Confederate Ram CSS Albemarle
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- After the success of CSS Virginia at the Battle of Hampton Roads, the Confederacy decided to build a smaller ironclad on North Carolina's Roanoke river. The CSS Albemarle stunned the federal fleet before being targeted by the man who has been called, "the first Navy SEAL." The History Guy recalls the forgotten history of the Confederate ironclad ram CSS Albemarle.
This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
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Script by THG
#uscivilwar #thehistoryguy #ushistory
How is Hollywood out of ideas when history is full of stories like this?
not P.C. socially engineering enough.
They're too busy making idiotic movies based on comic books.
@@glx4909 yes but it's Hollywood. They could just rewrite it to tell the tale of William Cushing, a beleaguered homosexual just trying to make it against all odds in a cis-gender world.
@@sebione3576 I can just see it. Getysburg meets The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Hollywood is designed to dull your mind and distract you from reality. They must Amos history listens at all cost.
At the end I mention that William Cushing distinguished himself in the conquest of "fort Fisch" Actually, that was Fort Fisher, N.C., taken by the Union January 15, 1865. I am sorry for the error.
Thank you, I've been to Fort Fisher a number of times but never heard of Fort Fisch! Fort Macon is a LOT more interesting!
+The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered The Communists are removing all trace of our history. They just got the memorial to soldiers killed in the Civil War removed from Birmingham. Breaking the law to do it. They burned down a library last week in Minneapolis. So eventually they will be able to create any "history" they want.
I was looking for that correction.
Please do consider making a video about the Fighting Mccooks from Ohio, 15 members of the same family that fought for the Union, several of them became generals and some of them died in the war, alonside the Cushings I think they are the most prominent of the fighting families that fought for the Union, it would be interesting to hear about similar cases in the CSA besides the most prominent, the Lee Family, thanks for your work.
Also, there's no "Albemarle River" in North Carolina. The Southern states were inconsistent in their naming of ships. There was the ram CSS Virginia, and the commerce raider CSS Alabama (and also a CSS North Carolina, a "Richmond-class" ironclad that performed so poorly that it never was put into action and was allowed to rot in the Cape Fear river at Wilmington) as examples of fighting vessels named for Confederate states. There were also the CSS Raleigh (which was no better than the North Carolina and met the same fate) which was named for the capital city, the CSS Atlanta named for Georgia's capital, and the CSS Neuse named for river by which it was built, etc.
Surely, the CSS Albemarle was named for the Albemarle sound, as Elliott's prime reason for building the ram was to protect the Sound; Elliott was a native of Elizabeth City, NC., a town on a small river tributary to the Sound.
A piece of trivia:
This is an epitaph to William B Cushing on a plaque (1899) at his boyhood home in Delafield Wisconsin:
"Prominent among his many brave deeds was the blowing up of the confederate RAM Albermarle. His perfection of action in the midst of death dealing missiles was an exhibition of coolness absolutely unparalleled."
And YES William B had, possibly, an even MORE famous brother: Alonzo. Alonzo, a West Point graduate 1861, became a hero at the "angle" during the Battle of Gettysburg dying at one of several union cannons he was commanding. He was given the Congressional Medal of Honor, over 150 years after his death, by President Obama:
""Killed repelling Pickett's charge at Gettysburg, having been wounded the third time within a few minutes, Probably no man of his rank did so much to save the day".
A third brother was ALSO a hero, who died fighting Indians in America's west:
"Howard B - His courage and determination made his name famous all over the Southwestern border. A terror to the marauding Apaches at whose hands he fell in ambush bravely fighting to lead his men to safety."
At the bottom of the plaque holding the three men's exploits: "So long as such men can be produced in the Republic there is little danger of its decline and fall"
In my mind that last inscription is ALMOST an "under statement".
During during battle. Something else they also have in common.
Thanks. I love this kind of information.
Wow...just Wow. Thank you for this
Very informative, thank you! They were a special stock of men, weren't they? They serve as an inspiration to Americans! Why did it take so long for their deeds to be known more widely. Thank you History Guy!!
Interesting.
One point the medal's is
"The Medal of Honor".
Congress name is not attached to it.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_of_Honor
I'm 63 and still learning things.
The History Guy deserves to be remembered in all schools!
I'm 74 and right with you on the learning bit!
I'm 63 07/27 and having a ball. Every lecture or book I ever wanted on line and cheap if not free. It used to cost so much more to get a education. If we live through the boomer remover...were golden!!!
@Lori Judd- The History Guy presents and shows "History" accurately and honestly. The American Public School Education System would not stand for that nor allow it because they are going to, as they have since the turn of the century, "Teach Their" narrative, politically correct and liberal biased version. To vilify the people of History to suit their agenda of what America's students hear, learn and ultimately base their understanding of right, wrong, understanding and insight of America's and the Worlds true history was and is. History is Fact! It is what it is and nothing else no matter how hard people try to change, justify or rectify it.
