Posted on 08/31/2005 9:46:31 PM PDT by SAMWolf
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are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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Heroism on Board an Ironclad Nearly everyone has heard of the Civil War ironclad warships. They changed forever the history of naval warfare, especially the Union USS Monitor. But who has heard of the Monitors sister ship the Galena, launched from the Maxson Fish & Co. shipyard at West Mystic, Connecticut on February 14, 1862? It was one of three new ironclads commissioned by the U.S. government in 1861 to meet the threat of the Confederates new CSS Virginia (formerly the USS Merrimac). Ironclad technology was still in its infancy and not everyone was convinced it would work. But things changed when the Confederates in 1861 stormed the Gosport Navy Yard across the river from Norfolk, Virginia. They snatched one of the U.S. Navys latest steam frigates, the USS Merrimac. In a bold and daring move their Secretary of Navy, Stephan Mallory, authorized the conversion of the ship into an ironclad. Suddenly the Confederates would have a ship that could sink anything in the Union Navy. Gideon Welles, the Union Secretary of Navy, immediately recognized the danger. He knew the Union had to get their own ironclads and there was no time to spare. He lobbied hard and on July 19, 1861 a bill was introduced for ironclad ship construction. Convinced of the need, President Lincoln signed the bill into law only two weeks later. USS Galena (1862-1872) Line engraving, published in "Harper's Weekly", 1862, depicting the ship as she appeared when first completed, with a two-masted schooner rig. The bill set up an "Ironclad Board," made up of shipbuilding experts. Because no one could agree on the best design, board members approved three designs, all different. John Ericsson, designer of the Navys first steam-powered vessel in 1844, would oversee construction of the Monitor in New York. Merrick & Sons would build the New Ironsides in Philadelphia, and railroad magnate Cornelius Bushnell would supervise building of the Galena in Mystic, Connecticut. Bushnell thought the 210 foot boat should be named the Retribution, but he was overruled. The military successes of a young new general in the West by the name of U.S. Grant led to the naming of the boat after his hometown, Galena, Illinois. Wash drawing by R.G. Skerrett, 1898, depicting the ship as she appeared while serving on the James River, Virginia, circa mid-1862. The Galena was plated with multiple layers of one-half inch thick iron, but of the three ironclads it was the most lightly armored. It retained, however, much of the maneuverability and quickness of a wooden hulled vessel. Action came almost immediately. On May 8, 1862 the Galena headed up the James River of Virginia with two other gunboats in an effort to reach Richmond and compel its surrender. On board was a detachment of 12 Marines. The U.S. Marine Corps consisted of less than 2,000 officers and enlisted men in 1861. That number was further reduced when many chose to follow the Confederacy. Corporal John F. Mackie, a native of New York City, stayed with the Union. A few days before, he had reported for duty aboard the newly commissioned USS Galena. He was joined by 11 other loyal Marines. Watercolor by Oscar Parkes, depicting the ship as she appeared in mid-1862, while serving on the James River, Virginia. As the Union gunboats moved up the James the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia a few days before. The latter was going to be used to defend Richmond but her draft was too deep for the journey. To keep her from falling into Union hands, she was set ablaze, but only after her crew removed her guns. Both crew and guns were then sent up the river to Drewrys Bluff. Drewrys Bluff was a strategic point overlooking the James River. It was a perfect place to stop the Union flotilla advancing up the river. The fate of Richmond depended on it. Artwork published in "Deeds of Valor", Volume II, page 27, by the Perrien-Keydel Company, Detroit, 1907, depicting USS Galena in action against the Confederate batteries at Drewry's Bluff. The commander of the Galena hoped to engage the Confederate battery while the rest of the flotilla slipped by. The heavily clad Monitor was unable to elevate her guns high enough to help. As a result, the Galena found herself in a crippling position as cannon fire soon rained down upon her deck. Contemporary pencil sketch by F.H. Wilcke, depicting the Union warships Galena, Monitor, Aroostook, Port Royal and Naugatuck (listed as shown, left to right), under the command of Commander John Rodgers, bombarding the Confederate fort at Drewry's Bluff. "We turned our attention to the Galena," reported Confederate Commander Ebenezer Farrand, "nearly every one of our shots telling upon her iron surface." The rebel barrage was too much for the lightly armored Galena. Punctured plates were ripped apart and splintered wood flew through the ship. Adding insult to injury, Confederate Marines were in sniping positions along the shore. "Our sharpshooters did good service, picking off every man who showed himself," Farrand later wrote. "Heres a chance for the Marines!" Contemporary pencil sketch, with colors of flags and smoke lightly worked in, depicting the Union ships Galena, Monitor, Aroostook, Port Royal and Naugatuck (listed as shown, left to right) bombarding the Confederate fort at Drewry's Bluff. This view looks forward on the starboard side of the spar deck, and shows holes in Galena's smokestack (in left center) made by Confederate cannon fire. Among the other items seen are boat davits, canvas windsails, the elevated wooden conning platform and the lookout position on the foremast. |
