DAHLGREN GUN-INVENTED BY LIEUTENANT JOHN A. DAHLGREN OF THE U. S. NAVY.

AN EXPERT ON NAVAL WEAPONS, DAHLGREN STUDIED "CURVES OF PRESSURE" TO BUILD A CANNON WITH A REINFORCED BREECH THAT WOULD NOT BURST. DAHLGREN'S BIG 11-INCH "SODA BOTTLES" WERE THE BEST NAVAL GUNS OF THE CIVIL WAR.

SHELL FOR SHELL GUN. SHAPED LIKE A BLUNT BULLET, ITI WAS MORE ACCURATE THAN OLD· TIME CANNONBALL.

NAVY MINE (O~ TORPEDO). THE

CONFEDERATES iNVENTED MANY

TYPES FOR HARBOR DEFENSE.

MINES SANK 8 UNION IRONCLADS.

EARLY SHELL GUN-PAIXHAN TYPE. INVENTED BY FRENCH, THIS WAS THE FIRST PRACTICAL WEAPON TO THROW AN EXPLOSIVE SHELL AT FAIRLY LONG RANGE. ADOPTED BY THE U. S. NAVY, THIS TYPE OF CANNON WAS USED IN THE MEXICAN IN AR OF 1847. SHELL-FIRE COULD WRECK PADDLE STEAMERS, BUT THE GUN WAS UNRELIABLE AND MIGHT EXPLODE.

~ 0 "

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(;)1i)(;)O~&J~D~/:P O~Ii)i)

NAVAL MORTAR. IN THE CIVIL WAR THESE BIG ,/lIRON POTS" WERE CARRIED BY FLAT-BOTTOM MORTAR BOATS ON THE MISSISSIPPI.

By STOKES WALESBY and THEOPORE ROSCOE; © 1959 Copyright by Stokes Walesby; Wash .• D. C.

BIG ARSHIPS

THAT WAS THE U. S. NAVY 730 YEARS AGO.

STEAM WAS COMING OVER THE HORIZON. BUT

THE BACKBONE Of THE FLEET WAS THE CANV

BACK SQUARE-RIGGER-THE fiSTY fRIGATE A MIGHTY SHIP-Of-THE-LiNE. THE CIVIL WAR THE NAVY TO IRON. BUT SHIP-Of-LINE INDEPENDENCE WAS STILL AfLOAT IN 7900.

EXPLORING. PROTECTING AMERICAN COMMeRCE. BLAZING NEW TRADE ROUTES IN fAR SEAS. NAVAL MISSIONS MEANT HIGH ADVENTUREfiGHTING PIRATES IN THE CARIBBEAN-CHASING ILLEGAL SLAVE RUNNERS Off AfRICA. fAVORITE DUTY WAS WITH THE MEDITERRANEAN SQUADRON, ABOARD SUCH fRIGATES AS

U.S.S. BRANDYWINE.

A WOODEN SHIPS AND IRON MEN-THAT'S WHAT THE OLD NAVY WAS MADE Of. THEY CALLED THEM "STICK-AND-STRING" SAILORS-THE JACK TARS WHO MANNED THE SAILING VESSELS Of THE U. S. FLEET. A ROUGH AND ROARING LIfE THEY LIVED ON THE SEA IN THOSE OLD DAYS. RUGGED. BUT THE U.S.N. WENT AROUND THE WORLD. AND OUT OF THE SERVICE CAME SUCH NAVY STARS AS MATTHEW CALBRAITH PERRY, M. C. MAURY[ JOHN L. WORDEN, FARRAGUT, D. D. PORTER, CUSHING - LEADERS WHO HELPED TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT.

~.

MATTHEW Cl\lBBAlTII PERRY

CALBRAITH PERRY-THERE WAS A NAME FOR

YOU. BROTHER OF THE FAMOUS "HERO OF ERIE." BUT OUT TO WIN HIS OWN EPAULETS,

CALBRAITH PERRY DETERMINED TO CLIMB THE NAVY LADDER. IN COMMAND OF U. S. SCHOONER SHARK HE SAILED ON THE ANTISLAVER PATROL OFF WEST AFRICA. UNDER PERRY, SHARK DEALT WITH SOME UGLY SHARKS.

CALBRAITH PERRY CLIMBED TO OF THE

MEDITERRANEAN SQUADRON. IN FLAGSHIP CONGRESS HE HANDLED MANY DELICATE DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS FOR THE U. S. GOVERN. MENT. SHOWING THE STARS AND STRIPES, PERRY RAN A TAUT SHIP. BUT HE LIKED TO RELAX, TOO. BUGLES AND DRUMS-MUSIC ON SHIPBOARD-

NAVY BANDS PERRY'S IDEA.