Kicked out of The Naval Academy for being a screw off. Turned out to be a great leader in war!
A problem neglected to this day. Or made worse.
Every career military person knew or has heard of someone who can't handle the peacetime service but excels during a war. These are the ones who garner a chestful of valorous awards and either just leave after peace breaks out or retire at 20 years. I think THG has done videos on a few of these. "i think that guy should be kept under glass and broken out when we have a war."
Bob Stewart Xactly so. Successful peacetime leadership needs some different different qualities than successful wartime leadership.
The challenge of peacetime force management keeping the bean & pencil counters content, while not driving the renegade spirits stir crazy. Too often the counters win, and the renegades move on.
Lets forget all the dead meat stories that didnt turn out so well for the non conformer
ResortDog - and there's that angle, too. It's a multifactor problem.
Now that I've validated your opinion, will you kindly permit the rest of us to get back to our convenient & trite oversimplifications?
Patton said that don't tell a soldier what to do. Tell him what needs to be done and he'll surprise you with his ingenuity.
Also known as "Auftragstaktik".
"Tell the richouse , thet poverty is all peoples problems and you will wish, they all were .....
Upon hearing how Plusser's shell with the delay fuse bounced back and landed at his feet, I imagined one of his men standing nearby, "Plusser you arrogant bastard, you've killed us all." This story of the H.G. might well have been written by a second half of the nineteenth century Tom Clancy.
Richard Mourdock an excellent analogy and quote from “The Hunt For Red October”. Lol
Hoist by his own petard, methinks.
Sure enough. And I thought of the USS Tulibee and USS Tang, both sunk by circular runs of their own torpedoes. The boomerang effect!
Goes right up there with Sedgwick's great last words at The Wilderness, "They can't hit an elephant at that distance!"
Poetic justice.
Me: Huh, I wonder if William Cushing was any relation to Alonzo Cushing of Gettysburg fame...
History Guy: Why yes, yes he was.
Me: ...STOP READING MY MIND!
They were blood brothers..
Now how about the neurosurgeon?
Yes, and imagine having a Naval and Army heroes in the same family!
@@randallroske1854 I’m sure the family would have preferred that Lt. Cushing survive the war.
As a Cushing I'm rather fond of this story, and I actually have a book on William Barker Cushing written by Charles Van Doren of quiz show scandal infamy.
Charles Van Doren, was he on the 64,000 Answer?
@@CaptainGyro Charles Van Doren wasn't on the $64,000 Question, but Twenty One, another quiz show of the same era.
Your description of the battles had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. Having been born and raised near Plymouth, NC I had always heard of the Ablemarle but never has the story sounded so alive.
I enjoy the little and obscure stories you find. Excellent lesson once again.
Our daughter taught in Plymouth, NC for several years. We have seen the scaled down replica of the CSS Albermarle moored there on the river. I found your video extremely interesting and it brought that scale model and its importance to life. Thank you, History Guy!
@TheSlot1942, no, her teaching experience was not rewarding there. In fact, she left teaching and joined the Navy at age 31. The area was a bit backward to be frank.
Gary Kildall is history that deserves to be remembered.
I did several reenactments there years ago. The town has a house that a Confederate Sniper was in it's attic or up stairs shooting out of the window at the advancing Federals when they first took the town. The house still has bullet holes and a couple cannon shot marks in the fireplace's bricks. We were allowed to go in and look at it and I will never forget that to that day you could still see the dried blood areas and stains where the sniper was wounded and was bleeding out on the wood floors in the attic upstairs room. The stains were very noticeable.
@TheSlot1942 You are right, lol. I did.
ua-cam.com/video/Rqm2R9Xmrh0/v-deo.html
Gary Kildall is Tech History that deserves to be remembered.
@TheSlot1942 Yeah, man. I really want The History Guy to make a video about him. I have left 'Gary Kildall is History That Deserves to be Remembered' on his comments for months, lol.
Here in the UK, back in the 1960's, us kids would buy American Civil War bubble gum. You would get a piece of gum, a card with a usually gore heavy picture on one side and a piece about the featured engagement on the rear, and some reproduction Confederate Dollars. A few of the cards depicted Naval engagements, Albemarle being one, another was USS Monitor. We learned far more from the cards than we ever did in class.
Thank you THG.
In the 1950s there was a collection of gum cards that depicted historical events. You might say it was the precursor to THG. It was my introduction to world events that deserved to be remembered.
Old UK gum cards are really cool.
How awesome! We never had bubble gum cards like that here in the US (or at least not in the South). Although we could have used the extra education for sure! :-D
@@k33k32 now they would want to burn the cards and drive the company making them out of business,, or burn it down
@@davidaltman3867 LOL maybe! I think very few people would buy historic cards these days...the market prefers game characters or sports personalities.
this channel always teaches me about events I'd never even heard of.
