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Battle of Corpus Christi

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rebels had withdrawn. Most of the damaged buildings were houses and stores. After all the ammunition aboard the warships had been expended, the battle was over and Kittredge ordered his ships north into Aransas Bay. During the bombardment a Unionist living in Corpus Christi named John Dix, grabbed his American flag and headed for the roof of his Water Street home. Dix intended to wave the flag at the United States ships as a sign of surrender, but before he could get to his roof his daughter-in-law stopped him. She was married to Dix's son who was fighting for the Confederacy, the daughter carried a shotgun and pointed it at her father-in-law until the flag was put away. When the shelling was over, the Confederates in town were very angry and many of the Unionists were happy. Anger over the attack led to the looting of several houses belonging to Union supporters.
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range of the fort; fighting again commenced and soon the ships resumed bombarding the rebel guns. At this time Major Hobby and twenty-five infantrymen advanced in order to defend the battery. Cavalry under Lieutenant James A. Ware were held in reserve but eventually joined-in the attack. Skirmishing
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which had left the blockade earlier. The battle ended as a tactical victory for the United States; they overcame Confederate naval activity in the area and silenced the enemy fort protecting Corpus Christi and the bay. Confederate forces did defeat the Union shore party, they also continued to hold
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with help from the blockade. Fort Kinney was not taken but it was silenced by Union fire at this time. The Confederates defeated the shore party and withdrew to the town. Crewmen of United States Navy ships saw this movement so Kittredge ordered the bombardment of the coastal buildings to where the
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repeatedly tried to tow the ship out of the channel before it burned completely, this was undertaken either to take the ship as a prize or to prevent the ship from sinking and blocking the narrow channel. The Union ships stayed as far away as possible which helped prevent casualties on both sides.
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The distance of the ships from the fort meant both forces had to fire at maximum range, thus decreasing the effectiveness of their shots. The Confederate gunners were also untrained; a shortage of gunpowder left them without the ability to practice before the engagement.
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Texas had been a main source of supplies for Confederate forces during the American Civil War. Union naval operations to blockade the Texas coast began. Despite being in a Confederate state, Corpus Christi was home to supporters of both the Confederacy and United States.
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and silenced the guns temporarily. Whenever the Union ships ceased firing, the Confederates would man the battery again and continue fighting. This process of repeatedly silencing the fort lasted all day and night until Kittredge withdrew his ships due to the darkness.
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soldiers who were returning from a reconnaissance mission. After a long pursuit the Union ships closed in on the Confederates and opened fire. The Confederate commander chose to ground his sloop and then scuttle it by fire to prevent her capture. A boarding party from
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continued for a time; the Union sailors held out due to their ships which supported them with artillery fire. After a prolonged skirmish, the Union forces on land began to run low on ammunition and reboarded USS
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went to take the vessel and prevent the burning. By the time they arrived, the Confederates had already lowered life boats and were escaping overland. The Union sailors boarded the
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When the rebels evacuated the town of civilians and finished working on the fort, they attacked the Union vessels at dawn on August 17. Lieutenant Kittredge responded with
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The following morning on August 13, Lieutenant Kittredge and a boarding party were ordered ashore to demand a Confederate surrender of the port town on the
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and thus weakened the defenses of Corpus Christi, Union commanders felt it was now time to attack the Confederates defending the town. Knowing that
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sent a shore party of thirty sailors and a 12 pounder howitzer to attack the fort; seventy other sailors were available for landing but only
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The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Norman C. Delaney
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Five Union and four Confederate ships were involved in the battle. United States Navy vessels included the
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were designated the first to bombard the Confederate fort. Lieutenant Kittredge transferred his flag to
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Casualties of the engagement are mostly unknown, two Union sailors were wounded, one aboard
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vessels then gave chase to the sloop which was filled with sailors and several
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mounted one 30 lb (14 kg) rifled gun and one 24 pounder (11 kg)
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mustered six 24 pounder howitzers. Little is known of the Confederate ships.
