American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

KURE BEACH, N.C. — North Carolina officials say they have identified a Civil War shipwreck that burned at sea more than 145 years ago. The state Underwater Archaeology Branch said Monday that a silver-plated spoon inscribed with the name of a CSS Appomattox crew member confirmed the ship's identity. Its Confederate crew set the ship on fire in 1862 while fleeing Union forces.

Source: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13751104?source=rss

It's just like shooting squirrels, only these squirrels have guns

From Wikipedia:

The Appomattox was originally named the Empire. She was chartered by the Virginia State Navy under Captain Milligan, to tow blockships into position to obstruct the channels of the Elizabeth River around Norfolk in May 1861. In that same month she twice sailed under a flag-of-truce with Captain Thomas T. Hunter of the Virginia Navy to arrange exchanges of wounded Union prisoners and passage north from Norfolk of certain families wishing to return to their Northern friends. In the latter part of June 1861 she again served as the bearer of a flag-of-truce off Fortress Monroe, this time for Brigadier General Huger, CSA. Renamed Appomattox, she was armed with two guns and assigned to the waters along the North Carolina coast under the command of Lt. C. C. Simms, CSN. Appomattox was used to patrol Pamlico Sound after the Confederacy lost Hatteras Inlet to the Federals in 1861. She was also used to obstruct channels in the Croatan Sound area by towing block-ships to strategic points for sinking. The Appomattox was one of 8 gunboats used to resist the Burnside Expedition's invasion of Roanoke Island on 7-8 February 1862. However, she missed the actual battle, having been sent to Edenton on an unspecified mission. She retreated with the survivors of the battle to Elizabeth City, N.C. However, on February 10, the Confederate gunboats were attacked by a Federal gunboat fleet advancing from Roanoke Island. The Appomattox kept up a brisk fire from her bow gun until it was accidentally spiked. She then retreated to the entrance of the Dismal Swamp Canal, using its stern howitzer to fire at pursuers. Upon reaching the first lock it was discovered that her beam was 2 inches too great to let her into the canal. As a result Lieutenant Simms had to destroy the Appomattox by setting her on fire.

November 10, 2009 KURE BEACH, N.C. - North Carolina officials say they have identified a Civil War shipwreck that burned at sea more than 145 years ago.

The state Underwater Archaeology Branch said Monday that a silver-plated spoon inscribed with the name of a crew member from the CSS Appomattox confirmed the ship's identity.

A four-member diving team, comprised of Philip Madre, Eddie Congleton, Jason Forbes, and Jason Madre, discovered the shipwreck in August 2007 in the Pasquotank River. They had been searching for the Appomattox for more than 10 years.



Lt Gen Ned Simms
1/1/VIII/AoS/USA
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

Ned, is C.C.Simms one of your predessesors?

MG Drex Ringbloom,
Cdr, 2nd Div "Corcoran's Legion", VIII Corps
Army of the Shenandoah

No, it's very possible that a P.P. or a Poo Poo was, but not a C.C.

Lt Gen Ned Simms
1/1/VIII/AoS/USA
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00