It’s great.
And told with such zeal!
No...
Have you done a story on the Confederate Raider, John S. Mosby? I’d also like to hear about Robert the Bruce.. I truly enjoy these stories and even a 10 minute snippet about something I wouldn’t ordinarily consider a point of interest for me, catches and holds my attention and makes me think... You, Sir, are a natural storyteller!
I was born and have lived in Albemarle, NC for almost 50yrs...
And you will never know how proud I am.... that you pronounced Albemarle correctly.
It should have been mentioned that Union Admiral Samuel Philips Lee was a first cousin of Robert E. Lee. When he was asked why he choose to fight for the union, Admiral Lee stated, "When I find the word Virginia in my commission I will join the Confederacy." I guess this was kind of a dig towards his cousin's oft sighted justification for joining the confederacy.
Thanks, I wondered if they were related.
@@wt1370 they were cousins - and both Virginians
Quite a lot of Virginian military officers stayed loyal to the Union, including Winfield Scott, William Terrill, and George Henry Thomas. It's a shame their story isn't as well know as Lee's.
I read somewhere that a third of Virginians serving in the pre-war Officer Corp stayed loyal
Winfield Scott's decision to stay in the Union probably had a lot to do with that. Scott was the longest serving soldier in US Army history at the time (52 years of service), so his choice to stay probably convinced a lot of other Virginian officers to do the same. Sadly Scott was too old and ill for field command (he retired in November of 1861), or else he probably would have become the Union's best general of the war. But still, he was credited with coming up with the "anaconda plan" to blockade the South.
Those Ironclad battleships look so alien to me with their small freeboard and top deck nearly at the waterline. They almost look like surfaced submarines. Great video as always, Mr. History Guy! Thanks!
The lack of freeboard was what was largely responsible for the sinking of the USS Monitor class of gunboats.
Kinda funny that our most advanced warship in the US Navy, the Zumwalt-class looks reminiscent to old ironclads.
Yeah the Monitor class of gunboats had the nickname of a "cheese wheel on a raft"
Additional notes: In Kinston NC there's a museum for the wreck of CSS Nuese with a full scale recreation across the street and in Vicksburg MS there's the Union USS Cairo that you can walk through.
@@ukrainiipyat Yes, the first one, the USS Monitor, sank in a storm.
Holly molly. i grew up in williamston & my dad worked for the Weyhauser mill in Plymouth until he retired.
As much history as Eastern North Carolina may hold, i never thought we would get a History guy episode on Eastern NC.
Thank you for sharing history to those that may not know what they are missing. Your ability as an orator along with great script writing just makes your content a must watch every time.
I first learned this story from a grade school reader published circa 1920. It contained interesting additional details of Cushing's escape. These included bribing a poor local to go and see if the Albemarle was still afloat and then come back with the information. He reportedly paid the man the then princely sum of $20. The skiff he stole was from a Confederate working party sent to get firewood (I imagine there was some unhappiness there when those men found themselves on the wrong side of the river with no way back home). When he got to the Union ships, he was initially thought to be a Confederate saboteur and was almost shot.
The first battle, where the ship's smokestack was heavily perforated by projectiles, had an amusing twist: The smokestack was necessary to provide draft for the fires in the boiler furnaces (they did not yet have forced draft blowers). Consequently, the ship was about to lose steam pressure. That would have led to her capture while she drifted out of control. Someone realized that fat burns just fine even without a draft, so the Albemarle's store of bacon was incinerated to allow their escape.
I learned more from "The United States Steam Navy" published in 1898. From that massive book I learned about what went on inside the engine/boiler room on the USS Sassacus. Her engineer continued to man the throttles and keep the ship moving even through he was scalded by the steam released when the Albemarle's shot pierced the boiler. There was heroism on all sides.
I read somewhere that Cushing is considered the father of the US Navy Seals. I consider it more appropriate to think of him as an exemplar than a parent.
A few years ago a relative of Elliot's (the original building contractor for the Albemarle) wrote a book about the Albemarle named "Ironclad of the Roanoke." (1994). It has good reviews and yet another view of the series of events surrounding this short-lived but fascinating vessel.
The "South's" attitude towards industries, like ship building & rail roads, is subject worthy of extensive examination. Those & every other industry had been hampered in the South b/c the planter class which dominated the South & drove Secession & the Civil War regarded such industries as a threat to their power. There status depended on their being central to the economy. Industrialists were a rival source of wealth & influence which would undermine their interests in land & thus of the slave labor needed to work that land. The CSA Vice President Alexander Stephens spent a great deal of time talking bad about rail roads in his inaugural address.
