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Beyond the Monitor and the Virginia

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Beyond the Monitor and the Virginia Volume 2, Issue 3 I A Newsletter for the Supporters of the Hampton Roads Naval Museum I Beyond the Monitor and the Virginia by Hunt Lewis esides USS Monitor, there Bwere three other intriguing Union vessels which made use of new naval technology and served in and around Hampton Roads during the first part of the American Civil War. They were the ironclads USS Galena and New Ironsides and the balloon barge G. WP. Custis. The first observation balloons used No, that is not a radar dome, it is an observation balloon. The balloon is onboard the barge G.W.P. during the Civil War suffered from Custis which is pictured here on the James River in 1862. The Federals poured highly acidic sulfuric mobility problems since they were acid over hot iron filings to produce the hydrogen necessary to achieve lift-off for the balloon. The inflated from city gas works and then chemical reaction being Fe+HpO,->FeSO, +Hr (Sept. 6, 1862 Harper's Weekly engraving) slowly towed to observation sites. project. The Navy provided the barge and La Mountain proposed using his Professor Thaddeus S. C. Lowe solved towing services, but the barge was balloons as offensive weapons, saying to this problem by developing a portable manned by Armyballoonhandlersunder the War Department "I am well hydrogen gas generating system. Lowe's instruction. The first ascent from convinced in my mind ....that I can build Since so much of the East Coast was the barge was made by Professor Lowe a balloon in a month's time, and with it accessible by waterways, Lowe and Gen. Daniel E. Sickles on Nov. 11, shell, burnordestroyNorfolkoranycity suggested that balloons and supporting 1861 where they observed the near our camps." Gen. Butler advised equipment be transported by water. A construction of Confederate batteries on the plan be given a trial, but the bombing coal barge was converted at the one of the Potomac's tributaries. expedition never took place. Washington Navy Yard into the balloon Credit for the frrst waterborne use of barge George Washington Park Custis. a balloon in the Civil War, however, Galena .and New Ironsides A flat overhanging deck was added to belongs to John La Mountain who on At the same time the Navy's Ironclad provide space for balloon handling, gas Aug. 3, 1861 had his balloon towed by Board awarded the contract for John generating equipment and a stern house. the armed transport Fanny from Fortress Ericcson' s Monitor, it awarded contracts Operation was an inter-service Monroe across Hampton Roads to see for two broadside ironclads. These Inside The Day Book what the Confederates were doing at broadside ironclads were essentially Sewells Point. There, La Mountain armored adaptations of conventional • Director's Column ........... 2 ascended to 2,000 feet and saw the frigates. One of these was to prove a Protector of a Lifeline ..... 2 Confederates constructing gun pits and qualified success, the other an absolute embrasures pointing threatening Union failure. These ships were USS New Brave or Insane? ............ 3 forts and ships. Further observations Ironsides and USS Galena. To My Loving Mother.... 4 were made of Craney Island and Pig · Cornelius Scranton Bushnell, a Gosport on Fire ............... 8 Point. La Mountain drew sketches ofthe railroad entrepreneur, had previously The Museum Sage......... lO batteries and sent them on to Gen. Butler sold two ships to the Navy. He prepared at Fortress Monroe. Beyond continued on page 6 Springing Forward Protector of The Director's Column a Lifeline by Becky Poulliot pringtime is upon us and as we the public on naval topics and also invite by Bob Matteson Editor's Note: As part of its education dig out of the snow and ice, the them to visit the museum. We already program, the Hampton Roads Naval Museum 0 museum has several exciting have a number of people signed up, but offers first person interpretation of historical things happening. are always willing to accept new characters. Two of these characters are a U­ In February, the museum opened a volunteers. Boat commander and an escort commander. In this issue, we feature the escort commander. temporary exhibit called "To My Loving There are a couple of other events y name is Cmdr. A.C. Mother," which displays postcards from where we need participants. The Virginia Murdaugh and I command the early twentieth century. The Association of Museum (YAM) is a destroyer group. My ship, postcards present scenes of daily Navy holding its 1996 conference here in M USS Edison (DD-439), is one of two life, the warships of the time and the Norfolk, March 17-19. V AM is looking Benson-class destroyers in my group. Jamestown