Civil War USS Adirondack (1862)

1 civil war

1.1 adirondack sails bahamas, captures emma
1.2 british authorities protest chase of herald
1.3 adirondack reports on legal status of raider
1.4 adirondack sailed bahamas again investigate further rumors
1.5 adirondack strikes reef in bahamas, , sinks

civil war

although adirondack slated duty in west gulf blockading squadron, events in bahamas changed fate. before sailed gulf of mexico, news reached washington, d.c. british-built screw steamer oreto — later known css florida — had arrived @ island of new providence and, although constructed under pretext of being merchantman destined service under italian government, in reality cruiser being fitted out confederate commerce raider. thus, on 11 july, secretary of navy (secnav) gideon welles ordered gansevoort proceed in adirondack west indies investigate report.

adirondack sails bahamas, captures emma

the new union screw-sloop of war departed new york city on 17 july , headed bahamas. 6 days out, chanced upon schooner and, after two-hour chase, boarded stranger proved baltimore, maryland-built vessel named emma operating out of nassau, bahamas, under british colonial register. since schooner s master had arrived in west indies in command of blockade runner ann e. barry, , since emma laden . . . articles of great need in so-called confederate states, gansevoort sent philadelphia, pennsylvania, under prize crew.

two days later, on morning of 25th, when in sight of nassau still . . . beyond territorial jurisdiction of . . . british empire, gansevoort . . . discovered shortly after daylight steamer standing in nassau. again gave chase , fired upon fleeing ship; but, time, quarry s speed enabled reach neutral port safely.

british authorities protest chase of herald

some 2 hours later, boat royal navy sloop of war hms greyhound pulled alongside adirondack approached nassau , delivered letter american steamer protesting role in recent chase , informing gansevoort elusive steamer named herald , had been . . . struck 2 or 3 times shot ... during action.

shortly thereafter, adirondack anchored in roadstead off nassau harbor, , gansevoort sent greyhound s commanding officer written reply protest, justifying course of action.

he went ashore learned herald — commanded . . . notorious rebel coxetter, formerly captain of rebel privateer jeff. davis — had returned charleston, south carolina, laden cotton after delivering cargo of ammunition confederate port.

adirondack reports on legal status of raider

since adirondack had encountered extremely severe weather during passage out new york, remained @ nassau 3 days undergoing voyage repairs , replenishing coal bunkers. gansevoort took advantage of ship s stay in port learn of conditions there before sailing virginia capes on 28 july. upon arriving @ hampton roads, virginia, on 4 august, reported oreto indeed confederate cruiser, then”

. . . in charge of prize crew greyhound, , proceedings have been instituted in admiralty court of bahamas condemnation violation of foreign enlistment act of great britain . . . .

his dispatch washington stated sentiment in bahamas in favor of south. outcome of judicial action against warship — later freed , win fame southern raider florida — in doubt.

adirondack sailed bahamas again investigate further rumors

on 12 august, secnav welles ordered adirondack proceed port royal, south carolina, report rear admiral samuel francis du pont duty in south atlantic blockading squadron. next day, report reached washington, d.c., british built cruiser — later prey on union shipping css alabama — had slipped out of england , heading nassau. anxiety on new threat prompted welles send adirondack bahamas investigate. nevertheless, before message reached hampton roads, steamer had sailed port royal in compliance orders of 12th. word of new mission caught there on 18th , got underway nassau afternoon.

adirondack strikes reef in bahamas, , sinks

all went until morning of 23 august 1862, when adirondack struck reef off northeast point of man-o-war cay of little bahama bank group. shock disabled engine, , daylong efforts ship s crew, aid of local wreckers, proved futile.

that evening, broken , keel forced through engine room, ship bilged. fortunately, suffered no personnel casualties.