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ships operating in the area but were repulsed when they landed on the coast.
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Confederate naval forces included at least two armed vessels, a sloop named
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s thirty men were sent ashore. That same night rebel forces scuttled
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Corpus Christi (left), Nueces Bay (top), Corpus Christi Bay (right),
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which he sent north to procure supplies such as ammunition and food.
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The next morning the landing force advanced until within cannon and
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At noon on August 12, just northwest of Corpus Christi, Union ships
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Battles of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War
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through a canal into Corpus Christi Bay when they sighted CSS
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was fought between August 12 and August 18, 1862, during the
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Operations to blockade the Texas Coast (American Civil War)
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is known to have been hit as well, the shot wounded a
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and put out the fire. Having taken and refloated the
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Morris, the former U.S. Navy commander of 46:but its sources remain unclear because it lacks 725:was gone, Confederates in the bay scuttled CSS 773:sat out of range as reserves and the captured 1086: 369: 977:"Town bitterly divided during the Civil War" 452:fought a small land and sea engagement with 1027:Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships 1003:Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships 16:Battle fought during the American Civil War 1371:Battles of the American Civil War in Texas 1093: 1079: 376: 362: 1366:Union victories of the American Civil War 77:Learn how and when to remove this message 1021:This article incorporates text from the 997:This article incorporates text from the 819: 791: 479: 1356:Naval battles of the American Civil War 1338: 671: 592:Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip 386:Operations to Blockade the Texas Coast 1074: 847:in the shallow channel that leads to 357: 1318: 160:Confederate States strategic victory 18: 640:s armament and crew are not known. 13: 889: 14: 1397: 1168:Battle of Galveston Harbor (1862) 582:and four 32 pounder (15 kg) 1317: 1308: 1307: 1014: 990: 225: 214: 205: 187: 175: 112: 23: 1102:Texas in the American Civil War 925:, yacht, (transferred flagship) 158:United States tactical victory, 1376:1862 in the American Civil War 1: 1030:. The entry can be found 1006:. The entry can be found 970: 647:The size of Corpus Christi's 502:, the steamer converted to a 475: 1194:Second Battle of Sabine Pass 1173:Great Hanging at Gainesville 979:, June 12, 2006 news article 872: 809:were both damaged slightly, 570:was