battle of the head of passesbattle of the head of passes

The fight. About 4:40 a.m., Richmond was in the process of loading coal from the schooner Joseph H. Toone when a lookout from Preble shouted, Ahoy! U.S. occupation of the Head of Passes facilitated an easier blockade of the Mississippi River. Although staffed with a courageous crew she was not fast, maneuverable, or durable enough to bring her iron ram into decisive action. The blockade arrived off the Outer Pass of the Mississippi Delta when the USSBrooklyn arrived on May 27, 1861. The ironclad also featured a 64-pounder gun (later replaced by a 32-pounder), difficult and dangerous to reload; however, it could be aimed by pointing the ship at the intended target. During the American Civil War, Head of Passes was the site of several naval battles. [xi] Much of the blows force however, was deflected by the unarmed coaling schooner Joseph H. Toone, alongside Richmond that night. Once there he sent CSSMcRae with a boarding party under Lieutenant Alexander F. Warley to commandeer the privateer ironclad ram Manassas at gunpoint for the Confederate Navy. [6], USS Richmond, wooden steam sloop of the Union fleet. She was not fast or maneuverable enough to bring her iron ram into decisive action. Battle of the Head of the Passes, Oct 12 1861 | The Naval War | Page 2 Reading about the Head of Passes, I can't help but think the CSA probably denied themselves a capable naval officer in George N. Hollins. It was known that two, and perhaps three vessels were being outfitted at New Orleans as privateers or gunboats (CSS Sumter had departed the Mississippi River on her cruise of destruction in June.) Porter, Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1880-1901), Series 1, Volume 24, 142. The Battle of the Head of Passes was the first use of an ironclad and ram attack in the war, propelling both the use of ironclad vessels and rams by both sides. The weak link in this concentrated chain of firepower was the fleet commander and captain of the Richmond, Captain John Pope. The prospect of the Union fleet occupying a base at the Head of Passes was intolerable. This counteroffensive would result in the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. [11]:204 Supporting the Richmond were the Vincennes and Preble. Water Witch was the last to leave the Head of Passes. Add your email address to subscribe to this blog. [20], Hollins returned to a hero's acclaim in New Orleans. She also remounted one of her broadside guns as a bow pivot gun after anchoring by the lighthouse at the Head of Passes. It effectively sealed New Orleans off from the sea and was a convenient point for an attack upon Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip, the last line of defense for the city. Join Geni to explore your genealogy and family history in the World's Largest Family Tree. The attack occurred after moonset in the early hours of October 12, 1861, and routed the Union fleet, which fled in disorder down the Southwest pass of the delta. Hollins was unmoved, since now his mosquito fleet seemed to have some chance against the much bigger vessels of the Union blockade. It patrolled the Head of Passes into 1862, but was destroyed at the battle of Forts Jackson and Saint Philip on April 24, 1862, in the failed Confederate defense of New Orleans. The result? Warley found the privateers crew lined up on the turtleback, swearing that they would kill the first man who attempted to board. Brandishing weapons, Warleys sailors boarded Manassas to the bewilderment of the crew, half rushing below deck. . And it was believed that a properly sited heavy artillery battery, perhaps in conjunction with one U.S. Navy vessel, could effectively blockade the southern end of the Mississippi River. On the 17th of October the USSSouth Carolina and the Vincennes were sent in pursuit of the pestiferous CSS Ivy. All Rights Reserved. The Battle of the Head of Passes was a bloodless naval battle of the American Civil War. The Federal Navy's first proper battle with the newly formed Confederate Navy occurred on October 12, 1861, when a Federal squadron, consisting of Richmond, Vincennes, Preble, and Water Witch, attempting to force the mouth of the Mississippi, encountered a Confederate Navy . The mosquito fleet deployed three fire rafts, which were ignited and followed the ironclad ram CSS Manassas into . Battle of the Head of Passes) . The four blockaders slipped their anchors, abandoning them on the river bottom, and maneuvered for the Southwest Pass and the