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Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 3. (ed. Frank Moore), Doc. 68. operations of the Gulf fleet. (search)
1861. sir: I have to report that the two schooners brought here by me were captured by us. The first, the Ezilda, was taken on the 30th ultimo, four or five miles from land, with the Timbalier light bearing W. 1/2 S., about thirteen miles. The other, the Joseph H. Toone, we caught, after a hard chase of five or six hours, at the entrance of Barrataria Bay. As soon as she discovered us she stood to the S. W. They both claim to be English vessels. The first, the Ezilda, was cleared for Matamoras, by T. O. Sullivan, of Cork, Ireland, and the log is signed by him, but it appears he left her before she sailed, and when captured by us she was cornmanded by an ex-United States Naval officer, Wm. Anderson Hicks, of Mississippi, who resigned from the Naval Academy at Annapolis, in March last, and was an officer on board the Sumter when she left the Mississippi. He had carried into Cienfuegos several prizes taken by the Sumter, and when we took him he was on his way home via Havana. He
Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10. (ed. Frank Moore), chapter 54 (search)
ced to about three hundred men, was pushed forward, and with the St. Louis battery and two guns taken from the enemy at Corinth. (all under Major Burnett's orders), marched across the bridges and formed with the view of storming the heights of Matamoras; but they were too few and too late. The enemy's artillery and infantry, already in position, swept them away and were close upon the bridge before Phifer's brigade, commanded by Colonel Ross, could cross and form and meet them. (We lost fourore than two hundred and fifty or three hundred men in ranks. We formed on the right, opposite the battery established by Major Burnett on the left of the road. As we filed off to the right, the enemy's batteries opened on us from the hill at Matamoras. The Second Texas, being in the rear, was cut off by the fire, and did not form in line with the other regiments. Our position was now in a narrow strip of woods, with open fields in front and rear, that in front extending up to the enemy's p
The Photographic History of The Civil War: in ten volumes, Thousands of Scenes Photographed 1861-65, with Text by many Special Authorities, Volume 1: The Opening Battles. (ed. Francis Trevelyan Miller), Preface 3.1: the Federal Navy and the South (search)
sist. What has been said shows how clear was the role of the navy. The strategic situation was of the simplest; to deprive the South of its intercourse with Europe and in addition to cut the Confederacy in twain through the control of the Mississippi. The latter, gained largely by the battles of Farragut, Porter, Foote, and Davis, was but a part of the great scheme of blockade, as it cut off the supply of food from Texas and the shipments of material which entered that State by way of Matamoras. The question of the military control of Texas could be left aside so long as its communications were cut, for in any case the State would finally have to yield with the rest of the Confederacy. The many thousand troops which would have been an invaluable reenforcement to the Southern armies in the East were to remain west of the Mississippi and were to have no influence in the future events. The determination to attempt by force to reinstate the Federal authority over a vast territor
James Barnes, author of David G. Farragut, Naval Actions of 1812, Yank ee Ships and Yankee Sailors, Commodore Bainbridge , The Blockaders, and other naval and historical works, The Photographic History of The Civil War: in ten volumes, Thousands of Scenes Photographed 1861-65, with Text by many Special Authorities, Volume 6: The Navy. (ed. Francis Trevelyan Miller), The blockade (search)
n and took part in both attacks on Fort Fisher. For his conduct there Commander Trenchard was specially mentioned in orders by his chief. that multiplied a thousand times the difficulties of maintaining a strict blockade. From Cape Henry to Matamoras, every bay, sound, harbor, and inlet offered tempting shelter to any craft inward bound and laden with the contraband of war, and from these hidden nooks vessels loaded with cotton for the idle factories of Europe essayed the hazardous voyage tth Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The Gulf Squadron also was divided: Flag-Officer McKean took command of the East Gulf from Cape Canaveral to Pensacola, and Flag-Officer Farragut was assigned to the command of the West Gulf from Pensacola to Matamoras. When Port Royal was taken by Du Pont and Farragut had captured New Orleans, the navy had not only established bases but had entered wedges into the very vitals of the Confederacy. After holding the command of the North Atlantic Squadron for
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Brown, Fort, (search)
Rio Grande, erected in 1846. and named in honor of Maj. Jacob Brown. U. S. A. It was built by General Taylor immediately after his arrival at the river opposite Matamoras with a part of the army of occupation (March 29, 1846), and was designed to accommodate 2,000 men. It was placed in command of Major Brown. Taylor was ordered by General Ampudia, commander of the Mexican forces at Matamoras, to withdraw within twenty-four hours, as he claimed the territory around Fort Brown belonged to the Department of Tamaulipas. a part of Mexico. Taylor refused to do so: and when he had gone hack to Point Isabel with a part of his forces, leaving Major Brown in commahe Mexicans erected a battery behind the fort. and early the next morning opened a heavy fire from it upon the fortification. At the same time the batteries at Matamoras, which had fired upon the fort on the 3d, hurled shot and shell, but with little effect, for Brown had erected bomb-proof shelter. Almost at the beginning of th
