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[xiii] R. Thomas Campbell, ed. The mosquito fleet was supported by three fire rafts, which were ignited and followed the ironclad ram CSS . [4] The Confederate strategy was to complete two large ironclads, the CSS Louisiana and CSS Mississippi, to defend New Orleans and the lower Mississippi. The Vincennes also mounted a 9-inch smooth bore as a bow pivot gun. 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 long career, short retirement. Everything from the game's monetization to its structure is a little on the confusing side. 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. Mallory was able to purchase two more civilian vessels for duty on Lake Pontchartrain. If the Manassas was turned into an oven in the process, Hollins considered the sacrifice worthwhile. [xii] Stone quickly regained his composure, successfully lighting a second rocket. Explore our timeline of the American Civil War and learn about the important events and battles that happened throughout this period of American history - from John Brown's Raid to the adoption of the 13th Amendment. For the Confederates, the prospect of the Union fleet occupying a base at the Head of Passes was intolerable as it would cut New Orleans off from the sea. The weak link in this concentrated chain of firepower was the fleet commander and captain of the Richmond, Captain John Pope. One of the two engines of the Manassas was torn loose by the impact, and she lost power. The first of these rockets was fumbled and flew back inside the Manassas, briefly panicking her crew. 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. [11]:204 Supporting the Richmond were the Vincennes and Preble. All Rights Reserved. Some of these projectiles knocked down one of the stacks of the Manassas, her only vulnerable projections above the rounded upper armor deck. The engines needed overhaul; however, they were still able to push the ironclad forward 4 to 6 knots. The tower was moved to Pass a l'Outre in 1854. 43, No. The site of the U.S. battery was to be in vicinity of Pilot Town, or just south. In all this confusion, Richmond and Preble fired at the ram; but, because of the ironclads low profile they overshot Manassas. The unorthodox ship quickly developed numerous nicknames, including bug-bear, floating cigar, and turtleback, though U.S. sailors simply called it the ram.[iii], The ships small frame supported a single 64-pounder cannon fixed in place, but Manassas chief weapon was its ram. The Richmond was sent to Key West, Florida, for temporary repair. Warley ordered his crew to the main deck to prevent suffocation while Chief Engineer Hardycut away the wreckage blocking the vents. John presents Civil War tours and lectures across the country and is the author of 18 books, with three more on the way. The shield was built of 16 inches of oak and pine backing topped with 1.25-inch iron plate. . by SOFREP Sep 14, 2022 Share This: The Battle of Mobile Bay, by Louis Prang. The blockade arrived off the Outer Pass of the Mississippi Delta when the USSBrooklyn arrived on May 27, 1861. [20], Hollins returned to a hero's acclaim in New Orleans. Mallory immediately ordered the construction of ironclads. 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. 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. [16], The Preble, anchored 200 yards upstream of the Richmond, was the first to detect the Manassas. The Battle of the Head of Passes was a bloodless naval battle of the American Civil War. John A. Stevenson, representing the privateer owners of the ram, was heartbroken when his vessel was wrenched from his control, and departed the vessel in tears. We are liable to be driven from here at any moment, and, situated as we are, our position is untenable. Commodore Lawrence Rousseau was sent by Confederate Naval Secretary Stephen Mallory to manage the naval defense of New Orleans. I keep a guard boat out upriver during the night." It was now 15 feet longer and its beam was widened by five feet. 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. Neil P. Chatelain. . Hollins plan produced mixed results. . [8], Sketch map of the ship positions at the time Manassas rammed Richmond. LibraryThing catalogs yours books online, easily, quickly and for free. This page is not available in other languages. 