Lincoln Sneezed

by Brian Boyington

  The five warships included USS Wassuc, USS Shawnee, USS Shiloh, USS Squanto and USS Suncook in a line abreast formation. The sloops were fleeing but were good target practice. Splashes erupted all around them; then they were sustaining hits. Realizing they could not escape they turned to fight. The Dahlgrens tore them apart, and after a 30-minute engagement, the monitors continued past, leaving the sinking and wallowing sloops in their wakes.

  Chapman, seeing the signals sent HMS Isis to investigate. As Isis steamed past Deer Island, she witnessed the end of the engagement between the monitors and the sloops; and the wrecked, sinking sloops. Firing a broadside at the monitors, she steamed back signaling five enemy ships were approaching. Chapman then sent a signal to Achilles to break off the attack and recalled the troopships.

  Vansittart turned when his watchmen reported signals from the flagship. Raising his telescope, Vansittart saw the recall message from Chapman. He fired flares calling for the recall of the soldiers. He signaled HMS Grogan to continue the bombardment and assist in recovering the soldiers who were evacuating the beachhead. The longboats rowing towards the beach turned back towards the troop ships.

  The tide was ebbing, and navigation between sandbars was becoming treacherous. Ropes connected the longboats to the frigates to tow them out of danger. HMS Grogan’s bombardment reduced the effectiveness of cannon fire from the ramparts aimed the longboats. Even so, swamped boats dumped dozens of British soldiers into the bay. Those in the water had little chance as their heavy packs and boots dragged them down. Some clung to the wreckage watching in despair as the frigates towed the longboats out of reach.

  The deep draft troopships could not assist as they would run aground. They recovered the longboats which recently departed and the other longboats as they frantically rowed back. Then the troop ships became the targets of Fort Heath, with near miss splashes straddling them. HMS Achilles and HMS Grogan steamed out of Broad Sound towards the battleships, firing broadsides at Fort Heath. The troop ships began to steam out also. The battleships were also firing on Fort Heath, and the fort’s gunners switched to the escaping frigates.

  As Achilles and Grogan approached the battleship line, they cut the tow lines. The longboats rowed to the troopships for retrieval. None went back to the stranded soldiers clinging to wreckage. As the tide continued to ebb, the sandbars appeared. Many of the stranded British soldiers made it the sandbars. There they waited for rescue and capture.

  The cannons on Ft. Heath rotated on their track to target the Royal Navy warships as they moved to engage the monitors. After two salvos, the guns ceased fire as the monitors were about to engage. McNulty grabbed his binoculars and looked at the troopships retrieving the soldiers. They were within easy range, and Fort Heath’s remaining guns tracked around to aim at the troop ships. For several minutes McNulty stared at the transport ships, agonizing about what to do. Finally, realizing they were defenseless, he told the gunners to stand down.

  The Royal Navy officers on the troopships were looking anxiously at Fort Heath. The boarding nets hung over the side, and the soldiers scrambled up onto the decks. Through binoculars, they could see McNulty standing on top of the gun emplacement with binoculars looking at them. When he turned away and walked down the stairs, they knew they were safe from attack. Still, they shouted at the soldiers in the arriving longboats: “Hurry lads, get on board before that American officer changes his mind.”

  Chapman aboard the 90 gun HMS Zeus chose to lead his weakened battle line across the front of the monitors. This formation gave his ships the ability to fire broadsides at the monitors, which were still in a line abreast formation. At a range of 1/2 mile, the engagement began. The monitor line shifted to port, which would enable them to cut through the British line. USS Wassuc and USS Shawnee fired their 11” and 15-inch Dahlgren at HMS Zeus, then rotated the turrets to reload.

  Zeus shuddered with three hits to the hull, then fired a broadside. The low profile of the monitors made them difficult to hit, and the rounded 8 to 10-inch armor on the rounded turret and pilothouse caused the cannon balls to ricochet off. When the turret rotated, USS Wassuc was crossing the British battle line behind HMS Zeus. The Dahlgrens fired into her stern resulting in massive damage and casualties as the cannon balls passed more than half way through the ship before exploding.

