flag at an early hour of the morning. The American says :

The fact of the flag being raised was not particularly observed for several hours after, and, on its being perceived, the Star Spangled Banner of the Union was immediately thrown to the breeze by the Captains of the barks Agnes, Mondamin, Washington, Chase, and Seaman, lying in the vicinity, from the gaff of their respective vessels.

Posted inMaritime & Naval History Ship Histories World War 1

Cassin, in Fight, Fought Off Boat

Submarine Bettered in Battle With American Vessel

Damage to USS CASSIN, torpedoed on 15 October 1917, by German submarine U-61. Photographed while under repair in England.
Damage to USS CASSIN, torpedoed on 15 October 1917, by German submarine U-61. Photographed while under repair in England.

Washington, Oct. 23.—Coolness and quick maneuvering by Commander Walter H. Vernon saved the American destroyer Cassin from possible destruction in an encounter with a German submarine in the war zone on October 16, the Navy department was advised yesterday by Vice-Admiral Sims in his full report of the fight. Meagre details of the incident were received last week, but the destroyer’s name was withheld until yesterday.

Before she had an opportunity to fire a shot, the destroyer was hit on the stern by a torpedo, which killed Gunner’s Mate Osmond Kelly Ingram, slightly wounded five others of the crew, and put one engine out of commission.

The Cassin had been searching half an hour for a submarine first sighted five miles away when Commander Vernon suddenly saw a torpedo 400 yards distant and making for the ship at great speed. He ordered full speed ahead and the wheel hard over. The patrol boat was just clear of the torpedo’s path when the projectile broached on the surface, turned sharply, and hit its objective.

Posted inDaily News

West Coast Horticulture

A number of land owners along Honcut creek have been extensively grafting chestnut and wild oak trees this Spring and apparently a perfect union has been made in most instances.…
Posted inUS Civil War

Surrender of Fort Sumter — Great Rejoicing among the People — Unparalleled Excitement

The interest of our citizens in the exciting events lately occurring in the neighborhood of Charleston, South Carolina, always intense, as manifested by the crowds that have thronged around the bulletin boards of the different newspapers airing the past week, culminated on Saturday evening on the reception of the news of the surrender of Fort Sumter, In one of the wildest, most enthusiastic and irrepressible expressions of heartfelt and exuberant joy on the part of the people generally, that we have ever known to be the case before in Richmond. Nothing else was talked of, or thought of, save the great triumph achieved by the heroic troops of the glorious Southern Confederacy in obliterating one of the Illinois ape’s standing menaces against the assertion of Southern rights and equality.— So far as the opinion of the people is concerned, it would have been much more to the old rail-splitter’s credit had he ordered Anderson to leave Fort Sumter, as an untenable and undesirable place, than to attempt, as he and his coadjutors did, to make the undoubtedly gallant Major the scapegoat of his insiduous and damnable views. We repeat, that had wise counsels prevailed, the old ape would have had all the credit between a graceful leave-taking and an ignominious expulsion at the cannon’s mouth. 

Posted inUS Civil War

The Real Struggle

We will assuredly have to wage a war upon our Northern enemies. But it will be war of political economy and commercial policy. The "irrepressible conflict" must be fought out.…
Posted inUS Civil War

Congressional Inquiry Denied

Map of the Battle of Ball's Bluff

Parliament inquired into the conduct of the Crimean War, and out of the investigation grew the remedy for a host of grievances. The French Assembly, in the days of the Republic, also looked into the failures of their Generals. Our army claims exemption from criticism, immunity from censure, and that all its mistakes may he covered.

The Investigating Committee, on calling on General McClellan for facts in the Ball’s Bluff affair, were informed that he was too busy to look into past disasters. We confess we do not like the precedent. Once established, no limit can be named where it will end. It is not simply that a vexed question may be settled, as to who is responsible for the wholesale murder at Ball’s Bluff; who is to blame that our Federal troops were shot down like penned sheep; whose fault it was that there were no suitable means provided for crossing the Potomac; by whose mistake it was that Baker was sacrificed; why the movement was made at all; or when made, why recalled. It is not simply to settle these points that on investigation is needed, but to fix in the minds of all our commanders a consciousness that for all similar errors they are to be held responsible before the people.