All the RRs in the North were federally funded and thus standardized. All RRs in the south were built with private funding. Without that federal standardization, gauge differences were a big logistical problem for the South.
c@@hunterdunaway2332 Exactly my point. Are you familiar w/ Alexander Stephen's Cornerstone Address? Most people...naturally...fixate on his paragraph addressing The Declaration of Independence, & naturally, I mean yikes! But to the truly distinctive passage which got to the heart of the Planter Class's dilemma was the one on rail roads. He disparaged the public funding of rail roads as an affront to what he thought of as republican virtues. The development of a class rooted in commerce & industry was a threat to the Planters.
@@VictorLepanto I think the larger issue of the war, that is seldom discussed is "does the federal government have the authority to arbitrarily seize private property without recompense". This principal was lost in translation by the southern political class, who were the rich and powerful, as in all political systems. That slave owner class wrote their secession ordinances to carefully protect their own self interests.
This entire subject is so complicated and fogged by time, but after a lifetime of study, I like to put it this way... The war between the states ended slavery, but to say that slavery was cause of the war ignores the elephant in the room... cotton.
In my opinion, both sides were wrong.
Slavery is an abomination, but so is waging a war on a population where 90% of them were not engaged in slavery.
And as you mentioned, the industrial/commerce class wanted to destroy the planter class because they held too much political power and war was preferable to paying market value for cotton.
War allowed them to destroy their political opposition and fill the void with their own power. And boy howdy did they.
@@hunterdunaway2332 It is not at all proper to say, "The industrial/commerce class wanted to destroy the planter class." It seems the opposite is more on point. The central elite status of the Planter class would be marginalized if a rival source of wealth emerged. You could only rise up in society if you became a land owning, slave owning planter. There was no other latter to climb, so you joined the club & you adopted the ways of the club.
You've stated that most people didn't own slaves, while true this is irrelevant. I live in a rural area, though I am not a farmer. In the fall & summer i often find myself cursing as I try to get to to places on roads blocked by large farm vehicles for spreading seed or fertilizer, etc. or harvesters. This machinery is expensive & most don't own them, but they use them. The entrepreneur who these million dollar machines rent them out & drive them about to harvest or plant crops. That is what slaves, in the selfish minds of the slave holders, were; farm equipment. The renting out of slaves was a common phenomenon. Go read Frederick Douglas's account of being rented out as a slave in his Narrative of a Fugitive Slave. This is why the Planter class wanted no other options for the lesser classes in their society.
Cotton is irrelevant, the slave system began when the tobacco was the dominant crop. Cotton was only adopted when it became economically viable to do so. Tobacco uses up the soil worse then cotton. The Planters bought up massive plots of land, they need large labor forces to extract wealth from that land. The control of slaves was an extension of controlling real estate. The crops were immaterial except in as far as they were profitable. The Planter class controlled both the land & the labor market. No other kind of business had access to a meaningful labor supply.
The war came b/c the Planter class wanted it to. They needed new land to keep their investment in slave labor profitable, they needed the slaves to keep their land profitable. It was a vicious circle they couldn't get off of w/o being destroyed economically. They were happy to drag the whole nation down w/ them, a "rule off ruin" policy.
@@VictorLepanto I didnt mean to imply that the threat to their powers was not a two way street, they were both a threat to each other, no doubt.
Your case about land expansion is a common abstraction, as farm land was not in short supply. It was more about the apportionment of congressmen and senators to maintain their institutional power than lack of farming plots.
Adding California, Washington, and Kansas turned decisive political control against the south and they wanted that land to divy up into pro-slavery states for more political clout (within the Union).
The result was two intractable sides who both wanted war. The south to be independent to continue slavery, and the north to have unfettered access to cheap southern cotton for their textile mills. Look at every photo you can find of shipping on the rivers during the war. All the ships are loaded to gills with cotton bales headed north, not liberated slaves, and that is precisely why the south burned their cotton. They knew what they were after.
Look at the early war battle reports compared to later in the war. At the start of the war there was little to no mention of slaves, but nearly always a comment about how many bales of cotton they seized. Also, Lincoln fired general Freemont for... freeing slaves. The blockade was not nearly as much about preventing war supplies from reaching the south, as it was about making sure no cotton got away.
Cotton was the single most important commodity in American in that time, so I am not sure how you think it was irrelevant. Cotton was the gasoline of the mercantile norths industrial engine.
My great-great-grandfather, Joseph S. Dunton, was stationed on this ship. He was given the day off and was walking towards town when he heard the commotion. By the time he got back, there was nothing to do. He stayed mad at the damn Yankees the rest of his life. He was also part of the Battle of Hampton Roads aboard the CSS Raleigh, which aided the Virginia.
I always love listening to you talk of history and this was no exception. Details and insights into what the people were doing, peak more curiosity and I usually go do a little research myself. Thank you for another very interesting look into our history.
