The Nashville at that time was the U.S. Mailsteamer Nashville, based out of New York, owned by a New York company, on her weekly run from New York to Charleston, loaded with passengers. She was allowed to enter the harbor after Fort Sumter was evacuated. The Nashville was berthed in Charleston and the company never moved her again. In October of 1861 she was taken over by locals and put into Confederate service.
The ships assigned to G.V. Fox's fleet were the
-Steam Sloop-of-war USS Pawnee, (whose captain stated to G.V. Fox when ordered to the bar, refused; his orders were to remain 10 miles east of the light and await the Powhatan, and that he was not going in there to INAUGURATE CIVIL WAR.)
-Steam Sloop-of-war USS Powhatan, transporting motorized launches and about 300 sailors
-Armed Screw Steamer USS Pocahontas,
-Revenue Cutter USS Harriet Lane,
-Steamer Baltic transporting about 200 troops, composed of companies C and D of the 2nd U.S. Artillery,
-three hired (ocean going) tug boats with added protection against small arms fire to be used to tow troop and supply barges directly to Fort Sumter.
-The Yankee (fitted to throw hot water)
-The Uncle Ben
-The Freeborn
By April 6, 1861 the first ships began to set sail for their rendezvous off the Charleston Bar (this was actually the Powhatan-).
The first to arrive was the Harriet Lane, before midnight of April 11, 1861.
The second to arrive was the Baltic, at about 2:30 a.m. (Charleston time) on April 12, 1861.
The third to arrive was the Pawnee, at about 5:30 a.m. (Charleston time) on April 12, 1861.
The Pocahontas arrived on the 13th.
The first ships to arrive on the 11th were reported to Beauregard immediately, and their dispositions monitored. (note that Fort Sumter was not fired upon until around 4:30 A.M. Charleston time, by this time there were several ships off the bar, some were privately owned vessals mixed in with Fox's ships.)
"I learned on the 13th instant that the Powhatan was withdrawn from duty off Charleston on the 7th instant, yet I was permitted to sail on the 9th, the Pawnee on the 9th, and the Pocahontas on the 10th, without intimation that the main portion- the fighting portion of our expedition- was taken away. In justice to itself as well as an acknowledgement of my earnest efforts, I trust the Government has sufficient reasons for putting me in the position they have placed me. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, G. V. FOX."
Official Records Series 1 - Volume 1- Chapter 1- Page 11, 240
Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies Series I - Volume 4- Pages 223-250:
Official Records Series 1 - Volume 1- Chapter 1- Page 304
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David Upton