Battle of Corpus Christi
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Corpus Christi was fought on August 12 to August 18, 1862, during the American Civil War
. United States Navy
forces blockading Texas
fought a small land and sea engagement with Confederate
forces in and around Corpus Christi Bay
and bombarded Corpus Christi
. Union
forces defeated Confederate States Navy
ships operating in the area but were repulsed when they landed on the coast.
Texas had been a main source of supplies for Confederate forces during the American Civil War. Union
naval operations to blockade the Texas coast began. Despite being in a Confederate state, Corpus Christi was home to both rebel and Union sympathizers. Five Union and four Confederate ships were involved event. United States Navy vessels included the sloop
USS Belle Italia
, the steamer
converted to a gunboat
USS Sachem
, a bark
USS Arthur
, a schooner
USS Reindeer and an armed yacht
named USS Corypheus
. Confederate naval forces included at least two armed vessels, a sloop named CSS Breaker
a schooner
named CSS Elma, another sloop named CSS Hannah, and a merchant steamer, the A.B. or A. Bee.
USS Sachem was originally commanded by Captain
H. W. Morris, the former U.S. Navy commander of New Orleans, and was armed with one 20 pounds (9,071.8 g) parrott rifle
and four 32 pounds (14,515 g) cannon
s. The size of her crew was about fifty; she had also participated in several other historic naval engagements such as Hampton Roads
and the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip
. Captain Morris is not believed to have fought in this battle; apparently he was elsewhere during the time, Lieutenant
Amos Johnson commanded Sachem. Lieutenant John W. Kittredge was in charge of Arthur which held over eighty men and was armed with six 32 pounds (14,515 g) smooth-bore guns. Kittredge commanded the flotilla
and Arthur was the flagship
the force. Corypheus held one 30 pounds (13,607.8 g) rifle and one 24 pounds (10,886.2 g) howitzer
; she had a crew of twenty-eight men and was commanded by revet (military)|Acting) Master A. T. Spear. Bella Italias armament and crew are not known, Reindeer mustered six 24 pounds (10,886.2 g) howitzers. Little is known of the Confederate ships.
The size of Corpus Christi's garrison
included a few militia
companies with two 6 pounds (2,721.6 g) cannons. They were later reinforced by militia, some mounted, and another two 12 pounds (5,443.1 g) guns and an 18 pounds (8,164.7 g) gun. Altogether 700 rebels were involved in the battle. The militia garrison was commanded by Colonel
Charles G. Lovenskiold, but he handed his command over to Major
Alfred M. Hobby when he arrived with the reinforcements. The garrison was based at the citadel
Fort Kinney.
through an artificial canal into Corpus Christi Bay when they sighted CSS Breaker. The Union Navy
vessels then gave chase to the sloop filled with sailors and several Confederate States Army
soldiers who were returning from a reconnaissance mission. After a long pursuit the Union ships closed in on the Confederates and opened fire. The rebel commander chose to ground his sloop and then scuttle it by fire to prevent her capture. Confederate sailors did just that so the Union sent a boarding party from Arthur to take the vessel and prevent the burning. By the time they arrived though the rebels has already lowered life boats and were escaping to land. The Union sailors boarded the Breaker and put out the fire. Having taken and refloated the prize ship
and thus weakening the defenses of Corpus Christi, Union commanders felt it was now time to attack the Confederates defending the town. Knowing that Breaker was gone, Confederates in the bay, scuttled CSS Elma and the sloop CSS Hannah.
. Sachem and Corypheus were designated the first to bombard the Confederate fort. Lieutenant Kittredge transferred his flag to Corypheus from Arthur which he sent north to procure supplies such as ammunition and food. Belle Italia and Reindeer sat out of range as reserves and the captured Breaker was used as a hospital ship
.