  HMS Katherine, the next battleship in line fired a broadside as USS Shawnee with no discernible effect. Observing the raking across HMS Zeus stern, HMS Katherine tried to turn hard to starboard. Being much larger, HMS Katherine circled much slower. Complicating the problem the low profile of USS Shawnee and the proximity prevented HMS Katherine’s cannons from depressing enough to be effective. USS Shawnee turned inside of HMS Katherine firing the Dahlgren at close range blowing holes through the wood planking. With the battle line broken, the conflict turned into a ship against ship melee. Unsupported, the two damaged battleships were easy prey. Shiloh sank one and Squanto the other.

  HMS Achilles faced off with USS Suncook. As both were ironclads neither had the advantage. Achilles was faster, but Suncook could turn quicker. HMS Grogan tried to tip the scales, by adding the weight of her broadside. Suncook could only fire at one opponent at a time and began to sustain severe damage. Observing the difficulties facing USS Suncook, USS Squanto after sinking the wounded battleship attacked Grogan. HMS Isis tried to come to HMS Grogan’s aid but was cut off by USS Shiloh.

  HMS Zeus was taking a pounding with gaping holes opened up on her sides. USS Wassuc sustained damage as many cannon balls struck near the base of the turret, which began to grind on the debris as it rotated. After another salvo, into HMS Zeus the turret froze in position. The last salvo caused major leaks below the waterline. Wassuc broke off to try to repair the damage. With water flooding the lower decks Zeus began to wallow in the water. Seeing an opportunity, Wassuc turned and at full speed rammed Zeus opening a huge hole amidships. Zeus began to settle faster. Wassuc backed away, reloaded the cannons, turned to port to train the guns and at point blank range fired. The balls exploded between the steam boilers, rupturing both, causing an explosion rupturing the hull. Zeus rolled over and sank. USS Wassuc, taking on water through the damaged bow turned away in an attempt to limp back to the Navy Yard.

  Observing Zeus sink, Captain Robert Karlson on the significantly damaged HMS Katherine, was the senior surviving Captain. He signaled the frigates and the troopships to attempt to escape. Covering the retreat, he fired broadsides at USS Shawnee and USS Suncook. Sustaining several more hits and taking on water, USS Suncook broke off the battle to make emergency repairs. Dusk was beginning to darken the sky which allowed Achilles, Isis, and Grogan to attempt to escape. The troopships, after retrieving the soldiers steamed away.

  HMS Grogan was attacked by USS Shiloh but was given a reprieve when HMS Katherine fired another broadside at USS Shiloh; which turned and attacked HMS Katherine. Now under attack by two ironclads, HMS Katherine fired two more broadsides then struck her flag. USS Squanto fired a final salvo at the escaping HMS Grogan’s stern. One ball missed, but the other hit and disabled the rudder. Without control and with USS Squanto and USS Shawnee closing in Grogan struck her flag. Achilles and Isis made their escape following after the troopships.

  With prize crews aboard, and the British sailors locked below busily operating the pumps, the monitors connected tow lines to HMS Grogan and HMS Katherine. The three remaining monitors triumphantly steamed into the Navy Yard. Harbor tugs valiantly tried to save USS Wassuc and USS Suncook, but they had to be abandoned and sank. Buoys marked their final resting place for the salvage crews.

  Longboats crisscrossed the battle zone looking for survivors. Just before dark, one of the longboats found three men clinging to a spar. Two were young midshipmen, and one was an older officer, who while unconscious, was being held up by the midshipmen. As the longboat drew alongside, one of the midshipmen shouted: “Be careful, Governor General Chapman is seriously injured.” Realizing they had an important captive, the longb
oat crew carefully brought him aboard, then rescued the midshipmen. Other boats continued the search under torch light rescued over 100 Royal Navy sailors and officers from the cold water.

  The following morning Admiral Dahlgren aboard his flagship USS Agamenticus, saluted Fort Warren as he steamed past into Boston Harbor. The fort was battered, with sections of the walls collapsed. But the torn flag defiantly flew from the flagpole. In company were two other ocean-going ironclads USS Onondaga, USS Miantonoth and sloops of war USS Kearsarge, USS Powhatan and USS Pawnee, which also saluted the fort. After saluting Fort Independence and Fort Winthrop, Dahlgren’s squadron docked at the navy yard. A carriage was waiting to take him to Chamberlain’s office. Robert Lincoln met Dahlgren at the door and brought the Admiral to Chamberlain. After shaking hands, Dahlgren said: “General, it looks like my ships missed one hell of a fight. I am sorry to be late, but thick fog delayed our departure from New York City for two days. Just what happened”?

