Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

September 2, 1861 – Important News from Coast of North Carolina

The Federal Fleet Attacking Two Sand Batteries—Their Capturing Six Hundred Prisoners, &c.

Capture of the Forts at Cape Hatteras inlet. Alfred Waud, artist, August 28, 1861

The steamer Louisiana, Capt. Cannon, from Old Point, arrived Sunday, A. M., and brings the following important advices from the Federal fleet, which sailed from Old Point on Monday last. The steamer Adelaide had returned from the fleet and proceeded to Annapolis on Saturday, having on board Major General Butler and fourteen wounded Confederate prisoners, bound to Washington. We understand that the entire fleet, consisting of five war vessels, surrounded and engaged two sand batteries on the beach, at the mouth of Hatteras Inlet, and after considerable firing on both sides, a shell from the frigate Minnesota, caused the explosion of the Confederates’ magazine, when the entire body, said to number six hundred, were forced to surrender, from loss of ammunition and no means of retreat. Included among those taken prisoners, was Com. Barron. They were all sent to New York.

Posted inDaily News Maritime & Naval History Shipwrecks & Nautical Disasters

Six Sailormen Rescued After Four Days Adrift

Survivors of Wrecked Schooner Lived Off Flying Fish—Three Others Lost.

By the Associated Press.

EAST HAMPTON, N. Y., September 1.—Six survivors of the four-masted auxiliary schooner Samuel W. Hathaway, wrecked at sea last Tuesday in a hurricane that swept the Atlantic seaboard, were picked up early today by the steamship Southern Cross, bound from Buenos Aires for New York.

The rescued sailormen were found floating atop of the schooner’s skylight, where they had existed for four days, eating such flying fish that they snared and drinking water that they caught in their hats.

Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

August 14, 1861 – From Fortress Monroe

Fortress Monroe, August 10—The steamship Quaker City arrived this morning with the prize schooner George G. Baker, of Galveston, and her confederate crew of four men in irons.

The schooner was captured by one of the United Slates blockading fleet off Galveston, and sent to New York, with a United States crew on board. She was captured yesterday off Cape Hatteras, by the rebel privateer York who put four of her own men on board. In the meanwhile, the York was seen by the United States gun boat Union, who gave chase and burnt the privateer, but not until the crew had beached her and escaped.

Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

August 8, 1861 – From Charleston—The St. Lawrence Sinks a Privateer

destruction of the privateer PETREL by the ST. LAWRENCE, showing the smaller ship, the Petrel sinking while in the background the frigate St. Lawrence is firing cannon at the vessel.
Destruction of the privateer PETREL by the ST. LAWRENCE

Philadelphia, Aug. 7.—The U. S. gun boat Flag arrived at Fort Mifflin this morning with 36 rebel prisoners taken from a rebel war vessel, formerly the revenue cutter, Aiken, seized at Charleston last winter. The Aiken fired at the St. Lawrence off Charleston, probably mistaking her for a merchant vessel, when the St. Lawrence returned a broadside, sinking the rebel boat. Five of her crew were lost and the rest received and placed on board the Flag.