THE NAVY GATHERED SPEED AND PUNCH UNDER M. C. PERRY. INTERESTED IN ENGINEERING, HE WON COMMAND OF FULTON II, THE NAVY'S SECOND STEAM WARSHIP. OLD SALTS MISTRUSTED STEAM POWER. BUT FORWARD-LOOKING PERRY BOMBARDED CONGRESS WITH APPEALS FOR ENGINE-DRNEN WARSHIPS. WHEN SAILORS ON FULTON II REFUSED TO SHOVEL COAL, CALBRAITH PERRY STEPPED DOWN HARD. DID THE FIRES GET STOKED? HOT ENOUGH TO WIN HIM LAURELS AS "FATHER OF THE STEAM NAVY." PERRY ALSO URGED SHELL GUNS FOR THE SHIPS.

WAR WITH MEXICO IN 1847-ACTION FOR THE U. S. NAVY. BLOCKADING TAMPICO AND VERA CRUZ, COMMODORE CONNOR LET THE OPERATION DRIFT. SO THE NAVY DEPARTMENT SENT CALBRAITH PERRY IN NEW PADDLE FRIGATE MISSISSIPPI TO DO THE JOB. SOME DOUBTE/{S,THOUGHT A STEAM VESSEL WOULD'NT GET THERE. GETTING THERE, MISSISSIPPI RODE OUT A TERRIFIC NORTHER. STORMS OFF VERA CRUZ WERE THE NAVY'S WORST ENEMY. BUT THEY COULDN'T DOWN M. C. PERRY.

THE AMERICAN ARMY STORMED THE MOUNTAIN PASSES TO MEXICO CITY, PERRY TIGHTENED THE COASTAL BLOCKADE. ON EXPEDITION TO TABASCO HIS STEAM GUNBOATS FOUGHT THEIR WAY UP A JUNGLE RIVER TO

WIN THE TOWN. SNIPER FIRE WAS HOTTER THAN TABASCO SAUCE. BUT THE BOATS WON THROUGH. PERRY DIDN'T LOSE A SINGLE MAN

IN COMBAT.

WAR WITH MEXICO OPENED UP CALIFORNIA. BUT THE AMERICANS DIDN'T STOP AT THE PACIFIC COAST. BEYOND THE HORIZON LAY THE FAR EASTCHINA AND JAPAN. YANKEE WHALERS WERE AMONG THE FIRST TO GET THERE. BUT WHEN THEY REACHED JAPAN THE MIKADO IMPRISONED THEM. NIPPON WAS A "CLOSED EMPIRE." SO THE U. S.

'" GOVERNMENT SENT PERRY TO OPEN IT UP.

WITH FLAGSHIP SUSQ AND """U",,~.H. .. nv

PERRY REACHED JAPAN IN JULY 1853. BOLDLY HE ENTERED YEDO BAY. LIKE ANGRY BEETLES, lAP PICKET BOATS SURROUNDED THE AMERICAN SHIPS. ORDERED TO LEAVE, PERRY PLAYED WIZARD. "I AM LORD OF THE FORBIDDEN INTERIOR. SEND ME YOUR MIKADO." WHEN PRINCES ARRIVED, LORDLY PERRY CONSENTED TO MEET THEM.

POMP AND FOL .. DE .. ROL PLEASED THE PRIMITIVE JAP WAR LORDS. PERRY

PLAYED IT UP, PRESENTING PRINCES IDZU AND IWAMI WITH GAUDY GIFTS AND

A HANDSOME BOX ~ONT AINING A LETTER TO THE MIKADO FROM PRESIDENT FILLMORE. THEN, MYSTERIOUS, HE SAILED AWAY. AFTER A SIX .. MONTH CRUISE HE WAS BACK. NOW HIS SQUADRON INCLUDED FINE NEW PADDLE FRIGATE POWHATAN-VERY IMPRESSIVE. BANQUETS. BAND CONCERTS. PARADES. THEN A DISPLAY OF AMERICAN .. MADE MERCHANDISE. TELEGRAPH INSTRUMENTS AND A TOM THUMB TRAIN HAD THE JAPS POPEYED. ESPECIALLY THE

ENGINE'S WHISTLE-BANZAI! WHEN

PERRY RETURNED TO THE U.S.A. HE HAD A VALUABLE COMMERCIAL TREATY IN HIS POCKET. JAPAN WANTED U. S. GOODS. AMERICAN SHIPS WERE INVITED. NAVAL DIPLOMACY BY COMMODORE PERRY HAD OPENED THE "CLOSED EMPIRE."