originally commanded by 555:and a merchant steamer, the 423:Second Battle of Sabine Pass 7: 1163:First Battle of Sabine Pass 1116:History of slavery in Texas 832:Near midnight on the 17th, 736: 398:First Battle of Sabine Pass 10: 1402: 966:, steamer, (merchant ship) 657:M1841 6-pounder field guns 551:, another sloop named CSS 418:Action off Galveston Light 408:Battle of Galveston Harbor 1303: 1275: 1254: 1233: 1217: 1181: 1140: 1124: 1108: 666: 578:, and was armed with one 526:and an armed yacht named 393: 318: 237: 199: 168: 122: 111: 101:Trans-Mississippi Theater 98: 93: 1209:Battle of Fort Esperanza 1204:Battle of Mustang Island 1158:Battle of Corpus Christi 580:20-pounder Parrott rifle 438:Battle of Corpus Christi 403:Battle of Corpus Christi 94:Battle of Corpus Christi 32:This article includes a 1246:Battle of Palmito Ranch 937:Confederate States Navy 706:Confederate States Army 470:Confederate States Navy 344:1 sloop-of-war scuttled 61:more precise citations. 1132:Ordinance of Secession 829: 485: 326:1 sloop-of-war damaged 232:Charles G. Lovenskiold 200:Commanders and leaders 118:Corpus Christi in 1887 1199:Battle of Brownsville 823: 792:Attack on Fort Kinney 483: 456:forces in and around 319:Casualties and losses 140:Corpus Christi, Texas 1346:Nueces County, Texas 1241:Battle of Dove Creek 1148:Marshall Conferences 798:counter battery fire 1189:Battle of Galveston 1057:27.7938°N 97.3964°W 1053: /  672:Corpus Christi Raid 655:companies with two 522:, the schooner USS 413:Battle of Galveston 337:1 schooner captured 1386:August 1862 events 904:, bark, (flagship) 895:United States Navy 830: 729:and the sloop CSS 692:were sailing from 486: 458:Corpus Christi Bay 448:forces blockading 446:United States Navy 442:American Civil War 346:1 steamer scuttled 194:Confederate States 144:Corpus Christi Bay 130:August 12–18, 1862 106:American Civil War 34:list of references 1333: 1332: 1062:27.7938; -97.3964 741:After taking the 602:was in charge of 600:John W. Kittredge 431: 430: 352: 351: 328:1 steamer damaged 210:John W. Kittredge 164: 163: 87: 86: 79: 1393: 1321: 1320: 1311: 1310: 1225:Battle of Laredo 1095: 1088: 1081: 1072: 1071: 1068: 1067: 1065: 1064: 1063: 1058: 1054: 1051: 1050: 1049: 1046: 1018: 1017: 994: 993: 842: 663:in Fort Kinney. 639: 468:forces defeated 388: 387: 378: 371: 364: 355: 354: 298:artillery pieces 230: 229: 219: 218: 209: 192: 191: 180: 179: 124: 123: 116: 91: 90: 82: 75: 71: 68: 62: 57:this article by 48:inline citations 27: 26: 19: 1401: 1400: 1396: 1395: 1394: 1392: 1391: 1390: 1336: 1335: 1334: 1329: 1299: 1295:Andrew Hamilton 1271: 1250: 1229: 1213: 1177: 1153:Nueces Massacre 1136: 1120: 1104: 1099: 1061: 1059: 1055: 1052: 1047: 1044: 1042: 1040: 1039: 1015: 991: 973: 892: 890:Order of battle 875: 851:. Kittredge in 840: 794: 739: 674: 669: 651:included a few 637: 478: 434: 433: 432: 427: 389: 385: 384: 382: 347: 345: 343: 338: 336: 334: 330:1 yacht damaged 329: 327: 325: 313: 311: 309: 305: 300: 295: 290: 280: 275: 270: 265: 260: 256: 254:artillery piece 251: 246: 224: 223: 221:Alfred M. Hobby 213: 186: 174: 159: 150: 117: 104: 83: 72: 66: 63: 52: 38:related reading 28: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1399: 1389: 1388: 1383: 