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.) Bombardment of the Selee River Forts. Be the first to add a review to the Battle of the Head of Passes. Yet Pope was ordered to stay in place. In turn, the gunboats of the mosquito fleet were quite capable of outmaneuvering the Union fleet, but too light to damage it. This counteroffensive would result in the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Once it was realized that the Ivy possessed this deadly weapon, it was decided to equip Captain Popes force with rifled guns so the General McClellan, recently arrived at Fort Pickens, was sent away west before unloading her cargo of rifled guns for the Army. Aboard the Niagara was Captain William W. McKean, the new commander of the Mississippi blockade. Already unnerved by skirmishes with the CSSIvy on October 9, Pope had written to McKean, I have to report that the Ivy has been down this afternoon and has made an attack upon these ships, throwing shot and shell over this ship and the Preble, keeping herself entirely out of range of any of the guns on either of the ships, her shot passing some 500 yards over this ship, which makes it evident we are entirely at the mercy of the enemy. Margaret Novell served as head keeper from 1891 to 1896. Ivy opened fire on the Union flotilla. Battle of the Head of Passes, October 12, 1861,Plaquemines Parish Home; News; Random Article; Install Wikiwand; Send a suggestion; Uninstall Wikiwand; Upgrade to Wikiwand 2.0 Our magic isn't perfect. 1995 2023 The Mariners' Museum and Park. 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. He received little support from Mallory,[Clarification needed] and seemed to be in competition with anyone else in New Orleans commanding aspects of its defense. Farragut to D.D. Therefore, he cast his eyes lustfully upon the ironclad privateer Manassas. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons) The American Civil War forever changed the course of naval warfare with the. 1988 British Army Lynx shootdown. 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. John A. Stevenson, representing the privateer owners of the ram, was so infuriated he departed the vessel in tears. (Map by Edward Alexander) At midnight, after the moon set and sky darkened, the Confederates proceeded on their "grand expedition." Under Fire: First Ironclad Shots at the Head of Passes [18], The Richmond grounded broadside to the bar in the center of the river mouth, and opened fire on the mosquito fleet. Hollins was unmoved, since now his mosquito fleet seemed to have some chance against the much bigger vessels of the Union blockade. 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. Historical Information: In 1852 the Head of Passes Light consisted of a 67-foot tower. However none of these would be launched until 1862. Filling the ship with smoke while the crew cut loose the damaged stack, she grounded on the mud on the west bank of the head of the passes. CSS Tuscarora, CSS Ivy, and CSS McRae. Browse 27 BATTLE OF THE HEAD OF PASSES photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. [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. These documents allowed the holder to capture union shipping for prize money from the Confederate government, insuring that everything that would float in Louisiana was snapped up by private investors hoping to make a profit. [21], The Manassas proved to be a disappointment. When this sidewheeler reached the bar at the mouth of the river, it witnessed Richmond and Vincennes running aground. 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 arrival of the Niagara and Minnesota solidified the reality of the blockade. Category:Battles and conflicts without fatalities - Wikipedia This apprehension would come to be known as "ram fever". Some of these projectiles knocked down one of the stacks of the Manassas, her only vulnerable projections above the rounded upper armor deck. The danger at the end of September 1861 presented as the single-gun CSS Ivy. An avid collector of decoys, waterfowl/maritime art, and oriental rugs, John lives among them in his home, the 1757 Herbert House on Sunset Creek in Hampton, Virginia. Warley ordered a rocket fired to signal his success. CivilWarTalk Menu CWT Home RegisterLatest activityCalendar Forums New posts What's new [Main reference OR (Navy) Ser.1 v.16 pp.683 705. First battle pass doesn't impress me and life has hit me head on so I'm glad to hear that I can wait. Following would be Tuscarora, McRae, and Ivy moving three abreast. Although staffed with a courageous crew she was not fast, maneuverable, or durable enough to bring her iron ram into decisive action. Find Battle Of The Head Of Passes stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Head of the Passes Lighthouse - United States Coast Guard Early career edit Brooklyn - the first ship so-named by the U.S. Navy - was the first of five screw sloops of war authorized by the U.S. Congress on March 3, 1857; laid down later that year by the firm of Jacob A. Westervelt and Son; launched in 1858; and commissioned on January 26, 1859, Capt. The first Union ship to arrive off the Mississippi Delta was the steam screw sloop USS Brooklyn on May 27, 1861. Water Witch was the last to leave the Head of Passes. By October, Captain George N. Hollins, commanding the Confederate Navys Mississippi River Squadron, amassed a flotilla of river steamers to oppose the blockade. The powerful tug and its heavily reinforced bow seen service as icebreaker; and it was taken to a shipyard in Algiers, Louisiana, just across the river from New Orleans. The Confederate squadron peppered them for several hours. Its psychological impact was tremendous, and lingered well beyond the river battle. 