..

MATTHEW FONTAINE MAURY

IN

STILL BELIEVED THE EARTH WAS FLAT. AND THE NEXT GENERATION MIGHT HAVE HAD MORE

FLA THEADS BUT FOR A NAVAL OFFICER NAMEDMAURY. LAMED BY A STAGECOACH ACCIDENT, YOUNG LIEUTENANT MAURY WAS GIVEN SHORE DUTY IN THE DEPOT OF CHARTS AND INSTRU. MENTS IN WASHINGFON. BUT IT'S AN ILL WIND-J

ARMCHAIR SAILOR! SOME YOUNG MEN, .. HANDICAPPED PHYSICALLY, MIGHT HAVE DROPPED THE ANCHOR MENTALLY. NOT MAURY! WHILE BROTHER OFFICERS CRUISED THE SEVEN SEAS, MAURY FOUND ADVENTURE IN THE WORLD OF SCIENCE. OLD METHODS OF NAVIGATION N,EEDED AN OVERHAUL. BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL, MAURY SET OUT TO REVISE ANCIENT CHARTS THAT HAD NOT BEEN IMPROVED IN YEARS.

OLD SEA "MAGNETIC COAST" OF BRAZIL AND A GRUESOME SARGASSO SEA WHICH TRAPPED VESSELS IN AN OCEAN OF SEAWEED. ASSEMBLING HUNDREDS OF SHIP LOGS AND REPORTS, MAURY DISPROVED THE ANCIENT YARNS. HE FOUND MUCH SUPERSTITION AND SLAPDASH GUESS-WOR'" IN NAVIGATION.

UNDER MAURY THE OLD DEPOT BECAME THE MODERN-MINDED N'WAI. OBSERVATO/{Y AND HYDROGRAPHIC OFFICE. FOR YEARS MAURY GATHERED INFORMATION ON OCEAN WINDS, CURRENTS, TIDES. IN 1850 HE ORGANIZED A CONFERENCE ON MARITIME SCIENCE AT BRUSSELS. MANY COUNTRIES SENT DELEGATES. ALL NATIONS GAINED FROM THIS FREE EXCHANGE OF KNOWLEDGE.

APPLYING SCIENCE TO THE ART OF NAVIGATION, MATTHEW MAURY TOOK MUCH HAZARD OUT OF SAILING. HIS NORTH ATLANTIC "TRACK CHARTS" CUT THE SAiLING TIME TO EUROPE BY MANYf" HOURS. SOON THEY WERE ST ANDARD,/ USED BY ALL MARITIME COUNTRIES. YOU FIND MAURY'S NAME TODAY ON THE CHARTS USED BY OCEAN PILOTS.

SERVICE. PLACED IN CHARGE OF THE SOUTH'S HARBOR DEFENSES, HE INVENTED MANY NEW DEVICES FOR MINE WARFARE. HIS BEST WAS AN INGENIOUS ELECTRICAL MINE. EARLY IN ACTION, MAURY MINES SANK MANY UNION VESSELS INCLUDING GUNBOAT COMMODORE BARNEY UP THE JAMES RIVER. BUT MAURY'S FAME SHONE BRIGHTEST IN THE FIELD OF MARITIME GEOGRAPHY. "NAVIES," HE WROTE, "ARE NOT ALL FOR WAR." HIS OWN WORK WAS LIKE A LIGHTHOUSE FOR NAUTICAL SCIENCE.

I

~, •. kJOHN*L. WORDEN

L.

CAPTURED WHILE ON A SPECIAL MISSION TO PENSACOLA. AFTER HOLDING HIM FOR A TIME, THE CONFEDERATES RELEASED HIM. RETURNED TO THE NORTH, WORDEN REPORTED FOR DUTY WITH THE UNION NAVY. HE WAS GIVEN A MOST DANGEROUS ASSIGNMENT. PERHAPS THE WAR'S MOST URGENT /

THE

YARD. NOW, IN THE FALL OF 1861, UNION SPIES REPORTED THAT THE JOHNNY REBS WERE CONSTRUCTING A BIG IRONCLAD IN NORFOLKTHE MERRIMACK. TO COUNTER THIS MENACE, THE NORTH WAS BUILDING A NOVEL TURRETVESSEL CALLED THE MONITOR. WORDEN WAS

CAPTAIN OF THIS NEW

*. ...

