Showing posts with label USS New London. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USS New London. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

George S. Denison to Salmon P. Chase, December 10, 1862

(Unofficial)
New Orleans, December 10th, 1862.

Dear Sir: I send this letter by Mr. Flanders who leaves to-day for Washington, and suggest that you talk fully with him concerning affairs here. I mean military and political affairs, with which he is quite familiar. You can rely perfectly on the integrity of Mr. F. An occurrence has just taken place which causes me to feel much indignation and some chagrin.

Col. Butler has three or four men in his employ who manage his business for him. The principal one is a Mr. Wyer. Some days ago Wyer loaded a vessel for Matamoras. She was loaded in the New Basin, and when she got into the Lake, ran into Pontchitoula.

This information reached me two days ago and since then I have been investigating the matter and am satisfied that it was a predetermined plan to take the cargo to Pontchitoula for the rebels, instead of going to Matamoras. I am also satisfied that Col. Butler was the sole owner of the cargo.

The vessel was the Schooner “L. L. Davis”, 95 tons burden, and 500 sacks salt was the greater portion of her cargo. This is worth in Rebeldom the astonishing price of $150. per sack. Cotton could be bought there at not more than 15 cts. per pound and delivered at some point on the Mississippi whence it could be brought hither. Near Matamoras, salt is abundant and cheap. I expressed astonishment to Wyer when he cleared the vessel, that he should send salt to that port, but he pretended to have information that he could get a good price for it.

I have just been to see Gen. Butler and laid the whole matter before him with statement of proof that the “Davis” was loaded with intention to run the blockade. I cannot give this statement in one letter, but it is sufficient to say that Gen. Butler expressed himself perfectly satisfied that such was the intention. I then told him I believed Col. Butler was the owner of the cargo — & gave my reasons.

Gen. Butler assures me he will immediately investigate the matter thoroughly & if Col. Butler or those associated with him, are interested in the operation, he & they shall instantly leave the Department of the Gulf. He manifested great indignation which I cannot believe feigned, judging from his appearance. I am confident I can bring forward sufficient proof to convince any honest Jury that the vessel is Col. Butler's and that he intended to take the cargo to Rebels. This statement I intend to make to Gen. Butler to-morrow morning, so that, if he please, he can permit me to collect and present the evidence.

Yesterday I had a long conversation with Admiral Farragut who holds the same opinion regarding this matter as myself.

The Gunboat at the mouth of New Canal, is the “New London,” commanded by Capt. Read (Lieut. Commanding). I am afraid he will be made to suffer — but it would be very unjust, for he was not deficient in vigilance, and is an honest and faithful officer. I am more in fault than he is, for I allowed myself to be deceived — though any man however vigilant, would have been deceived in the same manner.

I shall report to you promptly this progress and result of the investigation. Please excuse the hasty manner in which I am obliged to write.

P. S. Pontchitoula is in the northern part of Lake Pontchartrain — somewhat inland.

SOURCE: Diary and correspondence of Salmon P. ChaseAnnual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1902, Vol. 2, p. 338-9

Sunday, August 22, 2010

From Ship Island

NEW YORK, Feb. 13.

The store ship Supply brings Ship Island dates of the 24th. She has on board the Captains and crew of the captured rebel steamer Anna Lunes and the schooner A. S. Pren, taken by the New London off Florida. Nothing new at Ship Island. – Troops healthy. Works progressing rapidly. The frigate Niagara, gun-boats New London, Hatteras, [Trasca], Coon, Pampero, Shipblock, Prince and brig J. P. Witherell, were anchored off the Island. The Supply boarded off Florida, on 30th, the British schooner, Saint Hart of Liverpool, whose Capt. said, was bound from Liverpool to Cardenas, but having no papers and being on the route to rebeldom, was taken by the Supply crew, put aboard and brought to this port. Her cargo is supposed to be arms and ammunition.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, February 14, 1862, p. 1

Saturday, July 10, 2010

From the Gulf

WASINGTON, April 29. – By the steamer Connecticut, the Navy Department received despatches from Com. Faragat [sic] and Capt. Porter to April [22].

The steamers Pembina and Mississippi were over the bar, and the flotilla were moving to take their position.

Two Confederate schooners loaded with cotton, bound for Havanna [sic], were captured in attempting to run the blockade.

Prisoners report that there were several gunboats building at New Orleans, and five were already on lake Ponchartrain. Several lately went up the river with the steam ram and ten thousand men.

The schooner Columbia, of Galvaston, landed with cotton and bound for Jamaica was captured by a party from the steamer Montgomery. – Not being able to bring her out, the schooner was destroyed.

