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you get your podcasts. Hey

1:09

everyone, thanks for tuning and episode

1:11

four hundred and fifty three of

1:13

our Civil War podcast. My name

1:15

is Rich. And I'm Tracey.

1:18

Hello Y'all welcome to the

1:20

podcast! It's been awhile since

1:22

we covered any aspect of the

1:24

War on the Water's so with

1:27

this episode, we're going to bring

1:29

you guys a swashbuckling tale of

1:31

derring Do worthy of Errol Flynn.

1:34

Our tail begins during the

1:36

last days of January Eighteen

1:38

sixty Four when hand picked

1:40

groups of Confederate sailors and

1:42

marines from three southern port

1:44

boarded trained for a secret

1:46

mission in North Carolina. A

1:49

few weeks earlier, Robert E. We

1:51

had dispatched troops to North Carolina

1:53

from Virginia for an attack on

1:55

New Burn. The town

1:57

located on a peninsula at the. The

2:00

influence of the news and trying

2:02

to reverse athena federal stronghold since

2:05

Union forces captured it in March.

2:07

Eighteen, Sixty Two. Now

2:09

here in the early days of

2:12

eighteen, Sixty Four, Major General George

2:14

Picket of Gettysburg. Same would lead

2:16

the Confederate effort to kick the

2:19

Yankees out of New Bern. He

2:22

marshall has forced Kinston some forty

2:24

miles upstream from New Bern and

2:26

plants how to carry out the

2:28

assault. One part of

2:30

the attack would involve at storm

2:33

and nice bar waterborne force of

2:35

rebels, sailors and marines in small

2:38

boats and launches. Does Confederates would

2:40

descend on New Bern an attempt

2:42

to surprise and capture or destroy

2:45

enemy vessels. station their commander John

2:47

Tanner. word already it can set

2:50

it or it naval here else

2:52

was assigned to lead the expedition.

2:55

The thirty two year old word

2:57

had a prominent pedigree. His father,

2:59

Robert, had been Surgeon General of

3:01

the Us. Army. His

3:04

mother a daughter of President

3:06

Zachary Taylor, and a relatively

3:08

marriage of Confederate President Jefferson

3:10

Davis. Would had

3:12

served in the antebellum Us Navy,

3:15

but when a hurricane accused with

3:17

the Confederacy. He

3:19

commanded a gun crew on Css

3:21

Virginia and her epic battle at

3:24

Hampton Roads with Us. Monitor. In

3:27

August, eighteen sixty three would had

3:29

led a raiding party that surprised,

3:32

boarded and kept said the enemy

3:34

steamers, satellite and reliance at the

3:36

mouth of the Rappahannock River. Using

3:39

those two shifts over the next

3:41

few days he been seized several

3:44

more enemy vessels. To

3:46

more captured ships only added to

3:48

this growing reputation. As one of

3:50

the most daring officers in the Confederate. Neighbors.

3:54

The Rebels sailors assigned to

3:56

woods latest venture drawn from

3:58

Confederate naval commands. Wilmington,

4:00

North Carolina, Charleston. South

4:03

Carolina and Richmond, Virginia.

4:05

Gathered it can stand on the

4:07

Nice River upstream from New Bern.

4:10

From Virginia, Lieutenant George Gift brought

4:13

a force from the James River

4:15

Squadron with boats sent by railroad

4:17

on for years, Arriving early on

4:20

the morning of January thirty first.

4:23

The other contentions also came in by

4:25

train about noon the same day. Including

4:28

the twenty five marines led by

4:31

Captain Thomas Wilson. Would. Had

4:33

about two hundred and fifty men for

4:35

his mission. One avoids

4:37

earlier messages to cast was typical

4:40

at his attention to detail and

4:42

his intensity on January twenty fourth,

4:44

he read as soon as he

4:47

received those get depends on the

4:49

cars. Ready for a move

4:51

at any moment. New promptly on

4:53

the receipt of orders, See

4:56

that all the men have

4:58

blankets and jackets, city utensils,

5:00

a few access each man

5:02

armed with rifles, atlases and

5:04

as far as possible revolvers.