"LIKE THE SUN," A CRITIC

SCOFFED AT THE MONITOR DESIGNED BY NEW YORK INVENTOR JOHN ERICSSON. WHAT WAS A TURRET VESSEL? WORDEN SOON FOUND OUT. MONITOR LOOKED LIKE A CHEESfBOX ON A RAFT. SHE CARRIED TWO DAHLGREN GUNS IN A REVOLVING TURRET. SHE W

WOULD SEA? HER TWO CANNON FIGHT" OUT WITH

THE MERRIMACK, A BIG STEAM CRUISER ARMORED WITH IRON AND ARMED WITH TEN GUNS AND A SHARP RAM ON HER BOW? NOBODY KNEW WHAT MONITOR COULD DO. ON THE VOYAGE FROM LONG ISLAND TO VIRGINIA, SHE ENCOUNTERED A WILD STORM. WAVES SWEPT HER DECK. HER TURRET LEAKED. SMOKE AND STEAM STIFLED HER ENGINE CREW. BUT WORDEN KEPT HER PLUNGING AHEAD. SHE REACHED HAMPTON ROADS JUST IN TIME.

MIGHTY MERRIMACK HAD COME OUT THE DA Y BEFORE. IN SLAM-BANG BATTLE SHE HAD DOWNED TWO UNION VESSELSWOODEN WARSHIPS THAT WERE SMASHED UKE K/NDLING. MARCH 9, 1862, SHE STEAMED OUT TO SMASH THE REST OF THE UN/ON SQUADRON. REBEL CAPTAIN CATESBY JONES STARED AMAZED. ADVANCING WAS THE LITTLE MONITOR •

. "--".'.

---

CATESBY roNES THOUGHT THE MONITOR WAS A FLOATING WATER TANK. THEN THE "TANK" BELCHED

FIRE AS WORDEN DROVE ':I/S WEIRD VESSEL AT THE CONFEDERATE BEHEMOTH. MERRIMACK'S GUNS ROARED. SHELLS BURST LIKE EGGS ON MONITOR'S /RON TURRET. MON/TOR'S TWO GUNS BOOMED. CANNONBALLS BOUNCED OFF MERR/MACK'S IRON CASEMATE. FOR OVER TWO HOURS THE ANTAGONISTS DUELLED. THEN MERR/MACK RAMMED MONITOR. SLAM! THE RAM BROKE OfF. MON/TOR'S TURRET-MACH/NERY WENT HAYWIRE. WORDEN FOUGHT ON.

¢"

BADLY INJURED, WORDEN WOULD NOT GIVE UP. FINALLY MERRIMACK RETIRED TO NORFOLK. WH/LE THE FIGHT WAS A DRAW, MON/TOR SUCCEEDED IN STOPPING THE REB IRONCLAD WHICH HAD SET OUT TO CLOBBER THE UNION FLEET. LINCOLN VISITED WORDEN TO TELL HIM HE HAD SAVED THE NATION'S DAY. REWARD ENOUGH FOR JOHN L. WORDEN. IRON MAN IN AN IRON MAN·O'·WAR!

LEAKING BADLY, MERRIMACK WAS BUT

SHE BANGED SHOT AFTER SHOT A T ~ONITOR. HER TURRET REVOLVING LIKE, A SLOW MERRYGO-ROUND, MONITOR FIRED BACK. MONITOR WAS SCORING HARD HITS WHEN A SHELL STRUCK HER PILOT HOUSE. AT THE LOOKOUT, CAPTAIN WORDEN WAS BLINDED BY SPLINTERS. HE

ORDERED THE CREW TO KEEP FIGHTING.

AWAY BACK IN THE WAR OF 1812 A LITTLE MID NAMED DAVEY FARRAGUTFOUGHT IN ESSEX AT VALPARAISO. HE WAS ONLY 13 YEARS OLD. DURING THE BATTLE HE COCKED HIS PISTOL AT AN INSUBORDINATE GUN CREW, AND KEPT THE TOUGH OLD SEA DOGS IN LINE. THAT EARLY EXHIBIT OF LEADERSHIP WAS TYPICAL OF DAVID GLASGOW FARRAGUT. A BOY WHO COULD HANDLE A MAN'S JOB, HE GREW INTO A MAN

WHO COULD HANDLE A WHOLE CAMPAIGN.~

DAVID GLASCOW FARRl\GUT

1850'S MANY NAVAL OFFICERS QUIT

THE FOR MONEY OUTSIDE. SOME MADE

,FORTUNES IN THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH. FARRAGUT LOVED THE NAVY AND STAYED WITH IT. AFTER THE MEXICAN WAR HE OPENED MARE ISLAND NAVY YARD IN CALIFORNIA. IN 1860 WAS "BEACHED." THEN HIS SHIP CAME IN.