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. These projects, and others authorized by Mallory tied up most of the resources useful to construction of more vessels for the mosquito fleet. Long after the event, Admiral David Dixon Porter stated, Put this matter in any light you may, it is the most ridiculous affair that ever took place in the American Navy. Despite the outrage, the damage was easily repaired. 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. By Tom Warren , a senior editor covering Microsoft, PC gaming, console, and tech. The flagship of the Union fleet occupying the Head of the Passes was the formidable USSRichmond. The Water Witch was to provide towing capacity for the sail vessels under unfavorable wind conditions.,[12][13][14]. Head of Passes/Pilottown, Louisiana Historical Marker Battle of the Head of Passes | Civil War Wiki | Fandom The Calhoun, the flagship, would remain in the rear, as would the Jackson and Pickens, seeking targets of opportunity. USA. 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 blockade began at the Outer Pass of the Mississippi Delta when the USSBrooklyn arrived on May 27, 1861. The Anaconda Plan called for a large Union blockade of the Confederacy, and included plans to control the Mississippi River. Head of Passes - Wikiwand Warley followed, chased them to the main deck, with several jumping overboard and swimming for it.[vii] Lieutenant Warley was retained in command, with volunteers from the Confederate squadron filling the ironclads complement. David G. Farragut in command. He broke off action as his ships were low on ammunition and fuel. 1, Vol 16, 712. Captain Handy was sent east on the first dispatch ship. 36 Battle Of The Head Of Passes Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images Note the 100-pound conical projectile at the right rear of the gun carriage. 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. : B The bitter battle over Call of Duty on PlayStation is over as Sony signs a Microsoft deal. Although Richmond was damaged and sprang a major leak, the coaling schooner Toone absorbed much of the impact. On the 17th of October the USSSouth Carolina and the Vincennes were sent in pursuit of the pestiferous CSS Ivy. These documents allowed the holder to capture Union shipping for prize money from the Confederate government. 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. 2, 546. 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. They are part of the "Bird's Foot Delta", the youngest lobe of the evolving Mississippi River Delta . Young Midshipman Sardine Stone went to the ironclads weather deck with a rocket, but in the chaos of battle, he burned his hand, dropping the stick, and the rocket went sizzling down into the hold, panicking the ironclads crew, who believed enemy fire pierced their armor. Battle of the Head of Passes) . Pre-War 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1854 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. The Union fleet proceeded rapidly downriver, until at sunrise all ships but Preble grounded on the bar at the mouth of the river. About: Head of Passes - DBpedia Association [xii] Robinson, The Confederate Privateers, 160. 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. [xv] The Great Naval Victory, New Orleans Daily Crescent, Oct 14, 1861; Judith W. McGuire Diary of a Southern Refugee, During the War (New York: E.G. John Popes resignation for health reasons. Shortly thereafter, Flag Officer David Glasgow Farragut organized the West Gulf Blockading Squadron and was detailed to capture New Orleans. Manassas filled with smoke. [ix] William M. Robinson, The Confederate Privateers, (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1928), 158. The attack of the CSS Ram Manassas was actually the Preble's second "battle' of the week. [17], As a signal to release the fire rafts she was to fire three rockets. 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. [1]:8494. : Battle of the Head of Passes186110123CSS1012N. 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. Handy ordered the engineer to set and light a fuse to the magazine of the Vincennes to blow her up, then ordered the crew to abandon ship and report to the Richmond. Captain Handy of the Vincennes chose to misread a signal the Richmond made to the vessels outside the bar to Get Underway. Filling with smoke while crew members cut loose the damaged stack, she was grounded on the mud on the west bank of the head of the passes as the Union fleet headed to the southwest, pursued closely by the confederate gunboats. Flag Officer Hollins missed an opportunity to capture Vincennes. Aboard the Niagara was Captain William W. McKean, the new commander of the Mississippi blockade. The mosquito fleet deployed three fire rafts, which were ignited and followed the ironclad ram CSS Manassas into . Richmonds guns fired as it retreated. About: Battle of the Head of Passes - DBpedia Association The impact caused the ram to break off, causing a leak. Once McKean received some reinforcements, he sent four warships to the Head of Passes where the outlets joined with the Mississippi River. The first of these rockets was fumbled and flew back inside the Manassas, briefly panicking her crew. 