South Atlantic Blockading Squadron

The Civil War

1861-1865

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Brief history of service

The South Atlantic Blockade Squadron was responsible for all naval operations on the east coast encompassing South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Their area of influence was not only as a blockading fleet offshore but also as an active arm to bring the war into the heart of the Confederacy via the river systems.

Brief history of the Squadon's Service

1861
Sept 18	Captain S. F. Du Pont assumes command of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron
Oct. 16	Squadron leaves Sandy Hook, New York for Hampton Roads, Va.
Oct. 28	The fleet's twenty-five coal ships depart for Hilton Head, S.C. escorted by the U.S. ship Vandalia
Oct. 29	The fleet of 50 vessels, with army transports, depart for Charleston, S.C
Nov. 1 - 6	Fleet in transit from Hampton Roads, Va. to Charleston, S.C.
Nov. 1	Chartered steamer Governor sinks, battalion of marines saved by the U.S. ship Sabine
Nov. 1	Transport Peerless sinks, U.S. ship Mohican saves all 26 souls
Nov. 2	Storm off Cape Hatteras disperses fleet
Nov. 3	Fleet ships regain their sailing positions.
Nov. 6	Fleet lies off Hilton Head, Port Royal Harbor, S.C.
Nov. 6	After a 4 hour engagement the Forts of Walker and Beauregard fall to Union hands
Nov. 9	Occupation Beaufort, S.C.
Nov. 15	Capture of the British schooner Mabel by the U.S. ship Dale, Port Royal Harbor, S.C.
Nov. 24	Occupation of Tybee Island, Ga.
Nov. 28	Reconnaissance of St. Helena Sound, S.C. and tributaries
Nov. 30	Capture of the schooner E. J. Waterman by the U.S. ship Savannah near Savannah, Ga.
Dec. 1	Capture of the sloop Lida by U.S. ship Seminole off St. Simon's Sound, Ga.
Dec. 5-6	Reconaissance of Wassaw Sound, Ga.
Dec. 5-9	Reconaissance of St Helena Sound and Ashepoo and Coosaw Rivers S.C.
Dec. 12	Capture of the ship Admiral by U.S. ship Alabama south of Tybee Island, Ga.
Dec. 17-21	Reconnaissance on the North and South Edisto Rivers, S.C.
Dec. 24-29	Reconnaissance on the North Edisto River
1862
Jan. 1	Skirmish at Coosaw River, S.C.
Jan. 17-Feb. 18	Reconnaissance of the Wright's and Mud Rivers S.C.
Jan. 26-28	Reconnaissance of the Wilmington Narrows, Ga..
Feb. 5	Capture of the schooner Mars by the U. S. ship Keystone State near Fernandina, Fla.
Feb. 18	Capture of the ship Emily St. Pierre off Charleston, S.C.
Feb. 23-28	Reconnaissance on the North Edisto River, S.C.
Feb. 25	Capture of the British schooner Arrow by the U.S. ship Bienville off St. John's, Fla.
Feb. 26	Capture of the schooner Alert by the U.S. ship Bienville off St. John's, Fla.
Feb. 27	Capture of the schooner Julia by the U.S. armed bark Restless off Charleston, S.C.
Feb. 29	Capture of the schooner Lydia and Marie by U.S. armed bark Restless off Charleston, S.C.
Mar. 4	Occupation of Fernandina, Fla. and St. Mary's, Ga.
Mar. 8	Occupation of Brunswick, Ga.
Mar. 9	Occupation of St. Augustine, Fla.
Mar. 12	Capture of the British schooner Fair Play by the U.S. bark Gem of the Sea near Georgetown, S.C.
Mar. 17-20	Operations in St. Simon's Sound, Ga.
Mar. 21-22	Operations against Mosquito Inlet (New Smyrna), Fla.
Apr. 3	Capture of the British sloop Coquette by the U.S. ship Susquehanna off Charleston, S.C.
Apr. 3	Capture of the schooner British Empire by the U.S. ship Isaac Smith off St. Augustine, Fla.
