Posted inUS Civil War

October 27, 1861 – Iron Breast-plates for Valiant Secessionists

Among the innumerable contraband articles seized by the Louisville inspectors, during the smuggling season, were two or three breast-plates of cast iron, about one-eighth of an inch in thickness, covered with bunches of cotton cord half an inch thick, with which some valiant Secessionists expected, I presume, to protect their carcasses from Minie balls. The other day one of them was put to the test, without a man to stand behind it. It withstood the balls of Colt’s navy pistol, receiving only a deep indentation, and cracking very slightly; but when tried with the Minie musket, at fifty paces, it fractured like a gourd. Mr. Durett, now of Fort Lafayette, made some efforts to get them released from seizure, and it may be one was intended for his protection.

Posted inUS Civil War

October 26, 1861 – Details of the Battle at Fredericton

Death of Col. Lowe—Pursuit of the Retreating Rebels.

Pilot Knob, Oct. 22. [Special to the St. Louis Republican.]— From responsible parties who witnessed the light at Fredericton yesterday, we gather the following particulars

Col. Carlin, with parts of the Twenty first, Thirty third, and Thirty-eighth Illinois regiments, Eighth Wisconsin, Col. Bakers Indiana Cavalry, and Major Schofield’s battery, reached Fredericton at 9 o’clock in the morning, and at 1 o’clock P. M, was joined by the Eleventh, Seventeenth, and Twentieth Illinois, and 400 cavalry from Cape Girardeau. They then advanced in pursuit of the rebels under Jeff. Thompson and Col. Lowe, who had left the place 24 hours before, and were reported to be rapidly retreating south, but about a mile distant they discovered the entire force of the enemy drawn up in line of battle, partly posted in the open field and partly in the adjacent woods, with four iron 9 pounders well planted in their front. Major Schofield immediately opened fire, and at the fourth round silenced one of the rebel guns. The engagement then became general, and lasted about two hours, but after the first half hour the rebels left the Hold in disorder and took to the woods, closely followed by both our infantry and cavalry. Before leaving the field the rebel Colonel Lowe was shot in the head and instantly killed.

Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

October 25, 1861 – The Iron-Clad Steamer at Savannah

A correspondent of the Montgomery Advertiser gives the following interesting particulars of the iron-clad steamer, whose arrival at Savannah with arms and stores for the Confederate Government, has been briefly noticed in the papers. These particulars were obtained from a gentleman who was himself on board of the steamer:

She had the rig of a full rigged brig, and coming into port under sail, with a light head of steam, and her smoke stack down, her appearance, at a short distance, indicating nothing more than an ordinary brig. She has no sign of a port-hole from the outside, and the only indication on the decks that she is designed for a war vessel is the presence of four ring bolts firmly fixed in the decks. She is designed to carry four guns on deck, and, although there are no gun carriages to be seen, yet there are four ten-inch rifled cannon slung in such a way that they could be brought into action, had there been occasion, on very short notice. Her bulwarks, instead of being solid, as usual, were constructed of fancy wire netting. She had on board 18 of the above guns, the Enfield rifles as before mentioned, and large quantities of munitions of war.

He said that they kept the hatchets closed and allowed no one to go between decks; therefore, we can get no description of her arrangements internally at present. She presents a beautiful appearance externally, and when she is fully fitted for action she will, no doubt, prove an ugly customer for the enemy to cope with.

Thus we are progressing, and gaining strength, step by step, to punish the

“Slaves for pillage fighting,
Obdurate vassals fell exploit enacting.
In moody death, and ravishments delighting:
No children’s tears, nor mothers’ groans respecting”

The Athens Post, Athens, TN

Posted inUS Civil War

October 22, 1861 – Battle Near Leesburg

Death of Col. Edward D. Baker at the Battle of Ball's Bluff, by Currier and Ives

Yesterday morning five companies of the 15th Massachusetts regiment crossed the river at Edwards’ Ferry, and had advanced to within one mile and a half of Leesburg, when they were met by the 14th Mississippi regiment, and compelled to retreat to the Ferry. At the same lime, another portion of Gen. Stone’s command crossed at Harrison’s Island. During the day, much skirmishing took place, and it is said that the Federal troops advanced to within a mile and a half of Leesburg. At 5 o’clock last evening, however, the Confederates, in large force, attacked the right of the column, which numbered eighteen hundred men, and was commanded by Col. Baker, U. S. Senator from California. Col. Baker fell, and his command sustained a, repulse, and fell back with considerable loss.

Posted inDaily News Maritime & Naval History Travelers' Tales

The Hayes Arctic Expedition

Schooner United States in ice.

The problem which the Franklins and the Kanes, of Arctic science and discovery, have labored so long and with such heroism to solve, has had no new light thrown upon it by the voyage from which Dr. Hayes has just returned. When, in July of last year, he left our shores in the small schooner United States, having on board only sixteen persons and the usual outfit, we felt in no way sanguine that the expedition would be successful in clearing away the mystery which surrounds the North pole, and the result is, therefore, only in accordance with our anticipations. This conveys no ill compliment to its projector, whose enthusiasm, talent and perseverance are undoubted; but we formed our opinion from the weakness of the exploring force. It was an attempt, with very inadequate means, to achieve a great object. Everything about the expedition was on far too small a scale; and, being insufficient, it became a foregone conclusion that it would fail. We are still wanting in scientific data relating to the geography and meteorology of the Arctic region, and even of its navigation and zoology. We are only slightly informed; but this expedition has discovered nothing before unknown on these points, and the death of its astronomer has only added another to the long list of Arctic victims. Had the expedition been larger, and provided with a good scientific party, much might have been attained, where, for want of it, the result has been simply a blank. Dr. Hayes succeeded in making his way by dog sledges no farther north than latitude 81 degrees 35 minutes, which is a lower degree than even Hendrik Hudson reached about the year 1600. We refer to these facts simply to show the folly of fitting out Polar expeditions that, from their very diminutiveness, are unequal to the work for which they are designed.

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.