The Washington herald., 1914-08-03

Fifty years ago today . neld battery
planted by the confederates at Wilcoxs
Wharf, on the east bank Of The James
ten miles below City Point, opened fire
on several transports belonging TO Gen.
Grants army, and a gunboat. the MIAMI
and a lively exchange OF shots snsued-
The Confederates fired with great spirit
from a battery Of several twelve-pound-
ers. which, at the close range, proved
highly effective. The Miami was heavily
struck twice. One shot disabled her
steering gear. Another made rent In
her planking, through which much water
entered. One man OF her crew was killed
and one wounded.
The gunboat stuck to her work, and
after an hours shelling drove the bat
terry from its position. The Confederates
retired well satisfied, for they had in
fiicted more damage on the ship than
the ship inflicted on them.
The incident was characteristic OF the
duty performed by the navy In the James
River IN connection with Grants cam
paign against Petersburg. the arduous
character OF which Is rarely recognized
by historians
There was little reward or glory, and
much hard work and hazard for the
navy in the James River service. The
sailors, from highest to lowest, did their
best to serve their country under condi-
tons that were to them particularly try
ing. They believed that q river was no
Mt place for seagoing ships. They hated
the thought OF being subjected constantly
TO the fire OF sharpshooters or cavalry
pickets whom they could not reach In
open hght, and they did not relish taking
orders, in the form OF suggestions, from
the army.
Heavy ships in the James.
However much his men might chafs
under the restraints Of the service In the
river. Acting Rear Admiral Stephen Phil
lips Lee, commanding the North Atlantic
blockading squadron, did his utmost TO
aid Grant.
Admiral Lee was a conscientious and
eficient oficer. who had been In the
service since Is25. He was one Of the
distinguished Virginia family that claim
ed as its most illustrious son of the civil
war period, Gen. Robert E Lee. His
Virginia birth and family connections had
not Influenced Admiral Lee in his choice
Of standing for the Union when the great
test Of the war came; and he had served
cheerfully wherever his duty took him.
He had been with Farragut at New Or
leans. as commander Of the Oneida This
service was followed by his assignment
to the North Atlantic blockading squad
ron.
For the service in the James River.
which at this period Admiral Lee gave
his personal direction. the government
had furnished some of its most formid-
able ships. The heavy monitors that
followed the first experimental vessel of
that type were sent to Hampton Roads,
and when Grant indicated his plan for
moving against Petersburg four Of them
were dispatched thence up the James.
These were the Canonicus, Saugus, Te-
cumseh, and Onondaga- the latter ship
having double turrets. There were also
assigned to the James River feet three
Of the so-called ''double-ender' wooden
gunboats, a very efficient vessel Of their
kind, which had been built since the be-
ginning of the war. These were the Aga
wan, Mendoza, and Sassaeus.
The entire naval feet in the river num-
bered thirty-nine vessels, with q person
mel of not less than 1000 men. The moral
effect Of their presence In the river,
even though their sphere OF activity there
seemed to their crews extremely circum-
scrfbed, was by no means unimportant.
It was counted by Gen. Grant as an i'm
portant factor in his campaign, as a
letter from him to Admiral Lee dated
August 81 on the subject Of Withdrawing
the ironclads plainly shows.
AT least two such vessels should be
kept in the Upper James" he wrote.
They stand as a constant threat to the
enemy and prevent him taking the often
sive There is no doubt that II the enemy
should take the offensive on the water.
although we probably would destroy his
whole James River navy. such damage
would be done our shipping and stores,
all accumulated on the water near where
the conflict would begin. that our victory
would be dearly bought"
shells and Torpedoes.
The enemy had been Iaboring diligently
at building an ironclad feet at Rich
mond. Grants numerous transports, car
rying subsistence for his army lay at
City Point. The Federal naval ships
lay chiefly at Deep Bottom, above City
Point. The Importance of their remaining
there Is apparent.
Study Of the naval records show that
the enemy was ever alert TO harass the
Federal naval men They ran their
held batteries up and down with great
Energy and swiftness, and lost no op-
portunity of taking a shot at the WOOD
en- gunboats. On the monitors they
never wasted a shot, for ammunition |
was getting to be precious In the South |
The fixed batteries of the Confederates
also took frequent toll Of the Federal |
ships These were posted at Malvern
TN-a-