Showing posts with label Ft Clinch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ft Clinch. Show all posts

Monday, June 3, 2019

Commander John Rodgers to Captain Charles Henry Davis, January 2, 1862

[Copy]
Confidential
Flag, Wassaw Sound
Jany 2, 186[2]
Dear Davis

I learn from Isaac Tatnall Gillis, Contraband, who escaped from the Str St. Mary at Savannah to Tybee, 3 weeks ago, that there are 5 Batteries on St. Simon's Island and two on Jekyl Isld. All these batteries are made of railroad iron and palmetto logs, the guns in bomb proofs.

These Batteries may be avoided however in going to Brunswick by entering St. Andrews Sound and passing through the Jekyl Creek with about fathoms at Spring tide. This passage debouches about 2½ miles from the Batteries on Jekyl Isld. The passage through St. Andrews leads to Fernandina. There is but one Battery on Amelia Island, none on Cumberland Isld, the guns having been removed.

The guns on Amelia Isld, old ones brought from St. Augustine, are pointed across the channel towards Cumberland Isld and cannot be brought to bear upon a vessel coming upon them from the inside.

No work has been done on Ft Clinch and no use made of it.

Through Ossabaw Sound, there is a passage to Montgomery, about ten miles from Savannah, with a good road leading to that city.

There is a sand Battery on Green Island, which must be passed in going to Montgomery.

There are no batteries at St. Catherine's Sound nor at Sapelo, Doboy, Altamah nor St. Andrews. There is a battery of 5 guns at St. John's, and one with 4 at Nassau.

Genl Yulee (Query The famous Senator?) commands at Fernandina. In the scramble for the Virginia guns, poor Florida was pushed aside, and left without any. Therefore, and because she cannot get back her troops from Virginia, Isaac thinks the Floridians will not fight with any very good will. About 2000 troops at Fernandina. These people were formerly fed by Steamboat from Savannah through the Romilly marshes which we now block, so that at present they must be fed from Brunswick, by Railroad from Savannah.

Freeborn cut has plenty of water, Isaacs thinks 4 fath. to the Savannah River which it enters about 3 miles below Ft Jackson, and one below the entrance to St. Augustine Creek (See Savannah Chart). About 200 yards from the River, Freeborn's cut has a short double bend. Isaac was in a Steamer with double engines disconnected; by giving away on one paddle and backing with the other, she could scarcely get through; men with lines could have a vessel round. Isaac heard about 2 months ago that a section of the dry dock was sunk in Freeborn Cut. He does not know whether this is so.

Isaac says that Fort Pulaski is badly provisioned, that it depends upon daily supplies from Savannah, and that in a weeks blockade it must fall from starvation.

He can take vessels into the Savannah River at night if desired thro' Freeborn cut or thro' St. Augustine or Wilmington River. These two last names belong to different parts of the same stream, or by ascending through Freeborn cut and coming down St. Augustine Creek, the forts may be approached in a direction they were not intended to resist.

If a force to resist the Georgia Navy can be got into the Savannah River above Fl Pulaski then the fort will be starved sooner or later, and fall without a blow. This will open Savannah River and Savannah to our Guns. Fort Jackson is on our way, but its guns are all en barbette.

By sounding here, we have found only 9 ft water at low tide into Freeborn cut.

After emerging from Freeborn Cut into the Savannah, Isaac thinks 2 fathoms can be carried down and across the river to Venus Point. See Savannah Chart.

The Flag is now between G. Wassaw & Little Tybee Islds blocking Freeborn Cut. The H. Andrew disabled nr Gt Wassaw Battery. The Seminole and Alabama at the entrance of the Romilly marshes.

Isaac has been pilot for years in these waters, he thinks he is worth $1500 — his master got $35 per month for his services. Gillis, I think, scarcely sees his way clear in putting him upon his Books for pay. I do not think he ought to be made to risk his neck for nothing. Gillis said he would enter him, upon my urging it, but I do not think he has done so.

I send the Commodore his chart of Port Royal colored by Mr McCauley and backed. It is, I think neatly done.

All the information I have gleaned from Isaac is interesting to me, and you will I presume find it valuable as confirming or raising doubts, and getting better knowledge thereby, from other sources.

Yours most truly
John Rodgers
Capt. Davis

SOURCE: Robert Means Thompson & Richard Wainwright, Editors, Publications of the Naval Historical Society, Volume 9: Confidential Correspondence of Gustavus Vasa Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1861-1865, Volume 1, p. 94-6

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Major-General David Hunter to Edwin M. Stanton, April 3, 1862

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
Hilton Head, Port Royal; S.C., April 3, 1862.
Hon. E. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War:

SIR: I have the honor to report my arrival here on the 30th ultimo. I address you by the first opportunity since my arrival.

I find about 17,000 troops scattered along the coast from Saint Augustine, Fla., to North Edisto Inlet, South Carolina, distributed as follows:

At Saint Augustine, Fla.
200
At Jacksonville, Fla.
1,400
At mouth of Saint John's River, Fla.
70
At Fernandina, Fla.
900
At Tybee Island, Ga.
2,200
At Daufuskie Island, S. C.
1,600
At Bird Island, S. C.
300
At Jones Island, S. C.
300
At Hilton Head, S. C.
4,500
At Bay Point, S. C.
80
At Beaufort, S. C.
3,600
At Otter Island, S. C.
450
At North Edisto River, S. C.
1,400

17,000

It is my opinion that this force is entirely too much scattered and is subject to be cut off in detail.
I shall order an abandonment of Jacksonville, Fla., and the re-enforcement of Forts Marion and Clinch. From later accounts I may add the Union feeling in Florida is not so strong as we were first induced to believe.