Apr. 10-11	Bombardment of Fort Pulaski, Ga.
Apr. 16-May 3	Operations on the St. John's River Fla.
Apr. 18	Engagement at Seabrook Island, Ga.
Apr. 19	Capture of the schooner Wave by the U.S. pilot boat G. W. Blunt near Georgetown, S.C.
Apr. 19	Capture of the schooner Glide by the U.S. gunboat Huron off Charleston, S.C.
Apr. 25	Capture of the schooner Success by the U.S. ship Keystone State near Georgetown, S.C.
Apr. 26	Capture of the schooner Belle by the U.S. ship Uncas off Charleston, S.C.
Apr. 26	Capture of the schooner Active by the U.S. ship Flambeau near Stono Inlet, S.C.
Apr. 29	Expedition up the South Edisto River, S.C.
May 6	Capture of the schooner General C. C. Pinckney by the U.S. gunboat Ottawa off Charleston, S.C.
May 8	Capture of the schooner Sarah by the U.S. ship Alabama off Charleston, S.C.
May 10	Capture of the schooner Mary Teresa by the U.S. ship Unadilla off Charleston, S.C.
May 11	Capture of the U.S. ship Sumpter's boat crew by pickets at Fort Jackson, Savannah, Ga.
May 13	Confederate steamer Planter turned over to the blockade outside Charleston, S.C.
May 21-25	Operations in Winyah Bay, S.C.
May 28	Capture of the British steamer Cambria by the U.S. gunboat Huron off Charleston, S.C.
May 28	Capture of the steamer Patras by the U.S. ship Bienville off Charleston, S.C.
May 29	Capture of the steamer Miramon by the U.S. ship Keystone State off Charleston, S.C.
May 29	Capture of three schooners Providence, Rebecca, and La Criolla by the U.S. ship Bienville off Charleston, S.C.
Jun. 13	Attack upon Hutchinson's Island, S.C.
Jun. 14-16	Cooperation of gunboats with the army on Stono River, S.C.
Jun. 21	Engagement at Simmon's Bluff, S.C.
Jun. 27	Capture of the schooner Morning Star by the U.S. ship Bienville off Wilmington, S.C.
Jul. 7	Capture of the steamer Emilie by the U.S. armed bark Restless and Flag in Bull's Bay, S.C.
Aug. 2	Operations on the Santee River, S.C.
Aug. 4	Capture of the schooner Aquilla by the U.S. gunboat Huron off Charleston, S.C.
Aug. 4	Capture of the British steamer Lodona by the U.S. ship Unadilla in Ossabaw Sound, Ga.
Aug. 14-15	Reconnaissance on the Black River, S.C.
Aug. 22	Capture of the British schooner Fanny by the U.S. ship Keystone State near St. Simon's Sound, Ga.
Sep. 4	Capture of the British bark Fannie Laurie by the U.S. ship Shepherd Knapp off the South Edisto Inlet, S.C.
Oct. 14	Capture of the British steamer Ouachita by the U.S. ship Memphis off Charleston, S.C.
Oct. 21-23	Epedition to destroy railroad bridge at Pocotaligo, S.C.
Oct. 24	Capture of the British steamer Scotia by the U.S. armed bark Restless Bull's Bay, S.C.
Oct. 27	Capture of the British steamer Anglia by the U.S. armed bark Flag Bull's Bay, S.C.
Oct. 30	Reconnaissance of the Folly River, S.C.
Nov. 4	Capture of the Confederate pilot boat Wave by the U.S. ship E. B. Hale Nassau River, S.C.
Nov. 20	Capture of the schooner Annie Dees by the U.S. ship Seneca off Charleston, S.C.
1863
Jan. 4	Capture of the sloop Mercury by the U.S. ship Powhatan off Charleston, S.C.
Jan. 18	Destruction of the steamer Tropic by the U.S. steamer Quaker City off Charleston, S.C.
Jan. 21	Capture of the schooner Etiwan by the U.S. ship Ottawa off Charleston, S.C.
Jan. 27	Engagement at Fort McAllister, Ga.
Jan. 29	Capture of the steamer Princess Royal by the U.S. gunboat Unadilla off Charleston, S.C.