1378: 1373: 1368: 1363: 1358: 1353: 1348: 1331: 1330: 1328: 1327: 1315: 1304: 1301: 1300: 1298: 1297: 1292: 1289:Texas v. White 1285: 1279: 1277: 1273: 1272: 1270: 1269: 1264: 1258: 1256: 1252: 1251: 1249: 1248: 1243: 1237: 1235: 1231: 1230: 1228: 1227: 1221: 1219: 1215: 1214: 1212: 1211: 1206: 1201: 1196: 1191: 1185: 1183: 1179: 1178: 1176: 1175: 1170: 1165: 1160: 1155: 1150: 1144: 1142: 1138: 1137: 1135: 1134: 1128: 1126: 1122: 1121: 1119: 1118: 1112: 1110: 1106: 1105: 1098: 1097: 1090: 1083: 1075: 1037: 1036: 1012: 988: 985: 980: 972: 969: 968: 967: 961: 954: 947: 934: 933: 926: 919: 912: 905: 891: 888: 874: 871: 793: 790: 777:was used as a 738: 735: 673: 670: 668: 665: 618:of the force. 477: 474: 462:Corpus Christi 460:and bombarded 429: 428: 426: 425: 420: 415: 410: 405: 400: 394: 391: 390: 381: 380: 373: 366: 358: 350: 349: 348:1 fort damaged 331: 321: 320: 316: 315: 310:1 sloop-of-war 285: 240: 239: 235: 234: 211: 202: 201: 197: 196: 184: 171: 170: 166: 165: 162: 161: 156: 152: 151: 148:Gulf of Mexico 138: 136: 132: 131: 128: 120: 119: 109: 108: 96: 95: 89: 88: 85: 84: 42:external links 31: 29: 22: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1398: 1387: 1384: 1382: 1381:1862 in Texas 1379: 1377: 1374: 1372: 1369: 1367: 1364: 1362: 1359: 1357: 1354: 1352: 1349: 1347: 1344: 1343: 1341: 1326: 1325: 1316: 1314: 1306: 1305: 1302: 1296: 1293: 1291: 1290: 1286: 1284: 1281: 1280: 1278: 1274: 1268: 1265: 1263: 1260: 1259: 1257: 1253: 1247: 1244: 1242: 1239: 1238: 1236: 1232: 1226: 1223: 1222: 1220: 1216: 1210: 1207: 1205: 1202: 1200: 1197: 1195: 1192: 1190: 1187: 1186: 1184: 1180: 1174: 1171: 1169: 1166: 1164: 1161: 1159: 1156: 1154: 1151: 1149: 1146: 1145: 1143: 1139: 1133: 1130: 1129: 1127: 1123: 1117: 1114: 1113: 1111: 1107: 1103: 1096: 1091: 1089: 1084: 1082: 1077: 1076: 1073: 1069: 1066: 1035: 1033: 1028: 1025: 1024: 1023:public domain 1013: 1011: 1009: 1004: 1001: 1000: 999:public domain 989: 986: 984: 983:USS Corypheus 981: 978: 975: 974: 965: 962: 959: 955: 952: 948: 945: 941: 940: 939: 938: 931: 927: 924: 920: 917: 913: 910: 906: 903: 899: 898: 897: 896: 887: 884: 880: 870: 867: 862: 857: 854: 850: 846: 839: 835: 827: 822: 818: 816: 815:petty officer 812: 808: 804: 799: 789: 787: 782: 780: 779:hospital ship 776: 772: 768: 764: 760: 756: 752: 748: 744: 734: 732: 728: 724: 720: 716: 712: 707: 703: 699: 695: 691: 687: 683: 679: 664: 662: 658: 654: 650: 645: 643: 636: 633:A. T. Spear. 632: 629: 625: 621: 617: 613: 609: 605: 601: 598:. Lieutenant 597: 593: 589: 588:Hampton Roads 585: 581: 577: 573: 569: 564: 562: 558: 554: 550: 546: 542: 541: 534: 532: 531: 525: 521: 520: 515: 511: 510: 505: 501: 500: 495: 490: 482: 473: 471: 467: 463: 459: 455: 451: 447: 443: 439: 424: 421: 419: 416: 414: 411: 409: 406: 404: 401: 399: 396: 395: 392: 379: 374: 372: 367: 365: 360: 359: 356: 342: 332: 323: 322: 317: 308: 304: 299: 294: 289: 286: 284: 279: 274: 269: 264: 259: 255: 250: 245: 242: 241: 236: 233: 228: 222: 217: 212: 208: 204: 203: 198: 195: 190: 185: 183: 182:United States 178: 173: 172: 167: 157: 154: 153: 149: 145: 141: 137: 134: 133: 129: 126: 125: 121: 115: 110: 107: 102: 97: 92: 81: 78: 70: 60: 56: 50: 49: 43: 39: 35: 30: 21: 20: 1323: 1287: 1157: 1038: 