I live maybe fifteen miles from where the CSS Albemarle was constructed and think about it every time I cross the Roanoke River bridge on US 258 between Rich Square & Scotland Neck . There is a historical marker there at the bridge giving a brief history. There is so much civil war history in this area that most people don't even know about. Thanks for the history lesson ! If you ever have time I wish you would give us some history on Fort Branch which was located on the Roanoke River at Hamilton, NC.
Cushing - going full Navy S.E.A.L. before it was cool
@Pee Tee pardon me?? who talks about death here? you do. but who else?
@Pee Tee hmmm... interesting! can you, please, quote the part where I mention death?
@Pee Tee or what is my favourite sport? can you be a bit more irrelevant, please?
@Pee Tee why would I? it is irrelevant. and I asked you first. about the part of my comment where I allegedly write something about death. anyway, keep trolling. and don't forget your meds.
Awww. Little @Pee Tee has left the thread.
You should do a video on the USS Oregon (BB-3) She set a record steaming from the West to East coasts of the United States, served during he Spanish American War, became a floating museum, was scraped, and in 1944, her hulk was used as an ammo barged during the invasion of Guam.
Oh, or better yet, the FIRST Battle of Midway, on December 7th, two Japanese destroyers bombarded the U.S base there. The marines present returned fire, and damaged one destroyer. The first U.S Marine to receive the MoH was a Lt George H Cannon, mortally wounded, he refused treatment as he attempted to organize the defense.
The U.S. Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, GA is a must see for anyone interested in history. They have a huge collection of Naval Ensigns or Flags and they have the recovered hull of an Ironclad that was sank in mud in the nearby river. It's located on the banks of the Chattahoochee River next to the site of the famous Eagle & Phenix Mill that had manufactured Confederate Uniforms and was consequently destroyed by Sherman's Army on their "March to the Sea".
Fantastic as usual. I always like seeing what you have in the next episode. My personal hero is Gen George S. Patton Jr. Thanks again and keep them comming.
THANKS!! I am from and, live in North Carolina. I and, a brother are ardent History Buffs. One of our Great Grandfather's was was killed in the land battle of this action. He was an Ensign, in Co.M. 21st. NC Regiment of Infantry. They were part of Gen.Lee's Army of Northern. Virginia. This Battle is known as the Battle of Pylmouth, N.C. The CSS ALBEMARLE , had a sister ship built on the same design.The CSS. NEUSE, built and, used on the Neuse River. The only difference is, She lacked armor platting on her deck. I noticed you said Ft. Fish. It's actually Ft. Fisher, guarding the Cape Fear River, and Wilmington, N.C., the last Port open for supplies to the Confederacy! Thank you, again for doing this story!! You an amazing Presenter and, Story Teller!! One of the Best if not ,The Best on youtube!!!
Where The History Guy gets his information & time spent is amazing.
You should do a video on General George Monck, First Duke of Albemarle- who became a general in Cromwell's Parliamentary Army but was also key in the Restoration of Charles II. When I bought my house off a couple years ago they left a few artefacts in the shed- nothing special. When I saw them a couple of years later, I was shown an auction catalogue of an old Delftware plate. John had found it in the rubbish in a house in London he was cleaning prior to sale- it was a bit damaged. On occasion his wife would put it in the trash but he would retrieve it and he decided to take it to an auction house where it was identified as being of General Monck- the duke, he was in armour- probably a likeness taken from a portrait. It was reckoned to be the only one in existence and sold for nearly £20,000! I said they should have left it in the shed with the rest of the junk they bequeathed me!
Quite possibly- he was an interesting fellow.
Always enjoy your videos. Thank you.
Stories like this and John Paul Jones invasion of England are way more interesting than the general history taught in school. A lot more kids might be interested in the subject if the school system took this more narrative approach.
True. But it would just encourage future generation to invade places that can speak English.
Keep in mind that THG has a lot more innate talent (and zeal) than the typical High School teacher or college professor. He is a trained or self taught orator too. We do not know how many takes were required to make each episode.
You make it sound as though we were there. ❤️ Thank you. On another note: can you imagine being inside the CSS Ablemarle as shit bounced off her side plates? HUH?! I’m surprised anyone had hearing left.
"Our enemies believe that they alone dictate the course of history...
...when all it takes is the will...
...of a single man."
Cushing was the man!
For awhile, I was rooting for the Albemarle. Sorry, I got caught up in the moment 😁🤣
Military stories presented objectively and exciting, do not need dwell in side politics. Das Boot had people pulling for the U-boat. People in the US were rooting for the HMS Surprise in Master and Commander, even though in the era we were at war with the Royal Navy and the novel was an imagining by the writer of the RN ship fighting the USS Constitution and beating her.
No need to be sorry, all involved were indeed, gallant men fighting for their cause.
Huh grunt grunt
Me too
When the wokesters and their cancel culture show up to ruin THG they'll be too busy to pay one-off comments much attention.
