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Brown, Latham A.

[Manuscript diary and notebooks of a Civil War naval officer on the gunboat USS Kineo patrolling and fighting on the Mississippi River.]

Various locales, including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Port Hudson, etc., 19 March 1862 to 30 August 1863. 4 vols., two 16mo and two 12mo, original plain limp calf. [118; 106; 66; 22] pp. respectively, three vols. primarily in pencil, one primarily in ink, 2 vols. primarily lists and tables, 1 p. of ink and watercolor illustrations. CONDITION: Overall good, minor to moderate wear, spine of volume for March 1862–Dec. 1862 partially perished but covers intact; contents generally sound.

An apparently unpublished “brown-water navy” diary by a volunteer officer aboard the USS Kineo, attesting to the chaotic battles, intricate maneuvers, mishaps, and other remarkable episodes experienced while executing the Union’s “Anaconda Plan” on the Mississippi River.

Latham Allyn Brown (1829–1901) of Ledyard, Connecticut was appointed Acting Master of the U.S. Navy on January 22nd, 1862. As a volunteer with some nautical experience, he reported to the Brooklyn Navy Yard on January 27th where he was trained in gunnery. He left Brooklyn on March 10th, 1862 on the supply steamer Connecticut, arrived at South West Pass on the Mississippi River on the first of April, and on the second was transferred to the U.S. sloop, Brooklyn. By the 6th of April, Brown joined the Kineo by order of Flag Officer Farragut. He saw action in the Battle of Fort Jackson and Fort Philip (April 17–24, 1862), the Bombardment of Grand Gulf (May 26, 1862), the Battle of Baton Rouge (August 5–6, 1862), two skirmishes near Donaldsonville (October 4 and 21, 1862), a confrontation near Port Hudson (December 13, 1862), the capture of a Confederate signal station (March 10, 1863), an engagement with Confederates at Port Hudson (March 14, 1863), the Battle of Port Hudson (May 24, 1863), additional skirmishes near Donaldsonville (June 28–29, 1863), and a battle against 8,000 Confederates near College Point (July 4, 1863). Brown was detached from the Kineo’s crew on December 9, 1864, in New Orleans, and was ordered to the sloop Vincennes at Ship Island. He reported for duty aboard the Vincennes on December 20, and was relieved upon his request to the Secretary of the Navy by the Acting Master J. S. Clark on May 30, 1865, arriving at New York on the 10th of June that year. Following the war he worked as a shipmaster in Ledyard.

Brown’s account begins with his departure from the Brooklyn Navy Yard, bound for the Mississippi River. His southward journey entailed a notable delay—he writes on March 12 that after leaving “Fortress Monroe at 4 AM with light southerly winds, at 9:30 AM found that we had forgotten part of the Mail. Turned about and arrived [at] Fortress Monroe at 2 pm.” During this false start the Connecticut received reports suggesting that the Confederate ironclad warship Merrimack “was coming down” in their direction, causing “all hands at quarters, ship ready for action. It proved to be a false alarm.” The following days passed without much note, as the Connecticut proceeded along the Virginia coastline, past the Carolinas, then followed the Florida coastline northwest towards Louisiana. Brown notes sightings of Union ships along the way, including the Gun Boat Takoma, the Brig Bainbridge, the Barge J. B. Huhn, and several others. Approaching the Mississippi on March 30th after anchoring near Ship Island, the Connecticut resupplied several ships and then proceeded to enter the mouth of the Mississippi on April 3rd, where he reports on board the USS Brooklyn. 

Brown records his first sight of action on April 4th. After seeing “a Rebel steamer come down the River,” the crew of the Brooklyn observed while the steamer “was chased back by the Iroquois and the Kineo. The Kineo hit her with a Rifle Shell but met 5 other Gunboats near the Forts and was obliged to return.” Soon afterwards, while reporting to Flag Officer Farragut aboard the USS Hartford on April 6th, Brown “received orders to join the Kineo” which, with Brown now on board, “proceeded up the river and anchored about 10 miles below Fort Jackson” as part of “the Advanced Guard of the Mississippi Expedition.”

