Old Weather Forum

https://www.history.navy.mil/today-in-h ... ary-8.html

1815 — In an engagement that becomes known as the Battle of New Orleans, British forces launch an attack against American positions at New Orleans, Louisiana. Attacking the forces of General Andrew Jackson on both sides of the Mississippi River, the British suffer a staggering number of casualties with over 2,000 men killed or wounded in comparison to only 71 American troops. A naval battery established on the west bank of the river provides support to Jackson’s defenses before it is overrun by British forces.

1847 — In the Battle of San Gabriel naval and Army forces under the overall command of Commodore Robert F. Stockton defeat a Californian force after crossing the San Gabriel River, California, and staging a flank assault and turning back enemy counterattacks. The battle lasts 90 minutes and results in two Americans killed and nine wounded.

https://www.history.navy.mil/today-in-h ... ry-10.html

1861 — The U.S. steamer Star of the West, carrying reinforcements destined for Fort Sumter, arrives off Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, and takes fire from Confederate forces at Fort Moultrie and Morris Island. This marks the first shots fired at a vessel flying the American flag during the Civil War.

https://www.history.navy.mil/today-in-h ... ary-9.html

1861 — The U.S. steamer Star of the West, carrying reinforcements destined for Fort Sumter, arrives off Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, and takes fire from Confederate forces at Fort Moultrie and Morris Island. This marks the first shots fired at a vessel flying the American flag during the Civil War.

1863 – Launch of USS Oleander, a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/h ... der-i.html

1863 – American Civil War: CSS Alabama encounters and sinks the USS Hatteras off Galveston Lighthouse in Texas.


USS Hatteras (1861-1863) in center In action with CSS Alabama, off Galveston, Texas, on 11 January 1863.
Lithographed by A. Hoen & Co., Baltimore, Md. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

https://www.history.navy.mil/research/h ... ras-i.html

1813 - US Frigate Chesapeake (38), Cptn. Samuel Evans, captures British merchant Volunteer and two days later, British brig Liverpool Hero.

https://www.history.navy.mil/research/h ... ake-i.html

https://www.history.navy.mil/today-in-h ... ry-13.html

1865 — Union forces begin a second assault against Fort Fisher in North Carolina with the ironclad steamer New Ironsides leading a force of four monitors to within 1,000 yards of the Confederate fort to begin a bombardment. Wooden warships support them in the effort, which one Confederate officer calls “beyond description.” The Confederate garrison at Fort Fisher suffers some 300 casualties, and after two days of bombardment Union ground forces comprised of soldiers, sailors, and Marines charge the fort. The men of the naval brigade, advancing over open beach, suffer terrific casualties, including four wounds to future admiral Robley D. Evans. The combined forces eventually overcome the Confederate defenders with the support of ships’ guns, though at the cost of nearly 1,000 lives. Their heroism is reflected by the fact that some 35 Navy and Marine Corps personnel receive the Medal of Honor for action at Fort Fisher.


Halftone reproduction of a 19th-Century lithograph, depicting the ship with full sailing rig.
U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.


Line engraving published in The Soldier in Our Civil War, Volume II, page 182, depicting
the ship as she appeared during most of her operational career, without sailing rig.
U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.


The Iron-Clad Frigate New Ironsides and Two Ericsson Batteries going into action at Charleston Hand-tinted copy of a line
engraving by Smyth, depicting USS New Ironsides and two monitors in action at Charleston, South Carolina, circa 1863.
Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

https://www.history.navy.mil/content/hi ... sides.html

1911 - Launch of Battleship Arkansas (BB 33). After service in two world wars, she is target ship for Bikini Atoll Atomic bomb tests.

https://www.history.navy.mil/research/h ... 3-iii.html - text and pictures

1815 – War of 1812: American frigate USS President, commanded by Commodore Stephen Decatur, is captured
by a squadron of four British frigates HMS Majestic, HMS Endymion, HMS Tenedos and HMS Pomone

1815 – War of 1812: American frigate USS President, commanded by Commodore Stephen Decatur, is captured
by a squadron of four British frigates HMS Majestic, HMS Endymion, HMS Tenedos and HMS Pomone - The Ships


Entering harbor of Marseille. Original Creator: Antoine Roux, 1806, artist


View of figurehead of Frigate PRESIDENT.