5:06

Boats it have ores, boat

5:09

hats and all necessary settings

5:11

that lose no time for

5:13

these. Things I will bring

5:15

spare ones. The mission was

5:17

cloaked in secrecy, but even

5:20

as the various detachments traveled

5:22

toward Kinston, the Confederate sailors

5:24

and marines knew that any

5:27

operation involving word promised danger

5:29

and adventure. Daniel

5:31

Conrad, a Navy surgeon

5:33

noted. So perfectly secret

5:36

and well guarded was our destination that

5:38

not into we arrived did we have

5:40

the slightest idea of where we were

5:42

going or what was the object of

5:44

the raid. We. Suspected however

5:46

from the name of the commander

5:49

that it would be nervous work

5:51

as he had a reputation for

5:54

boarding, capturing and burning the enemy's

5:56

gunboats on many previous occasions. Knowing

5:59

they were. According to word repair

6:01

the Rebels coming down from Richmond

6:04

use this to their advantage when

6:06

they're train stopped for refueling at

6:08

stations. Conrad remembered how the young

6:11

men quote full of their fun

6:13

and Doubletree and Quote were surrounded

6:15

by quote the many pretty girls

6:17

gathered there who asked all manner

6:20

of questions as to this strange

6:22

sight of boats on cars filled

6:24

with men and enable. Uniform The

6:27

fortress rebels boasted that they were

6:29

going to board capture and destroy

6:32

as many young to ships as

6:34

possible. Their blushing

6:36

admirers asked for flags have

6:39

taken from the enemy, promising

6:41

kisses and returned. Any.

6:54

And all romantic notions vanished when

6:56

the Rebels coming down from Richmond

6:59

reached Kinston and their boats were

7:01

put into the cold water. Said

7:03

the news on the afternoon of

7:05

January. Thirty first. Before setting

7:07

off downriver were divided the

7:09

boats into two groups. Would.

7:12

Himself would lead want detachment while

7:14

the other was commanded by return

7:16

mit Benjamin Loyal. Since

7:19

the strike on New Bern was planned

7:21

to take place in the dark of

7:23

night to help them determine friend from

7:25

foe, the men were instructed to tie

7:28

a strip of white cloth to their

7:30

left arm above the elbow and told

7:32

that when changed, their watchword would be

7:34

sumpter. The plans for

7:36

the Confederate to quote unquote attack

7:38

and cut out four or five

7:41

Yankee vessels believed to be stationed

7:43

at New Bern. Ideally the Rebels

7:45

with then use one or more

7:47

of the captured ships to attack

7:49

and sees other enemy vessels as

7:51

would have been able to do.

7:54

Previously when would told the men

7:56

about their mission, they could hardly

7:58

contain their excitement. In

8:01

the words of Surgeon Conrad. It

8:03

was a grand scheme and was received

8:05

by the older man with looks of

8:07

admiration. And. With Rapture by

8:10

the young Midshipman. Just

8:12

before sundown, Rid ordered all

8:14

the bells to assemble and

8:16

offered a prayer. Lieutenant Loyal

8:18

remembered quote. It was a

8:20

solemn and impressive seen then

8:22

with muscled ores. A single

8:24

line was formed and we

8:26

pulled with measured strokes. Down

8:28

the stream, navigating the narrow, winding

8:31

channel and the news in the

8:33

dark meant the Confederate didn't reach

8:35

New Burn until about four Am

8:38

on the morning of Monday February.

8:40

First, Of the trip

8:42

down river lawyer would say quote the

8:44

night was so dark that we could

8:47

not see each other and often the

8:49

reading both ran into a shoal gotta

8:51

ground and the whole line would be

8:53

jumbled up and a crowd to. Add

8:56

to the level of difficulty as

8:58

the Rebels near New Birds they

9:00

sound, there was a thick fog

9:02

blanketing the Rayburn Loyal read every.

9:04

I was strange to see a

9:06

shit. We searched in vain to

9:08

find something upload, although we got

9:11

close enough to the war to

9:13

hear talk. To some probably the

9:15

sentries on the.not again boat was

9:17

to be seen. With dawn nearing

9:20

of frustrated would ordered the boats

9:22

back up river some three or

9:24

four miles to Bachelor's Creep where

9:27

the men could rest and concealment.

