Beschreibung:

65pp. Although today it plays only a small role in popular ideas about the Civil War, the Navy was a key element in the Union strategy to crush the rebellion, and the means by which the industrial power of the north would gradually starve the southern war machine. Charles Duncan’s journal of his time commanding the Steamer Curlew, one of many ships requisitioned by the U.S. Navy at the start of the war, offers a revealing look into the earliest months of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and includes a singularly detailed account of early-war Port Royal Expedition and the dramatic capture of Hilton Head, SC, signaling the re-entry of Federal forces into the secessionist heartland. Built by Samuel Sneden in 1856 for the Commercial Steamboat Company of Providence, RI, the Curlew began life as a 150 foot wooden-hulled propeller freighter running between her home port and New York City. With the outbreak of the Civil War, however, she took a different tack. Purchased by the Federal Navy for $44,000, the Curlew was outfitted as a gunboat and assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, armed with a 30 pound rifled gun on its fore deck and six smooth-bored 32 pounders on the main. Under the command of Lt. P.G. Watmough, the Curlew saw its first action at Port Royal, but after her machinery proved inadequate, she was towed back to New York and returned to her owners. The Curlew was chartered twice more during the war, however, first by the Quartermaster’s Department in October 1862, when she traveled as far south as New Orleans, and second from June-October 1863, when she was again deployed as a gunboat. Returning to commercial service for a final time, the Curlew was running out of Baltimore in November 5, 1863, when she collided with the steamer Louisiana near Point Lookout, Md., and sank, the crew escaping. While the Curlew escaped Louisiana intact, Louisiana exacted her revenge. This ledger-sized volume includes the logbook of the Curlew during its first stint in the U.S. service, and begins with a splash: This book was taken from Bay Point Fort, Port Royal, Beaufort District, South Carolina, after the surrender of Forts Hilton Hear and Bay Point... and previously belonged to Capt. E. A. Rave of the 12th Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, now appropriated by Charles L. Duncan of the U.S. Navy for a private Journal. The aforementioned book itself is a lined “blank book” manufactured by noted Charleston, SC, printers and stationers Evans & Cogswell and carries pasted on the inside cover one of their distinctive and handsomely engraved nameplates. What follows is a full 20 pages of Duncan’s detailed account of the actions of the Curlew during that expedition, with a particularly rich account of the capture of Hilton Head and Bay Point. Characteristic entries: Nov. 5, 1861: At 8 oclock the batteries on Hilton Head & Bay Point commenced fire, at 8:45 entered to discover the probable strength of their Batteries…At 11.55 the Curlew weighed anchor and steamed up to the assistance of the Smith, a few shots were exchanged with the rebels without any effect, they being at too great a distance... 2.30 PM Capt went on board Flag Ship, the Curlew in the meanwhile got underweigh, 3.30 Capt returned and the advance commenced. The attack was to be directed against Hilton Head, the main line led by Flag Ship and followed by a line of four steamers, in the following order: Pembena, Senica, Curlew, and Penguin... Much more. Nov. 7, 1861: ... At 11.20 all the ships engaged on Hilton Head Battery at 11.23 the Flag Ship made signal for all the ships to follow her motions, at 12.43 the firing on both sides now very brisk and heavy. At 1.35 the Gun Boats only engaged, they keep up the Flank firing but are feebly answered, the larger vessels laying a mile further up the Bay. 2.10 the land Batteries have ceased firing. 2.27 they are apparently deserted. 2.37 the Flag Ship hoists signal to form in order of Battle without regard to seniority --