Showing posts with label USS Cambridge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USS Cambridge. Show all posts

Monday, June 17, 2013

From Fort Monroe

HON. E. M. STANTON, Sec’y of War:

The following appears in the Richmond Dispatch of the 28th:  The fearful state of suspense in which this city has existed for several days, has ended.  New Orleans is in possession of the enemy.  It was evacuated by Gen. Lovell, who removed his forces to Camp Moore, on the Jackson Railroad.

(Signed,)
J. E. WOOL, Maj. Gen.


The Charleston Mercury says that nine schooners left the city on the previous Saturday to run the blockade.  The Guide, Wave and two others were taken.  The crew of the Guide was landed on Gibb’s Island on Wednesday.  On Friday they were seen by our pickets and fired on, under the supposition that they were Yankees.  David Kauffer, of Augusta, was killed.  The three other vessels were sent to Port Royal.

The gunboat Mt. Vernon arrived from the blockade of Wilmington Sunday night.  She left there the Jamestown and Victoria.  The Cambridge sailed hence for Wilmington on Sunday.  The Mt. Vernon’s boilers are defective, but she will return to her station in a few days.  There is but little news.  Fort Caswell is being strengthened by the rebels in expectation of an attack.

The schooner Kate from Nassau was captured by the Mt. Vernon about two weeks ago, while attempting to run the blockade.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, May 1, 1862, p. 1

Sunday, November 4, 2012

From Fortress Monroe

BALTIMORE, March 26. – The Fortress Monroe correspondent of the Baltimore Union gives a report of two contrabands relative to the condition of the Merrimac.  She returned to Norfolk with six feet of water in her.  Six steamers  towed her up, and it was feared at first she would go down before her pumps could be rigged on board.  Her fires were extinguished shortly after hauling off from the Monitor.

These contrabands positively assert the death of Buchanan, and that the Lieutenant in command on Sunday, and seven seamen, and a number of wounded.  They positively assert the death and burial both of Lieutenant Miner, her second officer, and not Jones.

The Monitor stands out in the Roads, this side of Sewall’s Point, with steam up ready for action.  The greatest confidence is felt in the result.  She is in fine condition.

It is rumored that Yorktown or a considerable portion of it is burned.  A large fire was visible in that direction Sunday night.  A large fire was also seen to-day in the neighborhood of New Market Bridge, which seemed to be quite extensive.

The Cambridge reports that the Nashville, loaded with a valuable cargo of cotton and naval stores, ran the blockade last Tuesday night, which was dark, with lights extinguished.  She was abreast of the Cambridge before discovered.

On Sunday the Chippewa, a faster steamer arrived to take the place of the Cambridge.

Fort Macon and Beaufort are still in possession of the rebels.

On Sunday night the Sawyer guns at the Rip Raps made some capital shots at Sewall’s Point.  Tuesday morning one shell filled with new rebel fire exploded in the midst of the rebel parade ground, and it is believed to have done considerable damage.  The rebels fired at the Rip Raps but the balls fell short about fifty yards.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 3

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Escape of the Nashville

FORT MONORE, March 25. – The U. S. Steamer Cambridge arrived here this morning from the blockade off Beaufort, having left Sunday evening last.

The rebel steamer Nashville escaped from the harbor of Beaufort on Tuesday night, the 18th inst., having run the blockade.  The U. S. vessels at the place were the Cambridge and Barrant Gemstock [sic], a sailing vessel.  The blockading vessels had news of the capture of Newberne and were on the lookout for the Nashville, but they were not numerous enough to prevent her escape.  The Gembrook [sic] first saw the Nashville and immediately telegraphed to the Cambridge that she was coming out.  The Cambridge followed the Nashville and fired a number of shots at her with the hope of getting her into a fight, but the superior speed of the Nashville soon put her at a safe distance.  Two of the shots from the Cambridge were supposed to have struck the Nashville.

The bark Glenn, which has been blockaded in the harbor of Beaufort for some time, was set on fire by the rebels on Sunday, and was still burning when the Cambridge left, in the evening.  The Glenn was supposed to be fitting out as a privateer.  The burning of this vessel was doubtless preparatory to an evacuation of the place.

