Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-23
OK On ACQUIA CREEK BATTERY.

n
wa run up Aqua creek and her name changed
/ 20 Richmond. Our gunboats meantime exer-
clsed unusual vigilance to prevent the enemy
I from crossing the Potomac into MARYLAND and
1t was found necessary to send detachment of
troops under Gen Hooker. who occupied the
Maryland shore from near Washington to Port
Tobacco.
/ When in 1861 Gen. Mcclellan assumed COM
mand OF the army. including all the troops in
ana around Washington, northeastern Virginia,
the valley OF the shenandoah and the states of
haryknd and Delaware. he fully admitted the
Importance Of strong naval force and wrote
an official letter on the subject
Inc gGnbOIts Harriet Lane, Jacob Bell and
AndcostIa shclle3 and destroyed the rebel bat
terry at Freestone Point. Va, December g. 1861
Abuu: the lst OF January. 1862 the Harriet
Lane detached from the Potomac fo,illa
and ordered TO the west gulf squadron as flag
ship for Commander d. d. Porter. cooperating
with Admiral l.. c. Farragut on the Mississippi
river below New Orleans
On January ?, 1862, the guuboats Yankee and
Antcost q shel.ed a rebel battery of five guns at
Cockpit Point. and on March compelled the
enemy to evacuate works constructed at Ship
ping Point.
During the month Of April, 1862 the Poto-
mac hotilia captured in the Rappahaunock
river the following vessels, viz: Steamer Eu-
reka schooner Monterey Lookout Sarah Ann
sydney Jones. Reindeer. Falcon and Seaflower
Most of these vessels we're engaged il snug
CHING goods 20 the confederates and were
loaded whom captured
The ho'lila gave active and willing co-opera-
ton 10 the military movements in conveying
transports containing troops for the army and
returning with the SICK and wounded II also
broke up system of smuggling between the
lower counties of Maryland and Virginia and
rendered very important service in removing
torpedoes from the Rappshannock river
IN December. 1858. the Jacob Bell assisted
III the capture of a rebel camp on St. Georges
Island, near the mouth of the St Mary's river.
Ihs Ieaser and Yankee performed a similar
service at PIney Point. Va. January 3. 1864 and
about the same time extensive salt works were
destroyed By the gunboat Ella Sheton's
Creek. Va.
A boat expedition on the Pianktank March
6, 1854 destroyed considerable property des-
unad for the rebe. army. The fotilIa, OIL ac-
count of the territory il covered. proved a con-
slant source of annoyance TO the enemy, and
repeated but unsuccessful efforts were made to
destroy or capture our vessels. CCntending
they did with masked batteries shore and
torueioes afoat. the gallant tars OF the Poto-
mac hotllia proved true TO the old flag. ready
and wiling for any sacrifice OF service that was
required OF them, eventually compelling the
enemy to permanently retire at least from be-
yond the range of their guns.
COMMODORE WILKES II COMMAND.
Commodore Charles Wilkes, Il naval officer
Of considerable prominence. was then ap-
pointed to command the Potomac fotilla. and
q A''A iA-lAHNI VI SNItbOdtS were pAdCeu AT his
disposal for offensive and defensive operations
on the Potomac and adjacent waters. Among
the vessels of the fleet, besides those already
named the following figured very creditably.
viz: Harriet Lane. Jacob Bell. Primrose Sat-
elite. Currituck. Sangamon. Ella, Dragon,
Fuschia, Tulip. Tesser Commodore Jones. .
Commodore Morris. Commodore Read. Free
born. Wyandank. Yankee. Caur de Leon and
SpbCopa-o
and Matthew Vassar
These, with a few others whose names have
escaped the writer's memory, rendered con-
spIcuous and gallant service in connection with
the movements of the Army of the Potomac IL
the vicinity OF fredericksburg at Pratt's land
ing Oh the Rappauhannock and at Brandywlne
hl4l. near Port Conway, Oh the Potomac: at
various points on the Chesapeake bay and on
the Lush. Gunpow der and Susqueha rivers
The men who served III the Potomac fiotilia
were exposed TO more than ordinary peril.
owing to the inferior character of the vessels
on which they served. being constantly ex-
posed To unseen torpedoes i'll the water and
masked batteries on shore. vet ready at all
times Tor any service, matter kCw hazard
Gus; and what was accomplished bv the block
aiding squadron on large scale was done
equally as effectively, only in smaller way.
CAPT. wYAAS
On December l. 1861. Capt. Robert II. Wv
man was assigned to command the fiotilla He
was appointed niidshipman in the navy March
IL, 1887, and died with the rank of rear adj
miral at Washington. ID. c.. December 2 1882
after forty-tive years active service In June.
1867 Capt. WyInan Vas relieved by Capt A. H.
Harwood. who continued in command until
December, 1863, when he was relieved bv Cant
FoAhgil A. Parker. who continued in command
until the close Of the war and the fotilla dis
banded.
MANY important captures were made by the
Potomac hOtl!la of vessels attempting, TO sup
ply provisions to the enemy. and many thou
sand dollars worth Of supplies intended for
the rebel army were. through IT. vigilance
DESTROYED These we're events which. though
not very brilliant. nevertheless contributed to
putting down rebellion conceived III SIN and
brought forth IN lniquity. The rebels finding
tAeF could not close the navigation of the Po-
tonac. were driven from or compelled TO
eyacuate Its banks III the summer of 1862 and
that historic stream, connecting Washington
win the ocean. was kept open during the en-
ure war through the fundamentally o: the
gallant heroes of the Potomac hotilla whose
humble services contributed very largely in
saving the national capital
The hotIi!a was d!sbanded bv order of the
secretary OF the Navy July 81. 1865 Oh which
occasion Capt FOxhGlI A. Parker issued +. fare
Wen order to the survivors,