Reproduced from The History of the American Sailing Navy by Howard I. Chapelle

https://www.history.navy.mil/research/h ... ent-i.html


1865 – Second Battle of Fort Fisher. In a joint amphibious force with the Union army, Rear Adm. David
D. Porter and Maj. Gen. Alfred H. Terry capture Fort Fisher, Wilmington, N.C., which is the last port
by which supplies from Europe could reach Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lees troops at Richmond, Va.

Remembering PhM3c John Andrew Haskins, Hero of Port Chicago

https://www.history.navy.mil/today-in-h ... ry-17.html

1799 — An American squadron under the command of Captain Thomas Truxtun arrives at St. Kitts in the Lesser Antilles, which becomes the U.S. Navy’s primary operating base in the Caribbean during the Quasi-War with France.

1899 — The gunboat Bennington (PG-4) arrives at the desolate Wake Island in the central Pacific. Its commanding officer, Commander Edward D. Taussig, claims the island for the United States.

USS Bennington (Gunboat # 4) Photographed circa 1891 by J.S. Johnston, New York City.
U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/h ... ton-i.html

https://shipsofscale.com/sosforums/thre ... post-51184

1879 - USS Constitution, while sailing back to the U.S. from France, ran aground off Bollard Head on the south coast of England. She was towed to the Portsmouth Navy Yard and placed in Dry Dock 11 for inspection. The 82-year-old frigate survived the grounding and only needed to have 85 feet of her false keel replaced and several sheets of underwater copper. She resumed her voyage home on January 24th.

1885 - A Marine guard from steamer USS Alliance lands at Colon, Panama, (then in Colombia) to guard the railroad and to protect American lives and property during a period of political unrest.

https://www.history.navy.mil/today-in-h ... ry-19.html

1853 — The side-wheel steamer Water Witch under the command of Lieutenant Thomas J. Page departs Baltimore, Maryland, to begin a three-year exploration and survey of the Plate River in South America.

https://www.history.navy.mil/research/h ... h-iii.html

America's First Black Sailors

Nice follow on from Coast Guard miscellany

Randi wrote: ↑Mon Jan 20, 2025 2:21 pm https://www.history.uscg.mil/research/chronology/

https://www.history.navy.mil/today-in-h ... ry-21.html

1915 — In the aftermath of a boiler explosion on board San Diego (Armored Cruiser No. 6), Ensign Robert W. Cary calmly directs evacuation and damage control efforts, while Fireman Second Class Telesforo Trinidad rescues two crewmembers from fire rooms. For their actions, both sailors receive the Medal of Honor.

California (Armored Cruiser No. 6) was renamed San Diego on 1 September 1914


Photographed circa 1908. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.


Photographed 28 January 1915, while serving as flagship of the Pacific Fleet. Note two-star Rear Admiral's
flag flying from her mainmast top. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

https://www.history.navy.mil/research/h ... ia-ii.html

Lenah Higbee: A Continuing Legacy and Trailblazer for Navy Women

https://www.history.navy.mil/today-in-h ... ry-23.html

1865 — The Confederate James River Squadron, consisting of 11 ships led by three ironclads, launches an assault against General Ulysses S. Grant’s supply base at City Point, Virginia. The Confederate thrust is thwarted when two ironclads, a gunboat, and a torpedo boat run aground and come under fire from Union shore batteries. The Union monitor Onondaga bombards the grounded enemy ironclads, forcing them to withdraw. This action marks the final battle between ironclad warships during the Civil War. (23–24 January)


Watercolor by Oscar Parkes. Courtesy of Dr. Oscar Parkes, London, England, 1936.
U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.


USS Onondaga (1864-1867) ed lithograph by Parsons, published by Endicott & Company, New York, circa 1865.
Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

https://www.history.navy.mil/research/h ... aga-i.html

Navy Ships Honoring Women

Beyond Rosie the Riveter: A History of Women in the Navy

World War I: Wartime Workforce

Here Radina "Dina" Olsen is pictured making gunpowder bags from gray silk, 1919.