The batteries for opening on Fort Pulaski have been retarded by the non-arrival of the necessary guns, ammunition, &c. But Captain Gillmore, who deserves great credit for his untiring and scientific exertions, is now nearly ready, and by the next steamer I hope to be able to announce to you the fall of Pulaski. We then shall be able to hold the Savannah River with a small force and to concentrate on Charleston.

General Sherman made a requisition in December for five steamers drawing not more than 6 feet each. He informs me that they were purchased for him and sent from New York, but put into Hatteras in a storm, and are there detained by General Burnside. We are still very much in want of these light-draught boats, and, as we have but three wagons to a regiment, they are absolutely essential.

On my leaving Washington you had the kindness to promise me whatever force I might ask. We shall do all that men can do with the small force we have; but it distresses me to be in such a beautiful situation for striking strong blows without the arms to strike. I beg that you will send us at once as many men as you think we can use to advantage, as all the officers in command report the re-enforcement of the enemy on their respective fronts.

I most earnestly request that 50,000 muskets, with all the necessary accouterments, and 200 rounds for each piece, may be sent to me at once, with authority to arm such loyal men as I can find in the country, whenever, in my opinion, they can be used advantageously against the enemy.

It is important that I should be able to know and distinguish these men at once, and for this purpose I respectfully request that 50,000 pairs of scarlet pantaloons may be sent me; and this is all the clothing I shall require for these people.

I believe the rebel regiments as they retreat from the Army of the Potomac come directly to their respective States and that in this way the force opposed to us here is becoming considerably augmented.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

 D. HUNTER,
 Major-General, Commanding.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series III, Volume 2 (Serial No. 123), p. 27-8

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

The Capture of Fernandina


The following private letter has been received by a Senator from Flag Officer Dupont:


WABASH, OFF FERNANDINA,
March 6, 1862

MY DEAR SIR. The victory here was bloodless, but most complete in its results.  The Georgians were first to run, and abandon a formidable battery on Cumberland Island.

The defences have astounded us by their capabilities, formidable character and scientific location, with wonderful immunity from danger.  Their cannon are heavy and fine.  One 130-pound rifle gun which they had slung in the track to get away, but dropped on the beach, we have nothing to compare with.

Gen. Lee pronounced the place entirely tenable two weeks since, and Col. M. Blair of Ordnance, late commander in the Navy, declared he would keep me “off until hell and frozen over.”  But their valor gave out when they received the telegraph from Brunswick, that I had got into St. Andrew’s Sound with all the light vessels; but even by this route we had to encounter Fort Clinch and the Georgia Battery on Cumberland Island.

But as I have requested Capt. Davis to call and see you, he will tell you I have swept nearly the whole coast, and am holding it by inside and outside the blockade.

The younger officers, of course, regret there was no fight, but I console them by saying they fought too well and too successfully at Port Royal ever to get much of a chance at the rebels on this coast.

The most curious feature in the operations was the chase of a train of cars by a gunboat for one mile and a half; two soldiers being killed, the passengers rushed out in the woods, one of your late members among them – Mr. Yulee.  He passed the night under a bush, and I hope had a blanket, as it was the coldest of the season.

S. F. DUPONT.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 22, 1862, p. 2

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Fernandina And Brunswick Captured


THE WHOLE COAST OF GEORGIA IN OUR POSSESSION.

BALTIMORE, March 10. – The gunboat Alabama, from Fernandina, Florida, arrived bringing Capt. Davis, bearer of despatches from Com. Dupont, announcing the capture of Fernandina and Brunswick by the fleet under his command.  The fleet let Port Royal March 6th.  The first placed approached was Brunswick, Ga., the enemy flying at the approach of the gunboats.  This gives Government control of the whole coast of Georgia from South Carolina to Florida.

The fleet next went thirty miles south to Cumberland Sound, the entrance to Fernandina harbor.  When in front of Fort Clinch the enemy were discovered flying.  After firing but few shots we immediately took possession of the fort.

A train of cars was observed leaving Fernandina, the track of which runs three miles along the shore.  A gunboat threw shells at the train, causing some passengers to jump off, among them said to be ex Senator Yule, of Florida.

Twelve large guns fell into our hands, including one 120-pound rifled cannon, also considerable ammunition.  The rebel steamer Darlington, loaded with wagons and ammunition was also captured.

Gen. Wright’s forces were landed and garrisoned the fort and earthworks also taking possession of the city.  Most of the male inhabitants had fled.  This has been one of the most useful ports to the rebels.  Object of the expedition accomplished March 4th.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 15, 1862, p. 4

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Baltimore, March 10 [1862]

The gunboat Alabama, from Fernandina, Florida, arrived, Bringing Capt. Davis, bearer of dispatches from Com. Dupont, announcing the capture of Fernandina and Brunswick by the fleet under his command.

The fleet left Port Royal March 6th.  The first place they approached was Brunswick, Georgia, the enemy flying at the approach of the gunboats.  We took possession and left the gunboats in charge.  This gives government control of the whole coast of Georgia, from South Carolina to Florida.

The fleet next went 30 miles south to Cumberland Sound, the distance to Firnandina Harbor.  When in sight of Fort Clinch, the enemy were discovered flying.  After firing but few shots we took possession of the Fort.  A train of cars was observed leaving Fernandina, on the track which runs three miles along the shore.  A gun boat threw shell at the train, causing some passengers to jump off – among them are said to be two Senators, and Yulee of Florida.

Twelve large guns fell into our hands, including one 120 pound cannon, and considerable ammunition.  Also captured rebel steamer Darlington, loaded with wagons and ammunition.

Gen. Wright’s forces were landed, and garrisoned the fort and earth-works, also taking possession of the city.  Most of the male inhabitants had fled.  This has been one of the most useful forts to the rebels.  The object of the expedition is accomplished.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, March 12, 1862, p. 2