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. 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. It was too convenient a point for an attack upon Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip, the last line of defense for New Orleans. You can help our automatic cover photo selection by reporting an unsuitable photo. He gained great fame for his daring capture of the steamer St. Nicholas on June 29, 1861. Ranked Play Season 04 is in full swing, and you have plenty of time but not too much time to complete the Battle Pass and reach the maximum Prestige Rank until Season 05 begins! After sunrise Commodore George N. Hollins, running low on ammunition and fuel, ordered the mosquito fleet to withdraw upriver. His plan was to put the hijacked CSS Manassas in the lead. Formerly the Mexican warship Marquis de la Habana, it was captured as a pirate ship by USS Saratoga during the March 1860 Battle of Anton Lizardo. 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]. She turned away from the Richmond and moved slowly back upriver.[17]. The sidewheeler USS Powhatan and the screw frigates Niagara and Minnesota soon arrived. Sketch map of the lighthouse station, Head of Passes, proposed site of the Union ten gun 9-inch smooth bore battery. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Call of Duty: Warzone Season 04 Pope was obviously more of an administrator than a warrior, ready to flee from a mere reconnaissance element of Hollins fleet. The prospect of the Union fleet occupying a base at the Head of Passes was intolerable. The shells screaming overhead unnerved Pope, a veteran 45-year officer. The Richmond was anchored 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 (west), Pass A Loutre (east) and South Pass (centre). Geni requires JavaScript! These ships blocked the three outlets Southwest Pass, South Pass, and Pass DLoutre for the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. The momentum of the Manassas tore the Toone loose from Richmond and the Manassas continued past the Richmonds stern. She also remounted one of her broadside guns as a bow pivot gun after anchoring by the lighthouse at the Head of Passes. The vessels were almost invisible in the eerie gloom. [xi] Washington, Oct. 25, Gallipolis Journal, October 31, 1861. Each gunboat would push a fire raft, which would be ignited after a signal from Manassas indicating that she had crushed the USS Richmond. The Manassas proved to be slow and difficult to maneuver on the Mississippi River.[7]. The Calhoun, the flagship, would remain in the rear, as would the Jackson and Pickens, seeking targets of opportunity . For her single gun was an 8-inch rifle capable of throwing a 132-pound projectile four miles allowing the Ivy to fire her ship-killing gun, while standing out of range of the smoothbore guns then aboard the task force under command of Captain Pope. On October 9, Pope reported to McKean, I have to report that the Ivy has been down this afternoon and has made an attack upon these ships, throwing shot and shell over this ship and the Preble, keeping herself entirely out of range of any of the guns on either of the ships, her shot passing some 500 yards over this ship, which makes it evident we are entirely at the mercy of the enemy. Richmond was joined by the sailing sloops Vincennes (18 guns) and Preble (16 guns) as well as the sidewheeler gunboat USS Water Witch (10 guns). 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. Pope wrote to Flag-Officer McKean on Oct.14: "Everyone is in great dread of that infernal ram. The resignation of Captain Pope was accepted for health reasons. Articles needing clarification from June 2014, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, Confederate victories of the American Civil War, Battles of the Lower Seaboard Theater and Gulf Approach of the American Civil War, Battles of the American Civil War in Louisiana, File:Mississippi River Head of Passes 1861.jpg, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. He was right to. The scene almost became comical as one of the rockets was accidentally released inside Manassas, ricocheting about the interior. With a longstanding naval staff and command structure there was less time wasted once hostilities at Fort Sumter established the inevitability of naval action. The schooner Toone still contained 15 tons of coal, but was a former prize of the Union fleet and an old leaky tub. As Manassas struggled to make its way upstream, the crew began to set off the flares, indicating that the fire rafts should be released. Many ships in Louisiana were snapped up by private investors hoping to make a profit. She went on to keep Port Pontchartrain . -- (. SOURCE: A History of Ironclads: The Power of Iron Over Wood, John V. Quarstein. The arrival of these vessels was much sooner than anyone in New Orleans had imagined, and the panic-stricken rush that occurred 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.