relative safety of the Gulf of Mexico. This occupation resulted in the Battle of the Head of Passes, where the blockading forces were temporarily driven from the area. The rebel gunboats, once freed of the glare of the rafts between them and the targets, opened fire on the Union fleet. [18][22], The Union naval command was mortified by the embarrassing setback. The Head of Passes remained in Confederate control until Farragut proceeded upriver, but blockading ships simply stationed themselves at each river pass in the meantime, maintaining an effective, if less coordinated, blockade of the Mississippi River. The attack of the CSS Ram Manassas was actually the Preble's second "battle' of the week. After sunrise Commodore George N. Hollins, running low on ammunition and fuel, ordered the mosquito fleet to withdraw upriver. Courtesy of Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 608. After sunrise Commodore George N. Hollins ordered the mosquito fleet to withdraw upriver. Flag-officer McKean, commanding the blockade at the river mouth stated, and I am sorry to be obliged to say that the more I hear and learn of the facts the more disgraceful it does appear. Union Naval Secretary Gideon Wells referred to the incident as Popes Run. You can help our automatic cover photo selection by reporting an unsuitable photo. Ram Fever was born! The weak link in this concentrated chain of firepower was the fleet commander and captain of the Richmond, Captain John Pope. With the addition of the Manassas, Hollin's small fleet seemed to have a chance against the much bigger vessels of the Union blockade. Many observers called the ironclad a turtle or a long floating cigar; and it was the only ironclad on the Mississippi River. Targeting USS Richmond, Warley ordered his ship to full speed while Chief Engineer William H. Hardy ensured tar, tallow, and sulphur [sic] were thrown into the furnace.[ix]. It was now 15 feet longer and its beam was widened by five feet. Manned by an experienced crew of 260 well trained sailors, she was a behemoth compared to any vessel of the mosquito fleet. John presents Civil War tours and lectures across the country and is the author of 18 books, with three more on the way. The commander of Vincennes misread a signal from Captain Pope and ordered the ship to be abandoned. Mallory then ordered two ironclads laid down in New Orleans, and another two built in Memphis, Tennessee. Each ship mounted 14 and 16 32-pounder smooth bores respectively, and were sloops of war with no power other than sail. I keep a guard boat out upriver during the night." [11]:204 Supporting the Richmond were the Vincennes and Preble. This article is within the scope of the Military history WikiProject.If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the project and see a list of open tasks.To use this banner, please see the full instructions. In 1863 the light was placed on a wooden tripod. [17], As a signal to release the fire rafts she was to fire three rockets. Find Battle Of The Head Of Passes stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. To make matters worse, the rams smokestack was knocked down causing choking fumes to engulf the Confederate ships interior. [3], Louisiana seceded from the Union on January 26, 1861. by Can you list the top facts and stats about Battle of the Head of Passes? 10, 2277. The lieutenant called Manassas a bug bear no power, no speed, no strength of resistance and no armament. Nevertheless, Warley quickly assembled a crew as Hollins planned to attack the Union fleet the next morning. By ten oclock Commodore Hollins decided the mosquito fleet was running low on coal and ammunition, and ordered the fleet back upriver to Fort Jackson. Recovering, the rockets were fired to signal the advance of the fire rafts. One shell dented the ironclads armor, a second snapped off the ships flagstaff, and a third slammed into the remaining smokestack, blocking the main decks exhaust vents. Louisiana seceded from the Union on January 26, 1861. [21], The Manassas proved to be a disappointment. The Battle of the Head of Passes was a bloodless naval battle of the American Civil War. Summarize this article for a 10 years old, .