Ted Gragg

Cruise of the CS Stonewall / Part II



Posted: Saturday, June 14, 2008

by
Myrtle Beach Shooting Range

For eight days following the engagement with the Union fleet, Stonewall lay anchored in Charleston Harbor. The slight damage done to her deck by the shell from the U.S.S. Weehauken was repaired and her magazines were stocked with fresh powder and shot. Refueled and replenished, with her battle flag waving, the Stonewall stood out of the harbor in advance of a small fleet of troopships, the C.S.S. Texas, Havana, and Darling.

This time, there were no Yankee blockaders to impede the progress of the Southern ships. The Southern fleet was bound north, sailing for the Chesapeake Bay. 3400 lean Confederate infantrymen under the command of Brigadier General Johnson Hagood, late of Fort Wagner, filled the troopships for this the third invasion of the United States. Their objective: Washington, the District of Columbia.

February 27, 1865 dawned clear and cold as the Stonewall escorted the troopships around the sunken stone barges that barricaded the mouth of the Potomac River below the District of Columbia. A line of Yankee forts on the Virginia side of the river, 14 in all, began to take the flotilla under fire. The aft turret on the Stonewall did hot work in returning their fire and the 300 pound Armstrong projectiles breached the walls and battery emplacements as each successive battery was engaged by the Confederate ships. The Stonewall's shallow draft allowed her to keep to the Maryland side of the river. This tactic stretched the Federal guns to the limit of their range while the Stonewall's long range cannon poured devastating fire into the Yankee gun emplacements.

Nearing Washington City, the Stonewall began to lob shells into the fringes of the capitol city, providing covering fire for Hagood's troops as they disembarked from the troopships. The Confederate commanders immediately set out their pickets and began to establish a combat perimeter around the riverfront of the beleaguered city. Buildings struck by shells from the Confederate fleet began to burn. The flames lit the night sky and illuminated the fleeing residents of the city.

President Abraham Lincoln and his Secretary of War Edwin Stanton made arrangements to flee the stricken capitol. The citizens of Washington, learning of the retreat of the nation's leaders, began to panic. The Long Bridge between Washington, D.C. and the state border of Virginia was packed with refugees and fleeing government officials. Shells from the Stonewall continued to rain onto the city in just retribution for the destruction of Atlanta and Vicksburg.

The Federal troops from Fort Runyon tossed their weapons aside and joined the hordes of people leaving the burning city. Other soldiers, seeing the desertions of the Fort Runyon garrison, left their posts and joined the fleeing multitude. Many of the small fortresses and artillery emplacements protecting the capital city now stood vacant, lifeless, their defenders having retreated from their duty stations.

Couriers galloped on lathered horses to General Hagood's field headquarters bearing the news of the evacuation of the forts that surrounded the City of Washington. A telegrapher was summoned and the news of the investment of Washington was flashed by wire to Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate Capitol. An excited presidential aide carried the yellow telegraph form to President Davis with General Hagood's request for directions as to the treatment of the capital of the United States. After due consideration and deliberation, Jefferson Davis replied.

"Treat citizens with respect. Demand unconditional surrender of city and Army of the Potomac. Immediate cease-fire and truce to follow. Suggest that you enter the city and station guards around the public buildings for protection, secure the Long Bridge. Await further instructions.

By daybreak, an emissary from Vice President Andrew Johnson approached the headquarters camp of Confederate General Hagood with an acceptance of a cease-fire and negotiations that would lead to a treaty of peace and recognition of the government of the Confederate States of America. In just a few more days, Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America, and Andrew Johnson, former Vice President and now President of the United States of America, would sign the Treaty of Richmond, ending the American Civil War and establishing a new Southern nation on the American Continent.

©Ted Gragg, 2008. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Ted Gragg, author of the fast paced novel, "Puma",  serves as CEO of Myrtle Beach Indoor Shooting Range where he continues to pursue his hands-on love affair with firearms and military history. His writings include many short stories for wildlife and hunting sports periodicals, technical manuals and historical  papers. His search for a Confederate gunboat scuttled in 1865 on South Carolina’s Great Pedee River led to the successful founding of the C.S.S. Pedee Research and Recovery Team.   Many of the gunboat's artifacts recovered by the team are on display in area museums (The South Carolina Civil War Museum and the Horry County Museum).  Currently the team is assisting the state of S.C. in the recovery of the vessels cannon.  Some of this team’s work is highlighted in the up-coming sequel to "Puma". For more information, please visit: http://www.flatriverrockpublishing.com
      

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by BOB BUTLER
from FLORENCE, SC 3 years 206 days ago.
THIS WAS A GOOD ARTICLE - I HAVE NOT SEEN THIS INFO BEFORE. THANKS, BOB BUTLER
» left by ted gragg from Conway S.C., CSA 3 years 205 days ago.
Good evening, Mr. Butler.   All new information.   Revisionist.   Do you suppose that the C.S.S. Pedee Research and Recovery Team should mount a search for this vessel?
Ted
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