Tue Nov 08 1864 LCDR James Parker, USS Maumee, writes SECNAV from New York Navy Yard " I have the honor to report the arrival at this port of the Manmee, under my command. She came in for coal and for the repairs indicated in the enclosed reports (A and B) from time engineer in charge of the machinery. I left Hampton Roads on the 26th ultimo under an order of Rear-Admiral Porter, a copy of which I forwarded to the Department from New Bedford on [October 31]. I have already reported to the Department my proceedings up to the time of my arrival at that place and my reason for going in there, viz, for coal and information. I was not able to get away from there until the afternoon of the 1st instant, at which time I started to cruise to the eastward of Cape Cod and to go off Halifax. On the 3d instant I put into Portland, Me., for information, and remained there four hours. I heard there of the depredations of the pirates off Block Island (sinking of schooner Goodspeed), and upon consultation with ex-Governor Washburn, collector at Portland (whose opinion agreed with my own), concluded it best to cruise down the Massachusetts Bay toward and southeast of Cape Cod, judging it probable that the pirates would come that way. On the 4th instant I met with a furious (S. E. to S. W.) gale, which detained me until the 5th, on which day at noon I made Chatham light, Massachusetts, and started for Provincetown Harbor, intending to put in there for news and information and go thence off Halifax. In the afternoon of the 5th, before I got up to Cape Cod, it came on to blow quite heavily from N. W., and when off Highland lights the feed and bilge pumps broke down and my engineer made the report A. Being unable to make headway against the gale, I put about and cruised down through the Vineyard Sound and along to the southward of Long Island to this port. Off Montauk Point (on the -- instant) I met the Mackinaw (Commander Beaumont), on a cruise from Hampton Roads. All well. This morning in a very dense fog the vessel got ashore on Long Branch beach. The sea was perfectly smooth, and I got her off in an hour without the slightest damage being done to her. As soon as coaled I can go to sea again, for the auxiliary feed pump, air pump, and main engines are in good order, but the vessel can not be efficient until repairs to the feed and bilge pumps are made. I have seen or heard nothing of the pirates, except what the newspapers contain. I have met with and boarded very few vessels, except a large fleet of coasters off Chatham and in the Vineyard Sound. The vessel has been under steam all the time she has been at sea and under sail and steam whenever sails would draw. The Maumee can not disconnect the propeller from the engines except by breaking the connections between the crank and piston, and under the circumstances I did not think it proper to do this."
LCDR George U Morris, USS Shawmut, telegrams SECNAV from Halifax "Arrived here this morning; leave this p. m. No news concerning the Tallahassee."
SECNAV telegrams RADM Stringham, Boston Navy Yard "Have the Kearsarge got ready for sea, and if the pirates are heard of to the eastward send her out. Report amount of money required to pay off all who participated in the fight with the Alabama and also those whose term expires this year."
M M Jackson, US Consul, Halifax, Nova Scotia, writes LCDR George U Morris, USS Shawmut, "I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of this day, and in reply would state that it is the general impression that the Tallahassee will go into St. John, New Brunswick, for coal. It is possible that arrangements may have been made by some of the Confederate agents for coaling her at sea. I would recommend your cruising along the coast about in the direction in which the Tallahassee came before, because she will soon require coal and will therefore be under the necessity of putting into some of the provincial ports for coal."
Master William H Clark, USS Onward, writes SECNAV from Rio De Janeiro "I have the honor to report that the U. S. ship Onward has refitted at this port for six months, and will proceed to the southward on a cruise."
