U.S.S. Gun Boat Penobscot Off Fort Fisher, N.C. December 25 ‘62. Vol., III Journal of events on the Blockade kept by Henry M. Lowe [cover-title].

North Carolina, 25 Dec 1862–17 Jan. 1863. 12mo journal (6.5” x 4”), flexible calf covers. 36 pp. of manuscript.

An engaging, well-kept journal by a sailor on a Union gunboat during the blockade in the vicinity of Fort Fisher in North Carolina.

One of some forty-one men from the fishing port of Rockport, Massachusetts who served in the Navy during the Civil War, Henry M. Lowe was a Paymaster’s Clerk aboard the U.S.S. Penobscot. His journal spans approximately one month, describing a number of chases and other actions involving the Penobscot; the activity of other ships in the blockade fleet; the activities of the Confederates, and so forth. Lowe also provides considerable detail on such aspects of daily life as meals (including the catching and eating of black bass), illness, the receipt and delivery of mail, musket practice ("the target was a bottle on a pole lashed to the starboard yardarm”), the arrival and departure of personnel, and so on.

The Penobscot was built by C. P. Carter of Belfast, Maine, launched on November of 1861, and delivered to the Navy in Boston in January of 1862. Initially assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, she was later shifted to the Gulf of Mexico, joining the blockade ships cruising off the Texas coast.

Fort Fisher, the largest earthen fort in the world in 1865, was built during the War for the protection of Wilmington, North Carolina, a vital Confederate port. Known as the “Gibraltar of the South,” Fort Fisher boasted over forty artillery pieces and was also protected by a maze of state-of-the-art, electrically detonated landmines. During the First Battle of Fort Fisher in 1864, Union forces unsuccessfully assailed the Fort’s defenses. The Second Battle of Fort Fisher in 1865—the largest amphibious assault in U.S. history before WWII—saw the Union successfully capture the fort and take control of the South’s last major Atlantic port, thereby cutting off global trade. The loss also terminated any chances of European recognition and was viewed by many as “the final nail in the Confederate coffin.” A month later, Wilmington itself fell to forces under Union general General John M. Schofield.

Some representative passages:

23 Dec. 1862: “As it was quite thick we could not see the shipping of this place when we left the shore. As it was soon dark we hoisted our numbers (two lights at the fore-top-mast-head, one white and the other red). In a few moments they was answered and we hawled down our lights and steamed for the other boats, then we sent up two rockets—one white and one red—but they did not understand this…We soon came within hale of the two steamers. The Genessee was coming with full steam for our Port-bow and the Day Lights for our Starboard. All hands on the two steamers were at quarters, they thinking that we were a strange vessel trying to run the blockade. When the Genessee was a few rods from us our engine was stopped and the Genessee run in our ship carrying away our bowsprit, [cat]head and [?] and doing us some other damage…”

29 Dec. 1862: “At half past eleven the lookout saw a light again. It was a steamer, for all on deck saw her. We made signals and our numbers. She made signals in return but we couldn’t make out what steamer it was so we got underweigh for her. She put in for the shore and we lost her. At half past twelve raised the Str again and again up anchor again gave chase. She was soon of[f] again like Bob’s horse…This morning the impression is fore & aft that the steamer we saw last night was trying to run the blockade but did not get in. Got underweigh at 4 o’clock this morning and steamed for the shipping. About 10 o’clock heard heavy firing towards the Fort and saw the smoke of the guns … We are now stationed at Topsail Inlet, twenty four miles from Fort Fisher.”

30 Dec. 1862: “Raised a sail about 11:30 two points on our starboard bow. All hands up anchor and went in chase. She proved to be the U.S. Str. Cambridge with fresh beef and mail for us. We also got three contrabands from her (they run away the night before). While the Cambridge layed longside us, we raised another sail and went in chase. At first we did not gain on her but after we set our sail soon came up on her. As we neared her we raised another sail to windward. Both of them were schooners. At last we got within gun shot and brought one of them to with a shot across her bows…”

2 Jan 1863: “Every officer (commissioned) that was on the ship when we went in commission has received their discharge or been transferred to other ships, except the Paymaster. He is quite down-hearted to lose all the old officers. The Penobscot will never have such good officers as we had when we left Boston. The Daylight came down to Topsail Inlet to releave us and we went up to Fort Fisher. Got news that the Monitor was lost.”

16 Jan: “About 8 o’clock spoke with ship Cambridge. We both went in towards her and we came to anchor. It was not long down before the Rebel shot & shell went thick and fast over us. One piece of a shell hit our nigger but it did not damage us any … We got up anchor as soon as we could after the enemy opened on us, and put out. The rebels then fired from three batteries on the Columbia so she hoisted a Flag of Truce … about noon we had quite a battle with the enemy we drove them from their guns without getting any damage to us. I expended from my shell room some 20 pa[?] shell. We now have on board 42 men and three officers. The others will be taken as prisoners of war. Last night the Columbia threw all their guns overboard and some of their shot & shell…”

17 Jan: “Last night we layed to anchor about two miles outside of the Columbia. At 9 o’clock the Cambridge came up to us and ordered us to get up anchor and prepare for action. The ship Cambridge went in and fired the first four shots we then went in and had a great battle with the enemy. Some of their shots were very good ones. They went over us thick and fast. Some hit in the water not more than 10 feet from us.”

A vivid account of life aboard a Civil War blockade vessel.

CONDITION: Good.

REFERENCES: Hurd, Duane Hamilton. History of Essex County, Massachusetts: With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men. Volume 2, Part 1 (Philadelphia: J. W. Lewis & Company, 1888) p. 1396.