USS Galena, a 950-ton ironclad gunboat, was built at Mystic, Connecticut. Commissioned in April 1862 as the second of the U.S. Navy's first three armored warships, she was immediately sent to Hampton Roads, Virginia, to join the Navy's pioneer ironclad Monitor in containing CSS Virginia. On 8 May, Galena attacked enemy shore batteries on the James River, part of an intended drive up the river to take Richmond, the Confederate capital city.
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Medal of Honor 1862 U.S.S. GALENA Drewry's Bluff, James River Corporal John Mackie This view shows him in what appears to be a Grand Army of the Republic Uniform, circa 1900. MACKIE, John F. Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps G.O. Navy Department, No. 17 July 10, 1862 CITATION: On board the U.S.S. GALENA in the attack on Fort Darling at Drewry's Bluff, James River, on 15 May 1862. As enemy shellfire raked the deck of his ship, Corporal Mackie fearlessly maintained his musket fire against the rifle pits along the shore and, when ordered to fill vacancies at guns caused by men wounded and killed in action, manned the weapon with skill and courage. |
Sec. of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, center, poses for a photo with, from left to right, Staff Sgt. Anita, Gilliam, Sgt. Leigh Newbold, holding phone, and Spc. Anjanee Goberdham, during his visit to Fort Irwin, Monday, Aug. 29, 2005. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Ironclad Bump for the Thursday Freeper Foxhole
Today is the blogger fund raising drive for the Katrina Victims. Y'all Know the Drill
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Good morning, Snippy and everyone at the Freeper Foxhole.
Oh, yes, Lee understood what had to be done. The Confederate infantry were too tired and the Union troops too desperate.
It looks to me that the Confederate troops were committed to the assault piecemeal, as they arrived on foot at the front line. A critical mass for attack never occurred. Another "might have been" would to mass the Confederate infantry and made a 0300 night attack patterned after Anthony Wayne's capture of a whole British fort at Stony Point in 1779. Wayne was very brave, tough, and smart, but I see George Washington's touch all over that operation.
By the way, isn't Google amazing?
Stony Point
On the Hudson River, at King's Ferry was a strong British fort, Stony Point. This fort was an important facet of the British defense along the Hudson. The fort was about one hundred and fifty feet high, on a rocky bluff on the western side of the Hudson. Three sides were surrounded by water and the fourth by a swamp. There were a series of redoubts and a large number of cannon placed to drive off attack. The fort was garrisoned under the command of Colonel Johnston with a force of five hundred men. For some time, Wayne had contemplated the capture of Stony Point, and eventually convinced Washington it could be done. The plan was kept unusually secret a plan that had to be swiftly executed. The soldiers selected came from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina. Washington approved of Wayne's carefully investigated plan and wrote to him: "That is should be attempted by the Light Infantry only, which should march under cover of the night and with the utmost secrecy to the enemy's lines, securing every person they find to prevent discovery." On the night of July 15, Wayne and his men gathered at the foot of Stony Point. As they approached, the garrison was aroused and began to shower cannon and musketry fire into the ranks of the assailants. However, the carefully planned attack was continued as each man knew exactly what his duty was. Wayne received a severe scalp wound, stunning him, but he pushed on ahead. The plan was so carefully laid out that the American forces met at the center of the fort at practically the same time. The British flag was hauled down and the fort was surrendered by the British commander. The British prisoners numbered 543. Sixty-three British were killed, and the number of wounded is unknown. The Americans lost fifteen, while eighty-three were wounded. Wayne sent Washington a message when the fort had been captured: "The fort and garrison with Col. Johnston are ours. Our officers and men behaved like men who are determined to be free." The victory of the capture was a surprise to friend and foe alike. It was an outstanding victory of the Revolution and the most brilliant victory of "Mad Anthony's" career. On July 16, Washington congratulated Wayne, the officers and troops on their outstanding victory. Congress unanimously passed resolutions praising Wayne and his men and awarded Wayne with a gold medal commemorative of his gallant service.