D Thurston, US Vice Consul-General, Montreal, writes SECSTATE "I have the honor to enclose a letter from the consular agent at Toronto in relation to the sale of the steamer Georgian to a supposed rebel agent by parties residing at Toronto. This is a new vessel, built some year and a half since on the Georgian Bay, by G. H. Wyatt and others, and has, I believe, made one trip across the Atlantic. She is a splendid vessel, built with great care, a fast sailer, and would, if employed in the business mentioned in Mr. Kimball's dispatch, be capable of doing immense injury to the shipping on the Lakes. Mr. Wyatt and his partners sold the steamer Bowmanville some two years ago. She was ostensibly to be employed in legitimate trade, but was undoubtedly designed for blockade running. The corroboration of the purposes for which the Georgian has been purchased by four persons unknown to each other would seem to establish the fact that she has been bought for the design of being converted into a ram by rebel agents in Canada, and that measures should be at once taken to prevent the plan being executed. I have notified the Canadian authorities."
W Pring, Collector, Port Colborne, telegrams A. T Galt, "Propeller Georgian entered inward from Port Stanley on 29th October, discharged cargo, and reported inward for Buffalo on 1st November; returned here on 3d. Captain came to office and stated he had been to Buffalo for repairs. Had a clearance for this port without cargo. Was going to Sarnia, but wanted wood. Wished to know if it was necessary to have a clearance from here to Sarnia. Having a clearance to a British port, did not grant another. Weather stormy; remained until Saturday, when weather moderated. Left at 6:30 p. m. On enquiring of harbor master, he informed me she took 60 or 70 cords wood, as stated, for ballast. He states they informed him on board she was going to Chicago. Nothing connected with her suspicious, unless taking the quantity of wood and going to one port when reporting here she was going to another might be so construed. Did not come to the office after taking wood on board. Mr. Gordon, from whom the wood was purchased, has stated she only took 30 cords."
Finance Department, Quebec sends a telegram to Customs Collector at -- "Give particular attention to vessels clearing from your port. If any circumstances indicate intention to violate neutrality laws, refuse clearance and detain vessel, immediately reporting to this department and to the attorney-general."
SECNAV writes CMDR Charles H Bell, USN, "Your letter of the 4th instant, announcing your arrival at New York, having, in pursuance of the orders of the Department, transferred the command of the Pacific Squadron to Commodore George F. Pearson at Panama on the 25th ultimo, has been received. The Department tenders to you its congratulations on your safe return to your home after an absence of nearly three years, during which you have zealously and faithfully discharged the duties of the commander in chief of the Pacific Squadron. The exigencies of the service at home have prevented the placing at your command as large a force as could have been advantageously employed on that station, but the Departinent is satisfied that such as it has been able to send there has been distributed with discretion and used to the best interests of the Government."
RADM David D Porter, North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, telegrams ASSIST SECNAV "I think only the Olustee and Chickamanga are out. They will go to St. John [New Brunswick] for coal. I have sent a gunboat there." In a second telegram he sends "I ordered the Sassacus to steer due east in pursuit of the privateers. She sighted one of them on the morning of the 5th, gave chase, and chased until 9 p. m. of the evening of the 6th, gaining slowly until the enemy apparently threw over his guns and other things. Chased him past Wilmington, the enemy steering south and was lost in the dark. Never quite succeeded in getting him in good range of guns."