The Confederate States Navy was quite inventive: ironclads, a submarine, commerce raiders made in England. The only problem was that they were overwhelmingly outnumbered by the Union navy, which decided to use the Monitor design to hold off the CSS ironclads.
The north was already throwing around the idea of an ironclad but had no need of one until the south retrofitted theirs.
Also, those warships were very expensive to make for the Confederates. Most of them were either had the parts or whole ships ordered from other European shipyards or made some of the warships locally with their limited infrastructure.
If you go beyond the ironclads, you have the (kamikaze) submarine Hunley and the commerce raiders. But for defective ammunition and bad luck, the Alabama would probably have defeated the Kearsarge. Interesting naval trivia fact - the second ship named USS Kearsarge (BB5) was the only US battleship not named for a state, and it served alongside the first USS Alabama (BB8). The only one of the 48 contiguous states that has not had a battleship named for it is Montana. Currently the US Navy has both a USS Kearsarge (LHD3) and a USS Alabama (SSBN731).
The Union Navy was also very inventive, they too built a submarine designed to deploy a combat diver, they experimented with rocket torpedoes (yes you read that right), they even had an aircraft carrier of sorts- an observation balloon carrier.
Most of these iron clad failures had to do with the peninsular events taking place on land battles. Confederate retreated from Norfolk and the CSS Virginia for instance was burnt down to the water line to keep from being captured by Union hands. The area of which the confederate ironclad operated and finally destroyed is currently Norfolk Naval Station. Previously a ship yard. Across the Hampton Roads entrance to the Chesapeake Bay, was Fort Monroe. Occupied by the Union. The two ironclads battled it out between the two ironclads at Hampton Roads. Neither were defeated but it kept everything even keeled with the arrival of the Union cigar shaped ironclad USS Monitor with a revolving turret. Which sunk later off of Cape Hatteras killing many of its crew. (USS Monitor) Previosly before the battle between the ironclads, the CSS Virginia ironclad rammed and destroyed, sunk the Uss Minnesota killing, drowning like 400 hands at Hampton roads. Men died in these ironclad battles.
I live in the Norfolk area and I've read some of the history about this. You gave more information and a better story.
Query? The U.S.S. Merrimac I was told BURNED to the Water Line then was raised to become the C.S.A. Virginia, you say the Merrimac upper works was "Cut Down". Is that semantics or a change of historical fact?
So is that type of spar torpedo where we get the term "lower the boom"?
How about a video about the Church Rock uranium spill in New Mexico 1979
your comments at the end were spot on, actions of a few typically turn battles not the higher ups. This is one of the reasons that the Vietnam Memorial means so much to me because it reminds me of the sacrifices of the many that makes leaders famous.
Fascinating! As a Retired Sailor I enjoyed this tremendously. How about the 1st Minnesota’s charge to delay BGen Cadmus Wilcox’s Alabama brigade at Gettysburg.
I have always enjoyed how much energy and enthusiasm along with your voice inflection you have with each video. I love history but you add a lot more to it. Thanks so very much!
Excellent work THG... So many of your history lessons were unknown to me... History classes in school just didn't it justice.
Along with the CSS Albemarle, the Confederate Navy had a few other notable raiders. One that caught my attention was the CSS Arkansas during the Battle of Vicksburg, 1862. The “blue & brown water” rebels showed great ingenuity and drive during the war.
I’ve known the story for quite a while. Our family comes from Columbia NC where the men were lumbermen and shingle makers in the mid-1800s. Great great grandpa had a contract with naval engineer Elliot to provide the timber’s needed for the Albemarle.
Do one in general Creighton Abrams WW2 outstanding command of tanks. He is why we have the M1A2 tanks named the Abrams
Very interesting. I’m so glad to see someone who cares about history and it’s preservation.
The "National Civil War Naval Museum" at Columbus, GA has a "full Scale Mock Up"of part of the Casement of the CSS Albemarle, equipped with a 6.4-inch Brooke rifled cannon. The Museum also houses the remains of the 180-foot (55 m) hull of C.S.S. Jackson. IF you're in the area, it well worth your time if you enjoy American Civil War Naval History! I do, but I grew up in the shadows of JB (Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, MO)
Yup and they actually play a recreation of this attack...to a point...
Cushing was an amazing man and naval officer and it's downright tragic that he died so young. By accounts I have read, he was greatly admired and respected by all who knew him. His exploits are basically the history of the US Navy, whether against the Barbary coast pirates, or the battle of Samar, naval officers never seem to lack courage and ingenuity!
One minor correction at 13:10. The Confederate fortification at the mouth of the Cape Fear River in southeast North Carolina was named Fort Fisher (named after Colonel Charles Fisher). Fort "Fish" is incorrect. My son did his Eagle Scout project producing a Walking Tour Questionaire for youth education at Fort Fisher.