The following morning on August 13, Lieutenant Kittredge and a boarding party were ordered ashore to demand a Confederate surrender of the port town on the Nueces
. He was also ordered to allow a forty-eight hour truce for the evacuation of women and children should the rebels decide to make a stand. As expected the rebels refused to surrender. The Union continued the blockade for the next forty-eight hours. On the 16 when the truce ended, Kittredge for unknown reasons failed to begin his attack so the Confederates used the time to continue strengthening their fort.
on deck.
Near midnight on the 17, Belle Italia sent a shore party of thirty sailors and a 12 pounder howitzer to attack the fort; seventy other sailors were available for landing but only Bella Italias thirty were sent ashore. That same night rebel forces scuttled A.B. in the shallow channel that leads to Nueces Bay
. Kittredge in Corypheus repeatedly tried to tow the ship out of the channel before it burned completely, this was undertaken either to take the ship as a prize or to prevent the ship from sinking and blocking the narrow channel. The Union ships stayed as far away as possible which helped prevent casualties on both sides. The distance of the ships from the fort meant both forces had to fire at maximum range, thus decreasing the accuracy of their shots. The Confederate gunners were also untrained; a shortage of gunpowder left the gunners without the ability to practice before the engagement.
The next morning the landing force advanced until within cannon and musket
shot of the fort; fighting again commenced and soon the ships resumed bombarding the rebel guns. At this time Major Hobby and twenty-five infantry advanced in order to defend the battery. Cavalry under Lieutenant James A. Ware were held in reserve but eventually joined in on the attack. Skirmishing continued for a while, the Union sailors held out due to their ships which supported them with artillery fire. After a prolonged skirmish, the Union forces on land began to run low on ammunition so they started an organized retreat
back to Bella Italia with help from the blockade. Fort Kinney was not taken but at this time was silenced due to Union fire. The Confederates defeated the shore party and withdrew to the town. United States Navy ships watched this movement so Kittredge ordered the bombardment of the coastal buildings where the rebels had withdrawn to. Most of the bombed buildings were houses and stores. After all the ammunition aboard the warships were fired, the battle was over and Kittredge ordered his ships north into Aransas Bay. During the bombardment a Unionist living in Corpus Christi named John Dix, grabbed his American flag and headed for the roof of his Water Street home. Dix intended to wave the flag at the United States ships as a sign of surrender but before he could get to his roof his daughter-in-law stopped him. She was married to Dix's son who was fighting for the Confederacy, the daughter carried a shotgun and pointed it at her father-in-law until the flag was put away. When the bombing was over, the Confederates in town were very angry and many of the Unionists were happy. Anger over the attack led to the looting of several houses belonging to Union supporters.
Confederate States Navy
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
forces blockading Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
fought a small land and sea engagement with Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
forces in and around Corpus Christi Bay
Corpus Christi Bay
Corpus Christi Bay is a scenic semi-tropical bay on the Texas coast found in San Patricio and Nueces counties, next to the major city of Corpus Christi. It is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by Mustang Island, and is fed by the Nueces River and Oso Creek from its western and southern extensions,...
and bombarded Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
. Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
forces defeated Confederate States Navy
Confederate States Navy
The Confederate States Navy was the naval branch of the Confederate States armed forces established by an act of the Confederate Congress on February 21, 1861. It was responsible for Confederate naval operations during the American Civil War...
ships operating in the area but were repulsed when they landed on the coast.
Background
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
naval operations to blockade the Texas coast began. Despite being in a Confederate state, Corpus Christi was home to both rebel and Union sympathizers. Five Union and four Confederate ships were involved event. United States Navy vessels included the sloop
Sloop
A sloop is a sail boat with a fore-and-aft rig and a single mast farther forward than the mast of a cutter....
USS Belle Italia
USS Belle Italia (1862)
USS Belle Italia was a sloop captured by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways.-Capture:...
, the steamer
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
converted to a gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
USS Sachem
USS Sachem (1861)
The second Navy vessel to bear the name Sachem, this screw steamer was built in 1844 at New York City, where it was purchased by the Navy on September 20, 1861.-Battle of Hampton Roads:...