  Chamberlain who was working on his report of the Battle of Boston put it aside and said: “let’s walk.” As Chamberlain described the three-day battle, they paused to view the two prize ships. Dahlgren remarked: “The prize money from those will make you rich.” Chamberlain shrugged and said: “There are two more frigates which need to be re-floated in Lynn. My captains, officers, and crews deserved their shares. I will distribute my share among the wives and children of the dead sailors and soldiers. After all, theirs was the victory.”

  Chamberlain then offered: “Governor General Frederick Chapman was rescued in the harbor last night. He sustained a head wound and some broken bones but should survive. I was planning to visit with him today. Would you like to accompany me”? Dahlgren replied: “It is extraordinary that he survived the explosion of Zeus that you described. I would be delighted to meet with him.”

  Together they walked to the Navy Yard hospital, which was under heavy guard due to the number of British sailors and soldiers receiving medical care. Chapman was in a separate ward with other officers. One of the doctors pointed him out. Chapman was lying in bed with his head bandaged, his right arm was in a splint, and his ribs were wrapped to support broken bones. Chamberlain and Dahlgren walked to the bedside saluted and introduced themselves. With wry British humor Chapman said: “I am glad to meet you, please pardon my inability to get up and return your salute. I am rather indisposed at the moment.” Chamberlain and Dahlgren laughed, and Chamberlain said: “No apologies needed, please do not be stressed.” Chapman replied: “On behalf of myself, my officers and men, I appreciate the courtesies extended to us. We were adversaries, but considered as though we were your own.”

  Chamberlain replied: “We are cousins involved in a nasty family dispute. When this unpleasantness is over, I sincerely hope we can be cousins again.” Gratified by Chamberlain’s humility, Chapman reached out with his left hand and said: “Please accept my hand of friendship. I apologize that it is my left hand, but currently, it is all I have to offer.” Chamberlain grasped it with both hands and said: “Governor, get well, we will talk later.” Dahlgren also grasped Chapman’s hand, nodded and both he and Chamberlain left.

  Later, after giving administrative affairs to Robert Lincoln, Dahlgren and Chamberlain boarded USS Agamenticus and steamed to Fort Warren. Along the way, steam ships packed with the dead and wounded hurried back to Boston. As Agamenticus approached the stone quay, they passed the hulk of the still smoldering wreckage of the Royal Navy battleship. Colonel Wickes, his left arm in a sling and a bandage on his head was waiting at the quay and saluted them as they reached the bottom of the gangplank.

  Surveying USS Agamenticus, he thought to himself we could have used her yesterday. Thoughts like that are best never voiced to a superior officer, so instead, he said: “Welcome to Fort Warren, or what remains.” Chamberlain compassionately placed his hand on Wickes’ shoulder and said: “John, you did what was needed. Fort Warren delayed them long enough so the rest of us could be ready.” Humbled, Wickes thanked Chamberlain then took them on tour.

  During the tour, Chamberlain and Dahlgren could begin to understand the horrors of the bombardment. There were still dead soldiers partially buried under the debris and dismounted cannons. The interior walls were soot stained and blood splattered. The surviving, shell-shocked soldiers were moving numbly. Teams of men used levers to move the guns, so the litter bearers could remove the dead soldiers who were laid out in rows in the courtyard. Others with picks and shovels moved chunks of masonry to retrieve their comrades. Periodically the digging stopped as one or more of the diggers mourned a relative, friend or brother.

  Compassionately Chamberlain offered: “John you need to be in the hospital, let me assign others to do this.” Colonel Wickes turned hotly around and with a strained voice said: “With all due respect General, this is our task and we must see it through”! Chamberlain, who was a decorated combat veteran understood and they walked on. At the end of the tour, the three of them stood on the quay. Chamberlain promised more medical supplies, food, blankets, and water. Wickes thanked them, saluted and watched as Chamberlain and Dahlgren boarded Agamenticus; which backed off and steamed away. He then turned and walked back into the fort.