Jan. 30	U.S. ship Isaac Smith captured on the Stono River, S.C.
Feb. 28	Destruction of the Confederate steamer Nashville by the U.S. ship Montauk on the Great Ogeechee, Ga.
Mar. 3	Engagement at Fort McAllister, Ga.
Mar. 7	Destruction of the British steamer Queen of the Waves by the U.S. ship Conemaugh off Charleston, S.C.
Mar. 9	Capture of the schooner Lightning by the U.S. ship Bienville off Charleston, S.C.
Mar. 19	Destruction of the British steamer Georgiana by the U.S. ship Wisahickon off Charleston, S.C.
Mar. 23	Capture of the sloop Aurelia by the U.S. ship Arizona off Mosquito Inlet, Fla.
Mar. 28	Capture of the British steamer Aries by the U.S. ship Stetin in Bull's Bay, S.C.
Mar. 29	Capture of the schooner Nellie by the U.S. ship South Carolina off Charleston, S.C.
Apr. 18	Capture of the steamer St. Johns by the U.S. ship Stetin off Cape Romain, S.C.
Apr. 19	Capture of three vessels a bark, sloop Neptune, and schooner Simpson by the U.S. ship Housatonic off Charleston, S.C.
Apr. 23	Capture of a sloop by the U.S. ship Cimarron in Wassaw Sound, S.C.
May 8	Capture of the steamer Cherokee by the U.S. ship Canadaigua off Charleston, S.C.
May 8	Capture of the schooner Amelia and sinking by the U.S. armed bark Flag off Charleston, S.C.
May 12	Engagement at Murrell's Inlet, S.C.
May 13	Capture of the British schooner Wonder by the U.S. ship Daffodil off Port Royal Harbor, S.C.
May 15	Capture of the sloop Secesh by the U.S. ship Canadaigua off Charleston, S.C.
May 16	Capture of the sloop C. Routereau by the U.S. ship Powhatan off Charleston, S.C.
May 29	Capture of the schooner Evening Star by the U.S. ship Cimarron in Wassaw Sound, Ga.
Jun. 4	Destruction of Bluffton, S.C.
Jun. 17	Capture of the C. S. ram Atlanta by the U.S. ship Weehawken, Nahant, and Cimarron on the Wilmington River, S.C.
Jun. 19	Capture of the schooner Emma by the U.S. mortar schooner Para off Mosquito Inlet, Fla.
Jul. 5	Rear-Admiral Du Pont is relieved by Rear-Admiral Dahlgren
Jul. 10-11	Joint attack upon Morris Island and Fort Wagner, S.C.
Jul. 16	Engagement at Grimball's Landing, S.C.
Jul. 18	Bombardment of Fort Wagner, S.C.
Jul. 24	Bombardment of Fort Wagner, S.C.
Aug. 5	U.S. ship Wabash losses launch and its crew to the C.S.S. Juno off Morris Island, S.C.
Aug. 16	U.S. ship Pawnee losses launch and its crew to a torpedo in Stono River, Ga.
Aug. 17-23	Bombardments of Forts Sumter, Gregg, and Wagner, S.C.
Aug. 21	Attempted destruction of U.S. ship New Ironsides off Charleston, S.C.
Aug. 23	Night attack of Fort Sumter S.C.
Sep. 8-9	Boat attack upon Fort Sumter, S.C.
Oct. 13	Capture of the schooner Mary by the U.S. bark Braziliera off St. Simon's Sound, Ga.
Oct. 20	U.S. schooner T. A. Ward losses boat and crew near Murrell's Inlet, S.C.
Oct. 26-Nov. 10	Joint bombardment on Fort Sumter, S.C.
Nov. 16	Bombardment of Fort Moultrie at Cummings Point, S.C.
Dec. 5	U. S. brig Perry losses boat and crew near Murrell's Inlet, S.C.
Dec. 6	The sinking of the U.S. ship Weehawken off Charleston, S.C.
Dec. 8	British schooner Antoinette ran ashore by the U.S. bark Braziliera on Cumberland Island, Ga.
Dec. 12	Loss of U.S. coal bark Alice Provost in Port Royal Harbor, S.C.
Dec. 25	Attack upon U.S. ship Marblehead by Confederate batteries on Stono River, Ga.
