Star of the West and the American Civil War

The Star of the West played a significant role in the American Civil War. It was a merchant ship that attempted to deliver arms to the Confederacy.

In January 1861, the Star of the West set sail from New York City with a cargo of guns and ammunition. This was a bold move, as the war between the Union and Confederacy was just beginning.

The ship was intercepted by Union forces at Charleston Harbor, who refused to let it pass. The Star of the West was forced to return to New York, its cargo still on board.

This incident marked a turning point in the war, as it showed that the Union would not tolerate any attempts to supply the Confederacy.

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The Star of the West was a ship with a rich history, and its prewar service and involvement in the American Civil War are a fascinating part of its story.

The Star of the West arrived at Charleston Harbor on January 9, 1861, to resupply Major Robert Anderson's garrison at Fort Sumter. The ship was fired upon by cadets from The Citadel, and it was hit three times by what were effectively the first shots of the American Civil War.

The Star of the West was hired out as a troop transport for $1,000 a day and sailed for Texas to pick up seven companies of United States troops assembled at Indianola.

The ship was captured by Colonel Earl Van Dorn and members of two Galveston militia units on April 18, 1861, while anchored off Pass Caballo bar leading into Matagorda Bay.

The Star of the West was taken to New Orleans where Louisiana's Governor Moore changed its name to CSS St. Philip, but the old name persisted, and the ship served as a naval station and hospital ship.

The ship escaped recapture by transporting millions in gold, silver, and paper currency to Vicksburg and continued to Yazoo City, Mississippi.

The Star of the West was eventually sunk broadside in the Tallahatchie near Greenwood to block the passage of a Union flotilla, and the Union forces suffered heavy casualties and were forced to withdraw on April 12, 1863.

The Star of the West incident was a pivotal moment on the road to the American Civil War. It took place on January 9, 1861, when the supply ship attempted to reach the Federal garrison at Fort Sumter.

The ship was ordered by President James Buchanan and his Cabinet to reinforce Major Anderson at Fort Sumter. The Steamer “Star of the West,” contrary to expectation, attempted to reinforce Maj. Anderson.

The ship was met with resistance from South Carolina's forces, who fired cannon shots at the ship. The shots came from a South Carolina battery on Morris Island, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel J.L. Branch.

Two cannon shots roared from gunner George E. Haynsworth, a cadet at The Citadel in Charleston. The shots represented the opening salvo of the war.

The ship suffered a minor hit, but managed to round to and steer outward towards the bar. The incident resulted in strong talk on both sides, but stopped short of war.

The standoff at Fort Sumter continued until the Confederates attacked in April, triggering the Civil War. The Star of the West's mission was ultimately unsuccessful in its attempt to reach Fort Sumter.

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The Star of the West was involved in a pivotal event at the start of the American Civil War. On January 9, 1861, the ship was fired upon by cadets from The Citadel as it entered Charleston Harbor.

This prevented the Star of the West from resupplying Major Robert Anderson's garrison at Fort Sumter, effectively starting the war. The ship was given a warning shot across the bow and turned about to leave the harbor mouth.

The Star of the West was then hired out as a troop transport for $1,000 a day and sailed for Texas to pick up seven companies of United States troops. However, on April 18, 1861, the ship was captured by Colonel Earl Van Dorn and members of two Galveston militia units.

The ship was taken to New Orleans where Louisiana's Governor Moore changed its name to CSS St. Philip. The Star of the West was used as a naval station and hospital ship until Admiral David Farragut captured New Orleans.

For more insights, see: West Harbor San Pedro

Here are some key events involving the Star of the West during the American Civil War:

The American Civil War saw a number of vessels being repurposed by both the Union and Confederacy. The Star of the West, a ship that played a significant role in the war, was initially hired out as a troop transport for $1,000 a day.

Its master, Elisha Howes, sailed for Texas to pick up seven companies of United States troops assembled at Indianola. The ship was later captured by Colonel Earl Van Dorn and members of two Galveston militia units on April 18, 1861.

The Confederacy renamed the ship CSS St. Philip, but the old name persisted. Star of the West served as a naval station and hospital ship until Admiral David Farragut captured New Orleans.

The ship was eventually sunk broadside in the Tallahatchie River near Greenwood to block the passage of a Union flotilla. The Union forces suffered heavy casualties and were forced to withdraw on April 12, 1863.

The owners of Star of the West collected $175,000 in damages from the United States government for their loss after the war.

The Star of the West was used for operations, with one connection being Captain John McGowan and General Winfield Scott, who were neighbors in Elizabeth, NJ before the war.

Captain John McGowan's familiarity with the ship and its potential use is likely due to Scott's recommendation.

Neil Chatelain's series has generated an appreciation for water-craft acquisition/adaptation and exposed the convoluted nature of "naval" activity during the Civil War.

This series has been well-received, with some readers appreciating the naval topics covered.

Readers have enjoyed the series, with one commentor mentioning that it's nice to see more naval topics on the blog.

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