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct,.mw-parser-output .geo-inline-hidden{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}29.157N 89.254W / 29.157; -89.254, The Battle of the Head of Passes was a bloodless naval battle of the American Civil War. The attack occurred after moonset in the early hours of October 12, 1861, and routed the Union fleet, which fled in disorder down the Southwest pass of the delta. Stephenson went to meet with President Jefferson Davis in Montgomery, Alabama, to ask for the use of a heavy tug, altering it to make it comparatively safe against the heaviest guns afloat, and by preparing bow in a peculiar manner rendered them capable of sinking by collision the heaviest vessels ever built. With Daviss approval, Stevenson returned to New Orleans to build an ironclad privateer, quickly raising more than $100,000 in subscriptions. Sketch map of the lighthouse station, Head of Passes, proposed site of the Union ten gun 9-inch smooth bore battery. The tug underwent a great transformation at New Orleans, with its upper deck cut away so the hull projected only 2 feet above the water.[ii] Restructured deck was convexly curved and layered with iron railroad ties dovetailed to improvise one-inch-thick plate. In the lead was Manassas, followed by three chained together fire rafts and the rest of the squadron. It was a naval raid made by the Confederate river defense fleet, also known as the mosquito fleet in the local media, on ships of the Union blockade squadron anchored at the Head of Passes. The Battle of the Head of Passes was a bloodless naval battle of the American Civil War. The Battle of the Head of Passes was a bloodless naval battle of the American Civil War. It was a naval raid made by the Confederate river defense fleet, also known as the mosquito fleet in the local media, on ships of the Union blockade squadron anchored at the Head of Passes. [xi] Washington, Oct. 25, Gallipolis Journal, October 31, 1861. The hull buckled, resulting in yet another leak, and one of the engines was knocked off its mounting. Hollins possessed more ships, including the navy vessels McRae, Calhoun, Ivy, Tuscarora, and Jackson, the Confederate revenue cutter Pickens, and the steam tug Watson, but these only mounted half the U.S. squadrons battery. USS Prebles sailors saw a dark mass not 20 yards distant moving with great velocity toward the bow of the Richmond. Preble hoisted a red light to warn Richmond, as huge clouds of the densest, blackest smoke rolled up from the iron turtles twin smokestacks. The strategy of a Union blockade was formulated by General Winfield Scott and proclaimed by President Abraham Lincoln on April 19, 1861. Upon seeing the other rockets burst in the air, the fire rafts were released and floated down the river toward the Union flotilla. As 1862 dawned, Hollins was celebrated by government leaders and civilians alike. 1 2 Next L LilRhody Private Joined Apr 8, 2018 Location Bellingham, WA Dec 15, 2019 #1 As I have posted elsewhere, I am writing a book about a naval officer from northern NY state who reported to Annapolis five days before John Brown was hung at Charles Town, just outside Harpers Ferry. I may be captured at any time by a pitiful little steamer mounting only one gun.[15] The Ivys rifled gun did outrange Popes smooth bores, but at extreme range could not score any hits. Aside from the rout of the Union blockading fleet there was little gain. As Manassas struggled to make its way upstream, the crew began to set off the flares, indicating that the fire rafts should be released. [4], On the Union Navy side, command and operations were much more focused. Even though the Ivy was joined by another rebel steamer, both were driven up the Southwest passage to the Head of Passes where the chase was abandoned due to inability to close the range on the rebel vessels. One of the two engines of the Manassas was torn loose by the impact, and she lost power. The arrival of these vessels was much sooner than anyone in New Orleans had imagined, and the panic-stricken rush when neutral shipping was given a fifteen day grace period to vacate the port was an ugly dose of reality to stack against the concept of business as usual. Each ship mounted 14 and 16 32-pounder smooth bores respectively, and were sloops of war with no power other than sail. [i] Report of John Stevenson, The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1880-1901), Series 4, Volume 1, Part 1, 142. Once there he sent CSSMcRae with a boarding party under Lieutenant Alexander F. Warley to commandeer the privateer ironclad ram Manassas at gunpoint for the Confederate Navy. The Manassas presented only two and a half feet of armored deck above the waterline; the 32-pound shot of the Preble went high over her deck and scored no hits. It was a naval raid made by the Confederate river defense