Fort Macon had not been blown up by the rebels at the last advices.

The bark Gembrook and steamer State of Georgia were left at the station by the Cambridge.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 3

Saturday, October 1, 2011

From Norfolk and Vicinity

BALTIMORE, March 26.

A Fort Monroe correspondent, of a Baltimore paper, gives a report of two contrabands, relative to the condition of the Merrimac.  She returned to Norfolk with six feet of water in here.  Six steamers towed her up and it was feared at first she would go down before pumps could be rigged on board.  Her fires were extinguished shortly after hauling off from the Monitor. – These contrabands positively assert the death of Buchanan and that of the Lieut. In command on Sunday, and 7 seamen and a number of wounded.  They positively assert the death and burial of both.  Possibly Lieut. Miner, her second officer and not Jones, is meant.

The Monitor stands out in the Roads this side of Sewall’s Point, with steam up, and ready for action.  The greatest confidence is felt in the result.  She is in fine condition.

It is rumored that Yorktown, or a considerable portion of it, is burned.  A large fire was visible in that direction Sunday night.

A large fire was also seen to-day in the neighborhood of New Market Bridge, which appeared to be quite extensive.

The Cambridge reports the Nashville, loaded with a valuable cargo of cotton and naval stores, to have run the blockade last Wednesday night, which was dark, with her lights extinguished.  She was abreast of the Cambridge before she was discovered.

On Sunday the Chippewa, a faster steamer, arrived to take the place of the Cambridge.

Fort Macon and Beaufort are still in possession of the rebels.

On Sunday night the Sawyer gun at the Rip-Raps made some capital shots at Sewall’s Point.

On Tuesday morning one shell filled with the new rebel fire exploded in the midst of the rebel parade ground, and is believed to have done considerable damage.

The rebels fired at the Rip Raps, but the ball fell short about fifty yards.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, March 28, 1862, p. 1

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Southern News

FORT MONROE, March 25.

The U. S. steamer Cambridge arrived here this morning, form the blockade of Beaufort, having left there on Sunday evening last.

The rebel steamer Nashville escaped from the harbor of Beaufort on Tuesday night, 18th inst., having run the blockade.

The only U. S. vessels at the place were the steamer Cambridge and the bark Gemsbok.  The blockading vessels had news of the capture of Newbern, and were on the look out for the Nashville, but they were not numerous enough to prevent her escape.  The Gemsbok just saw the Nashville, and immediately telegraphed to the Cambridge that she was coming out.  The Cambridge followed the Nashville and fired a number of shots at her with the hope of getting her into a fight, but the superior speed of the Nashville soon put her at a safe distance.  Two of the shots from the Cambridge were supposed to have stuck the Nashville.

The bark Glenn, which has been blockaded in the harbor of Beaufort for some time, was set on fire by the rebels on Sunday, and was still burning when the Cambridge left.  The Glenn was supposed to be fitting out as a privateer.

The burning of this vessel was doubtless preparatory to an evacuation of the place.

Fort Macon had not been blown up by the rebels at the last accounts.

The bark Gembsok and the steamer State of Ga. were left at the station by the Cambridge.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, March 27, 1862, p. 1

Saturday, June 19, 2010

News From Dixie Via Fortress Monroe

ARRIVAL OF UNION REFUGEES – CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS – DESTRUCTION OF REBEL GUNBOATS AND ARMY STORES – GREAT PANIC IN DIXIE – PICAYUNE BUTLER COME AT LAST!

FORTRESS MONROE, April 29. – A flag of truce from Norfolk to-day brought down the wife and family of Parson Brownlow, and also the wife of Congressman Maynard. The party consisting of four ladies, two men and six children, are all from Tennessee. They bring the report that all Union families of Tennessee have been ordered by proclamation to leave within thirty-six hours. 1500 Union men left for Kentucky a week ago Friday. Out of a party of 400 attempting to leave, 100 had been killed.

There can be no doubt of the capture of New Orleans. The Southern newspapers speak of it in the most dismal strains, and demand that the mystery of the surrender of the city shall be explained.