, a bark
Barque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
USS Arthur
USS Arthur (1855)
USS Arthur was a bark acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways.- Arthur commissioned in New York City :...
, a schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
USS Reindeer and an armed yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
named USS Corypheus
USS Corypheus (1862)
USS Corypheus was a schooner captured by the Union Navy during the American Civil War.Corypheus was used by the Union Navy primarily as a gunboat to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy in order to prevent the South from trading with other countries...
. Confederate naval forces included at least two armed vessels, a sloop named CSS Breaker
USS Breaker (1862)
USS Breaker was a schooner captured by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways....
a schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
named CSS Elma, another sloop named CSS Hannah, and a merchant steamer, the A.B. or A. Bee.
USS Sachem was originally commanded by Captain
Captain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
H. W. Morris, the former U.S. Navy commander of New Orleans, and was armed with one 20 pounds (9,071.8 g) parrott rifle
Parrott rifle
The Parrott rifle was a type of muzzle loading rifled artillery weapon used extensively in the American Civil War.-Parrott Rifle:The gun was invented by Robert Parker Parrott, a West Point graduate. He resigned from the service in 1836 and became the superintendent of the West Point Foundry in Cold...
and four 32 pounds (14,515 g) cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
s. The size of her crew was about fifty; she had also participated in several other historic naval engagements such as Hampton Roads
Battle of Hampton Roads
The Battle of Hampton Roads, often referred to as either the Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack or the Battle of Ironclads, was the most noted and arguably most important naval battle of the American Civil War from the standpoint of the development of navies...
and the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip
Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip
The Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip was the decisive battle for possession of New Orleans in the American Civil War. The two Confederate forts on the Mississippi River south of the city were attacked by a Union Navy fleet...
. Captain Morris is not believed to have fought in this battle; apparently he was elsewhere during the time, Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Amos Johnson commanded Sachem. Lieutenant John W. Kittredge was in charge of Arthur which held over eighty men and was armed with six 32 pounds (14,515 g) smooth-bore guns. Kittredge commanded the flotilla
Flotilla
A flotilla , or naval flotilla, is a formation of small warships that may be part of a larger fleet. A flotilla is usually composed of a homogeneous group of the same class of warship, such as frigates, destroyers, torpedo boats, submarines, gunboats, or minesweepers...
and Arthur was the flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
the force. Corypheus held one 30 pounds (13,607.8 g) rifle and one 24 pounds (10,886.2 g) howitzer
Howitzer
A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
; she had a crew of twenty-eight men and was commanded by revet (military)|Acting) Master A. T. Spear. Bella Italias armament and crew are not known, Reindeer mustered six 24 pounds (10,886.2 g) howitzers. Little is known of the Confederate ships.
The size of Corpus Christi's garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
included a few militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
companies with two 6 pounds (2,721.6 g) cannons. They were later reinforced by militia, some mounted, and another two 12 pounds (5,443.1 g) guns and an 18 pounds (8,164.7 g) gun. Altogether 700 rebels were involved in the battle. The militia garrison was commanded by Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Charles G. Lovenskiold, but he handed his command over to Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Alfred M. Hobby when he arrived with the reinforcements. The garrison was based at the citadel
Citadel
A citadel is a fortress for protecting a town, sometimes incorporating a castle. The term derives from the same Latin root as the word "city", civis, meaning citizen....
Fort Kinney.