fleet, also known as the "mosquito fleet" in the local media, on ships of the Union blockade squadron anchored at the Head of Passes. It was a naval raid made by the Confederate river defense fleet, also known as the " mosquito fleet " in the local media, on ships of the Union blockade squadron anchored at the Head of Passes. Margaret Novell served as head keeper from 1891 to 1896. Another defensive feature was a set of pumps installed to blow steam and scalding water across the ironclads shield to repel any boarders. The momentum of the Manassas tore the Toone loose from Richmond and the Manassas continued past the Richmonds stern. Despite his fears of an assault by a stronger force, Pope failed to set out picket boats, stations with flares, or any other precaution to warn him of the enemys approach. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. The Calhoun, the flagship, would remain in the rear, as would the Jackson and Pickens, seeking targets of opportunity. Aboard the Niagara was Captain William W. McKean, the new commander of the Mississippi blockade. Known as Manassas, after the Confederate victory in July 1861, Stevensons prototype ironclad became the first in North American, pioneering Civil War naval tactics. The West Gulf Blockading Squadron was organized under the command of Flag Officer David G. Farragut and sent to the Mississippi delta in far greater force. The CSS Manassas Head of Passes October 12, 1861 - This was a bloodless naval battle that was part of the Expedition to Capture New Orleans. Other than gleefully burning the timbers the Union fleet left at the Southwest Pass Lighthouse for a proposed shore battery, there was only a captured cutter filled with abandoned cutlasses and the crewless Toone. You can unsubscribe at any time. Warley ordered his crew to the main deck to prevent suffocation while Chief Engineer Hardycut away the wreckage blocking the vents. The possibility of setting up picket boats, ranging posts or illuminated marker buoys, illumination fires, or preplanned concentrations of gunfire did not occur to him. Exoprimal is Capcom's super unique action title that provides action-packed PvE gameplay with an inventive PvP twist. Engineer in Gray: Memoirs of Chief Engineer James H. Tomb, (Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Co., 2005), 24. This battle was a naval raid made by the Confederate river defense fleet, also known as the " mosquito fleet " in the local media, on ships of the Union Blockade Squadron anchored at the Head of Passes. This counteroffensive would result in the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. After sunrise Commodore George N. Hollins, running low on ammunition and fuel, ordered the mosquito fleet to withdraw upriver. The Richmond was lashed to the coal schooner Joseph H. Toone on her port side, just off the lighthouse at the head of the Southwest pass on the east bank. Head of Passes is where the main stem of the Mississippi River branches off into three distinct directions at its mouth in the Gulf of Mexico: Southwest Pass , Pass A Loutre and South Pass . The gun did have a cast-iron port shutter. When Flag Officer Hollins learned that Union ships had occupied the Head of Passes, he sent CSS Ivy to investigate on October 9, 1861. Battle of the Spurs (Kansas) Berlin Crisis of 1958-1959. The Confederate squadron peppered them for several hours. It was a naval raid made by the Confederate river defense fleet, also known as the mosquito fleet in the local media, on ships of the Union blockade squadron anchored at the Head of Passes. Philip.[23][24]. Henceforth the name of Hollins will be mentioned with pride, proclaimed the New Orleans Daily Crescent while a teenage girl prematurely boasted to her diary that Hollins has broken the blockade.[xv]. She raised a red signal light into her rigging as a warning and opened fire. The first of these rockets was fumbled and flew back inside the Manassas, briefly panicking her crew. [xiii] R. Thomas Campbell, ed. It was a naval raid made by the Confederate river defense fleet, also known as the mosquito fleet in the local media, on ships of the Union Blockade squadron anchored at the Head of Passes. Cairo, Illinois, is at mile 953.8AHP. The mosquito fleet was supported by three fire rafts, which were ignited and followed the ironclad ram CSSManassas into the action. Recovering, the three rockets were fired. We will let you know by email every time we post something new. By ten oclock the mosquito fleet was running low on coal and