9:29

After rowing some sixty miles since

9:32

the previous afternoon. Loyal

9:34

Admitted Quote: there was nothing to

9:36

be done but sign some refuge

9:38

out of sight. until next night.

9:41

But. It was hard letting down from the

9:43

pitch of excitement we had been under. The.

9:46

Unbending of the bow that had been

9:48

strong for action. While

10:01

the raiders rested throughout the day

10:03

on February First, they could hear

10:06

the thunder battle in the distance

10:08

as picket attacked the New Bern

10:10

defenses late in the afternoon, taking

10:12

one of the sistine boats, Would

10:15

and Loyal went down stream to

10:17

spy on the harbor. This time

10:19

in the light of day, they

10:21

spotted an enemy gunboat uss Underwriter.

10:24

Would was disappointed no other enemy

10:27

ships were present in the harbor,

10:29

but he nonetheless decided to attack

10:32

underwriter that nine. Underwriter

10:34

was built in a team fifty two

10:37

in Brooklyn as a merchant vessel. The

10:40

one hundred and seventy five

10:42

foot long wouldn't hold side.

10:44

We'll steamer now mounted for

10:46

guns. The makeshift gunboat

10:48

and or eighty man crew were

10:50

commanded by acting master Jacob West

10:52

or Felt, a native North Carolinian

10:54

who had sided with the Union.

10:57

After her purchased by the navy and

10:59

being said it out as again belts

11:02

underwriter join the federal north. Atlantic

11:04

Blockading Squadron And October eighteen,

11:06

Sixty One, And saw

11:08

extensive service along the North Carolina coast.

11:11

She had been stationed at New Bern

11:13

for just a few weeks at the

11:15

time of the Confederates attack. In the

11:18

place would may have set his

11:20

sights on capturing underwriter, but the

11:22

task would not be easy. The

11:24

enemy vessel was anchored under the

11:27

guns of to Union for for

11:29

it's Stevenson and Anderson. After

11:32

completing their reconnaissance, would and loyal

11:34

returned upriver to the Rebels hiding

11:36

spot. And then shortly

11:39

after midnight on the morning

11:41

of Tuesday February second, after

11:43

another prayer, the Raiders set

11:45

off. Since there was

11:47

only one enemy ship to attack,

11:49

would apparently didn't take all his

11:52

force this time. Loyal noted that

11:54

the Cutting Out Expedition consisted of

11:56

two columns. With for both to

11:58

meet. The column. led by

12:00

Wood would board Underwriter forward while

12:03

Loyal's boats would go asked. Loyal

12:06

later remembered how, quote, the

12:09

night was very dark and gloomy and

12:11

we could not see a light anywhere

12:13

except an occasional glimmer about the town.

12:16

The stroke of the muffled oars was

12:18

almost noiseless and suddenly the dark

12:20

hull of the ship loomed up. G.E.

12:24

Allen, acting third assistant engineer

12:26

on Underwriter, later said that

12:28

about 2.45 a.m.

