Battle of Wassaw Sound
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Wassaw Sound (or the Capture of the CSS Atlanta
) was an American Civil War naval battle between the Confederate
ram CSS Atlanta and the Passaic-class ironclad
monitor
s USS Weehawken
and USS Nahant
, which took place on 17 June 1863 in Wassaw Sound
, a bay in the present day state of Georgia
. Atlanta ran aground while attempting to break the Union blockade, and after a short battle surrendered to the Union forces. Captain Rodgers became a national hero, and he was promoted to Commodore and received the Thanks of Congress
as a result of his decisive victory.
Du Pont had received reports Atlanta was about to descend the Wilmington River
for a foray into Wassaw Sound and ordered monitors USS Weehawken
and USS Nahant
to enter Wassaw Sound to stop the Southern ironclad ram's attack, should she make one, and to prevent her escape. Captain John Rodgers
in Weehawken had overall command of this Union force.
Five days later, in the early evening of the 15th, Atlanta got underway and passed over the lower obstructions in the Wilmington River to get into position for a strike at the Union forces in Wassaw Sound. Webb dropped anchor at 8:00 p.m. and spent the remainder of the night coaling. The next evening ". . . about dark . . .," Webb later reported, he ". . . proceeded down the river to a point of land which would place me in 6 or 7 miles of the monitors, at the same time concealing the ship from their view, ready to move on them at early dawn the next morning."
and CSS Resolute
, got underway before daylight on the 17th. A percussion torpedo was fitted to a long spar projecting forward from the ram's bow which Webb intended to detonate against the Weehawken. The Atlanta suddenly ran aground and swayed at an angle which made it difficult to shoot. The USS Weehawken held fire until it was at 300 yards and then pounded the immobile ship. The USS Nahant had watched the action without firing a shot.
After receiving five of the Weehawken' s 350-pound shots, which knocked a hole in her casemate, crushed the pilot house and port shutter and severely wounded its pilots and several helmsmen, Webb was compelled to surrender immediately. The "battle" lasted only a few minutes, and the Atlanta became the first Confederate ironclad to surrender to the Union. Meanwhile, the two boats escorting the Atlanta scurried upriver for safety.
on 2 February 1864. Captain Rodgers became a national hero, and received the Thanks of Congress
along with a promotion to Commodore.
The USS Nahant had headed for the action but withheld fire, which later led to a Supreme Court case which determined the commander and crew of the Nahant deserved participation in the prize for the captured vessel.
USS Atlanta (1861)
The first Atlanta was a casemate southern ironclad, converted from a Scottish-built blockade runner serving in the Confederate Navy. She was later captured in battle and then served in the Union Navy for the duration of the Civil War....
) was an American Civil War naval battle between the Confederate
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...
ram CSS Atlanta and the Passaic-class ironclad
Ironclad warship
An ironclad was a steam-propelled warship in the early part of the second half of the 19th century, protected by iron or steel armor plates. The ironclad was developed as a result of the vulnerability of wooden warships to explosive or incendiary shells. The first ironclad battleship, La Gloire,...
monitor
Monitor (warship)
A monitor was a class of relatively small warship which was neither fast nor strongly armoured but carried disproportionately large guns. They were used by some navies from the 1860s until the end of World War II, and saw their final use by the United States Navy during the Vietnam War.The monitors...
s USS Weehawken
USS Weehawken (1862)
The first USS Weehawken was a Passaic-class ironclad monitor in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.Weehawken was launched on 5 November 1862 at Jersey City, New Jersey by Zeno Secor & Company; sponsored by Ms. Nellie Cornstock; and commissioned on 18 January 1863, Captain John...
and USS Nahant
USS Nahant (1862)
The first USS Nahant was a Passaic-class ironclad monitor of the United States Navy that saw service in the American Civil War and the Spanish-American War....
, which took place on 17 June 1863 in Wassaw Sound
Wassaw Sound
Wassaw Sound is a bay of the Atlantic Ocean on the coast of Georgia, United States near Savannah where which the Wilmington River flows.-American Civil War naval battle:...