Exposition of 1907. The for volunteers to assist them with the The two destroyers are relatively new. postcards give us a rare look at the Navy, conference. Contact the museum for The Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock and our nation on the brink of becoming more details. Also, on March 25 and Company in Kearny, N.J. built both of a world power. The exhibit will run April 11, the second and third parts of them just before the outbreak ofwar with through May 31 . Read more about the the "Wings Over the Bay" lecture series the Germans. The other two destroyers exhibit in this issue of The Daybook on will take place. See page 9 for more in my group are anything but new. USS page 4. details. Lea (DD-114) and USS Berandou (DD- After many interviews and much This issue of The Daybook focuses on 153) are both old four piper, flush-deck discussion among the staff and docents, three intriguing topics from the American destroyers from World War I. But times the museum has hired Edward Lane to Civil War. The article showcases the are tough and all available ships are become the new volunteer coordinator. emerging naval technology as needed. Mr. Lane is a recent graduate ofNorfolk demonstrated in new ships and ideas. The group operates out of Boston. On State University and comes to us from This issue also examines some of the Feb. 19, 1942, the escort group of four Culpeper, Va. He has taken the job with personalities involved in the burning of destroyers picked up convoy ON-67 at great enthusiasm. You can fmd a picture the Gosport Shipyard in 18() 1. We also the mid-ocean meeting point, just south ofhim on page 11. meet a dynamic Naval officer named of Iceland. Here, my group took over We are in the process of assembling a William Cushing, one of the Civil War's escort duties from a British force. Once speaker's bureau for the museum. The more flamboyant characters. the convoy was under my protection, I group will provide speakers ready to give As you can see, there are many things established communications with the a talk or presentation to interested outside happening at the museum. We hope you convoy commander, a retired British organizations. The bureau will inform will play a part. ~ rear admiral. One Canadian corvette, HMCS Algona, stayed with us. About The Day Book HRNMStaff ON-67 was now enroute to Halifax, The Day Book is an authorized publication of the Director Nova Scotia. It was made up of 35 Hampton Roads Naval Museum (HRNM). Its contents do Becky Poulliot empty freighters and tankers which Curator not necessarily reflect the official view of the U.S. steamed in eight columns, four miles Government, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Navy or Joe Judge the U.S. Marine Corps and do not imply endorsement Education Specialist across. Along with the escorts, the thereof. The HRNM is a museum dedicated to the study of 200 Bob Matteson convoy also had a rescue ship called SS years of naval history in the Hampton Roads region. The museum Exhibits Specialist Toward. It carried special life saving Marta Nelson is open Monday from 9 am. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday through equipment, hospital facilities and radio Sunday from I 0 am. to 5 p.m. Museum Technician The DayBook's purpose is to educate and inform readers on Ofelia Elba direction fmding equipment (HF/DF). historical topics and museum related events. It is written by the Assistant Curator Anytime the U-boat commanders started • staff and volunteers of the museum. The newsletter takes its Tom Dandes BTCS (SW) to send a message to their headquarters, HRNM LPO name from a 19th century Norfolk newspaper. the HF/DF or, "huff-duff," would pick it Questions or comments can be directed to the Hampton EM I Francis Cannon Roads Naval Museum editor. The Day Book can be reached at Editor of The DayBook up and we could track them down. 444-8971, by fax at 445-1867, or write The Day Book, Gordon Calhoun Toward stean1ed at the rear ofthe convoy Hampton Roads Naval Museum, One Waterside Drive, Suite Volunteer Coordinator to pick up any survivors should one of Edward Lane 248, Norfolk, VA 23510-1607. The museum can be found the ships get hit. on the World Wide Web at http://:xroads.virginia.edu/- VAMI Director, HRNHF vamhome.html. The Day Book is published bi-monthly with Maj.Gen.Dennis Murphy, As an escort commander, my mission a circulation of I ,000. USMC (Ret) was the safe and timely arrival of the Protector continued page I 0 2 Brave or Just Plain Wacko? Lt. William Cushing and his service to the U.S. Navy, part 1 by David Rawlings n the museum's exhibit on the Officer Goldsborough, demanding to join assault on Fort Fisher, there is a the Burnside Expedition which was I group photograph of Rear Adm.
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