12:30

lookout spotted, quote, several

12:33

boats filled with men coming down the

12:35

river. The night was very

12:37

dark and they were not seen until they had

12:39

approached within 100 yards. They

12:42

were hailed as soon as seen,

12:44

but instead of answering, cried out,

12:47

Give way, give way strong. We

12:50

then found out that they were filled with the

12:52

enemy. One of the

12:54

voices the startled Federals heard belonged to

12:56

Wood, who, according to

12:58

Surgeon Conrad, kicked off the

13:00

attack by bellowing, Give

13:02

way hard, board at once. As

13:06

the alarm was raised on Underwriter

13:08

calling all hands to quarters, there

13:10

was the pop of revolvers being

13:12

fired and the deeper bang of

13:14

muskets. In this

13:16

initial exchange of fire, the Confederate

13:18

Marines proved their worth. A

13:21

few had been assigned to each boat and

13:23

now they stood in the bows

13:25

and fired as the rebel sailors,

13:27

their backs to Underwriter, bent hard

13:29

over their oars. A

13:32

newspaper correspondent from the Charleston Mercury,

13:34

who had accompanied the expedition, reported,

13:37

quote, As we came

13:40

up to the ship, they rose

13:42

and delivered their fire, taking accurate

13:44

aim, reloading, still under heavy fire

13:46

from the Yankees. Surgeon

13:48

Conrad wrote, the long black sides

13:50

of the gunboat with men's heads

13:53

and shoulders visible could

13:55

be distinctly seen by the line

13:57

of red fire. And we

13:59

realized immediately. that the only

14:01

place of safety for us was on

14:03

board of her, for the fire was

14:05

very destructive. Conrad went

14:07

on to say that the coxswain in

14:10

his boat was a big burly Englishman

14:12

who was encouraging the crew with, quote-unquote,

14:16

gesture and loud word, while

14:18

steering with the tiller between his

14:20

knees while brandishing a pistol in

14:22

each hand. The doctor

14:25

recalled that the man, quote, suddenly

14:27

fell forward on us, dead, a ball

14:29

having struck him fairly in the forehead.

14:33

As their boats banged against Underwriters'

14:35

hull, fore and aft, the rebels

14:37

flung grappling hooks over the sides

14:40

and clamored up under fire. Wood,

14:43

Loyal, and Engineer E.J. Gill were

14:45

among the first Confederates to reach

14:47

the gunboat's deck. Gill

14:50

crumpled, killed by a shot to the

14:52

head, but more and more shrieking

14:54

rebels took his place. Among

14:57

the attackers was midshipman J.T. Scharf,

14:59

who recalled that the rebels, quote,

15:02

were soon scrambling with cutlass and pistol

15:04

on hand to the deck with a

15:06

rush and a wild cheer that rung

15:09

across the waters, the firing

15:11

from the enemy never ceasing for one

15:13

moment. Loyal was in

15:15

the midst of it all. He said,

15:17

now the fighting was furious, and at

15:20

close quarters our men were

15:22

eager, and as one would fall, another

15:24

came on. Not one faltered or

15:26

fell back. The crackling

15:28

of firearms and the rattle of cutlasses

15:30

made a deafening den. The

15:33

surprised Federals were soon overpowered by

15:35

the onrushing Confederates. Loyal

15:38

continued, quote, The

16:10

garrisons of the nearby federal forts had

16:13

been alerted by the sounds of combat

16:15

on Underwriter and once those

16:17

sounds ceased and it became clear

16:19

that rebels had seized the gunboat,

16:21

the Yankees on shore began to

16:23

direct musket and artillery fire at

16:25

the captured ship. Before

16:28

the attack, each rebel sailor had been

16:30

assigned stations aboard the gunboat and

16:32

they now manned those posts to try

16:35

to get Underwriter underway and escape with

16:37

their prize. The

16:39

gunboat's anchor chains were slipped and

16:41

other preparations hurriedly made to sail,

16:45

but then it was discovered that Underwriter's

16:47

boiler fires were banked and so there

16:49

was little steam to move her. While

16:52

under increasing fire from shore, the rebels

16:55

tried to tow Underwriter with their boats

16:57

but found it was impossible to move

16:59

her. Reluctantly deciding they

17:01

wouldn't be able to escape with their

17:04

prize, Wood gave orders for

17:06

the raiders to load their wounded and

17:08

the prisoners into the boats. Then

17:10

Underwriter was set on fire. After

17:13

the fighting had ceased, as the rebels

17:15

had collected their prisoners, they had

17:18

searched for the captain of their prize, but

17:20

some of the captured Union sailors told

17:22

them that Westerfelt had been among those

17:24

who jumped overboard to escape during the

17:27

battle. Engineer

17:29

Allen though was among about 20

17:31

unlucky prisoners who were hustled into

17:33

Underwriters whale boat as the Confederates

17:35

started to head back up river.

17:38

However, as they pulled away from

17:41

the blazing gunboat, the Federals realized

17:43

that only two Confederates were guarding

17:45

them. One of

17:47

the rebels, steering in the stern,

17:49

suddenly realized the same thing and

17:51

shouted to a nearby boat to

17:53

come alongside and provide more guards.