ammunition. [16], The Preble was the first to detect the Manassas, being anchored 200 yards upstream of the Richmond. CSS Tuscarora, CSS Ivy, and CSS McRae. The attack occurred after moonset in the early hours of October 12, 1861, and routed the Union fleet, which fled in disorder down the Southwest pass of the delta. We are liable to be driven from here at any moment, and, situated as we are, our position is untenable. On October 10, 1861, McKean ordered four Union ships to occupy the Head of the Passes, closing all exits from the lower delta at one point. The USSPowhatan arrived off the Southwest pass on April 30. The vessels superstructure and masts were cut down and a convex shield was built over the main deck. Other than gleefully burning the timbers the Union fleet left at the Southwest Pass Lighthouse for a proposed shore battery, there was only a captured cutter filled with abandoned cutlasses and the crewless Toone. The resignation of Captain Pope was accepted for health reasons. Warley ordered a rocket fired to signal his success. A navy department was established by the newly created Confederate government by February 21, 1861. Wowhead is trying a bit too hard with articles now. After sunrise Commodore George N. Hollins, running low on ammunition and fuel, ordered the mosquito fleet to withdraw upriver. These cookies are used to collect information about how you interact with our website and allow us to remember you. [10]:38 Each of the Dahlgren guns weighed 9,020 pounds and was 9 feet long. Although Richmond was damaged and sprang a major leak, the coaling schooner Toone absorbed much of the impact. He wished to abandon his position as he thought it was untenable. 1988 British Army Lynx shootdown. The Manassas struck the Richmond a glancing blow on her port side just astern of the bow, wedging briefly between the Toone and Richmond. The obvious superior strength of the Union fleet made the accomplishment an even more enviable feat. She also remounted one of her broadside guns as a bow pivot gun after anchoring by the lighthouse at the Head of Passes. Meanwhile, Manassas struggled with a fractured ram, a disabled engine knocked out in the collision, and a severed smokestack cut even with the turtleback.[xiv]. Home; News; Random Article; Install Wikiwand; Send a suggestion; Uninstall Wikiwand; Upgrade to Wikiwand 2.0 Our magic isn't perfect. Battle of Head of Passes) . This vessel, a screw sloop with a ship rig, displaced 2,700 tons and mounted seven Dahlgren 9-inch smooth bores to a side and one rifled gun as a stern piviot. New Orleans celebrated its success as Manassas was towed to the city and dry-docked for repairs. This is basic information, you aren't reporting or writing deep articles about anything of importance, you're just blog spamming and doing SEO . Commodore Lawrence Rousseau was sent by Confederate Naval Secretary Stephen Mallory to manage the naval defense of New Orleans. Mallory then replaced Rousseau with George N. Hollins, a former US Navy veteran who was promoted to Commodore and sent to New Orleans on July 31, 1861. The mosquito fleet deployed three fire rafts, which were ignited and followed the ironclad ram CSS Manassas into the action. Despite the volumes of projectiles launched, few hits were scored. Hollins asked for cooperation, but still smarting from earlier rejections of his proposal, Stevenson refused. . blockade. Ships involved in the ensuing conflict at the location include the CSS Manassas, the USS Vincennes, and the USS Richmond. Hollins knew that he needed more powerful vessels if he was to stop the advance of the Union fleet toward New Orleans. International War and Military projects Portal. One broadside from the Richmond carried more firepower than could be mustered by the entire Rebel fleet. Find your connection to the worlds waters He gained great fame for his daring capture of the steamer St. Nicholas on June 29, 1861. Hollins recognized the need to supplement his squadron with the ironclad Manassas. CSS McRae approached Manassas, and with its crew at quarters, a boat of armed sailors led by First Lieutenant Alexander F. Warley, McRaes executive officer, approached. [4] Algiers Point, for instance, is at mile 94.6AHP (above Head of Passes). Fortunately for the Union, the engineer of the Vincennes lit the fuse to the magazine as ordered, then cut off the burning end of the fuse and threw it overboard. It was a naval raid made by the Confederate river defense fleet, also known as the "mosquito fleet" in the local media, on ships of