LIVING IN NORFOLK, VIRGINIA. HIS SOUTHERN NEIGHBORS WERE FOR THE CONFEDERACY. NOT FARRAGUT. DETERMINED TO STAND BY THE

"OLD FLAG," HE PACKED A BAG, GRABBED HIS PISTOLS, DROVE WITH HIS WIFE TO THE WHARF, AND CAUGHT THE LAST STEAMER NORTH.

IN WASHINGTON, D. C., FARRAGUT FOUND THE NAVY FALLING APART. WERE \..v."nJ.><:u

WERE UNREADY, NOBODY KNEW WHICH OFFICER TO TJ'PST. NAVAL SECRETARY GIDEON WELLES PLACED "OLD MAN" FARRAGUT IN A SHORES/DE POST. FARRAGdT, 60 YEARS YOUNG, WANTED ACTION. SO HE WAS GIVEN STEAM SLOOP HARTFORD AND PLACED IN CHARGE OF THE U. S. GULF SQUADRON. HE WAS ORDERED to CAPTURE NEW ORLEANS. COULD HE DO IT? FARRAGUT SAID YES.

NEW ORLEANS. A TOUGH NUT TO CRACK. " WAS THE SOUTH'S BIGGEST AND MOST IMPORTANT SEAPORT. LOCATED AT THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI IT WAS A TERMINAL FOR RNER BOATS AND PERHAPS THE WORLD'S GREATEST

COTTON SHIPPING CENTER. AND COTTON WAS THE SOUTH'S CHIEF EXPORT. COTTON WAS THE CONFEDERACY'S BREAD AND BUTTER. CAPTURE NEW ORLEANSPLUG THE MISSISSIPPI'S MOUTH-STOP EXPORT OF COTTON-THOSE WERE FARRAGUT'S GOALS. BUT THE JOB NOT BE EASY. FIRST THE UNION SHIPS MUST GET IN THROUGH THE TRICKY DELTA. THEN, GOING UPRIVER, THEY MUST RUN A GANTLET BETWEEN fWO BIG FORTS. THE CHANNEL WAS BLOCKED BY BARRIERS AND GUARDED BY A REBEL SQUADRON. BUT FARRAGUT SET HIS TEETH. HE WROTE HIS WIFE: "SUCCESS IS THE ONLY THING THAT COUNTS IN

THIS WAR."

WHILE THE SHIPS "CHAIN ARMOR," A FLOTILLA OF LlHLE MORTAR BOATS UNDER LIEUTENANT D. D. PORTER HAMMERED AT THE TWO BIG RIVER FORTS. WHEN THE FORTS WERE "SOFTENED UP" FARRAGUT DECIDED TO GO IN. EARLY IN THE MORNING THE ADVANCE BEGAN. THE DATE: APRIL 24, 1862.

FLEET OFF

THE DELTA. TO SHIELD THEM FROM CANNON

BALLS, HE ORDERED HIS SHIPS DRAPED WITH CHAINS. CLEVER IDEA.

AS ER,

FARRAGUT'S SHIPS RETURNED THE CANNONADE. THEY BROKE THROUGH THE CHANNEL BARRIER. HEAD ON, THEY WERE MET BY THE REBEL DEFENSE SQUADRON. UNION STEAM SLOOP BROOKLYN WAS DAMAGED. BUT THE REBEL BOATS WERE SCATTERED IN THUNDEROUS MELEE, AND MIDGET IRONCLAD MANASSAS WAS BLOWN UP. BY NOON FARRAGUT HAD WON THE CITY. CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS STUNNED THE SOUTH. AND FARRAGUT'S VICTORY HAD COST ONLY 37 MENI

HAVING DELIVERED A STUNNER AT NEW ORLEANS, FARRAGUT PROPOSED A KNOCK-OUT NAVAL SMASH AT MOBILE. IN 1864 FARRAGUT WAS GIVEN THE ASSIGNMENT. THE SOUTH'S LAST SEAPORT ON THE GULF, MOBILE WAS TOUGH. FARRAGUT FOUND THE HARBO ENTRY STREWN WITH MINES. GOING ON AUGUST 5, MONITOR TECUMSEH STRUCK A MINE AND WENT DOWN WITH HEAVY LOSS.

