Civil War history...some good pics here

[feddoc]

This link has pictures of the Navy's involvement during the Civil War.

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/v?ammem/cwar:0530-0569:T26

 

[Herc_Dude]

The kids today have NOTHING to bitch about ...

 

[jollygreen07]

The kids today have NOTHING to bitch about ...

Coulda been a midget...

I'd also like to point out the WALL OF CUTLASSES behind the massive cannon.

Total badassery.

 

[raptor10]

Coulda been a midget...

I'd also like to point out the WALL OF CUTLASSES behind the massive cannon.

Total badassery.

Most likely a Midshipman

Farragut, David Glasgow (1801-1870): After his mother died and his father enlisted in the Army, he was taken in by the family of CMDR David Porter. At age 9, he was appointed Midshipman and later served in the War of 1812. Porter captured British prizes in the Pacific; Farragut was on his ship and Porter assigned him as prize master at age 12 to take a captured ship to Valparaiso, Chile. After the war, he served on various ships and was promoted to lieutenant in 1820. He was a southerner by birth, residence .and marriage. But when Virginia seceded from the U.S., he went to New York as chief of the Northern fleet. During the Battle of Mobile Bay he gave the famous order to defy the mined waters: "Damn the torpedoes. Steam full ahead!" Later in the Civil War he captured New Orleans, and was the first admiral ever commissioned in the U.S. Navy. He later became the first full Admiral in July 1866.

Truly Badass...

Porter, David Dixon (1813-1891): Entered the Navy in 1825 as a Midshipman. He was son of Commodore Porter, and foster-brother of Admiral Farragut. Commanded USS Spitfire in the Mexican War in 1848. Commanded the mortar flotilla under Farragut at the Battle of New Orleans. Made RADM, and became Superintendent of the Naval Academy, 1865-69. Made VADM in 1865, and ADM upon Farragut's death. He was the sec­ond Admiral in the history of the U.S. Navy.

 

[skim]

I dont know if you saw the description but the the official title of the boy (not a midget) is a 'Powder Monkey' whose job it was to carry powder and shot to the cannons.

Here is a link:
http://www.answers.com/topic/powder-monkeys?cat=technology

I used to be a huge Civil War buff when I was younger.

 

[Pags]

Interesting to think that I fly over the locations of where these pictures where taken whenever flying in the local area.

The pic of the Marines is interesting, I've never read too much of what the Marines did in the civil war and this omission has always kind of made me wonder.

 

[joshmf]

Here's a brief summary of the Marine Corps in the Civil War:

http://www.civilwarhome.com/marines.htm

From the article:
"By 1863 negative feelings toward the USMC resulted in a congressional resolution that would have transferred the corps to army control."

It didn't pass though, fortunately.

 

[nittany03]

The pic of the Marines is interesting, I've never read too much of what the Marines did in the civil war and this omission has always kind of made me wonder.

A battalion of Marines fought under Army command in the First Battle of Bull Run They got torn up badly, broke, and fled the field of battle. The Commandant was livid. The article also mentions action in Charleston in 1864, but I'd have to Google that.

 

[Carno]

I don't recall his name, but the boy above is a powder monkey, and barely a teen. There is a bit of information about him at the Baltimore Inner Harbor on the old sailing ship they have parked there.

 

[cisforsmasher]

One of the pieces of irony that I always liked about the naval academy was that the Admiral Buchanan (Supe's house) and Admiral Worden (torture field) were the dueling commanders of the Virginia and the Monitor. One of them was injured the previous day so was not actually present at the battle.

As for the powder monkeys, in the movie Master and Commander, you can see them a great deal. As I recall, the snipers in the rigging loved to pop them as to slow down the firing of the cannons.

 

[skim]

As for the powder monkeys, in the movie Master and Commander, you can see them a great deal. As I recall, the snipers in the rigging loved to pop them as to slow down the firing of the cannons.

I dont remember that scene, must watch again...

 

[jollygreen07]

Pretty well kitted-out for a powder monkey.

My area of expertise lies mostly with the RN of the Napoleonic era. Powder monkies on HM ships of that day rarely wore uniforms, much like the rest of the crew. The one special item they did wear was felt socks in order to reduce the chance of a spark igniting the powder supplies while they were running back and forth between the guns and the powder room below.

Unless, of course, the captain was filthy rich. Often times he made sure his barge crew had a specific uniform and his ship was well-equipped with powder, shot, and extra sailing supplies such as cordage, sails, and timber for repairs. As for the rest of the "jacks" it was whatever clothing they (the sailors) could accumulate.

Sorry.. Just putting my history major to use.