1029: 1020: 1005: 996: 963: 957: 950: 943: 936: 935: 929: 922: 915: 909:Belle Italia 908: 901: 894: 893: 882: 879:Bella Italia 878: 876: 866:Bella Italia 865: 858: 852: 844: 838:Bella Italia 837: 834:Belle Italia 833: 831: 811:Bella Italia 810: 806: 802: 795: 786:Nueces river 783: 774: 770: 767:Belle Italia 766: 762: 758: 754: 750: 742: 740: 730: 726: 722: 714: 710: 697: 689: 685: 681: 678:Belle Italia 677: 675: 646: 641: 635:Bella Italia 634: 619: 611: 603: 595: 567: 565: 560: 556: 552: 548: 539: 535: 529: 523: 518: 508: 499:Belle Italia 498: 491: 487: 484:Alfred Hobby 437: 435: 402: 306: 287: 268:sloop-of-war 257: 243: 169:Belligerents 99:Part of the 73: 67:January 2013 64: 53:Please help 45: 1262:Confederate 1060: / 694:Aransas Bay 576:New Orleans 454:Confederate 339:1 schooner 312:2 schooners 59:introducing 1340:Categories 1283:Juneteenth 1048:97°23′47″W 1045:27°47′38″N 971:References 960:, schooner 953:, schooner 932:, schooner 849:Nueces Bay 719:prize ship 702:Union Navy 547:named CSS 476:Background 324:~2 wounded 1276:Aftermath 923:Corypheus 918:, steamer 873:Aftermath 853:Corypheus 817:on deck. 807:Corypheus 759:Corypheus 755:Corypheus 690:Corypheus 620:Corypheus 530:Corypheus 335:1 wounded 314:1 steamer 1313:Category 930:Reindeer 828:(bottom) 771:Reindeer 747:blockade 737:Blockade 686:Reindeer 649:garrison 642:Reindeer 624:howitzer 616:flagship 614:was the 608:flotilla 590:and the 545:schooner 524:Reindeer 341:scuttled 333:1 killed 273:schooner 238:Strength 135:Location 1324:Commons 1109:Origins 951:Breaker 946:, sloop 911:, sloop 826:Oso Bay 775:Breaker 743:Breaker 723:Breaker 715:Breaker 698:Breaker 661:citadel 653:militia 584:cannons 572:Captain 540:Breaker 504:gunboat 293:militia 278:steamer 249:sailors 55:improve 1019:  995:  944:Hannah 916:Sachem 902:Arthur 883:Arthur 861:musket 803:Sachem 763:Arthur 751:Sachem 731:Hannah 711:Arthur 700:. The 682:Sachem 667:Battle 631:Master 628:Acting 612:Arthur 604:Arthur 596:Sachem 568:Sachem 561:A. Bee 553:Hannah 519:Arthur 512:, the 509:Sachem 155:Result 103:of the 1267:Union 1255:Units 841:' 761:from 638:' 494:sloop 466:Union 450:Texas 288:Land: 283:yacht 244:Land: 40:, or 1234:1865 1218:1864 1182:1863 1141:1862 1125:1861 1032:here 1008:here 964:A.B. 958:Elma 956:CSS 949:CSS 942:CSS 928:USS 921:USS 914:USS 907:USS 900:USS 845:A.B. 805:and 769:and 753:and 727:Elma 688:and 610:and 566:USS 557:A.B. 549:Elma 543:, a 538:CSS 528:USS 517:USS 514:bark 507:USS 497:USS 436:The 307:Sea: 303:fort 291:700 263:bark 258:Sea: 247:100 127:Date 559:or 1342:: 781:. 749:. 733:. 684:, 680:, 563:. 533:. 464:. 444:. 301:1 296:5 281:1 276:1 271:1 266:1 261:1 252:1 146:, 142:, 44:, 36:, 1094:e 1087:t 1080:v 1034:. 1010:. 377:e 370:t 363:v 80:) 74:( 69:) 65:( 51:.

Index

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Trans-Mississippi Theater
American Civil War

Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi Bay
Gulf of Mexico
United States
United States
Confederate States of America
Confederate States

Confederate States of America
Alfred M. Hobby
Confederate States of America
Charles G. Lovenskiold
sailors
artillery piece
bark
sloop-of-war
schooner
steamer
yacht
militia

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