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McLean Research Associates is dedicated to presenting little known facts about the US Navy in the Civil War, presentations on a myriad of astronomical topics,STEM workshops, and letterboxing.


In commemoration of the 160 years since the Civil War - or more appropriately in the vernacular of the day - The War of the Slaveholders' Rebellion - we are featuring a quote and picture of the day from the Naval Records


Period Picture
LT W N Jeffers, USN was not liked by the crew of the USS Monitor who adored John Worden, it's first commander
Sat Apr 01 1865

cAPT Charles Walke, USS Sacramento, writes SECNAV from Lisbon, Portugal "I have the honor to report the arrival of the Sacramento, in company with the U. S. frigate Niagara, at this port on the 27th instant two days from Cornita, in pursuit of the rebel ironclad ram Stonewall which sailed from Ferrol on the morning of the same day that we left Coruña.
    The Stonewall arrived in this port thirty-six hours before us, having made the passage without sail in less time by twelve hours than we did under steam and sail with a fair wind from the northward, the Sacramento being unable to keep pace with the Niagara under sail.
    We will take in coal and repair several more of our pipes, tubes, and bolts of our engine, and be ready for service to-morrow, awaiting the directions of Commodore Craven.
    The Stonewall is a most formidable ironclad turreted ram, her plating being of the greatest thickness, her battery consisting of a breech-loading Armstrong rifled gun of the heaviest caliber (300 pounds), which points ahead and on both bows through ports with heavy iron shutters; also two guns (150 pounds) for the stern and quarter ports, of the same character. Her stern is like a plowshare, pointed with iron or steel, and projecting under the water about 2½ feet; she is brig-rigged, having a bowsprit which can be run in or out at pleasure.
    She has four engines of the best make, two propellers, and two rudders, which are protected with an overhang below the water line of about 20 feet; her bulwarks amidships are of heavy iron plating, set up on hinges and braces, which are laid on dleck in time of action.
    Her turrets are of the heaviest plating, and, as reported by Mr. Palmer (an American and now a chief engineer in the Spanish navy, who has been through the ram thoroughly and repeatedly), she is shot-proof from any quarter. Her speed is reported by her pilot and other sources to be about 13 knots, more or less; she turns within her length by working her engines in opposite directions. She put to sea with all speed from this port on the morning after our arrival, and proceeded, some reports say north, others to the southward and westward. She is 900 tons burden.
    I presume that Commodore Cravens report upon this subject will be all that you may desire. I herewith enclose a drawing of the Stonewall, taken from a photograph."

CMDR S W Godon, USN, writes SECNAV "I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th of March, informing me of my. being selected to command the Brazil Squadron, and authorizing me to hoist the flag of an acting rear-admiral on reaching the northern limits of that station.
    I beg leave to return my sincere thanks for the honor you have done me. I trust, sir, that my conduct in my command will justify the confidence the Department has seen fit to repose in me." In a second letter he writes "In leaving the United States to reach my station on the Brazils I should stand well over to the eastward and avail myself of the N. E. and S. E. trade winds, to save coal and be in the line of vessels returning from the Pacific and China. My course would not be distant from Madeira.
    I would respectfully request permission to stop at that island if I find it does not involve any considerable loss of time. This would allow me to stop at Teneriffe and the Cape Verde Islands, and might prove serviceable in the way of information as to the movements of rebel privateers, save coal, and require the greatest use of the sailing qualities of the ship."

CDR C R P Rodgers, USS Iroquois, writes SECNAV from Batavia Roads, Java, "I have the honor to report the arrival of the Iroquois at Batavia from the Strait of Sunda, whither I had hastened the moment our repairs were completed at Galle, passing through the straits of Malacca and Banca, and touching for one day at Penang for coal and for two days at Singapore.
    I had hoped to find the Shenandoah at or near the Strait of Sunda, but upon my arrival there could give [gain] no intelligence later than that which I already possessed.
    The chief engineer having reported that we could no longer use our boilers without danger of scalding our men, and that the engines were in a condition that made it imperatively necessary that they should be overhauled without further delay, I came to this place on the 15th instant, and have been diligently employed here in patching and plugging the boilers and in overhauling the engines.
    I have obtained such aid as I could get from the shore, and the Dutch admiral has very kindly given me all the assistance in his power. I hope in a few days to have the boilers fit for use, and to have the engines in excellent order.
    I am in correspondence with our consuls at various points, from whom I shall receive information promptly; but we have to contend with a disposition upon the part of foreign merchants and merchant captains to spread false reports in regard to rebel vessels, which are speciously set forth with a view to create distrust and prevent our own merchant vessels from getting freights. These efforts are successful, and materially injure our freighting interests.
    I hope to be ready to sail on the 6th of April, when the next mail will arrive, by which I shall probably receive information from Australia, British India, and China to guide my movements.
    As I have been on shore here but twice, and then only to visit the authorities, by whom I was very kindly received, I can not say much concerning Batavia, but it does not impress me as a good place for supplies or a convenient anchorage.
    The health of my crew is good."

RADM David D Porter, North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, writes Chief Engineer Alex. Henderson, USN, "Proceed to Norfolk and procure all articles required for the torpedo fixtures according to my instructions given you. Bring what you can in the barges, which you will see Captain Berrien about, and request him to send up the rest to you in the Mount Washington. Also obtain the necessary blacksmiths from Captain Berrien to carry on the work now going on here."

RADM Jonathan Dahlgren, South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, writes LT J F Nickels, USS St Louis, "You are hereby detached from the U. S. ship St. Louis, and, on receipt of this, you will again assume command of the U. S. S. Cambridge."

RADM S K Stribling, East Gulf Blockading Squadron, writes SECNAV from Key West "I have the honor to report the capture of the British schooner Comus by the Iuka on the 31st ultimo. The schooner was loaded with cotton from Aucilla River, near St. Mark's." In a second letter he writes ""

RADM J K Thatcher, West Gulf Blockading Squadron, "I expect to leave this place to-day to visit and inspect the vessels at all the blockaded places except Indian River, and shall be absent from Key West eight or ten days.
    I have a report that the Fort Henry grounded on her anchor and filled with water. Everything was taken out of her, and she is again afloat, but I have not been informed whether she can be kept on the blockade without being docked.
    If the Fort Henry has to be withdrawn from the blockade at St. Mark's or St. George's Sound it will make us still more deficient in suitable vessels for the blockade of those places referred to in my No. 73 of the 14th ultimo."

MGEN E R S Canby, USA, Division of West Mississippi, writes J K Thatcher, West Gulf Blockading Squadron, "It is represented that light-draft steamboats are able to reach Battery Huger from Mobile by the routes indicated in pencil on the accompanying map. The entire course of these boats can not be followed from the signal stations, either on the right or left, but it appears to be certain that they can get into the Apalachee River without coming down the Blakely. Will you do me the favor to have them watched, and if within reach of your guns stopped?"

RADM Samuel P Lee, Mississippi Squadron, "The transport Mattie Cabler, I am informed by Quartermaster Garland Donaldson, was sunk in the Cumberland 22 miles below Nashville on the 30th ultimo. If the Army quartermaster telegraphs for the services of the Little Champion, as I momentarily expect him to do, send her to the Cumberland to render all practicable assistance, delivering the enclosed order to her commanding officer, and inform Commodore Livingston that I desire her to render this service, or show him the order."

Teachers and Educators - we have several Civil War presentations covering the US Navy throughout the Civil War which include our portable museum, Submarines, and key naval and land battles. Check out our Civil War section for more details. We also have several presentations on astronomy for all age groups




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