Good morning Snippy, Sam and every one.
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Health experts tell us we should drink at least 64 ounces of water each day. It may reduce the risk of heart attack, give our skin a healthy glow, and help us lose weight. We should drink even more water during exercise or if we live in a hot or dry climate. Even if we're not thirsty, we ought to drink water anyway.
Our thirst for God is even more beneficial. When we're spiritually dry, we long to hear from Him through His Word, and we search for even a drop of knowledge about Him. When we're exercising our faith in a new way, we want to be close to Him and receive His strength. Our thirst for God may increase when we see the sinfulness of people around us or when we gain a new awareness of our own sin and need for Him.
Spiritual thirst is a metaphor used throughout Scripture. Asaph thirsted for answers in his questioning psalm. When he saw the wicked prospering, he cried out to God to understand why (Psalm 73:16). He found the Lord to be his strength and realized that he desired nothing but Him (vv.25-26).
If we're spiritually thirsty, we can follow Asaph's example and draw near to God (v.28). He will satisfy us, yet give us a deeper thirst for Himself. We'll learn to desire Him above all else. Anne Cetas
A thirst for God can be satisfied only by Christ, the Living Water.
Good Thursday morning to all! Today is the first day of September.
Thanks for this great thread. I had never heard of the Galena before.
On This Day In History
Birthdates which occurred on September 01:
1653 Johann Pachelbel, composer (Canon)
1791 Lydia Sigourney US, religious author (How to Be Happy)
1798 Richard Delafield Bvt Major General (Union Army), died in 1873
1824 Isaac Hardin Duval Bvt Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1902
1829 James Conner Brig General (Confederate Army), died in 1883
1854 Engelbert Humperdinck Germany, opera composer (Parsifal)
1866 James "Gentleman Jim" Corbett heavyweight champion boxer (1892-97)
1875 Edgar Rice Burroughs novelist (Tarzan, Mars Saga)
1907 Walter Reuther labor leader/president of UAW & CIO
1922 Melvin R Laird (Rep-R-Mich), US Secretary of Defense (1969-73)
1922 Vittorio Gassman actor (War & Peace)
1922 Yvonne De Carlo (Peggy Yvonne Middleton) Vancouver BC, actress (10 Commandments, Munsters)
1923 Rocky Marciano heavyweight champion boxer (1952-56)
1925 Art[hur E] Pepper US, alto saxophonist
1933 Ann Richards (EX-FORMER Gov-Tx)
1933 Conway Twitty [Harold Jenkins], Miss, country singer (Hello Darlin')
1935 Seiji Ozawa Hoten Manchuria, conductor (Boston Symphony Orchestra)
1937 Al Geiberger golfer (US PGA lowest score on 18 holes, a 59)
1937 Ron O'Neal Utica NY, actor (Superfly)
1938 George Maharis Astoria NY, actor (Buz-Route 66, Most Deadly Game)
1938 Alan Dershowitz NYC, attorney (Claus Von Bulow, OJ Simpson)
1939 Lily Tomlin Detroit, comedienne/actress (9 to 5, Laugh-in, All of Me)
1944 Leonard Slatkin LA Calif, conductor (Concert Orch, Neth)
1946 Barry Gibb singer (BeeGees-Stayin' Alive)
1957 Gloria Estefan Cuba, singer (Miami Sound Machine-Conga, 1-2-3)
Hi miss Feather
Bittygirl taught herself to whistle yesterday.
LOL!! All she had to do was pucker up and blow!! How sweet.
free dixie,sw
Good evening
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