LT E H Faucon, USS Montgomery, writes RADM Porter from Beaufort Harbor, NC "I beg leave to report that yesterday at 10:50 a. m., being in latitude 34° [N.] longitude 77° [W.], the Quaker City at the time 7 miles S. E. of us, and standing to the northward, we made black smoke ahead, bearing N. E. At once spread fires, and I set our numbers to the Quaker City, intending to signal to that ship if she answered them. We were soon running full speed in chase. The Quaker City not answering our numbers, they were hauled down. We soon raised the steamer ahead, with fore-and-aft sails set, on the starboard tack, and heading well to the eastward. About noon the chase altered his course to the N. W., and we soon after discovered a steamer coming up from about E. N. E., which afterwards proved to be the Lilian. I was at once pretty well satisfied that the chase ahead, by the sudden altering of his course, was a blockade runner. At 1:23 p. m. we were running N. W. by N. The Quaker City bore from us S. E. by S., the Lilian E. by S., and all in pursuit of the chase, bearing N. E. by N., and running N. W. by W. The chase evidently intended to cross our bows, which we prevented by altering our course from time to time. As soon as it was thought we could reach the chase with our rifled gun, we began to fire, and although the gun was at extreme elevation the shot fell short. Soon after, on getting a little nearer, we again opened our fire, the shot striking very near the chase. At 1:53 the chase displayed a large Confederate flag and a long pennant, and it was evident that she had a large number of men on board. Some of the officers here thought they could see cotton stowed amidships; I could not distinguish it myself. At 2 the chase fired at us from her stern gun, and continued his fire at intervals for about half an hour, the shot passing over us and falling very near. At 2:15 made another sail to the N E which proved to be a double-ender coming up very fast. At 2:50 saw black smoke N. E. by E., and the Quaker City stood in that direction. At 2:45, the chase drawing away from us, and having expended forty-four rifle cartridges, and having but three remaining, we ceased our fire. At 3:35 the Lilian bore from us N. E. by N. 2 miles, the double-ender N. E. 5 miles, the chase W. N. W., and leaving us, the Montgomery, heading west. At 4 we made the land, and the chance seemed favorable of running him on the beach before dark. At 4:20 the chase was running about W. S. W and bearing N. N. W. of us. At 5:30 the chase was close in to the beach, and barely visible. Since 3:30 I had had strong hopes of making some one of our ships ahead, but the sun went down without our seeing anything. Before 5 it became very hazy and smoky over the land, and at dusk was quite cloudy, and soon after it became impossible to distinguish anything. From 6:50 to 7:20 lights were seen along the beach, and three heavy guns were fired. We supposed ourselves at this time to be some few miles to the southward of Masonboro Inlet. We continued running S. S. W. and southwesterly until 7:30 p. m. Having some time before lost sight of everything, we now slowed down and headed to the eastward. Soon after spoke the Lilian. At 9:10 spoke the Gettysburg. We began this chase steering N. E. and left off having swept round to S. S. W. I would remark that although the double-ender and the Lilian gained rapidly at first on the Montgomery, they ceased to do so after 4 p. m., the Montgomery keeping up a steady speed of 11½ knots through the day. Having but three rifle cartridges left, and only a few primers, I came here for a supply, and having obtained it, shall continue my cruise immediately." In post script he adds "In addition to what I have already written, I would add that the chase was an iron vessel, a propeller, schooner-rigged, two smoke. stacks near together, in a line fore and aft, hurricane deck amidships, on which was a small house. She appeared to be light, and, if the Tallahassee, may be judged to be out of coal."
RADM Jonathan Dahlgren, South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, writes SECNAV " I transmit a sample of rope cut from a buoy just taken up. I had gone out of the roads to examine more closely the locality and track whereby the blockade runners pass and was near to one of the wrecks, close into Long Island, when a floating object was perceived which looked like a torpedo. It was picked up, and on examination found to be precisely similar to the floating torpedoes, but had neither fuze nor powder, which puzzled me as to its purpose. On cutting the rope attached to it there was found a wire rope within, from which was taken the inclosed sample; it is evidently intended to convey a galvanic current and was floated by buoys. It must have required a great force to part this rope, and was probably done by some steamer passing out of the usual course. Under the circumstances it is to be presumed that the communication was with some one of the fixed torpedoes, and if so, most probably with one that is said to have been lately put down near Sumter. The telegraphic wires are all sunken on the bottom, as reported by deserters who have had to do with them."
