Civil War
Naval Minor Engagements 1861-1865

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Naval Battles of 1861

May 29-June 1, 1861 in Aquia Creek, Virginia (3 gunboats) - Three Union naval vessels, commanded by Cdr. James H. Ward, bombarded Confederate batteries, commanded by Col. Daniel Ruggles, near the mouth of Aquia Creek that were built to protect the northern terminus of the railroad to Richmond. Confederates feared a landing of troops, but this did not materialize. Results of the bombardment were inconclusive, although the batteries were later withdrawn. See Also Chesapeake Bay Blockade
Conclusion: Inconclusive / Draw
Casualties: none

August 22, 1861 at Paducah, Kentucky (USS Lexington vs CSS W.B. Terry) - On August 22, the USS Lexington engaged and quickly captured the Confederate steamer, CSS W.B. Terry, and the mail steamboat, Samuel Orr, at Paducah.
Conclusion: Union Victory

October 12, 1861 in City, Mississippi (CSS Manassas vs. USS Richmond) - On October 12, the ironclad CSS Manassas battled the 2 Union ships, USS Richmond and USS Vincennes, at the mouth of the Mississippi River. The Manassas forced the Union ships to run aground, but they managed to get back into the river and proceeded to retreat. This battle to temporarily halt the Union blockade at this part, but it resiumed after a short time.
Conclusion: Confederate Victory

October 27, 1861 (CSS Sumter vs. USS Trowbridge) - The CSS Sumter was sailing in the Atlantic Ocean when it spotted the Union schooner, USS Trowbridge. The Sumter captured the Trowbridge, took its crew prisoner, and then burned the ship.
Conclusion: Confederate Victory

November 8, 1861 in Old Bahama Channel, Cuba (USS San Jacinto vs HMS Trent) - The USS San Jacinto, commanded by Capt. Charles Wilkes, arrived at Cuba and found two Confederate commissioners, James Mason and John Slidell, waiting for passage to Europe. The San Jacinto waited for them to cross into international waters before they could do anything.
On November 8, the commissioners boarded the HMS Trent, a British packet, and sailed into the open waters in the Old Bahama Channel. The San Jacinto forced the Trent to stop. Wilkes demanded that the two commissioners be handed over to them. The Trent complied with the orders and continued their trip to Britian, still carrying the families of the commissioners.
The San Jacinto sailed to Hampton Roads, Virginia with the commissioners under armed guard. After they arrived and news of the capture of the Confederate commissioners became public knowledge, the event became international news. A lot of leaders thought that this might bring the possibility of armed conflict between the United States and Britian. It also created a case which the Confederacy could use against the Federals.

December 2, 1861 near Newport News, Virginia (4 Federal gunboats vs CSS Patrick Henry) - On December 2, there were 4 Federal gunboats near Newport News when they spotted the Confederate steamer CSS Patrick Henry. They engaged the Patrick Henry in a 2-hour naval battle. The Patrick Henry was slightly damaged and managed to escape.
Conclusion: Draw / Inconclusive

? (?) - ?
Conclusion: ? Victory

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Naval Battles of 1862

? (?) - ?
Conclusion: ? Victory
Casualties: Union: 3k ; Confederates: 3k, 2w, 13c

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Naval Battles of 1863

June 17, 1863 in Warsaw Sound, South Carolina (CSS Atlanta vs USS Weehawken) - On June 17, the casemate CSS Atlanta, gunboat CSS Isondiga, and the steamer CSS Resolute attacked a Union navcal flotilla in Warsaw Sound, near Savannah. The Atlanta was commanded by Cmdr. William A. Webb, also commander of the small Confederate flotilla. The Union flotilla was comprised of the ironclad moniters USS Weehawken, commanded by Capt. John Rodgers, and the USS Nahant. Webb had fitted the Atlanta's bow with a percussion torpedo with which he hoped to sink the Weehawken.
While the Atlanta was coming into the channel, it grounded itself and was only able to move again after some difficulty. The accident caused the Atlanta to experience steering trouble. When the Confederate ships came into range, the Weehawken opened fire while the Nahant moved into position. The Confederate ships quickly fled the area. The Union ships caught up with them and after a 2 hour naval battle, the Atlanta was forced to surrender.
Conclusion: Union Victory
Casualties: Union: ? ; Confederates: 1k, 16w, 13c

? (?) - ?
Conclusion: ? Victory
Casualties: Union: 3k ; Confederates: 3k, 2w, 13c

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Naval Battles of 1864

April 9, 1864 off Newport News, Virginia - On April 9, the Confederate torpedo boat, CSS Squib, was just off Newport news. It spotted the USS Minnesota nearby and decided to engage it. The Squib exploded a torpedo, damaging the Minnesota, and managed to escape before the Minnesota had a chance to respond to the attack.
Conclusion: Confederate Victory

December 9, 1864 in Roanoke, North Carolina - On 9 December, an expedition, which included the gunboat USS Wyalusing, moved farther up the Roanoke to capture Rainbow Bluff and a Confederate ram, rumored to be under construction at Halifax, North Carolina. While anchoring near Jamesville, North Carolina, Otsego, another gunboat, struck two torpedoes (mines) and sank up to her gun deck. Bazely, a tug, moved alongside Otsego to offer assistance, but she, too, struck a torpedo and sank immediately. Wyalusing and the remainder of the expedition left the two partially sunken ships under the protection of their own unsubmerged guns and headed upriver, cautiously dragging for torpedoes as they went. By the time they had reached the point of attack, the Confederate positions at Rainbow Bluff had been so well reinforced and the approaches so heavily strewn with torpedoes that the Union ships had to abandon the enterprise. Wyalusing and her consorts returned to Plymouth on 28 December 1864 and resumed blockade and amphibious support duties. Part of the Wilmington Campaign.
Conclusion: Confederate victory Victory

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Naval Battles of 1865

? (?) - ?
Conclusion: ? Victory
Casualties: Union: 3k ; Confederates: 3k, 2w, 13c

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