Fort Fischer maybe??
Cushing under severe fire: "Get out or I will blow you out!" (Paraphrased)
One of the little known naval conflicts took place inland on the Mississippi, Red, and James River as well as others and even Union Ironclads with twin/single turrets like the Monitors prowled the waterways. Indeed the Western Squadron had side/stern paddle wheel Ironclads called Pook's Turtle and the remains of the USS Cairo was recovered/displayed along with a rebuilt Casemate over its hull. In one stirring escape a Union flotilla escape by damning a river to raise the water level and leaving as much armor behind in the river bed and sending what the could downstream as they shot a break in the dam that occurred just after it gave way. The CSS Atlanta like the Virginia/Merrimack was built on a pre existing hull and had the distinction of serving both the Confederate/Union Navy which captured it after it was forced to run aground until the end of the War. One odd note was the Atlanta was put in reserve and was sold to Haiti in 1869 but was presumed lost on its way there and could have been in three naval services had it gotten there. Some Union Ironclads were rebuilt after the war and several survived into the 20th Century as floating batteries for American ports briefly in WW1 but only a few scattered wrecks and recovered remains are all that is left from either side today.
Thank you History Guy; another very interesting story. I can only imagine the noise inside the Albemarle with cannon balls/shells hitting the iron sides of the ship.
The only only thing I remember learning about the naval side of the civil war was the Monitor vs the Merrimac and perhaps something about Robert Fulton designing the steam engines? I never was told there were other such ships. Further, my history teachers were not the great story tellers that you are. I guess I was an indifferent history student because it just wasn't fascinating the way you present these stories. I have watched (and learned from) MANY of your videos. I don't know know that I could use this information to pass a high school history exam but I have a much better grasp on the WHY of some things and perhaps that is more important. it is not only important to Know history, but also to Understand history in order to avoid repeating it...
The part of this story about the CSS Albemarle (and what a fantastic tale it is) being built in a corn field reminded me of another strange tale that would make a good, if somewhat offbeat episode. Do some research on one Tom Sukanen, a Finnish immigrant to Saskatchewan who, in the midst of the Great Depression, tried to build a steamer on his farm with the goal of transporting it over land to the nearest river and sailing it, via Hudson Bay, to Europe. It is a tale of (depending on how you look at it) of dedication, madness, inspiration, hope and hopelessness. A true story of folly.
I had to do a double take when I hear the name "Cushing". His brother Alonzo Cushing was a household name for commanding the cannon at Pickett's Charge. But I didn't know until now that his brother William was a hero of that war too. His family name of Cushing is practically solid gold now due to what those two gentleman did in life.
Please more American Civil War videos. Sooooo much content on this subject.
If you ever find yourself in Eastern North Carolina, be sure to pay a visit to Fort Branch. It sits high on the bluffs of the Roanoke River. Though no battles were fought there, it has the distinction of having the majority of it’s original cannons on-site.
Great video as always. I grew up in Hampton Roads. My dad was stationed at Ft. Monroe for many years. It was a fantastic place to live as a young boy. I love the stories of the ironclads.
How interesting History really is - when narrated by The History Guy. Many thanks - that was so exciting too.
I enjoyed how you commented - like unto The History Guy! 😉👍🤙🖖! And yes, I noticed! I enjoy his delivery and presentation as well!
+paul coulthard What history? The Communists are destroying all trace of it. They just removed a monument to dead soldiers of the civil war in Birmingham. Eventually there will be no proof that the Civil War ever happened.
I never understood why my Dad was so into studying history until I started reading about it on my own in college. I had an awesome professor freshman year that really got me engaged. The History Guy does this for me too. I wish I had a teacher like him when I was slacking off and sleeping through middle and high school history classes.
Fort Fish, North Carolina?? C'mon, History guy, you've got fans in Wilmington. lol It's Fort Fisher.
Slip of the tongue, methinks. It's rather hard to deliver such eloquent and fact-filled prose without an occasional slip of the tongue or omission of a syllable here or there. Thanks for pointing it out, tho.
But he pronounced Albemarle correctly...who would have thunk it.
I've lived in Albemarle for my 50yrs and people rarely get it right.
@@landyalmond7742 True.
Great video. Statistics and big battles are interesting. But your right, small battles like this bring home the personal sacrifices made.
Yet another excellent history story, bravo. I never knew about the use of naval ram ships other than the HMS Thunder Child, which of course was a fictional ship.
Rams were common in history, and rams and torpedo spars were typical parts of naval warfare during the Civil War.
Good story. The fighting along the Mississippi during the Civil War also had some interesting battles.
On this date in 1863 the Seige of Vicksburg began. The battle ended on July 4th, which I believe was one day after Gettysburg. Bad couple of days for the South. There is a restored ship (I don't recall the name) that was buried in the mud of the Yazoo river that is displayed at the Vicksburg battlefield memorial. Well worth visiting.