On April 4th, an expedition en rout for Pass Christian, consisting of the steamers New London, Jackson and Lewis, with troops, were attacked by the Rebel schooners Oregon, Pamlico and Carondelet. After a fight of 30 minutes the Lewis was withdrawn, owning to the crowded state of her decks. The others continued the fight one hour and forty minutes, when the enemy withdrew, apparently much injured. The expedition then landed at Pass Christian.

The Rebel merchant schooner, Wallace, laden with turpentine, rosin and lime, was chased and captured.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday May 3, 1862, p. 4

Saturday, April 10, 2010

From Washington

WASHINGTON, April 28. The following has been received: FORT MONROE, April 28. TO HON. E. M. STANTON:– The news of the occupation of New Orleans by our forces is confirmed to-day. No other news. (Signed,) JOHN E. WOOL, Major General Commanding Mr. Arnold, from the committee on roads and canals, reported in favor of the enlargement of the Illinois and Michigan canal. The report states that the work has been more than half completed by the State of Illinois, having expended thereon over $6,000,000. The canal has been in operation since 1858, and now yields an annual revenue of about $2,000,000. This will be greatly increased by the enlargement of the Illinois rover. The state of Illinois offers this canal and its revenue to the United States on condition that Congress will provide the means for enlarging it, so as to pass gunboats from the lakes to the Mississippi. This will place us on an equality with Great Britain, that power being able by her canal to pass war vessels from the ocean to the lakes. The Senate in executive session to-day confirmed a large number of military nominations, including the following named, to be Brigadier Generals of volunteers: Col. Max Weber, of N. Y.; Col. Thos. J. Crittenden [sic], of Ill.; Col. Wm. P. Benton, Jeremiah Sullivan and John C. Newton. By the steamer Connecticut, the Navy Department received dispatches from Com. Farragut and Capt. Porter to April 12th. The steamers Pamlico and Mississippi were over the bar, and the flotilla is moving to take their position. Two Confederate schooners loaded with cotton were captured trying to run the blockade, bound for Havana. Prisoners report there were several gunboats building at New Orleans and five already on the keel. Several lately went up the river with the steam battering ram and 10,000 men. The schooner Columbia, of Galveston, with cotton, bound for Jamaica, had been captured by a party of men from the Montgomery. Not being able to bring her out, the schooner was destroyed. On April 4 an expedition, en route for Pass Christian, consisting of the steamers New London, Jackson and Lewis, with troops, were attacked by the rebel steamers Oregon, Pamlico and Carondelet. The Lewis was withdrawn, owing to the crowded state of her decks. The others continued the fight one hour and forty minutes, when the enemy withdrew, apparently much injured. The expedition then landed at Pass Christian. WASHINGTON, April 29. The commission on ordnance supplies have, it is said, rejected all the foreign contracts and considerably curtailed those for the manufacture of arms in the United States. The ordnance office has issued proposals for manufacturing, within, on year, Springfield rifles and muskets and Harper’s Ferry muskets, together, with carbines, revolvers, sabres, swords and scabbards. The department reserves to itself the right to reject any bid and to consider none made through any broker or party other than the regular manufacturers. Several days ago the House passed a resolution desiring the Secretary of War to communicate all the facts and circumstances within his knowledge relative to the late evacuation, by our troops, of Jacksonville. The Secretary replies, that he conceives it to be the province of the President to furnish information concerning military operations; but the President has directed him to say that the evacuation was for reasons not deemed compatible with the public interest to disclose. Specials state there is a rumor that the Government is in possession of information which may possible lead to a cessation of hostilities. A mediation and compromise form the basis of the rumor. It is rumored that Gen. Cadwallader is to take the place of Gen. Smith at the west. Sedgewick, of N. Y., is appointed on the House committee on confiscation vice Olin, declined. It is stated that a majority of the committee favor a strong bill for the confiscation of rebel property. The following was received to-day at the War Department: NEAR MONTERY, Tenn., April 25. Five companies of our cavalry had a skirmish with the enemy’s cavalry two miles in advance of here. The enemy retreated. Five of them were killed, on of them a Major, and eighteen prisoners, with their arms and horses, were captured and are in camp. One of the prisoners named Haughan was formerly foreman in the Louisville Demicrat office. We had none killed or wounded. – Our forces are in capital spirits. Prisoners say the enemy have upwards of 80,000 men at Corinth and will fight, and that they are entrenching and mounting large guns. – Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, April 30, 1862, p. 1