Corpus Christi Raid
At noon on August 12, just northwest of Corpus Christi, Belle Italia, Sachem, Reindeer and Corypheus were sailing from Aransas BayAransas Bay
Aransas Bay is a bay on the Texas gulf coast, approximately northeast of Corpus Christi, and south of San Antonio. It is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by San José Island . Aransas Pass is the most direct navigable outlet into the Gulf of Mexico from the bay...
through an artificial canal into Corpus Christi Bay when they sighted CSS Breaker. The Union Navy
Union Navy
The Union Navy is the label applied to the United States Navy during the American Civil War, to contrast it from its direct opponent, the Confederate States Navy...
vessels then gave chase to the sloop filled with sailors and several Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
soldiers who were returning from a reconnaissance mission. After a long pursuit the Union ships closed in on the Confederates and opened fire. The rebel commander chose to ground his sloop and then scuttle it by fire to prevent her capture. Confederate sailors did just that so the Union sent a boarding party from Arthur to take the vessel and prevent the burning. By the time they arrived though the rebels has already lowered life boats and were escaping to land. The Union sailors boarded the Breaker and put out the fire. Having taken and refloated the prize ship
Prize Ship
Prize Ship is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick, first published in 1954 in Thrilling Wonder Stories and later in The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick...
and thus weakening the defenses of Corpus Christi, Union commanders felt it was now time to attack the Confederates defending the town. Knowing that Breaker was gone, Confederates in the bay, scuttled CSS Elma and the sloop CSS Hannah.
Blockade
After taking the Breaker the Union vessels sailed southwest the short distance to Corpus Christi and established a blockadeBlockade
A blockade is an effort to cut off food, supplies, war material or communications from a particular area by force, either in part or totally. A blockade should not be confused with an embargo or sanctions, which are legal barriers to trade, and is distinct from a siege in that a blockade is usually...
. Sachem and Corypheus were designated the first to bombard the Confederate fort. Lieutenant Kittredge transferred his flag to Corypheus from Arthur which he sent north to procure supplies such as ammunition and food. Belle Italia and Reindeer sat out of range as reserves and the captured Breaker was used as a hospital ship
Hospital ship
A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital; most are operated by the military forces of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones....
.
The following morning on August 13, Lieutenant Kittredge and a boarding party were ordered ashore to demand a Confederate surrender of the port town on the Nueces
Nueces River
The Nueces River is a river in the U.S. state of Texas, approximately long. It drains a region in central and southern Texas southeastward into the Gulf of Mexico. It is the southernmost major river in Texas northeast of the Rio Grande...
. He was also ordered to allow a forty-eight hour truce for the evacuation of women and children should the rebels decide to make a stand. As expected the rebels refused to surrender. The Union continued the blockade for the next forty-eight hours. On the 16 when the truce ended, Kittredge for unknown reasons failed to begin his attack so the Confederates used the time to continue strengthening their fort.
Attack on Fort Kinney
When the rebels evacuated their town of civilians and finished working on the fort, they attacked the Union vessels at dawn on August 17. Lieutenant Kittredge responded with counter battery fire and silenced the guns temporarily. Whenever the Union ships ceased firing, the Confederates would man the battery again and continue fighting. This process of repeatedly silencing the fort lasted all day and night until Kittredge withdrew his ships due to the darkness. Sachem and Corypheus were both damaged slightly, Bella Italia is known to have been hit as well, the shot wounded a petty officerPetty Officer
A petty officer is a non-commissioned officer in many navies and is given the NATO rank denotion OR-6. They are equal in rank to sergeant, British Army and Royal Air Force. A Petty Officer is superior in rank to Leading Rate and subordinate to Chief Petty Officer, in the case of the British Armed...
on deck.
Near midnight on the 17, Belle Italia sent a shore party of thirty sailors and a 12 pounder howitzer to attack the fort; seventy other sailors were available for landing but only Bella Italias thirty were sent ashore. That same night rebel forces scuttled A.B. in the shallow channel that leads to Nueces Bay
Nueces Bay
Nueces Bay is a northwestern extension of Corpus Christi Bay in the San Patricio and Nueces counties of Texas. The bay is fed by the Nueces River, forming a natural estuary, which renders it ecologically and economically vital to the surrounding area. It serves as a habitat for the propagation of...