, a bay in the present day state of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. Atlanta ran aground while attempting to break the Union blockade, and after a short battle surrendered to the Union forces. Captain Rodgers became a national hero, and he was promoted to Commodore and received the Thanks of Congress
Thanks of Congress
The Thanks of Congress are a series of formal resolutions passed by the United States Congress originally to extend the government's formal thanks for significant victories or impressive actions by American military commanders and their troops. Although it began during the American Revolutionary...
as a result of his decisive victory.
Background
On 10 June 1863, Rear AdmiralRear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
Du Pont had received reports Atlanta was about to descend the Wilmington River
Wilmington River (Georgia)
The Wilmington River is a tidal river in the U.S. state of Georgia. It flows through Chatham County along the east side of the city of Savannah. At its north end, it connects with the Savannah River, then travels southwest past Savannah, then turns southeast and ends in Wassaw Sound, an arm of...
for a foray into Wassaw Sound and ordered monitors USS Weehawken
USS Weehawken (1862)
The first USS Weehawken was a Passaic-class ironclad monitor in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.Weehawken was launched on 5 November 1862 at Jersey City, New Jersey by Zeno Secor & Company; sponsored by Ms. Nellie Cornstock; and commissioned on 18 January 1863, Captain John...
and USS Nahant
USS Nahant (1862)
The first USS Nahant was a Passaic-class ironclad monitor of the United States Navy that saw service in the American Civil War and the Spanish-American War....
to enter Wassaw Sound to stop the Southern ironclad ram's attack, should she make one, and to prevent her escape. Captain John Rodgers
John Rodgers (naval officer, Civil War)
John Rodgers was an admiral in the United States Navy.-Early life and career:Rodgers, a son of Commodore John Rodgers, was born near Havre de Grace, Maryland. He received his appointment as a Midshipman in the Navy on 18 April 1828...
in Weehawken had overall command of this Union force.
Five days later, in the early evening of the 15th, Atlanta got underway and passed over the lower obstructions in the Wilmington River to get into position for a strike at the Union forces in Wassaw Sound. Webb dropped anchor at 8:00 p.m. and spent the remainder of the night coaling. The next evening ". . . about dark . . .," Webb later reported, he ". . . proceeded down the river to a point of land which would place me in 6 or 7 miles of the monitors, at the same time concealing the ship from their view, ready to move on them at early dawn the next morning."
Battle
Atlanta, accompanied by wooden steamers CSS IsondigaCSS Isondiga
CSS Isondiga was a small wooden gunboat without masts that served in the Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War.Isondiga operated in waters around Savannah, Georgia, and in Saint Augustine Creek, Florida, from April 1863 to December 1864, Lieutenant Joel S. Kennard commanding...
and CSS Resolute
CSS Resolute
CSS Resolute was a tugboat built in 1858 at Savannah Georgia as the Ajax which served in the Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War....
, got underway before daylight on the 17th. A percussion torpedo was fitted to a long spar projecting forward from the ram's bow which Webb intended to detonate against the Weehawken. The Atlanta suddenly ran aground and swayed at an angle which made it difficult to shoot. The USS Weehawken held fire until it was at 300 yards and then pounded the immobile ship. The USS Nahant had watched the action without firing a shot.
After receiving five of the Weehawken
Aftermath
The CSS Atlanta suffered the sole fatality of the battle, as well as 16 wounded. At the time of capture, 21 officers and 124 men, including marines were taken captive. Atlanta was condemned by a prize court in September 1863, repaired and commissioned as USS AtlantaUSS Atlanta (1861)
The first Atlanta was a casemate southern ironclad, converted from a Scottish-built blockade runner serving in the Confederate Navy. She was later captured in battle and then served in the Union Navy for the duration of the Civil War....
on 2 February 1864. Captain Rodgers became a national hero, and received the Thanks of Congress
Thanks of Congress
The Thanks of Congress are a series of formal resolutions passed by the United States Congress originally to extend the government's formal thanks for significant victories or impressive actions by American military commanders and their troops. Although it began during the American Revolutionary...
along with a promotion to Commodore.
The USS Nahant had headed for the action but withheld fire, which later led to a Supreme Court case which determined the commander and crew of the Nahant deserved participation in the prize for the captured vessel.