True that the Naval or Riverine conflicts of the Civil War get short rift when compared to the land battles, but they are history to be remembered.
I really want a Hollywood blockbuster of William Cushing's life. I have read his biography WELL worth reading by the way. if the movie stayed true to life, people would think they made up half of the plot!
This reminds me of the Raid on Saint Nazaire in WW2. The Royal Navy and the Commandos made a daring raid to German occupied France to blow up the only dry dock which could take the battleship Tirpitz. A good story which Deserves to be remembered.
It was the destroyer Campbelltown, wasn't it?
That is another great story to be told.
@@jeffreyflathers5 yep. A former Clemson class destroyer on loan from the US Navy. They cut down her funnels and modified the bridge to try and pass off as a German Destroyer. Plus they had a 4 ton explosive surprise for the dock gate.
Can you imagine the “ BANG “ the guns made when fired.
I have lived in northeastern North Carolina since 1995. It is unusual to hear names of familiar places and things in one of these videos.
Would love to see an episode on the S.S. Eastland disaster in Chicago in 1915, and how the other steamship lines overcame the subsequent challenges they faced in winning back the confidence of their passengers. Great episode today!
I see all your shelter supplies on the wall. Could you do a video on civil defense and the fallout shelter program during the cold war?
I second this
Excellent suggestion 👍
Alex W you may find a podcast on Apple podcasts interesting. It’s called The Cold War - What We Saw. I’ve really enjoyed it so far. And it’s free
Historical side note....Cushing was also later credited with the invention of the mullet.
Good one. Still see few people not Got that memo that has went out of style years ago.
Yeah, I was wondering if it was his hair or if he just had a malformed weird head, I mean his face looks kinda strange as well
Hahahaha...
@@Houndini With all the barbershops being closed it's making a comeback! :)
Truly enjoy these. I was always fascinated by the ironclads learning about them in school. I suppose it worked out that I grew up and became a tanker in the Marine Corps
How many 19yr olds now could build a gunboat in a cornfield..lol
History Guy, your presentation of the forgotten bits of history are very well put forth! I'm pleased to be one of your subscribers! Keep up the good work! I'm looking forward to other bits of forgotten history that Needs to be remembered!
Good use of the "CSS Virginia", instead of the mostly used old union name of a busted wooden boat.
Tis only proper.
What was Cushings final rank when he retired from the US Navy?
he did not retire. he was an active navy officer till his untimely death and had the rank of commander
@@istvansipos9940 Thank you
Sort of glossed over was the fact that, after Cushing dove into the water, his Escape was a very near thing. He almost froze to death before he reached the shore a few miles off. I would suppose, that the other two Union Raiders who were found and buried had probably actually frozen to death-- you know, hypothermia.
The Confederates launched a lot of small craft to try to find any of the escapees... And they nearly did manage to catch him, but he somehow got through.
Great video, thanks for sharing this forgotten story from "the war of northern aggression."
I wish you could do a followup on the CSS Neuse. Remains of the hull are on display here in NC. It did not see the action of the other ironclads but still history.
Nothing better then Americans taking the fight to the enemy! Semper fi
I have been to the spot where the Union ship sank and you can see where the water flows around it still.
Wonderful presentation as usual! Thank you.
what happened to the man who designed the albemarle?
RIP to all those brave Confederate sailors.
Great story. Somebody on that river thinking " what would a pirate do?"
Thank you sir you are a national treasure I love your stories of history
Great history lesson!! Cushing was a nut, and it takes a nut to pull off a raid like that! Hats off to him!
Slopped armor basically the best thing you could have if making thick armor isn't a option and you're a hundred or so years off from composite armor
Apparently a lot of engineers aren't history buffs, because if they were, then our tanks in WW2 would have been a lot tougher
Civil war history is one of my favorite subjects to study. I look forward to seeing you on Ken Heron's show this Thursday night.
Thanks for this detailed, comprehensive explanation of the Albemarle and her history. You’re quite right; sometimes it’s not the big, famous battles that are the most interesting!
And yet, no one makes bobble-head Cushings. Oh well, maybe one day one of his descendants will end up as a Grand Moff or something...
LMAO.
My father would read to me from Tales of DO and Dare of North and Sourth in my youth. I've always loved these tales of brave souls, pushing against all odds. Thank you for the post.
CSS Albemarle has always been my favorite Ironclad. I have been to the cornfield where she was built and to her museum in Plymouth. Then looked across the water where she fought her famous engagements and sadly to where she was lost.
I've also went to see her sister ship the CSS Neuse and where she was also built and to the visitor center that honors her.
Nice to see some of the artists of th paintings
As a Navy veteran that was stationed at Norfolk Naval base and as a person that loves to study the civil war, I found this episode extremely exciting.
Great story... lacks pirates.