The Norfolk Day Book, in an editorial, says it is by far the most serious reverse of the war. – It suggests future privations to all classes of society. but most to be lamented of all, it threatens our army supplies. The raising of meat and corn and wheat, instead of cotton and tobacco, is earnestly recommended by the discreet editor.

The Richmond Dispatch of yesterday says that when the enemy’s fleet arrived opposite the city and demanded its surrender, Gen. Lovell refused and fell back to Camp Moore, after destroying all the cotton and stores. The iron-clad vessel Mississippi was burnt to prevent her from falling into the hands of the enemy.

Nothing is said about the Louisiana, but it is supposed that she was scuttled. It is rumored that she was sunk at the first fire.

Camp Moore is 78 miles from New Orleans, on the Jackson Railroad.

The following are the latest despatches in today’s papers.

MOBILE, April 27. – The Yankee Commodore, Farrugat [sic], promised the Secretary of the Mayor of New Orleans, who visited the fleet, by a flag of truce, to make a second demand for the surrender of the city, but he had not done so up to this hour, five o’clock.

Our ship, the McRea, came up from the Forts under a flag of truce, with forty of our wounded. She communicated with the Federal Flag ship, but the result is unknown. It is rumored that the Federals refused to let her return.

The rumor that Fort Pike has been evacuated and blown up, is unreliable.

In a conference held with one of the Federal officers, after the correspondence between Mayor and Com. Farrugat, the officer left declaring that he would shoot down the flag on the City Hall, if it was not hauled down, and he actually bro’t his ship within range, but has not fired thus far.

It is reported that the French and English men of war, which are below, will enter their protest against shelling the city.

It is believed the Yankee vessels are short, both of provisions and ammunition.

The excitement in the city is intense, and the feeling of humiliation deep.

RICHMOND, April 28. – The following dispatch was received to-day, by Adj.-Gen. Cooper, from Gen. Lovell:

Camp Moore, April 27.

Forts Jackson and St. Phillip, are still in good condition and in our hands. The steamers Louisiana and McRae are safe. The enemy’s fleet is at the city, but they have not forces enough to occupy it. The in habitants are staunchly loyal.

MOBILE, April 28. – The Forts on Lake Ponchartrain [sic] were all evacuated on the 25th inst. – we have sustained considerable loss in supplies and dismounting, but not in destroying. The guns at Fort Pike and all the building[s] were burnt, including the telegraph office. The operator has gone to the limits of the city to open an office if possible. All the gunboats on the Lake have been burnt by our own people. The mobile boats Whitman, Brown and several others are moving troops, stores and ordnance to Manchock, after which we fear they will be burned.

The Yankee fleet was returning again to Ship Island.

In a local paragraph the Norfolk Day Book under the head of markets, named the ferry small supply of edibles exposed for sale and says it becomes a question of grave moment as to where and how the people are to be fed.

The death of Samuel B. Todd, brother of Mrs. Lincoln, is announced. He died on the battlefield, and from the effects of the wounds he received at Shiloh, in the action of the 7th.

It is reported by the flag of truce that the Merrimac had steamed up, and it was expected in Norfolk last night that she would come out to-day. She has not made her appearance, however.

The Charleston Mercury says that 9 schooners left that city on the previous Saturday to run the blockade. The Guild, Wave and two others were taken. The crew of the Guild was landed on Gibbs’ Island on Wednesday. On Friday they were seen by our pickets and fired upon under the supposition that they were Yankees. David Kauffer, of Augusta, was killed.

The other three vessels were sent to Fort Royal.

The gunboat Mt. Vernon arrived from the blockade of Wilmington on Sunday night. She left there the Jamestown and Victoria.

The Cambridge sailed hence for Wilmington on Sunday.

The Mt. Vernon’s boilers are defective, but she will return to her station in a few days.

There is but little news.

Fort Caswell is being strengthened by the rebels in expectation of an attack.

The schooner Kate from Nassau, was captured by the Mt. Vernon about two weeks ago while attempting the run the blockade.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 3, 1862, p. 3