17:56

Allen Seated in the stern near the

17:58

shouting rebel, The to chance

18:01

he said the other boat

18:03

quote. Was. Turning to come back

18:05

when I snatched the cutlass from his belt

18:07

and told the men to pull for their

18:09

lives. And. Quote. The

18:12

other Confederate and a few of the Federals

18:14

took the opportunity to dive overboard and swim

18:17

for it. But. Anyone in the

18:19

others with their captive directed the whale

18:21

boat toward sure where it grounded near

18:23

one of the forts. Meanwhile,

18:26

as the raiders with the

18:28

rest of their prisoners rode

18:30

away, they kept turning to

18:32

see the burning Federal can

18:34

bad The Charleston Mercury correspondent

18:36

reported that quote in five

18:38

minutes after our belts less

18:40

decide the underwriter was one

18:42

Massive flames burning up the

18:44

bodies of the Yankees. Kill

18:46

them. Yes, Im. Seeing

18:49

the vessel well on fire, we turned

18:51

once more. At the news and

18:53

pulled away from the town

18:55

underwriters and came about five

18:58

am, the Mercury reporter wrote.

19:01

Although hidden from our view we

19:03

could see by sudden for insists

19:05

upon the sky and by the

19:07

doll said the booming sounds which

19:09

came to us upon the air

19:11

the showroom was reached and that

19:13

the explosion had begun after the

19:15

planes reached underwriters powder room and

19:18

she blew laughs she would burn.

19:20

Down to the waterline, the Rebels

19:22

road about six miles upriver Swift

19:24

Creek, where they linked, backed up

19:26

with the rest of their belts

19:28

and were Confederate cavalry had established

19:30

a small. Can't. Arriving at

19:33

Swift Creek after daybreak,

19:35

the raiders unloaded their

19:37

wounded, dead and prisoners.

19:40

Dying just as they reach the

19:42

rendezvous was midshipman Palmer Saunders, who

19:44

was badly wounded during the combat

19:46

aboard Underwriter and who had been

19:48

tended to by search and Conrad.

19:52

The doctor recalled how before the attack

19:54

as the men had been about to

19:56

send off downriver and the boats several.

19:58

It's a boyish much. That men were

20:01

chattering away about their heroics they expected

20:03

to perform while boarding and seizing the

20:05

enemy gunboat. However,

20:07

In the midst of the boasting, Conrad

20:09

heard one of the midshipman ask. I

20:12

wonder boys how many of us will be

20:15

up in those stars by tomorrow morning. Conrad

20:19

said the midshipmen who asked that

20:21

question was. Palmer. Saunders.

20:23

Who. Was buried with the other rebel dead

20:25

near the river bank. As

20:29

the prisoners were assembled, Lieutenant Mile

20:31

was surprised when when the Yankees

20:33

called out to him loyal been

20:35

recognized the man as a pre

20:37

worship me if his from Us

20:40

Congress. As the two men spoke,

20:42

the Yankee pointed out another Congress

20:44

shipmate among the Federal. when did.

20:47

After that, the Confederate cavalry.

20:49

Troopers to charge. Of the prisoners

20:51

and escorted them to Kinston. Pickets

20:54

land attack on new burned and

20:56

woods seizure and burning of underwriter

20:59

said shaken The Federals. Buy

21:01

Tickets assault sale to crush

21:03

the Yankee defenses and other

21:05

Union gunboats soon arrived to

21:07

replace underwriter and help protect

21:09

the town. On

21:12

February fourth, from Kingston would send

21:14

a message to Confederate Secretary of

21:17

the Navy, Stephen Mallory recording. The

21:20

force under my command boarded and

21:22

captured last night D U S

21:25

Gunboat underwriter for guns ninety men

21:27

and officers. Her position

21:29

within musket range of several strong

21:31

works, one of which was raking

21:33

the vessel during the time we

21:35

had possession and not having steam.

21:38

Caused. Me to burn her. And.

21:40

Quote. Would

21:42

gave his losses as seven

21:44

killed, thirteen wounded and for

21:46

missing. Federal losses

21:48

were nine killed twenty one

21:51

days. And twenty five

21:53

taken prisoner from Kingston. The

21:55

raiders dispersed, returning to their

21:57

regular duties stations. Heading

22:00

north, where to Virginia? The members of

22:02

the James River Scoring remember their vow

22:05

to the pretty young women at the

22:07

trains and they made miniature seeks to

22:09

give them. Conrad

22:11

said. The young

22:13

leaders were called out at each place

22:16

and after the dead were lamented. The.

