Dear Freddy,

The second day of movement against Fort Donelson (February 14, 1862), saw primarily action from the river and little on the land-front.

Commodore Andrew Foote, the antagonist at Fort Henry, you will recall, steamed up the Cumberland River with six vessels. The four ironclads and two wooden gunboats began bombarding the fort. Very little damage was done to Donelson, but the guns of the fort beat back the Yankee boats. Foote himself was wounded, his flagship and one other ironclad disabled, to the degree that they were unable to be steered. The other two were damaged as well. 

Two cold armies sat and looked at each other--waiting. 

In the Confederate headquarters, a council of war took place. It was decided that the very next day, the Confederates would evince a breakout--lead by Pillow--and head for Nashville. This break would be attempted at the southern end of the Federal line--their right, across from McClernand.

They began to set the stage for the dawn breakout...

Monday's letter shall contain the outcome. Do pay diligent heed to the preaching of the Word tomorrow, Fred.

Affectionately,

Grandfather

Dear Fred,

In the western theater, the build up at Fort Donelson was continuing. I daresay some of the men were holding their breath, waiting for the guns to begin echoing through the cold February air. However, literary fancy aside, it was true that Grant's position was getting a little stronger as each day passed. Three more wooden gunships steamed up from Alabama in preparation for the fray.

Back east, what remained of the the Confederate shipping in the Hattaras area was smashed by the Yankee's superior navel prowess. General Burnsides set his feet more firmly into Southern soil around Elizabeth City and turned his be-whiskered face south toward New Berne.

All in all, it was not what I would call a momentous day, but still, the wheels of war continued to turn...and the Yankee's to invade.

More tomorrow,

Grandfather

Dearest Freddy,

This day, in 1861, saw the arrival of blockade runner owned by the Confederacy. It was called Fingal, but would later bear the appellation C.S.S. Atlanta. 

The Fingal hove into Savannah bearing a cargo of military supplies--arms, munitions, and the like. As, throughout our late war for independence, we tended to have a shortage of such things, I must conclude that it was a welcome arrival.

I would like to here take a brief moment to discuss the blockade. 

International law stipulated that, in order of a blockade to be legitimate, the entire coast-line had to be patrolled constantly to ensure that there were no gaps. The Union Navy had not enough ships to effect this, so, technically, the blockade was not legitimate. Roughly sixteen percent of the Confederate blockade runners were quite successful, smuggling in around $200,000,000 worth of supplies; this would be food and munitions mainly. They also managed to export over 1, 250,000 bales of cotton--even as the war raged over the land where it was grown.

Also for your consideration, look at the enclosed copy I have made you of the 1856 Declaration of Paris.

Declaration of Paris; April 16, 1856.
The Plenipotentiaries who signed the Treaty of Paris of March assembled in conference,

Considering: That maritime law in time of war has long been the subject of deplorable disputes;

That the uncertainty of the law and of the duties in such a matter gives rise to differences of opinion between neutrals and belligerents which may occasion serious difficulties, and even conflicts; that it is consequently advantageous to establish a uniform doctrine on so important a point;

That the Plenipotentiaries assembled in Congress at Paris cannot better respond to the intentions by which their Governments are animated than by seeking to introduce into International relations fixed principles in this respect.

The above-mentioned Plenipotentiaries, being duly authorized, resolved to concert among themselves as to the means of attaining this object; and having come to an agreement, have adopted the following solemn declaration:

1. Privateering is and remains abolished;

2. The neutral flag covers enemy's goods, with the exception of contraband of war;

3. Neutral goods, with the exception of contraband of war, are not liable to capture under enemy's flag;

4. Blockades, in order to be binding, must be effective-that is to say, maintained by a force sufficient really to prevent access to the coast of the enemy.

The Governments of the undersigned Plenipotentiaries engage to bring the present declaration to the knowledge of the States which have not taken part in the Congress of Paris, and to invite them to accede.

Convinced that the maxims which they now proclaim cannot but be received with gratitude by the whole world, the undersigned Plenipotentiaries doubt not that the efforts of their Governments to obtain the general adoption thereof will be crowned with full success.

The present Declaration is not and shall not be binding, except between those Powers who have acceded, or shall accede, to it.

Fifty-five nations ratified this treaty; the United States was not, initially one of them, though in 1861, they agreed to abide by it. As you may see from the document, the Union blockade of the Confederate coast line did not fulfill the standards.

Also, if I may point you back a few days to the capture of our commissioners by Captain Wilkes, USN, does it appear to you that he broke this treaty in seizing Mason and Slidell?

Stand in justice,

Grandfather

My Dearest Fred,

I must apologize for not writing Saturday. The diaconal meeting took up a greater portion of my time than I had anticipated.  However, I do not wish to skip the 8th of November in our lessons, for something of interest took place upon that date. 

That incident was the seizure of James Mason of Virginia and John Slidell of Louisiana, two men selected by the Confederate government as commissioners to Britain and France. They were seized from the British mail sloop Trent. Unsurprisingly, this incident precipitated a two-month long battle of words between the United States and Britain, which was concluded only when the Federal's handed the Confederate commissioners back to the British on New Year's Day. 

That is the general overview of the situation. However, knowing as I do a boy's love for high seas adventure, I shall go into a little more particulars of the outrage.

The U.S.S. San Jacinto was cruising the Old Bahama Channel on 8 November. Her purpose, to ensnare the Trent as she left Cuba. 

