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USS Racer (1861)
Encyclopedia
USS Racer (1861) was a schooner acquired by the Union Navy
during the American Civil War
. She was used for various purposes, but, especially for bombardment because of her large 13-inch mortar
that could fire up and over tall riverbanks.
Racer was purchased for $7500 by the Navy at New York City
29 August 1861; and commissioned at the New York Navy Yard 21 January, Acting Master Alvin Phinney in command.
Originally fitted out for blockade
duty, the schooner first carried four 32-pounders, but, before she commissioned, she was selected for service in Comdr. David D. Porter's mortar flotilla, and two of her cannon were removed to make room for a 13-inch mortar and two 12-pounder rifles.
23 January 1862 and proceeded via Key West, Florida
, to the Gulf of Mexico
. They reached Ship Island, Mississippi
, on 13 March and 5 days later entered the Mississippi River
over the bar at Pass a l'Outre.
Flag Officer David G. Farragut, the commander of the Union expedition against New Orleans, Louisiana
, kept his smaller ships busy during the following weeks with training and preparations for the coming attack, while he labored to get his deep draft steamers over the bar and into the river.
set blazing fire rafts adrift to float downstream among the Union warships.
About midmorning the next day, Racer and her sister schooner opened fire on Fort Jackson
which, with Fort St. Philip
, protected New Orleans from attack from the sea. The schooner kept up the bombardment intermittently for 6 days. Soon after midnight on the 24th, they increased their fire on the forts while Farragut made final preparations to race past the southern guns. They maintained their rapid fire cannonade until the Union steam warships were safely past the southern forts and moving on New Orleans to begin the Union conquest of the lower Mississippi valley, which ultimately bisected the Confederacy
and foredoomed its collapse.
. However, they soon returned to the Mississippi to support Farragut's expedition up the river and reached sight of Vicksburg, Mississippi
, 20 June. The schooners shelled Confederate batteries as Farragut raced past the fortress to meet Flag Officer Davis' Western Flotilla and again, a fortnight later, when he dashed back down.
, late in the month and following repairs at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, joined the Potomac Flotilla
in September.
For the next year, she operated on the Potomac
and the Rappahannock river
s. On 18 July 1863, she joined and in driving off Confederate troops attacking ship George Peabody, aground at Mathias Point, Virginia.
Shortly thereafter, Racer was transferred to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and participated in operations against Charleston, South Carolina
.
Union Navy
The Union Navy is the label applied to the United States Navy during the American Civil War, to contrast it from its direct opponent, the Confederate States Navy...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. She was used for various purposes, but, especially for bombardment because of her large 13-inch mortar
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
that could fire up and over tall riverbanks.
Racer was purchased for $7500 by the Navy at New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
29 August 1861; and commissioned at the New York Navy Yard 21 January, Acting Master Alvin Phinney in command.
Originally fitted out for blockade
Blockade
A blockade is an effort to cut off food, supplies, war material or communications from a particular area by force, either in part or totally. A blockade should not be confused with an embargo or sanctions, which are legal barriers to trade, and is distinct from a siege in that a blockade is usually...
duty, the schooner first carried four 32-pounders, but, before she commissioned, she was selected for service in Comdr. David D. Porter's mortar flotilla, and two of her cannon were removed to make room for a 13-inch mortar and two 12-pounder rifles.
Sent south to the Mississippi delta
Towed by tugs Burlech and T. Carey, schooners Racer, , and departed New York HarborNew York Harbor
New York Harbor refers to the waterways of the estuary near the mouth of the Hudson River that empty into New York Bay. It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names does not use the term, New York Harbor has important historical, governmental,...
23 January 1862 and proceeded via Key West, Florida
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
, to the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
. They reached Ship Island, Mississippi
Ship Island (Mississippi)
Ship Island is the collective name for two barrier islands off the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, part of Gulf Islands National Seashore: East Ship Island and West Ship Island. Hurricane Camille split the once single island into 2 separate islands in 1969...
, on 13 March and 5 days later entered the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
over the bar at Pass a l'Outre.
Flag Officer David G. Farragut, the commander of the Union expedition against New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, kept his smaller ships busy during the following weeks with training and preparations for the coming attack, while he labored to get his deep draft steamers over the bar and into the river.
The attack on Fort Jackson
With the 3d Division of the Flotilla, Racer was towed upstream on the afternoon of 17 April by and anchored near the left bank of the river under shelter of dense foliage. The crew then trimmed her masts and rigging with branches to camouflage the ship. Meanwhile, the ConfederatesConfederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
set blazing fire rafts adrift to float downstream among the Union warships.
About midmorning the next day, Racer and her sister schooner opened fire on Fort Jackson
Fort Jackson, Louisiana
Fort Jackson is a decommissioned masonry fort located some up river from the mouth of the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. It was constructed as a coastal defense of New Orleans between 1822 and 1832, and was a battle site in the American Civil War. It is a National Historic...
which, with Fort St. Philip
Fort St. Philip
Fort St. Philip is a decommissioned masonry fort located on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River, about up river from its mouth in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana...
, protected New Orleans from attack from the sea. The schooner kept up the bombardment intermittently for 6 days. Soon after midnight on the 24th, they increased their fire on the forts while Farragut made final preparations to race past the southern guns. They maintained their rapid fire cannonade until the Union steam warships were safely past the southern forts and moving on New Orleans to begin the Union conquest of the lower Mississippi valley, which ultimately bisected the Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
and foredoomed its collapse.
The fall of Forts Jackson and St. Philip
After New Orleans and the southern forts fell, Porter and his flotilla retired down the Mississippi and proceeded via Ship Island to Pensacola, FloridaPensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
. However, they soon returned to the Mississippi to support Farragut's expedition up the river and reached sight of Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...
, 20 June. The schooners shelled Confederate batteries as Farragut raced past the fortress to meet Flag Officer Davis' Western Flotilla and again, a fortnight later, when he dashed back down.
East Coast operations
On 9 July orders arrived for Porter to return to the U.S. East Coast with a dozen schooners. Racer reached Norfolk, VirginiaNorfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, late in the month and following repairs at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, joined the Potomac Flotilla
Potomac Flotilla
The Potomac Flotilla, or the Potomac Squadron was a unit of the United States Navy created in the early days of the American Civil War to secure Union communications in the Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac River and their tributaries, and to disrupt Confederate communications and shipping in the...
in September.
For the next year, she operated on the Potomac
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
and the Rappahannock river
Rappahannock River
The Rappahannock River is a river in eastern Virginia, in the United States, approximately in length. It traverses the entire northern part of the state, from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west, across the Piedmont, to the Chesapeake Bay, south of the Potomac River.An important river in American...
s. On 18 July 1863, she joined and in driving off Confederate troops attacking ship George Peabody, aground at Mathias Point, Virginia.
Shortly thereafter, Racer was transferred to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and participated in operations against Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
.