When several states broke away from the Union and the Civil War started, President Lincoln felt he had a great advantage over the South. He would simply control who comes and goes across the 3000 or more miles of coastline that wrapped around many of these states. The administration immediately directed that the ports be closed to commerce. His commanding General, Winfield Scott, soon put together the Anaconda Plan, the snake that circled the south.
Ships from other parts of the US, or Atlantic Canada, England. Mexico and the rest of the world could not now bring desperately needed supplies to the Confederacy. Nor could the South use the waterways to move its own supplies and troops throughout its region, or off to other parts of the world for commerce and resupply.
Ships trying to break through in either direction came to be known as blockade runners. During the 5 years of hostilities there would be about 3,000 attempts to come or go undetected. Since most were at night, some suggest they enjoyed a success rate of about 80%. The Union did however claim capture of about 1,000 vessels and either grounded or destroyed some 350 more.
Ships trying to break through in either direction came to be known as blockade runners. During the 5 years of hostilities there would be about 3,000 attempts to come or go undetected. Since most were at night, some suggest they enjoyed a success rate of about 80%. The Union did however claim capture of about 1,000 vessels and either grounded or destroyed some 350 more.
The CSS Alabama, pictured at right, was perhaps the most successful commercial raider. It never docked at a Confederate shore but it sure created havoc for the Union on the highseas. Over a 2 year span it made 7 major voyages, and spent 534 of its 657 day life at sea doing its bussiness. Her score card included the boarding of 450 vessels, the capture of 65 Union merchant ships and the taking of over 2000 prisoners.
Having cost the Union over 6 million in losses, it was a most dreaded enemy. But the Union finally had a plan to deal with it. The North would build a massive vessel with a primary job. Capture or destroy the Alabama.
Having cost the Union over 6 million in losses, it was a most dreaded enemy. But the Union finally had a plan to deal with it. The North would build a massive vessel with a primary job. Capture or destroy the Alabama.
It would be named the USS Kearsarge, (to the left), was commissioned in late 1862 and sailed directly to European waters on the hunt for the Alabama. Traveling from port to port with her specially selected and trained crew, including several Canadians, she would soon find that the Alabama was in port at Cherbourg France having some minor repairs being made. The port being neutral, any attack could not be made while it was moored.
A messeage was sent in to invite the Alabama out to do battle. It would take a few days but when the Alabama had finally cleared port, and started to head offshore a few miles to meet her challenge, there were a few witnesses gathered. Actually a few thousand would line the shorelines and hundreds on smaller vessels would drop anchor a few miles away and at a safe distance to take in the action. It has been said that the sea battle about to start was one of the most witnessed sea battles in all history. Many hundreds even arrived by special trains from Paris. A few famous painters arrived to capture on canvass the history about to be made.
A messeage was sent in to invite the Alabama out to do battle. It would take a few days but when the Alabama had finally cleared port, and started to head offshore a few miles to meet her challenge, there were a few witnesses gathered. Actually a few thousand would line the shorelines and hundreds on smaller vessels would drop anchor a few miles away and at a safe distance to take in the action. It has been said that the sea battle about to start was one of the most witnessed sea battles in all history. Many hundreds even arrived by special trains from Paris. A few famous painters arrived to capture on canvass the history about to be made.
While the two combatants were almost a duplicate of each other by virtue of size, weapons and crews, It was anything but an even battle.
The Alabama had discipline problems. Its sailors were were not well trained and their powder was old and had been in storage for a long time. But the Kearsarge crew was hand picked for the job. They were highly trained and regularly exercised on their duties and had top notch weaponry skills and tools.
Also to be factored into the equasion is the fact that while the Confederates had lots of experience attacking those mostly unarmed and untrained, the Union sailors experience was at battle with those who actually fought back.
The battle painted here, nearing its end, consisted of each ship sailing in the opposite direction but on an inwards course... and thus the two would be going aroung in a circle... keeping their heaviest guns facing each other. They would do this for about an hour and complete 7 circles before the disciplined fire of the Kearsarge destroyed the undisciplined firing of the Alabama. It was said that for every 2 shots the Confederate ship fired, the Union chose to take a good aim and only fire once.
The Alabama had discipline problems. Its sailors were were not well trained and their powder was old and had been in storage for a long time. But the Kearsarge crew was hand picked for the job. They were highly trained and regularly exercised on their duties and had top notch weaponry skills and tools.
Also to be factored into the equasion is the fact that while the Confederates had lots of experience attacking those mostly unarmed and untrained, the Union sailors experience was at battle with those who actually fought back.
The battle painted here, nearing its end, consisted of each ship sailing in the opposite direction but on an inwards course... and thus the two would be going aroung in a circle... keeping their heaviest guns facing each other. They would do this for about an hour and complete 7 circles before the disciplined fire of the Kearsarge destroyed the undisciplined firing of the Alabama. It was said that for every 2 shots the Confederate ship fired, the Union chose to take a good aim and only fire once.