the Union Blockade squadron anchored at the Head of Passes. Related: The Battle of the Head of Passes was a bloodless naval battle of the American Civil War. Boston Tea Party. . She raised a red signal light into her rigging as a warning and opened fire. In the early morning of October 11, 1861, Hollinss fleet headed down river. [xiii] The surprise ramming, the sudden onset of fire rafts, and Confederate cannon panicked U.S. sailors. His efforts were undercut by Confederate President Jefferson Davis, who authorized the distribution of letters of marque and reprisal to the general population of the new Confederacy. When the Civil War erupted, Confederate Secretary of the Navy Stephen Russell Mallory knew that the South could only counter and defeat the larger US Navy if ironclads were employed. [6] Five months before the famous Battle of Hampton Roads, the first ironclad of the Civil War was going into battle. For the US Army general of the American C To enable the proper functioning and security of the website, we collect information via cookies as specified in our. His efforts to achieve more were impeded by Mallorys ironclad projects intended to produce two mighty warships, the CSS Louisiana and CSS Mississippi. The impact caused the ram to break off, causing a leak. [19], In the last phase of the battle, Captain Handy of the Vincennes misread a signal the Richmond made to the vessels outside the bar to Get Underway. Tag Archives: Battle of the Head of Passes. The Manassas proved to be slow and difficult to maneuver on the Mississippi River.[7]. [Main reference OR (Navy) Ser.1 v.16 pp.683 705. It was a naval raid made by the Confederate river defense fleet, also known as the " mosquito fleet " in the local media, on ships of the Union Blockade squadron anchored at the Head of Passes. The fire rafts were chained together, and would be released by the gunboats to engulf the Union fleet as it milled helplessly after the destruction of the Richmond. The schooner Toone still contained 15 tons of coal, but was a former prize of the Union fleet and an old leaky tub. He then expanded construction, conversion, and acquisition efforts on the Mississippi, seized the privateer-ironclad Manassas, and embarrassed US blockaders at the battle of the Head of Passes in October 1861 in a failed attempt to break the blockade. The Richmond was sent to Key West, Florida, for temporary repair. However, there is more to the story of why four United States vessels were sent to the Head of Passes (five, if coaling schooner Joseph H. Toone; and six, if the contract transport steamer General McClellan are included.) The first U.S. Civil War battle was fought at the Head of Passes in 1861. Flag-Officer William McKean had assumed command of the Gulf Blockading Squadron end of September, and one of his first desires was to establish an artillery battery near the Head of Passes in the Mississippi River. They are part of the "Bird's Foot Delta", the youngest lobe of the evolving Mississippi River Delta . The Manassas rang for flank speed, her engineers fed her fireboxes with the most flammable material on hand, and she surged forward in a dense cloud of black smoke and sparks from her stacks. The scene almost became comical as one of the rockets was accidentally released inside Manassas, ricocheting about the interior. long career, short retirement. Two days before the battle of Head of Passes, a rebel steamer, CSS Ivy, chugged down river and opened fire on the Richmond and the Preble with her rifled 32-pounder, performing a sort of recon by force. The fire rafts grounded on the west bank of the southwest passage, south of Manassas, and the rebel gunboats being freed of the glare of the rafts between them and the targets, opened fire on the Union fleet. The Manassas rang for flank speed, her engineers fed her fireboxes with the most flammable material to hand, and she leaped forward in a dense cloud of black smoke and sparks from her stacks. One of the two engines of the Manassas was torn loose by the impact, and she lost power. It was too convenient a point for an attack upon Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip, the last line of defense for New Orleans. Exaggerated accounts of the accomplishments of the mosquito fleet were placed in the newspapers of New Orleans and other Confederate cities in the east. Also, a buckshot to the head within a Shotgun's effective range most likely means a one-shot elimination in core Multiplayer modes.

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