THE WERE MOVING IN A DOUBLE

COLUMN WHEN MONITOR TECUMSEH VEERED OUT OF LINE AND TOOK A BLASTING. FARRAGUT CLIMBED HARTFORD'S SHROUDS TO PEER THROUGH THE SMOKE. "MINES! MINES!" SOME OF THE LOOKOUTS SHOUTED. THE ADVANCE SUDDENLY SLOWED. FARRAGUT POINTED TOWARD MOBILE. "DAMN THE TORPEDOES! FUrL SPEED AHEADI"

AT THE MOUTH OF BAY, FORT MORGAN

BOOMED AT THE UNION SHIPS. BRAVE OLD QUARTERMASTER KNOWLES CLIMBED THE RIGGING TO LASH FARRAGUT SECURELY TO THE SHROUDS. SHELLS SPLASHED HARTFORD: MINES GRAZED

HER BOW AND NUDGED THE KEELS OF THE OTHER UNION WARSHIPS.

FARRAGUT REFUSED TO DOWN. IN HIS SQUADRON WERE 8 STEAM SLOOPS, 6 GUNBOATS AND 3 MONITORS. AND IF MOST OF HIS SHIPS WERE WOOD, THE MEN IN THEM WERE IRON. AS TENNESSEE ADVANCED, FARRAGUT SQUARED OFF FOR COMBAT. "I DIDN'T THINK OLD BUCHANAN WAS SUCH A FOOLl" FOR THE IRONCL4D WAS RUSHING LIKE A MAD RHINOCEROUS. BEAM TO BEAM, SHE FIRED POINTBLANK AT HARTFORD. BUT SHE LET THE OTHER UNION SHIPS BOX HER IN. LITTLE MONITOR

CHICKASAW TENNESSEE WAS TRAPPED.

BLACKSMITHS AROUND AN ANVIL, r .... ""M."'V SHIPS HAMMERED THE REBEL IRONCLAD. ONE

, THUNDERING SHOT FROM CHICKASAW SMASHED TENNESSEE'S STERN. SOON HER FUNNEL WAS KNOCKED INTO A COCKED HAL HER STEERING CHAINS WERE SHOT AWAY. BUCHANAN FELL WITH AN INJURED LEG. DOWN CAME THE STARS

AND BARS. ANOTHER FARRAGUT VICTORYI

SURRENDERING , BUCHANAN LOST

MOBILE BAY TO ONE OF AMERICA'S GREATEST NAVAL OFFICERS. AND ONE OF AMERICA'S GREATEST AMERICANS. IRON COURAGE-THAT

WAS FARRAGUT. AND HARD WORK. CAREFUL PREPARATION. BUT NOT PREPARATION FOR DEFEAT. "ANY MAN WHO IS PREPARED FOR DEFEAT," HE WROTE, "WOULD BE HALF DEFEATED BEFORE HE BEGAN." FARRAGUT-THE U.S. NAVY'S

FIRST ADMIRAL.

\ t

DAVID DIXON PORTER

BACK IN THE 1820'S THE CARIBBEAN WAS INFESTED WITH BUCCANEERS. SO THE NAVY SENT COMMODORE PORTER DOWN THERE TO CLEAN UP THE SPANISH MAIN. IN PORTER'S SQUADRON

WAS A FUNNY UTTLE "STEAM GALlOT" NAMED SEA GULL. ON BOARD SEA GULL WAS THE COMMODORE'S TEEN-AGE SON, DAVID DIXON.

,

,\

SOME OFFICERS OFTHE OLD NAVY TOOK THEMSELVES MIGHTY SERIOUSLY. DAVID DIXON PORTER NEVER LOST A WONDERFUL SENSE OF HUMOR. IN A TIGHT SPOT HE COULD COME UP WITH A CARTOON. HE WAS FULL OF FUN, AND FULL OF IDEAS. HE LOOKED AHEAD. TO MANY OFFICERS .OF HIS AGE HORSEPOWER MEANT CAVALRY. T9

D. D. PORTER HORSEPOWER MEANT ENGINES.

SO DAVID FOR THE NORTH-THE U.S. NAVY'SSECOND ADMIRAL AFTER NEW ORLEANS HE WAS SENT TO CAIRO, ILLINOIS, TO COMMAND THE MISSISSIPPI FLOTILLA. THE FLOTILLA WAS MADE UP OF QUEER LITTLE IRONCLADS CALLED "TURTLES." PORTER FOUND THEM IN ILL REPAIR, THE CREWS SHABBY. IN NO TIME HE SPRUCED UP THE VESSELS AND MEN.