The hundred pound shell you see in this picture is lodged in the sternpost of the Kearsarge. Had it blown up it would have probably destroyed the vessel and many on board. But because of the powder problems, it like many others did not blow up. A piece of the post was actually cut out and at the request of the President, shipped back to the US to be put on display at the capitol. It still exists today.
A close look at the above painting shows that the Kearsarge had launched rescue boats for the survivors struggling in the water and that the Alabama, begining to sink, had her colours finally pulled down.
There were Canadians on both vessels that were trying to kill each other. This was true also during the famous battle 2 years earlier involving the Monitor and the Merrimack, and true also at many battles throughout the war.
A small grave at a cliff's edge on the Cherbourg Harbour contains the remains of 3 Confederate sailors. One of them was born in New Brunswick. One of the officers on the Alabama was a fellow names Armstrong, (not related) who after the war would live many years as a most influential citizen at Halifax. John Hayes served on the Kearsarge as did Joachim Pease, a coloured sailor and at least a dozen other non-American born men. Hayes was from Newfoundland. Pease originally thought to be from the US, then thought to be from Newfoundland, probably came from South Africa.
A close look at the above painting shows that the Kearsarge had launched rescue boats for the survivors struggling in the water and that the Alabama, begining to sink, had her colours finally pulled down.
There were Canadians on both vessels that were trying to kill each other. This was true also during the famous battle 2 years earlier involving the Monitor and the Merrimack, and true also at many battles throughout the war.
A small grave at a cliff's edge on the Cherbourg Harbour contains the remains of 3 Confederate sailors. One of them was born in New Brunswick. One of the officers on the Alabama was a fellow names Armstrong, (not related) who after the war would live many years as a most influential citizen at Halifax. John Hayes served on the Kearsarge as did Joachim Pease, a coloured sailor and at least a dozen other non-American born men. Hayes was from Newfoundland. Pease originally thought to be from the US, then thought to be from Newfoundland, probably came from South Africa.
President Abraham Lincoln would approve Medals of Honor for Hayes and Pease and another 15 Union sailors about 6 months later. This would be announced in a General Order dated 31 December 1864. And that was exactly 148 years ago today.
Hayes came from a small farming family in Brogus, just a few miles from the colony's capital at St John's. In youth he took up the trade of a cooper but soon found more interest in serving with the Merachant Marines and so off he went to serve with a British marine outfit. He would also served with American marine outfits on both the east and west coast and serve about 7 years in the US Navy. After this he took up mariner duties on the Great Lakes for a short period then retuned to land to take a wife and start to raise a family. He would set up home in Boston, them later at Wisconsin and still later at Iowa.
During all these moves about, it may have been the cause for his address being lost to Navy officials. Thus possibly the cause of his having to wait FORTY YEARS before his Medal of Honor finally caught up with him. He was reading an old naval document... possibly the General Order of today's date... but back in 1864, and therein he stumbled onto his name in a list of sailors awarded the Medal of Honor. He immedaitely wrote the government, gave them a piece of his mind, and in the process said that.... "That Medal is Mine and I Want it. He soon received it in the mail and you can see him just a few years before he passed away proudly wearing his MOH and on its right, as you look at the picture, is a gold medal the folks of Boston raised money to buy for all of the ship's company after learning they destroyed the Alabama.
His medals are now prized keepsakes of descendants who have provided me with a lot of material and photos including the one above. This Medal of Honor and the 16 others from that battle were the first in US history to be awarded for action outside of the US.
Yet another story of Canadians playing roles in events of historic US significance, and yet few Canadians know about it.
Thus this website and my reasearch!
Bart
Hayes came from a small farming family in Brogus, just a few miles from the colony's capital at St John's. In youth he took up the trade of a cooper but soon found more interest in serving with the Merachant Marines and so off he went to serve with a British marine outfit. He would also served with American marine outfits on both the east and west coast and serve about 7 years in the US Navy. After this he took up mariner duties on the Great Lakes for a short period then retuned to land to take a wife and start to raise a family. He would set up home in Boston, them later at Wisconsin and still later at Iowa.
During all these moves about, it may have been the cause for his address being lost to Navy officials. Thus possibly the cause of his having to wait FORTY YEARS before his Medal of Honor finally caught up with him. He was reading an old naval document... possibly the General Order of today's date... but back in 1864, and therein he stumbled onto his name in a list of sailors awarded the Medal of Honor. He immedaitely wrote the government, gave them a piece of his mind, and in the process said that.... "That Medal is Mine and I Want it. He soon received it in the mail and you can see him just a few years before he passed away proudly wearing his MOH and on its right, as you look at the picture, is a gold medal the folks of Boston raised money to buy for all of the ship's company after learning they destroyed the Alabama.
His medals are now prized keepsakes of descendants who have provided me with a lot of material and photos including the one above. This Medal of Honor and the 16 others from that battle were the first in US history to be awarded for action outside of the US.
Yet another story of Canadians playing roles in events of historic US significance, and yet few Canadians know about it.
Thus this website and my reasearch!
Bart
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