The Kineo patrolled the waters around Fort Jackson for several weeks, and on April 17th Brown describes the beginning of the Battle of Fort Jackson. Keeping “clear of a Fire Raft sent down by the Rebels,” the Kineo took on board 200 lbs. of gunpowder, before steaming

up the river at 10.45 A.M. at 12.40 P.M. Came to anchor about 2 miles below Fort Jackson…2 rebel Steamers came down past the point, we got underweigh [sic] and gave chase. Fired 23 shots from Rifle Gun and 12 from 11 inch Pivot Gun. 2 Rifle Shells and one 11 inch shell struck the Rebel Steamer. She made signals and was turned up by 2 others. 5 steamers in all came out to attack us. We were supported by 3 Gun Boats ourselves in advance…at 9 P.M. a Fire Raft came down. We fired a Rifle into it. Boats sent from the Fleet…towed it out of the way.

The Kineo was an active participant throughout the week-long affair, which led to the capture of New Orleans, firing upon the fort and coming under fire in return. Brown notes that in most cases Rebel fire passed directly over them, but the Kineo’s luck was not shared by all the Union fleet––one shot passing over the Kineo “struck the Oneida and wounded 7 men,” and later a Fire Raft ran afoul of the Gun Boat Sciotor. Brown’s entry on April 24th, the date of the Union fleet’s night-time assault upon Fort Jackson, is particularly colorful, describing the “roar of Cannon and Bursting of Shells'' which “presented a grand and fearful Spectacle.” In this confrontation, the Kineo was “struck about 12 times, had one man killed and 7 wounded.” Union vessels crashed into one another while maneuvering and protecting more vulnerable ships during a chaotic battle, in the course of which the Kineo “destroyed ten or twelve Rebel Gun Boats” north of the fort. After a day of recovery, in the early morning of April 26th the crew saw a Rebel steamer “coming up from the Forts with a Flag of Truce…The Mississippi and Iroquois came down and brought the News that New Orleans had surrendered.” 

In the following days, the Kineo captured over 195 Confederates who had abandoned Fort Jackson, then traveled north along the Mississippi from New Orleans towards Baton Rouge, anchoring near the latter on May 12th. Soon, the Kineo encountered a boat that had come “from the Mouth of the Red River, with 5 men, one of the men severely wounded…they had been engaged in an Affray with the rebel[s], trying to prevent the burning of their cotton,” which Brown reports seeing brightly aflame later that night. After traveling upriver from New Orleans to Natchez, Warrenton, and Vicksburg, the Kineo steams back to Baton Rouge. On the way, the Kineo took on five “contrabands” who had escaped from neighboring towns, and on May 26th the crew was involved in a brief skirmish near Grand Gulf, where Brown witnessed the death of one “Lieut. De Kay of Gen. Williams’ Staff.” On May 29th, in company with the USS Hartford (commanded by Flag Officer Farragut), Kennebec, and Brooklyn, the Kineo attacked Baton Rouge, “firing about 50 shell at the city…The Hartford and Brooklyn steamed down the river…the troops landed and took possession of the city and we remembered to assist and protect them.”

June and July pass without much action, Brown writing of the Kineo’s movement between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, noting several social calls and other shipboard affairs, including the unfortunate case of one “William Conquest, Capt. After Guard,” who “jumped overboard while intoxicated and was drowned” near Baton Rouge. Then, in a sudden change of pace, Brown’s detailed entry for August 5th describes the Battle of Baton Rouge, in which the Kineo, along with much of the Union fleet, fended off an attempt by the Confederates to recapture the city. In the midst of intense action, the CSS Arkansas, an ironclad “Ram,” sailed near the Union’s position. Brown reports the next day that

At 9AM the Essex, Cayuga, Sumpter, Katahdin, and ourselves started up to Attack the Ram…After firing her stern Guns at the Essex which was in the advance, we soon discovered the Arkansas to be on Fire and her crew leaving her for the woods. Ourselves and the Katahdin were ordered back to the city so as not to leave the troops unprotected. The Arkansas drifted a short distance down the river and her Magazine exploded, thus marking a finish of another of the celebrated Rebel Rams.