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Mexico, War with (search)
He was ordered, Jan. 13, 1846, to move from his camp at Corpus Christi to the Rio Grande, opposite the Spanish city of Matamoras, because Mexican troops were gathering in that direction. This was disputed territory between Texas and the neighboring province of Tamaulipas. When he encamped at Point Isabel, March 25, on the coast, 28 miles from Matamoras, Taylor was warned by the Mexicans that he was upon foreign soil. He left his stores at Point Isabel, under a guard of 450 men, and with thday. This departure of Taylor from the Rio Grande emboldened the Mexicans, who opened fire upon Fort Brown, May 3, from Matamoras, and a large body crossed the river to attack it in the rear. Taylor had left orders that in case of an attack, if pery 23 the Mexican government also declared war. General Taylor crossed the Rio Grande, drove the Mexican troops from Matamoras, took possession of the town (May 18), and remained there until August, when he received reinforcements and orders from
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Monterey, capture of (search)
Monterey, capture of After General Taylor had entered Mexico at Matamoras, he remained there until September, waiting for further instructions from his government and reinforcements for his army. Early in September the first division of his army, under Gen. W. J. Worth, moved towards Monterey, the capital of New Leon, which was strongly fortified, and then defended by General Ampudia with about 9,000 Mexican troops. Taylor soon joined Worth, and they encamped within 3 miles of the city, on Sept. 19, with about 7,000 men, and on the morning of the 21st attacked the stronghold. Joined by other divisions of the army, the assault became general on the 23d, and the conflict in the streets was dreadful. The Mexicans fired volleys of musketry from the windows of the strong store-houses upon the invaders, and the carnage was terrible. Finally, on the fourth day of the siege, Ampudia asked for a truce. It was granted, and he prepared to evacuate the city. Taylor demanded absolute s
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Palo Alto, battle of (search)
Palo Alto, battle of On a part of a prairie in Texas, about 8 miles northeast of Matamoras, Mexico, flanked by ponds and beautified by tall trees (which gave it its name), General Taylor, marching with less than 2,300 men from Point Isabel towards Fort Brown, encountered about 6,000 Mexicans, led by General Arista, in 1846. At a little past noon a furious battle was begun with artillery by the Mexicans and a cavalry attack with the lance. The Mexicans were forced back, and, after a contest of about five hours, they retreated to Resaca de la Palma and encamped. They fled in great disorder, having lost in the engagement 100 men killed and wounded. The Americans lost fifty-three men. During the engagement Major Ringgold, commander of the American Flying Artillery, which did terrible work in the ranks of the Mexicans, was mortally wounded by a small cannonball that passed through both thighs and through his horse. Rider and horse both fell to the ground. The latter was dead; t
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Polk, James Knox 1795-1849 (search)
lity indicative of a state of war. He was specially directed to protect property and respect personal rights. The army moved from Corpus Christi on March 11, and on the 28th of that month arrived on the left bank of the Del Norte opposite to Matamoras, where it encamped on a commanding position, which has since been strengthened by the erection of field-works. A depot has also been established at Point Isabel, near the Brazos Santiago, 30 miles in rear of the encampment. The selection of his position was necessarily confided to the judgment of the general in command. The Mexican forces at Matamoras assumed a belligerent attitude, and on April 12 General Ampudia, then in command, notified General Taylor to break up his camp within twenty-four hours, and to retire beyond the Nueces River, and in the event of his failure to comply with these demands announced that arms, and arms alone, must decide the question. But no open act of hostility was committed until April 24. On that
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Taylor, Zachary 1784- (search)
command of the 1st Department of the Army of the Southwest, with the rank of brevet brigadiergeneral. At that time he purchased an estate near Baton Rouge, to which he removed his family. After the annexation of Texas (q. v.), when war between the United States and Mexico seemed imminent, he was sent with General Taylor's residence at Baton Rouge. a considerable force into Texas to watch the movements of the Mexicans. In March, 1846, he moved to the banks of the Rio Grande, opposite Matamoras, and in May engaged in two sharp battles with the Mexicans on Texas soil. He was then promoted to major-general. He entered Mexico May 18, 1846, and soon afterwards captured the stronghold of Monterey. He occupied strong positions, but remained quiet for some time, awaiting instructions from his government. Early in 1847 a requisition from General Scott deprived him of a large portion of his troops, and he was ordered to act on the defensive only. While so doing, with about 5,000 men
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