. Kittredge in Corypheus repeatedly tried to tow the ship out of the channel before it burned completely, this was undertaken either to take the ship as a prize or to prevent the ship from sinking and blocking the narrow channel. The Union ships stayed as far away as possible which helped prevent casualties on both sides. The distance of the ships from the fort meant both forces had to fire at maximum range, thus decreasing the accuracy of their shots. The Confederate gunners were also untrained; a shortage of gunpowder left the gunners without the ability to practice before the engagement.
The next morning the landing force advanced until within cannon and musket
Musket
A musket is a muzzle-loaded, smooth bore long gun, fired from the shoulder. Muskets were designed for use by infantry. A soldier armed with a musket had the designation musketman or musketeer....
shot of the fort; fighting again commenced and soon the ships resumed bombarding the rebel guns. At this time Major Hobby and twenty-five infantry advanced in order to defend the battery. Cavalry under Lieutenant James A. Ware were held in reserve but eventually joined in on the attack. Skirmishing continued for a while, the Union sailors held out due to their ships which supported them with artillery fire. After a prolonged skirmish, the Union forces on land began to run low on ammunition so they started an organized retreat
Withdrawal (military)
A withdrawal is a type of military operation, generally meaning retreating forces back while maintaining contact with the enemy. A withdrawal may be undertaken as part of a general retreat, to consolidate forces, to occupy ground that is more easily defended, or to lead the enemy into an ambush...
back to Bella Italia with help from the blockade. Fort Kinney was not taken but at this time was silenced due to Union fire. The Confederates defeated the shore party and withdrew to the town. United States Navy ships watched this movement so Kittredge ordered the bombardment of the coastal buildings where the rebels had withdrawn to. Most of the bombed buildings were houses and stores. After all the ammunition aboard the warships were fired, the battle was over and Kittredge ordered his ships north into Aransas Bay. During the bombardment a Unionist living in Corpus Christi named John Dix, grabbed his American flag and headed for the roof of his Water Street home. Dix intended to wave the flag at the United States ships as a sign of surrender but before he could get to his roof his daughter-in-law stopped him. She was married to Dix's son who was fighting for the Confederacy, the daughter carried a shotgun and pointed it at her father-in-law until the flag was put away. When the bombing was over, the Confederates in town were very angry and many of the Unionists were happy. Anger over the attack led to the looting of several houses belonging to Union supporters.
Aftermath
Casualties of the engagement are mostly unknown, two Union men were wounded, one an aboard Bella Italia. At least one rebel was killed in action as well, Major Hobby was slightly wounded. Once in Aransas Bay, the ships reunited with Arthur who had left the blockade earlier. The battle ended as a tactical victory for the United States, they were capable of destroying the Confederate naval activity in the area and silenced the enemy fort protecting Corpus Christi and the bay. Confederate forces did defeat the Union shore party and continued to hold the town and the silenced fort when the battle ended.Order of battle
United States Navy- USS ArthurUSS Arthur (1855)USS Arthur was a bark acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways.- Arthur commissioned in New York City :...
, bark, (flagship) - USS Belle Italia, sloop
- USS SachemUSS Sachem (1861)The second Navy vessel to bear the name Sachem, this screw steamer was built in 1844 at New York City, where it was purchased by the Navy on September 20, 1861.-Battle of Hampton Roads:...
, steamer - USS CorypheusUSS Corypheus (1862)USS Corypheus was a schooner captured by the Union Navy during the American Civil War.Corypheus was used by the Union Navy primarily as a gunboat to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy in order to prevent the South from trading with other countries...
, yacht, (transferred flagship) - USS Reindeer, schooner
Confederate States Navy
- CSS Hannah, sloop
- CSS BreakerUSS BreakerUSS Breaker is a name used more than once by the U.S. Navy:, a small schooner captured by the Union Navy during the American Civil War., wooden-hulled launch used as a ferry by the Navy., a steam trawler constructed in 1912 at Quincy, Massachusetts....
, schooner - CSS Elma, schooner
- A.B., steamer, (merchant ship)