The rest of August passes without any major engagements. Brown reports on the Union’s use of “Negroes to build fortifications around our lines,” the Kineo’s “burning buildings on shore around the entrenchments to give space for artillery to work in case we are attacked,” and a sudden Confederate attack on August 20th, during which the Kineo “fired Nine shells from the 11 inch and Five from the Rifle, unfortunately one of the Riffle Shells burst as soon as it left the Gun, and killed a Negro instantly, mortally wounded a soldier…and a child about 3 years old, both of which died in a few hours.” 

Throughout September, the Kineo underwent repairs at New Orleans. Brown notes the cooling weather and occasional news from other vessels. October and November were spent patrolling the Mississippi, during which time the Kineo took possession of 1500 cattle sent from Texas to support the Confederate effort. Brown reports that while they were bringing those cattle to Donaldson the Kineo was taken by surprise by Rebels and “lost one man, William Swain killed by a rifle ball, and myself wounded in the groin by a Minnie ball. It passed through the bulwarks, strikeing [sic] my pocket book just breaking the flesh, the pocket book probably saveing my life." At the close of November, while Brown saw two women waving an “American” flag on shore near Donaldsonville, the crew of the Kineo drove back a group of Rebels “and burnt the House and destroyed the property of the Major that commanded the Guerrillas that destroyed the Lone Star,” a fellow Union steamer. In mid-December, the Kineo “sent a boat on shore…to get a Negro that was making signals on the bank. A volley of Musketry was fired at the Boat when within 100 yards of the shore, two balls striking the Boat, none of the Boat’s crew were injured.” The year 1862 closes with Brown at Baton Rouge where he “went on shore…at 5PM the State House was discovered on Fire, and continued burning through the Night, leaving nothing but the walls standing.”

The new year begins with Brown’s only mention of foodstuff throughout his journals, reporting on January 1 that while on board, he “had a good dinner to day of Roast Turkey, and Cake sent me from Williamsburgh.” Two days later, when “Major Fisk of the 1st Louisiana Regiment…called all hands to quarters to exercise, Capt. Ransom while handling a Revolver accidentally discharged it, dangerously wounding Anness Remy, a Contraband.” The Kineo patrolled the waters between Plaquemine, Donaldsonville, and New Orleans, and then while docked at New Orleans “was run into by the steamer Roanoke and cut down 4 planks.” January concludes with Brown making several social calls on friends in New Orleans. Much of February passes similarly without note as the Kineo patrolled between Donaldsonville and New Orleans, with Brown making routine remarks on the weather and his sightings of nearby vessels. One notable exception occurred on February 16, when Walter Davis, a Master Mate, “fell overboard from the Port Quarter striking the Boat, injuring himself seriously in the spine and kidneys,” while the Kineo weighed anchor at Donaldsonville. The command of the Kineo changed on February 20, from “Capt. Ransom…to Capt. Milton,” who oversaw the Kineo’s voyage to “New River Landing to buy Chickens” and also took Davis to see his aunt in New Orleans while he was recovering from his injury.

Brown recounts that while proceeding upriver from Baton Rouge on the 10th of March, the Kineo came to a Rebel signal Station, “which is about 12 miles above Baton Rouge sent the troops on shore an[d] captured two Signal Officers and their flags. Three escaped…started up the river to find another station but it came on thick and rainy so we returned to the first.” In one of the more dramatic moments in his diary, Brown records that at Prophet’s Island on March 14th, the Kineo engages in a naval operation in which it is tied to the USS Monongahela and both attempt to escape southwards past Port Hudson. Amid the 