22:18

Wounded in the car. scared for.

22:21

Then. The midshipmen brought up their

22:23

flags, recalled their promises, and

22:25

demanded that redemption. Immediately

22:28

their commenced a lively burst of

22:30

laughter and denials, followed by a

22:32

slight resistance. And the whole betty

22:35

were cast. And but for

22:37

the whistle of the train ordering them

22:39

away they would have continued and definitely.

22:43

The. Capture and burning of underwriter proved

22:45

to be a little military value to

22:47

the rebels, even if it was one

22:49

of the few bright spots in pickets

22:52

they'll campaign against New Bern. Still,

22:54

the destruction of underwriter with

22:57

these two confederate around. As

22:59

the Southern public revelled in the

23:01

newspaper accounts that trumpeted the courage

23:04

and audacity of Wood. And his

23:06

raiders would in his men received

23:08

the official thanks of the Confederate

23:10

Congress. Would. And Loyal

23:13

also earned promotions. Secretary

23:15

of the Navy Steven Mallory

23:18

described the mission as a

23:20

quote unquote brilliant exploit. In

23:23

August eighteen Sixty Four would

23:25

assumed command of the Commerce

23:27

raiders Css Tallahassee, embarking on

23:29

a cruise that to come

23:31

up along the northeastern coast

23:33

of the United States to

23:36

Nova Scotia and during which

23:38

he keeps his some thirty

23:40

vessels John. Tanner word was

23:42

in Richmond when the Confederate

23:44

capital with actuated in April

23:46

Eighteen sixty five. he accompanied

23:48

Jefferson Davis as the rebel

23:50

President fled southward. Having

23:53

been branded ups I read in the

23:55

north impress would feared he would be

23:57

executed as set if he was caught

23:59

by the. When

24:01

Jefferson Davis was captured by Union cavalry

24:04

in Georgia in May 1865, Wood

24:07

managed to escape to Florida, then

24:10

sailed to Cuba with Confederate Secretary

24:12

of War John Breckenridge. He

24:15

eventually settled in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and died

24:17

there in July 1904 at the age of

24:19

73. The

24:24

cutting out and destruction of Underwriter proved

24:26

typical of John Taylor Wood's daring. The

24:30

Charleston Mercury correspondent admitted, That

25:02

means it's time for this episode's book

25:04

recommendation, and our recommendation this

25:06

time is The Civil War at

25:08

Sea by Craig L. Simons. This

25:11

is a re-recommendation, but

25:13

it's been a while, so we're happy

25:15

to bring Craig Simons' fine book to

25:18

your attention again. He's

25:20

an excellent naval historian, and

25:22

if you pick up The Civil War at Sea,

25:25

it'll certainly help fill in the gaps in our

25:27

coverage of that aspect of the war. The

25:30

war was primarily fought on land, so

25:33

that's where most of our attention is

25:35

focused, as you may have noticed. Anyway,

25:38

don't forget you can find a

25:40

list of all of our book

25:42

recommendations if you head over to

25:45

the podcast website, which

25:47

is www.civilwarpodcast.org.

25:51

Also with the website, you can find

25:53

information on joining the straw foot brigade

25:56

over on Patreon and supporting the podcast

25:58

in that way. Just

26:01

yesterday we released Members' Episode number 151, in

26:03

which we looked at a certain class

26:08

of women who could be found

26:10

in every Civil War army, the

26:13

Company Laundress. These

26:15

Washer women were officially licensed by

26:17

the armies of both sides, and

26:20

they went wherever the soldiers went,

26:22

which meant sharing hardship and danger.

26:26

Interesting stuff. In any case,

26:29

we want to give a shout out to the newest

26:31

members of the Strongfoot Brigade, so thank

26:33

you to Mike C., Jeff

26:36

B., Albert S.,

26:38

and Sarah B. Thanks to

26:40

all of you for listening to this episode of

26:43

the podcast. Rich and I

26:45

do hope that you'll join us again next

26:47

time, but until then, take care. Thanks

26:50

everyone. Bye.