The Captain of the San Jacinto, one Charles Wilkes, had accidentally discovered the presence of the Confederate commissioners (as well as their families) in Havana during a port call. It was the impression, at the time, that the commissioners were aboard of Confederate man-o-war. With this intelligence in hand, he left port, but stayed in a position to spring his trap upon the unsuspecting British ship.

Wilkes gleefully undertook the capture Mason and Slidell and take them he did leaving behind him one very irate British sea captain! When Wilkes drew alongside the Trent he threatened them with force, which is, in my opinion, Fred, the only reason the captain of the Trent surrendered his passengers. 

Captain Wilkes took his prisoners to Fort Warren, Mass. The praise from the Secretary of the Navy was profuse: "Your conduct in seizing these public enemies was marked by intelligence, ability, decision, and firmness, and has the emphatic approval of is Department." Wilkes became an overnight sensation in the north. He was a hero! 

However, the political ramifications were just beginning. It appeared, after a short while, that the United States and Britain would go to war over this outrage of persons seized from a British ship. 

The Confederates hoped and prayed that this would bring Britain into the war as their ally--an ally that would have been most appreciated, if for no other reason than her support by means of arms, munitions, food, and medical supplies. 

However, neither of these scenarios happened and as 1862 dawned, Mason and Slidell continued their journey to Europe, having been released after Seward decided that he did not want war with Britain after all. Prior to this he had been something of a proponent of it, thinking that it would serve to reunite the North and South. 

To catch up to our current date, 10 November, I shall quickly address 9 November, 1861.

November 9 found the Federals at Port Royal making a successful foray against Beaufort, South Carolina. They took it without a fight.  This action caused General Lee some discomfort of mind as he clearly saw the threat that continuing inward pushes by the Federals could be. However, as I mentioned in a previous letter, the United States never took full advantage of their foothold at Port Royal.

10 November saw several instances of fighting in various points throughout western Virginia; Gauley Bridge, Guyandotte, and Cotton Hill. I highly recommend you procure a map to further your understanding of these events.   

And here, my dear Fred, I shall leave you today. I will return to this history tomorrow.

Your loving grandfather,

James Hamilton

My Dearest Grandson,

As promised, today's letter contains an account of the fall of Port Royal to the Federals. You will recall that General Lee had taken command of the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and East Florida just days prior to this engagement. 

Before I actually take you too the attack, Fred, allow me to give a little groundwork for it. This was the third attack on Confederate ports. It would also be the third success. The previous two were Hatteras Inlet (North Carolina) and Ship Island off New Orleans. These engagements took place in August and September, respectively; but our purpose here is not to draw out the details of those attacks at this point. 

The commanding officer in charge of the Port Royal escapade was Captain Samuel DuPont. DuPont set sail from Hampton Roads in late October with sealed orders and 74 vessels plus a landing force of 12,000. 

One way or another, the target of the expedition was discovered by our intelligence men and Forts Walker and Beauregard were duly warned. The weather caused problems for DuPont, whose fleet ran into a severe storm which scattered his shipping. By the 7th, he was anchored just outside the bay and many of his ships had found their way back to him. He was ready for an attack that no longer contained an element of surprise.

Thursday, 7 Novemeber, 1861. Eight o'clock a.m.

Captain Samuel DuPont commenced his ingenious battle plan. I will here attempt a sketch at a battle map for you.

As you will be able to see, DuPont's plan consisted of an expanding elliptical line of attack--his gunboats raking the forts with each pass.

He divided his ships into a main squadron, consisting of nine of the heaviest of the frigates and sloops, and a flanking squadron of five gunboats. These all entered the sound in parallel columns, the lighter squadron ranged to starboard. As they passed midway between the forts, Beauregard on the north, Walker three miles to the south, the gunboats were the target of the fort's fire, but they returned said fire vigorously.

Roughly two miles into the sound, the main force turned to the south and came round to move past Fort Walker, the weaker of the two forts, while keeping up a scathing cannonade. They continued this maneuver all the way around in a giant ellipses to give Fort Beauregard the same treatment.

While the above maneuvering was underway, the flanking squadron peeled off to engage the four Confederate boats--three of which were no more than tugs mounting but a single gun apiece! These gunboats, after firing once or twice, promptly retreated up Skull Creek...where they were essentially useless to the fight, being bottled up by the Yankee boats. 

Regrettably for our side, the gunners in the forts had had little to no practice with their artillery pieces. No only were they unskilled in the handling of their guns, it soon became apparent that the shot was frequently of the wrong size and the quality of the power was quite poor. It may be needless to remark at this point that the toll they took on the Union vessels was extremely light.

To make matters worse, Fort Walker was rather weak on the northern side as the it had been built primarily for the purpose of defending directly out to sea and no more. DuPont had discovered this and thereby concentrated his fire upon the northward side of the fort. The gunboats which had the Confederates bottled up in Skull Creek were able to assist in the cannonade of Fort Walker's northern wall from where they were stationed.

By early afternoon, Fort Walker was unable to withstand the Yankee fire and thereby lowered her flag. At 2:20 the Federals, having landed, raised the Union flag over the ramparts of the damaged fort.  At sunset, Fort Beauregard likewise lowered her flag. DuPont would occupy it the following morning. 

The battle was over. The Confederacy had lost a third port.  However, for reasons that I cannot elucidate upon, the Union would never exploit their hold in the heart of secessionist county was well as they might have--at least on land--though indeed Port Royal served them well as a base for the blockading Union fleet. 

The casualties were light on both sides. The Confederates suffered 11 killed, 48 wounded, 3 captured, and 4 missing. The Federals: 8 killed and 23 wounded.

.....

Your loving grandfather,

James B. Hamilton