continual fire of Cannon…shot and shell flying over us and about us…a 32 pd. shot struck our Rudder, also cutting away the wheel ropes of the Monongahela disabling both vessels…we both run on the Bank at the bend of the river abreast of the Upper Batterys of the rebels…the rebels concentrated heavy fire on us at this time doing great execution…about 2:30 AM we got afloat and hauled off the Monongahela, as we could not steer we drifted down past the Rebel Batterys, our propeller also got disabled by a hawser[?] getting wound up in it. Just after getting off, the Monongahela engines got caught, disabled and she was obliged to drop back…Capt. Smith finding he could not get off the Mississippi and the enemy keeping up a murderous fire…abandoned her and set her on fire…our loss in Fleet has been heavy, but on board this vessel not a man was injured, which seems almost a miracle.

While the crew attempted to repair the propeller, the ship was obliged to drift south to New Orleans where it underwent further repairs. Back in action by the 19th of April, the Kineo sent two smaller ships into “Mumentum inlet…to look for some blockade runners,” on the 21st, then “burst some tubes in [the] Port Boiler,” beneath which fire was observed. Over the next few days as she again returned to New Orleans for repairs, more tubes burst, forcing her to proceed “under sail.” Returning to patrol shortly after the repairs were completed, the Kineo was “signaled to protect the landing of troops,” near Port Hudson, which by the 23rd was “completely surrounded by the Army and Navy,” including the steamers Monongahela, Creole, United States, Crescent Sallie, Robinson Lime, and several others. 

From May 24th to July 9th the Kineo participated in the Siege of Port Hudson. As the battle began, the Kineo’s crew made “some very good shots, saw the steel explode in the Rebel Batteries, the Firing from the Rebels was Feeble, a few of there [sic] shots passed over us, one struck the water by our Pivot Port, throwing water on board.” On May 25th, after steaming up “to the Flag Ship with a dispatch from Gen. Banks to Admiral Farragut,” on their return to Springfield their main mast got caught in the bow of the USS Richmond and collapsed “with everything attached, in falling the rigging struck Lieut. Rodgers, dislocating [his] shoulder blade and collar bone.” Anchored at Springfield most nights, the Kineo spent much of the siege transporting wounded soldiers to nearby medical wagons and protecting the Union fleet from any southern threats. The remainder of Brown’s account of the siege observes the action occurring around him, and the severity of casualties on the Union side, with at least 1000 men reported killed or wounded by the third day of battle. While on patrol, Brown contracted rheumatism on June 16 and remained ill until July 2. By July 7, he received “news of the surrender of Vicksburgh and capture of 20,000 Rebel Prisoners.” The remainder of his account describes the surrender of Port Hudson, and the subsequent journey of the Kineo to Fells Point, Baltimore, to discharge ammunition and recover from their extensive efforts on the Mississippi.

The two principal diary volumes also include a list of officers, a list of vessels comprising the Gulf Squadron, and lists of gunners manning the 24 pounders and the 32 pounders. The other two volumes, one of which is largely in a different hand than Brown’s, list the port watch, the firemen and coal heavers, and the various gunners and their stations. Also included are a fire bill, a station bill, a synopsis of Brown’s naval service through 1865, a page of ink and watercolor signal flag illustrations, and a list of “cotton claims purchased." 

In 1864, following the Mississippi campaign, the Kineo was in the Gulf of Mexico and patrolled the Texas coast, picking up thirty bales of cotton on May 6th and 7th and sending them by the steamer Augusta Dinsmore to New Orleans, consigned to C. R. May. The cotton was seized by the U.S. Marshall as “prize cotton,” selling for $16,400, after which an agent representing the Kineo’s crew employed a lawyer to make a claim to the proceeds. In late June of 1864 the case was decided in their favor and the cotton designated “salvage,” half of its profits being paid to the crewmembers, and the remainder being held for a year awaiting further Court action. On December 10, 1864, one Captain Watters received $6,076 from May, and kept $911 as his own share. The remainder was distributed to Officers and other men, whereupon Brown was paid $223.75.

A captivating and multi-faceted record of the Mississippi River theater of the Civil War.

Item #8600

Price: $17,500.00

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