YOUNG DAVID DIXON PORTER LIKED THE SCIENTIFIC SIDE OF THE NAVY. AS A MID IN THE SERVICE HE STUDIED HARD AT MATH, NAVIGATION AND GUNNERY. HE WAS NO GREAT SHAKES AS

A SCHOLAR, BUT HE MADE A LIVELY GUNNERY OFFICER. HE KNEW HOW TO PRAISE A DESERVING GUN CREW. IF THE MEN WERE LAZY HE WOULD CHALK "SLOW POKE" ON THE GUN.

il ON THE EVE OF THE CIVIL WAR, D. D. PORTER

MET MRS. JEFFERSON DAVIS AT A WASHINGTON TEA PARTY. SHE ASKED HIM HOW HE WOULD LIKE TO GO SOUTH AND BE AN ADMIRAL. PORTER LAUGHED. A FEW MONTHS LATER HE WAS WITH FARRAGUT AT NEW ORLEANS. THE MORTAR BOMBARDMENT THAT "SOFTENED" THE fORTS

WAS PORTER'S IDEA.

/

THEY CALLED IT THE "CATFISH FRONT." VICKSBURG. HIGH ON A BLUFF CONFEDERATE BATTERIES RULED THE RIVER. IF THE UNION WANTED TO REGAIN

THE MISSISSIPPI, VICKSBURG HAD TO FALL. GRANT MASSED ARMIES TO TAKE THE STRONGHOLD BY LAND. PORTER CAME DOWN WITH HIS "TURTLES' TO ATTACK BY WATER. IN 1863 THE VICKSBURG SIEGE BEGAN.

TRYING TO ENTER VICKSBURG BY A SIDE DOOR PORTER DROVE HIS IRONCLADS INTO THE Y AlOe SWAMPS. REBEL SNIPERS SCORCHED THE SLOW. MOVING "TURTLES." TREES AND VINES BLOCKED THE CHANNEL. IN THE END SHERMAN'S TROOPS HAD TO HELP THE SAILORS OUT OF THE TANGLE. UNABLE TO GET THROUGH THE SIDE DOOR PORTER DECIDED TO TRY THE FRONT STOOP.

THE INSIDE LOOKING OUT. THE

YANKEES SAT OUTSIDE LOOKING IN. TYPICAL SIEGE. BUT PORTER, OF COURSE, COULDN'T SIT. HE SENT HIS GUNBOATS UP TO BOMBARD VICKSBURG HEIGHTS. THEN, INVENTIVE, HE HAD HIS SAILORS FLY KITES OVER THE BELEAGURED CITY. THE KITES DROPPED LEAFLETS. "THINK OF ONE SMALL BISCUIT." PORTER'S TOEA. PROPAGANDA WARFARE.

ON THE FOURTH OF JULY FAMISHED VICKSBURG SURRENDERED. GRANT SHOOK PORTER'S HAND AND GAVE THE NAVY MUCH CREDIT FOR THE VICTORY THAT OPENED THE MISSISSIPPI TO THE UNION. CLEVER IDEAS (AND THE KNOW·HOW AND EI"1ERGY TO PUT THEM OVER)-YOU HAD TO GET UP EARLY IN THE DAY TO BEAT ADMIRAL PORTER. VICKSBURG DIDN'T GET UP THAT EARLY.

WILLIAM * B * CUSHING

AFTER THE CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS, VICKSBURG AND MOBILE, ONE BIG PORT REMAINED OPEN TO THE SOUTH. WILMINGTON, N. c; GUARDED BY STUBBORN FORT FISHER, THIS ATLANTIC BASE DEFIED THE UNION BLOCKADE. DEFENDING RICHMOND IN 1864, LEE DEPENDED ON WILMINGTON FOR HIS MILITARY SUPPLIES. SO ADMIRAL PORTER WAS ORDERED TO KNOCK OUT WILMINGTON. IT MEANT

A BIG FLEET OPERATION. AND SOMETHING ELSE. UP THE ROANOKE RIVER NORTH OF WILMINGTON THE REBELS HAD BUILT A TOUGH IRONCLAD-ALBEMARLE. BEFORE THE UNION FLEET COULD STEAM DOWN THE COAST, THIS MENACE HAD

TO BE REMOVED. PORTER CALLED UPON A NAVY DAREDEVIL TO REMOVE HER.

