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NEWS FROM FORTRESS MONROE: Sewall’s Point Shelled by our Vessels of War; APPEARANCE OF THE MERRIMAC (5/10/1862)
New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 5/10/1862

Posted on 05/10/2022 4:45:39 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson

FORTRESS MONROE, Thursday, May 8,

via BALTIMORE Friday, May 9.

Shortly before noon to-day, the Monitor, Naugatuck, Seminole, Susquehannah, Dacotah and San Jacinto, in the order in which they are named, steamed up towards Sewall's Point, Capt. LARDNER, of the Susquehannah, in command of the expedition. As soon as within range, fire was opened with shot and shell against Sewall's Point. Most of the shots were good ones. It was nearly half an hour before a reply was made from the Point. The Rip Raps next opened fire, and then the Naugatuck for the first time. Several shots were fired from the single gun an the extremity of the Point, when one from the Monitor struck in the vicinity, doubtless disabling the gun, as it has not fired since. The position of the Monitor was far in advance of the rest of the fleet and she continued in motion until within a mile or two of the Point, when considerable execution must have been done by her accurate firing. The Naugatuck kept in the back-ground, the range of her Parrot gun enabling her to do so. Sewall's Point battery replied briskly. The Rip Raps fired occasionally, and a continued fire was kept up from the gunboats. The affair was comparatively uninteresting from this point of view on account of the distance, so details cannot be given. At about 1 o'clock a black smoke was seen to arise, supposed to have been occasioned by combustible shells being thrown into the woods. It soon died away, however, and disappeared. Nothing more occurred until a little before 2 o'clock, when the firing was very feeble from the Point. The Monitor about this time returned from her advanced position and joined the fleet.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: civilwar
Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4061670/posts

1 posted on 05/10/2022 4:45:39 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
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To: Homer_J_Simpson
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2 posted on 05/10/2022 4:46:41 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation gets the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
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To: chajin; henkster; CougarGA7; BroJoeK; central_va; Larry Lucido; wagglebee; Colonel_Flagg; Amagi; ...

The Naval Operations Between Fortress Monroe and Norfolk – 2
News from Fortress Monroe: Highly Important Movements in Progress – 3-4
From Gen. M’Clellan’s Army: Still Crowding the Rear o the Retreating Foe – 4-6
The War in the Southwest: Gen. Halleck’s Army within Two Miles of Corinth – 6
Department of the Rappahannock: A Pontoon Bridge – 6-7
Gen. Halleck’s Army: Vastness of Operations – 7-8
The Mountain Department: Gen. Fremont in the Field – 8
News from Washington: A Resolution of Thanks to Gen. McClellan Passed Unanimously in the House – 8-9
Editorial: The Naval Cotillion in Hampton Roads – 9
Editorial: The Situation in the Peninsula – 9-10
A New Territory – 10
Halleck and Beauregard – 10
Thanks to Gen. McClellan – 10
Gen. Sickles in Washington – 10


3 posted on 05/10/2022 4:47:30 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation gets the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
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To: Homer_J_Simpson
"Today" in Tennessee there was a minor river battle at Plum Run Bend, Confederate victory:

Tennessee 1862 Engagements

DateEngagementMilitary UnitsLossesVictor
Feb 6Fort Henry, TNUnion Army of TN + West Flotilla (Grant, Foote ~15,000) & Confederate Army of Cent KY (Tilghman ~3,200)Union 40-total, Confederates 79-total (15 killed)USA
Feb 14-16Fort Donelson, TNUnion Army of the Tennessee + Mississippi River Squadron (Grant, Foote 24,531) & Confederate Army of Central KY + garrison (Floyd, Pillow, Buchner 16,171)Union 2,691-total (507-killed), Confederates 13,846-total (327-killed)USA
April 6-7Shiloh, TNUnion Army of West Tennessee (Grant, Buell ~63,000) & Confederate Army of Mississippi (AS Johnson, Beauregard ~40,335)Union 13,047-total (1,754-killed), Confederate 10,699-total (1,728-killed)USA
April 14Fort Pillowi, TNUnion mortor boats bombard Fort PillownoneCSA
May 10Plum Run Bend, TNUnion MS River Squadron (7-river ironclads), Confederate River Defense Fleet (9-wooden steamboats)none recordedCSA

There were no recorded casualties and Union ironclads went on to complete their mission.

Summary of Civil War Engagements as of May 10, 1862:
Engagements in Confederate states:

StateUnion VictoriesConfederate VictoriesInconclusiveTotal Engagements
South Carolina1113
Virginia512926
North Carolina4105
Florida1001
Louisiana2103
Tennessee3205
Arkansas1012
Georgia1001
Mississippi1001
Total Engagements in CSA19171147

Engagements in Union states/territories:

StateUnion VictoriesConfederate VictoriesInconclusiveTotal Engagements
Maryland1012
West Virginia92213
Missouri119121
New Mexico48012
Kentucky4329
Oklahoma0303
Total Engagements in Union2925660
Total Engagements to date484217107

4 posted on 05/10/2022 6:25:23 AM PDT by BroJoeK (future DDG 134 -- we remember)
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To: Homer_J_Simpson
"News from Washington: A Resolution of Thanks to Gen. McClellan Passed Unanimously in the House – 8-9"

"Thanks to Gen. McClellan – 10"

We see where Congress is heaping praises on Gen. McClellan for his, so far, sterling performance in the Peninsula Campaign.

I wonder if, just perhaps, they're being a bit premature?

5 posted on 05/10/2022 6:31:58 AM PDT by BroJoeK (future DDG 134 -- we remember)
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To: BroJoeK

Add to the list of immortal battles - Agincourt, Bunker Hill, The Somme, Normandy, Iwo Jima, PLUM RUN BEND.


6 posted on 05/10/2022 6:33:18 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation gets the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
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To: Homer_J_Simpson

Fortress Monroe, it bears mention, is where President of the Confederacy Jefferson Davis was imprisoned for two years after the war.

Davis was released on $100,000 bail, paid on his behalf by three men, two of whom were Horace Greeley and (America’s original Robber Baron and founder of Vanderbilt University) Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt.


7 posted on 05/10/2022 7:03:19 AM PDT by Paal Gulli
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