Dec. 29-Jan. 1	Expedition into Murrell's Inlet in retaliation to the loss of the U.S. ship Perry boat crewon the Dec. 5th
1864
Feb. 1	Capture of a sloop by the U.S. ship Braziliera off Brunswick, Ga.
Feb. 2	Destruction of the schooner Presto offshore of Fort Moultrie, S.C.
Feb. 17	Sinking of the U. S. ship Housatonic by the C.S.S. Hunley off Charleston, S.C.
Feb. 27	Commodore S.C. Rowan, commanding U.S. ship New Ironsides temporarily takes command of squadron
Apr. 23	Rear-Admiral Dahlgren re-assumes command of the squadron
May 23	U.S. steamer Columbine is captured on the St. John's River, Fla.
May 25-27	Joint expedition up the Ashepoo and South Edisto Rivers, S.C.
Jun. 3	U.S. ship Water Witch is captured by Confederate forces in Ossabaw Sound, Ga.
Jun. 26	Capture of the sloop Sarah Mary by the U.S. schooner Norfolk Packet off Mosquito Inlet, Fla.
Jun. 27	Capture of the sloop Julia by the U.S. ship Nipsic off Sapelo Sound, Ga.
Jul 1-9	Naval demonstration in Stono River, S.C.
Jul. 8	Capture of the steamer Ida by the U.S. ship Sonoma Sapelo Sound, Ga.
Jul. 30	Destruction of salt works in the vicinity of Black River, Ga.
Aug. 1	Capture of the sloop Racer by the U.S. schooner Hope off Bull's Bay, S.C.
Aug. 1-4	Expedition to McIntosh Courthouse, Ga.
Aug. 16-18	Boat expedition to South Newport, Ga.
Aug. 23-25	Boat expedition down the Turtle River, Ga.
Oct. 22	Capture of the British steamer Flora off Fort Moultrie, S.C.
Nov. 5	Destruction of a sloop by the U.S. ship Patapsco near Fort Moultrie, S.C.
Nov. 25-Dec 30	Expedition to cut railroad near Pocotaligo, S.C.
Nov. 27	Destruction of the British steamer Beatrice Port Royal Harbor, S.C.
Dec. 20	Expedition in Altamaha River, Ga.
Dec. 21	Occupation of Savannah, Ga.
Dec. 22	Boat crew from U. S. ship Dai Ching in Charleston, S.C.
Dec. 23	Capture of the steamer Julia by the U.S. ship Acacia off Alligator Creek, S.C.
Dec. 31	Boat crew from the U.S. Wabash captured in Charleston, S.C.
1865
Jan. 15	Sinking of the U.S. ship Patapsco by torpedo in Charleston, S.C.
Jan. 26	Capture of the schooner Coquette by the U.S. ship Dai Ching near Port Royal Harbor, S.C.
Jan. 26	Loss of the U.S. ship Dai Ching in Combahee River, S.C.
Feb. 18	Capture of the steamer Celt by the U.S. ironclad Catskill off Charleston, S.C.
Feb. 18	Capture of the steamer Deer by the U.S. ship Canonicus off Charleston, S.C.
Feb. 18	Capture of the steamer Syren by the U.S. ship Gladiolus off Charleston, S.C.
Feb. 22	Naval operations in Bull's Bay and the evacuation of Charleston, S.C.
Feb. 25	Battery White and Georgetown, S.C. occupied by U.S. forces
Feb. 25	Capture of the sloop Elvira by the U.S. ship Chenango near Charleston, S.C.
Mar. 1	Sinking of the U.S. ship Harvest Moon by torpedo in Winyah Bay, S.C.
Mar. 2	Surrender of the steamer Amazon to the squadron off Savannah, Ga.
Mar. 28	Operations on the Cooper River, S.C.
Apr. 24	Occupation of Charleston, S.C.
Apr. 28-May 3	Operations to capture C.S. President Jeff Davis
May 23	Seizure of the British brig Sarah M. Newhall by the U.S. ship Azalea on the Savannah River, Ga.
Jun. 8	Loss of steam launch #3 of the U.S. ship Philadelphia on St. Helena shoals, Charleston, S.C.
Jun. 17	Rear-Admiral Dahlgren relinquishes command to Rear-Admiral Radford

All Dispatches were copied from "The War of Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (1880-1901)"

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