HIS NAME: LIEUTENANT WILLIAM CUSHING. COULD HE GO UP THE ROANOKE AND DESTROY THE REBEL MONSTER? CUSHING SAID HE COULD.

WHO WAS CUSHING? ANCHOR MAN IN HIS ANNAPOLIS CLASS. AND YOU CAN'T GO MUCH LOWER. NOT THAT HE LACKED BRAINS. BUT BILLY CUSHING LIKED PRANKS. SO HE WAS "BILGED" WHEN

THE CIVIL WAR BEGAN. HAl REENTERING THE SERVICE, CUSHING SET OUT TO RISE. NO DUTY WAS TOO ROUGH, NO MISSION TOO RISKY FOR CUSHING. WELL! IN 1864 THE NAVY HAD A SECRET WEAPON. THREE LITTLE LAUNCHES AT NEW YORK-"SPAR-TORPEDO" BOATS WHICH CARRIED CONTACT

HAZARDOUS MISSION? AND HOW! THAT SPRING OLD ALBEMARLE HAD COME SNORTING DOWN THE ROANOKE AND HAD SMASHED TWO UNION GUNBOATS TO SHAMBLES. ENGINE TROUBLE (CURSE

OF THE CONFEDERATE NAVY) HAD SENT HER BACK TO HER UPRIVER LAIR. NOW 1M AUTUMN '64 SHE WAS READY TO CHARGE AGAIN. WHAT CHANCE WOULD A LITTLE LAUNCH HAVE AGAINST THIS IRONCLAD? STEAMING SOUTH FROM NEW YORK, TWO OF THE "SPAR-TORPEDO" BOATS WERE LOST IN STORM. BUT CUSHING'S BOAT REACHED THE ROANOKE. HE WAS RARING TO GO.

-- --~- .--~~-

NIGHT OF OCTOBER 27. DARK AND DRIZZLING. WITH A HANDFUL OF VOLUNTEERS CUSHING STARTED THE LAUNCH UPRIVER. PROWLING WITH MUFFLED ENGINE, THE LAUNCH INVADED REBEL TERRITORY. ALBEMARLE LOOMED SUDDENLY IN THE DARK. NESTING IN A PEN OF LOGS, SHE W MOORED TO THE RIVERBANK. CUSHING SENT OVER THE MUDDY

A REBEL SENTRY HEARD THE ENGINE AND OPENED FIRE. THEN TWO STUNNING EXPLOSIONS ROCKED THE NIGHT. CRASH!-A BLINDING BLAST AS CUSHING TORPEDOED THE ALBEMARLE. THE ROARING CANNON MISSED. BUT THE LAUNCH WENT DOWN, SWAMPED BY BACKWASH. SOMEHOW CUSHING ESCAPED, SWAM ALL NIGHT, REACHED SAFETY. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, HE HAD LOWERED THE BOOM ON THE SOUTH'S LAST NAVAL MENACE. AND WHEN PORTER'S FLEET TOOK WILMINGTON, WHO LED THE V AN? CUSHING-IRON MAN WHO SANK AN IRONCLAD!

JOHN ERICSSON, FOREMOST NAUTICAL

INVENTOR OF THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD. SWEDISHBORN GENIUS WHO TINKERED HIS WAY TO FAME WITH THE FIRST PRACTICAL SCREW-PROPELLER,

THE AUTOMATIC AMMUNITION HOIST, THE UNDERW A TER PROJECTILE FIRED BY COMPRESSED AIR. ERICSSON'S GUN TURRET AND MONITOR SET THE PATTERN FOR A GENERATION OF NAVAL VESSELS.

ERICSSON MONITORS GREW. INTO GIANT DOUBI.ETURRET "SEA ELEPHANTS." THE U.S. NAVY BUILT MANY MONITORS DURING THE CIVIL WAR. LATE

IN THE WAR U.S.S. RICHMOND WAS CONSTRUCTED -A TRIPLE-TURRET VESSEL, GRANDFATHER OF THE LATER BATTLESHIPS.

CONFEDERATE STEAM SUBMARINE-THE FIRST SUB TO SINK AN ENEMY WARSHIP. BUILT AT MOBILE, THE HUNLEY DROWNED SEVERAL OF HER OWN CREWS BEFORE SHE WENT INTO ACTION.

SHIPPED TO CHARLESTON, SHE SANK U.S. STEAM SLOOP HOUSATONIC IN A DARING "SPAR TORPEDO" ATTACK. ANOTHER CONFEDERATE SUB DAMAGED U.S.S. NEW IRONSIDES.

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