  Dahlgren spoke: “Colonel Wickes is a remarkable man, a bit insolent, but seems very accomplished.” Chamberlain for a moment looked back at Fort Warren, then replied: “It was not that long ago that I was a Colonel at Little Round Top, watching the collection and burial of my men. I felt much the same way.”

  Agamenticus steamed past Fort Heath and East Point to Lynn. After docking, Chamberlain and Dahlgren met with the militia colonels and the city officials. Chamberlain thanked them for their strong defense and the resourcefulness in grounding two of the frigates. Carpenters were busily repairing holes in the hulls and calking the seams of the grounded frigates. A barge was there, with a crane lifting off the cannons to lighten one of the ships so it could be re-floated on the next high tide. The other frigate would be re-floated in a few days. Fire crews were putting out hot spots in the burned buildings. The city would rebuild.

  USS Agamenticus next docked at the pier in Beachmont. Soldiers were stacking rubble on the beach for burning in bonfires. Chamberlain hailed a carriage, and he and Dahlgren were driven first to the battered redoubt on Beachmont Hill. Field hospitals located at the top of the hill were a stark reminder of the recent battle. Fortunately, anesthetics were plentiful, and the surgeons worked steadily on both American and British wounded. Amputated arms and legs littered the area to the rear of the medical tents.

  Chamberlain and Dahlgren walked up the hill and met with the Militia officers to congratulate them for their vigorous defense. The identified American dead, carefully wrapped in cloths laid in rows before being moved to wagons which would return them to their families. Local families after first looking in the field hospitals were walking along the rows of the dead looking for their loved ones. Periodically a cry or scream in anguish would be heard, as the family gathered around the remains of their dead soldier.

  Chamberlain and Dahlgren then rode to Fort Heath. Major McNulty met them in the courtyard. Damage was extensive, and the debris was being cleared to look for any buried soldiers. Most of the dead had been removed and wounded were being treated. Together, they walked up the stairs to the top of the battery. Dahlgren took out his telescope to view the damage at East Point. Steamboats docked at the pier, and litter bearers were removing the dead. In many cases, it was hard to tell if the dead were British or American, but it did not make a difference; all received the same solemn dignity.

  The British dead cataloged by rank and unit insignia were stacked on funeral pyres located on the saltwater marshland. Beachmont Hill surrounded by salt water marsh, which flooded every full moon offered no place to bury the British dead. For the next three days, the pyres burned, with the amputated limbs also placed onto the pyres.

  In the midst of the sorrow and solemnity, a feeling of optimism was beginning to take hold. Occasional conversation
s broke out speaking of rebuilding better than ever. The planned railroad from Boston to Lynn and potential routes of travel became topics of discussion.

  Chapter 19

  Albany, NY, October 20, 1867

  It was a crisp autumn afternoon, and the foliage was in peak color. A delegation of the Fenian leaders arrived at a rural tavern. Attendees included: General Thomas Sweeney, John O’Mahony, John O’Neil, General Samuel Spears and Owen Starr. All had served with distinction as Union Officers during the Civil War. General Sweeney had led one of the previous Fenian efforts to invade Canada. It had not been successful; mostly due to lack of supplies and preparation. This time promised to be different as assistance from the United States was guaranteed. Also attending was Louis-Joseph Papineau and Edmund O’Callaghan who together had led the unsuccessful Parti Patriote revolt against the British in Quebec City and Montreal. They had both fled to New York following their defeat.

  Last to arrive was Secretary of State Seward, accompanied by a military escort and a wagon train. When Seward walked in, the others rose and cheered. It sounded like a political rally, as they all knew Seward harbored Presidential ambitions. The elections were only one year away. Seward walked to the head of the table, and General Sweeney who was in command of the expedition joined him. Seward then said:

  “Gentlemen, I bring you good news. President Lincoln is sending 10,000 soldiers to join in your crusade to free Canada. The wagons arriving behind me have enough weapons and provisions to supply your 5,000 men for a 90-day campaign.” Applause and cheering broke out and lasted for over a minute. Seward basking in the praise waited for it to die down before continuing: “The Adirondack Railroad will transport your men and equipment to Port Henry, where you will join the Federal troops. Steamships and barges will carry you up to Lake Champlain into Canada at St-Jean-sur-Richelieu. From there, you will march on Montreal. General Grant will be advancing on Kingston and Ottawa, which should divert much of the British garrison.”