The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-06-09

These vessels consisted of the Pocahontas,
Pawnee, Anacostia, Resolute, and Reliance.
While they were within the territorial limits
of the Atlantic squadron, they nevertheless
constituted n separate command during the
entire war. This was the humble beginning
of the Potomac flotilla, to which several
other vessels were added as the war pro-
gressed. as ia>t as they could be built or
purchased AID commissioned.
1t is not proposed by the writer to attempt
an elaborate account of the various engage
nents in which the Potomac fotilla partici-
pared during he four years of its existence,
but to refer briefly to
THE IMPORTANCE OF ITS SERVICES.
the territory covered. and the extent of opera
tions net only an the Potomac River but also
on the Rappahannock, Chesapeake Bay and
adjacent waters The first commander of the
8otlla was Capt James III. Ward, naval Off
Ger of unusual Intelligence.
Gen. Ruggles. of the epemy's forces in Vir-
ginia, ordered theerection of Is gun battery
on the banks of the Potomac near Aqua
Creek, and Getailed Capts. w. T. Lynch, Il. ID.
Thoburn, III. II. Lewis and John Wilkinson, of
the Virginia state forces, to superintend
the work. which was commenced May ii,
1851 On May ~ our gunboats attacked this
battery, and continued the attack on the fol-
lowing day, Jane /, without any decisive re-
suit Five hundred and ninety shells were
used by our gnuboats, over 800 of which were
fired by the Pawnee; and this was the first
naval engagement cf the war. One gunboat,
the Freeborn, was disabled, but only tenn
porarily.
Thomas ii. Williamson, Chief Engineer of
the Virginia State forces, recommended the es-
Establishment of battery at Matthias Point on
the Potomac. where a bluff some % feet above
the surface of the water commanded The chan
1off In (NanA q
recommendation and battery of 10 heavy
guns. stolen from the Norfolk Navy-yard were
mounted and commanded by Col. r. NJ. Mayo.
The Confederates also constructed battery
of seven guns near Quantico Creek, and still
another one at Freestone Point. The latter
one was commanded by Capt. Chatard, who
soon sfterward entered into the torpedo busl-
ness for the Contederates.
On June q. l-Gl. an effort was made TO dis
lodge the enemy by combined attack of our
gunbeats or the battery at Matthias Point,
and in this agement Capt. J. II. Ward WAS
killed. His death was a severe loss to the
service ut the imr. He entered The Navy as
Midshipman March 4, 1923; WIS r1emoted TO
Lieutenant March 3, 1881, and - E1Elmander
Sept. 9. 1853 He the first ueyAl officer
killed in the of the rebellion.
The navigation of the Potomac River was
riausly embarrassed for awhile by these bat
teri, and armed vessels only would attempt 10
pass , and down. On one OCCASION the u s.
steam Seminole, on going down the river,
was struck ii times 1t was under sucn cir
cumstances that the u. S. S. Pensacola escaped,
20 join the Gulf Squadron in the Fail of 1861,
about which time the enemy captured a small
steamer called the George Page. which WAS run
up Aqua Greek, and her name changed to
Richmond. Oar gGLboats meantime exercised
unusual vigilance TO prevent the enemy from
crossing the Potomac into Maryland. and it was
found necessary to send detachment of troops
under Gen. Hooker, who occupied the Mary
land shore from near
WASHINGTON TO PORT TOBACCO.
When in 1861 Gen. Mcclellan assumed COM
mand of the arniy. including all the troops in
and around Washington, northeastern Virginia,
the Valley OF The Shenandoah, and the States
of Maryland aad Delaware he fully admitted
the importance of strong naval force, and
wrote an official letter on the subject, Of which
the following is copy:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
WASHINGTON Aug. u. 1861. /
SIR: have today received additional inforrna-
ton which e,sisyis that it is than prob
able that the enemy will within very short time
attempt TO throw respectable force from the
mouth of Aqua Creek into Maryland. Such
movement iiIe part Of the enemy, in connection
with Others larafssby designed, would place WASH
ington in grest 'opardy. 1 most earnestly urge
the strongest possible naval force he al once
centrsted near lac month of Aqua Creek. and the
so as 10 render such passage OF the river absolutely
impossible
frecornn,erd tbs, the Minnesota and other ves-
sells avail te 81 Ham p:on fioada be ordered
up, and that a l,-~at quantity of coal be sent to
that vicinity. .n.rics,t for several ks supply.
At least s;F--nc vessel should he kept at
Alexandria. aud again urge the concentration of
delay
II tic Navy Department will render Il absolutely
Impossible ia t'se enemy to cross the Potomac be-
low wasii' 80, The safety of the Capital will be
greatly iEcf...-s-d.
i am. sir, v.ry respectfully.
GEO. b. MCCLELLAN
Major-Generai, Commanding.
Hon. GTDFo- u ELLEs Secretary of The Navy.
TIE guahoa,s Harriet Lane, Jacob Bell and
Anacostia 81. "a and destroyed the rebel bat
terry al Frrss Point, Va. Dec. 9. 1861.
About the I~t of January, 1862 the Harriet
Lane was detached from the Potomac Gotilla
and ordered Z" the West Gulf Squadron as flag
ship for Commas ID. ID. Porter cooperating
with Admiral u. c. Farragut on the Mississippi
River below Nsw Orleans.
On Jan. ,. I2G2, the gunboats Yankee and
knscostia s!irl'-d rebel battery Of FIVE guns at
Cockpit Pain, and on March compelled the
enemy to eyae;iate works constructed at Ship.
ping Point
During the month Of April, 1862, the Poto-
mac fotiIla captured in the Rappabannock
River the following vessels. viz: Steamer Eu-
reka; schooarrs Monterey, lookout, Sarah
Ann, Sydney jones' Reindeer, Falcon, and Sea-
flower. Most Of these vessels were engaged in
smuggling goods to the Confederates aud
WERE LOADED WHEN CAPTURED.
The fotilia gave active and willing CO opera
ton to the military movements in conveying
transports containing troops for the army and
returning with ;hessck and wounded 1t also
broke up system Of smuggling between the
lower Counties CT Maryland and Virginia, and
rendered very important service in removing
torpedoes from the Rappahannock River.
In December. 1863, the Jacob Bell assisted
in the capture or "A rebel camp on ST. Georges
Island, near he mouth OF the st. Mary's River
The Teaser sud Yankee performed a similar
service at Piacy Point Va, Jan. ), 1864 and
about the same time extensive salt works were
destroyed by the gunboat Ella on Shelton's
Creek. Va.
A boat expedition on the Piankitank March
6, 1864, destroyed considerable property des-
tined for the rebel army. The floiila on ac-
count OF the territory il covered, proved con-
slant source Of annoyance 70 the enemy and
repeated but unsuccessful efforts were made 10
destroy or capture our vessels Contending as
they did with masked batteries on shore and
torpedoes ahoat. The gallant tars of the Potomac
hotilla proved true 10 the old fSg ready and
willing for any sacrifice or service that was re-
CURED Of them. eventually compelling the
enemy 10 permanently retire at least from be-
yond the range Of their guns.
Commodore Charles Wilkes Naval officer of
considerable prominence, was then appointed to
command thu Potomac fiotilla, and large num-
Der OF gaDboais were placed at his disposal for
offensive and defensive operations on the Poto-