RADM David Glasgow Farragut, West Gulf Blockading Squadron, writes SECNAV "I would most respectfully suggest to the Department that some fixed rule be adopted in relation to the command of the ironclads. There are many volunteer officers who would fight them, perhaps, as well a the regulars; but there is much to be done in the organization and discipline of those vessels that calls for the regular training of the service to get them in proper condition for fighting. I am led to these remarks by the fact that these vessels are now becoming the most important guardians of our shallow waters, because no wooden vessels of light draft can have their machinery protected except by casemating or ironclading, as they are required to pass under the heaviest batteries and frequently at short distances, and such will be the case here. It is therefore, in my opinion, very essential that these vessels should be well commanded. One of those transferred to me by Admiral Porter (the Chicicasaw) was commanded by a volunteer officer sent to deliver her over, and I appointed to her Lieutenant-Commander Perkins; the other (Winnebago) was Commanded by Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Shankland, and I ordered Commander Stevens to her for the fight of the 5th of August last, Considering that there was too much at risk to trust to the inexperience of a volunteer officer. I stated frankly to Mr. Shankland my reasons, and he cheerfully acted as sec- ond to Commander Stevens. Two others are now coming to me from the Mississippi (Kickapoo and Milwaukee) so soon as prepared for the voyage around to Mobile Bay, and I desire to urge upon the Department the expediency of appointing regular officers to command them or allowing me to do so. It is not doing justice to these vessels or the service to intrust them to some officers. I do not wish to reflect upon others, but I dislike still more to withhold a just tribute from the meritorious. I have no doubt these vessels will do good service to the country if well commanded-as, for example, by such men as Lieutenant-Commander Perkins. My memorandum of the last inspection of his vessel on the day he returned to the blockade off Mobile city reads thus: Vessel clean and sweet throughout; well ventilated; officers and crew all comfortably lodged under canvas in apartments on deck between the turrets; arrangements out ahead for picking up torpedoes; went to quarters and exercised all his guns himself; went through all the motions of loading and firing, and taking deliberate aim each fire, four times in five minutes. Such a fire from such batteries it appears to me, would destroy anything the shot could penetrate in a very short time. In conclusion, on this point permit me to say that I think the world is sadly mistaken when it supposes that battles are won by this or that kind of gun or vessel. In my humble opinion the Kearsarge would have captured or sunk the Alabama as often as they might have met under the same organization and officers. The best gun and the best vessel should certainly be chosen, but the victory three times out of four depends upon those who fight them. I do not believe that the result would have been different if the Kearsarge had had nothing but a battery of 8-inch guns and a 100-pounder chase rifle. What signifies the size and caliber of the gun if you do not hit your adversary? It is true that if the machinery of a steamer is not protected it may be struck by chance shot and the ship lost, and therein permit me to assure you the rebels are vastly ahead of us. The machinery and boilers of every one of their gunboats I have seen are better protected than ours. Their men are a little more exposed to the fire of small arms, but as no one calculates nowadays upon going close enough to an enemy for the use of small arms since the introduction of long-range guns, that is of no great consequence. The rebel gunboats Morgan, Gaines, and Selma are protected on the sides in wake of the machinery with 2-inch iron plates and packed cotton inside the bulwarks. The boilers are covered in with the same material, and on the bows they have pieces bent round the cutwater which run aft some 20 feet, intended for ramming. I desire to mention here one great difficulty we have with these ironclads on this station - the want of a drydock. They soon become so foul that they lose their speed. The Manhattan at present will scarcely go 4 knots. I can not but think that the basin at Pensacola could be made to dock all vessels of 10 feet draft by a competent naval constructor, and thus millions would be saved to the Government. There requires little to be done to it besides the building and placing a good gate. The Pensacola docks and its fixtures were built under the direction of Mr. Hanscom, the naval constructor at the Norfolk yard, who will be able to give the Department all the information on the subject. He is a person of fine capacity both as a constructor and engineer."
MGEN J J Reynolds, USA telegrams MGEN E R S Canby, from the mouth of the White River "Arrived here at 7 a. m. to-day. Had interview with Captain Bacon, of the Navy, last night at Gaines Landing. Left orders for Dana's cavalry to make a thorough reconnoissance from Gaines Landing. A force from this place made reconnoissance there yesterday and developed no force at Bayou Macon. Lieutenant Earl, two days since, discovered only cavalry there. A brigade and battery had nearly all embarked for Devall's Bluff before we arrived. Will send another brigade as soon as transportation can be forwarded."
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