News of the CSS “Squib” torpedo boat’s semi-success in its attack on the Union Navy’s Squadron anchored at Hampton Roads, Virginia met with enthusiastic response from the Confederate Secretary of the Navy, Stephen Mallory.

After consultation with Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Mallory approved the production of three additional “Squib” class boats. Like the “Squib”, the boats’ designer was most likely the civilian William A. Graves. As the Acting Naval Constructor at the Rocketts Yard, Graves would see these three boats built and launched from Richmond on the James River.

Imagine sending against the enemy navy not one, but three fast-moving, hard-to-see launch-sized boats, each powered by a compact steam engine that would produce a speed in excess of twelve knots.

Each boat would be armed with a twenty-foot long spar mounting an explosive “torpedo” containing one hundred-plus pounds of rifle-quality gunpowder. Setting off the torpedo were three Francis Lee-type mechanical contact fuses in its “nose.”

Completed by late -1863, the “Wasp,” “Hornet,” and “Scorpion” began sea trials and crew training between the Rocketts Yard and Drewry’s Bluff on the James.

The three joined the Confederate Navy’s James River Squadron commanded by Captain John H. Mitchell, who placed them under the command of Lieutenant Charles W. Read, CSN. Read was a competent and daring young officer who wanted nothing better than to sink or heavily damage the Yankee warships blockading the James River and Richmond.

Here are “thumbnail sketches” of the additional three members of the “Squib” class torpedo boat that participated in the Naval Battle of Trent’s Reach, January 23 – 24, 1865.

CSS “Wasp” was the second “Squib” – class torpedo boat built. The “Squib’s” commander, Lieutenant Hunter Davidson, CSN said that the “cuddy” compartment amidships on the boat could benefit from additional armor sheathing on the outside of the gunwales, affording better protection for the boat’s crew, especially during the torpedo boat’s attack run.

Under the command of Master’s Mate J. W. Matherson CSN, the “Wasp” was part of the Confederate Navy’s James River Squadron. Matherson and “Wasp” participated in the Naval Battle of Trent’s Reach, 23-24 January 1865.

Though originally detailed as a ship-killer, Matherson and the “Wasp” spent most of the battle in the role of a dispatch boat carrying orders and messages between the Confederate ironclads, and then being used in the recovery of the Squadron’s ironclads, “Virginia II” and “Richmond” which had run aground while under fire from Union shore batteries and the double-turret monitor, USS “Onondaga.”

Returning to her base in Richmond, “the “Wasp” continued service as a dispatch boat through the remaining days of the Civil War.  

“Wasp” was scuttled and burned at her moorings along with the rest of the James River Squadron, as the last Confederate defenders of the Confederate Capital trudged south over the Mayo Bridge towards Appomattox.  

CSS “Hornet” was the third “Squib” class torpedo boat built, and was commanded by Master Samuel P. Blanc, CSN. An early career as a dispatch boat did nothing to dampen the ardor of Master Blanc and his crew: they would soon get more than they bargained for, at the Battle of Trent’s Reach on January 23^rd & 24^th, 1865. Though detailed by flotilla commander Read to scout ahead of the column during the journey downriver, Blanc and the “Hornet’s” crew soon found themselves involved in helping re-float the ironclads “Virginia II” and “Richmond” that had both run aground in Trent’s Reach. These efforts became feverish as the morning sky lightened towards dawn, and the Union artillery batteries lining the river began to find the range. With a safe passage through the Union river obstructions effectively “corked” by the Yankee monitor USS “Onondaga’s” fifteen-inch guns, flotilla captain Read ordered Blanc and “Hornet” to provide rescue service where needed, taking the survivors back upriver to safety. It was on the last of these missions of mercy that the “Hornet” collided with the transport vessel “Allison,” and sank. Though Squadron commander Mitchell felt “Hornet” could be salvaged, her sinking was within range of Union shore artillery, and so the salvage attempt was not made.           

CSS “Scorpion” was the fourth “Squib” class torpedo boat built and was commanded by Lieutenant Edward Lakin, CSN. “Scorpion” had most of its upper hull sheathed in boiler iron as a protection against shrapnel and small arms fire. Her service found her in the thick of the conflict at Trent’s Reach. Ordered by the accompanying flotilla commander Read to scout the Federal obstruction barrier for a possible path through it, Lieutenant Lakin cast off at 9 p.m. on 24 January 1865 to do depth soundings of the James, with a skilled pilot from the ironclad “Virginia II” assisting.

The pilot could not find a passage thru the obstruction field, being possibly unnerved by Union shore artillery fire. Taking over, Read and Lakin together located a passage thru the obstructions. “Scorpion” then made for the ironclad “Virginia II” to light a way for her safe passage.

On return, Lakin found “Virginia II” had run aground upriver from the obstruction barrier, as had her sister, CSS “Richmond.” Maneuvering in close quarters near the grounded ironclads, “Scorpion” had her spar torpedo broken off and lost after tangling with the towing hawsers, and then ran aground herself. Next, sister ship “Hornet” attempted to free “Scorpion,” but then “Hornet” also ran aground; Read transferred to “Hornet” to assist in freeing her.

Then the nearby CSS tender “Drewry,” hit in her magazine by Union cannon fire, vanished in a huge explosion that jarred “Scorpion” loose. Lieutenant Eakin and his five crew members were all casualties: two killed outright and the others blown overboard by the force of the blast. Crewless, the “Scorpion” drifted on the current down the James River, her final disposition unknown. Yankee sailors may have captured and burned “Scorpion” to prevent recapture.    

And what of the first of their class, the CSS “Squib?”

Her daring attack on the North Atlantic Blockade Squadron’s anchorage at Hampton Roads, resulted in severely damaging of the Squadron’s flagship USS “Minnesota” had not gone un-noticed. In mid-summer, 1864, the CSS “Squib” was sent by rail to join the Confederate Navy guarding Wilmington, North Carolina.

Wilmington was the last open port in the Confederacy and haven for the all-important blockade runners bringing desperately-needed trade from overseas. The “Squib” was there to prevent US Navy attempts to flank Wilmington’s defender, the massive Fort Fisher.

However, since the Union Navy declined to enter the Cape Fear River until Fort Fisher was reduced, and because the “Squib’s” freeboard was better-suited to riverine travel than on the open sea, her use as a torpedo boat was found wanting.

Though no records exist, it is supposed that the “Squib” was put to work transferring dispatches, supplies and troops between Fort Fisher and the other batteries lining the shores of the Cape Fear River.

After the fall of Fort Fisher in February, 1865, the “Squib” and other Confederate vessels were withdrawn up the Cape Fear River beyond Wilmington. There, the “Squib” and the others were scuttled to prevent capture by the advancing Union forces.

Next time, we discover what torpedo boat technology was being constructed in the industrialized North, and look in on the development of a “Spitting Devil.”

See you then.

(Note: All graphic images of Infernal Machine game materials used in this series of articles are subjective and may change and appear different in their final form.  All images show sourcing unless otherwise noted.)

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Bibliography

Campbell, R. Thomas, “Hunters of the Night,” Shippensburg, PA, 2000, Burd Street Press.

Coski, John M., “Capital Navy,” New York, 2005, Savas Beatie

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