American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

August 14, 1863 Friday
At Charleston Federal guns continued their practice firing. Most of the action was in Missouri at Sherwood, Wellington, and near Jack’s Fork; as well as at West Point, Arkansas. Skirmishes broke out at Washington, North Carolina and there was a Federal scout to Winchester, Virginia. Gen Meade, in Washington, related details of the Gettysburg Campaign to the President and Cabinet and discussed future operations. Brigadier General Thomas Welch ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Welsh_(general) ), USA, dies in Cincinnati, Ohio, from malaria contracted during the Vicksburg Campaign, in June 1863. U.S.S. Bermuda, commanded by Acting Master J. W. Smith, seized British blockade runners Carmita, with cargo of cotton, and Artist, with cargo including liquor and medicine, off the Texas coast.

Timely intelligence reports played an important role in alerting the Union blockaders. This date, Rear Admiral Bailey advised Lieutenant Commander McCauley, U.S.S. Fort Henry have information that the steamers Alabama and Nita sailed from Havana on the 12th, with a view of running the blockade, probably at Mobile, but possibly between Tampa Bay and St. Marks [Florida]; also that the steamers Montgomery (formerly Habanero), the Isabel, the Fannie, the Warrior, and the Little Lily were nearly ready for sail, with like intent. . . . the Isabel, which sailed on the 7th, has undoubtedly gone either to Bayport, the Waccasassa, or the Suwanee River. You will therefore keep a sharp lookout for any of these vessels. . . ." Four of the seven ships were captured by the blockading forces within a month.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

August 15, 1863 Saturday
As the month wore on there was skirmishing at Beverly Ford and Hartwood Church along the Rappahannock River line in Virginia, and at Bentonville, Arkansas. A Federal scout from Centreville to Aldie, Virginia operated against partisan rangers for five days.

Submarine H. L. Hunley had arrived in Charleston on two covered railroad flat cars. Brigadier General Jordan advised Mr. B. A. Whitney that a reward of $100,000 dollars would be paid by John Fraser and Company for the destruction of U.S.S. New Ironsides. He added that "a similar sum for destruction of the wooden frigate Wabash, and the sum of fifty thousand dollars for every Monitor sunk" was also being offered. The next day, Jordan ordered that "every assistance" be rendered in equipping the submarine with torpedoes. Jordan noted that General Beauregard regarded H. L. Hunley as the most formidable engine of war for the defense of Charleston now at his disposition & accordingly is anxious to have it ready for service.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

August 16, 1863 Sunday
At last Federal troops were moving in Tennessee. After urging from Washington, Rosecrans and the Army of the Cumberland started toward the Tennessee River and Chattanooga from the area south of Tullahoma. Rosecrans had delayed, he said, because of ripening crops to be harvested, repair of railroads, and need of support on both flanks. Gen Burnside left Camp Nelson, Kentucky near Lexington, and headed for east Tennessee, reaching the Tennessee River Aug 20. What was to become the Chickamauga Campaign had begun. Meanwhile, Gen Bragg, with the Army of Tennessee, called for more troops. Plans were laid quickly to supply him with whatever units could be spared from elsewhere. Rosecrans planned to cross the Tennessee River south and west of Chattanooga while feinting at the Tennessee River north of Chattanooga; thus he hoped to trap Bragg between his army and Burnside’s.

In Charleston Harbor Federal guns on Morris Island continued practice firing. For the past several weeks crews of laborers at Fort Sumter had been filling in damaged masonry with sand, strengthening the faces near Morris Island and removing many of the guns, leaving only thirty-eight with a garrison of five hundred.

Action was limited to skirmishes at Falls Church, Virginia and near Corinth, Mississippi. Maj Gen G.K. Warren ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G._K._Warren ) assumed command of the Federal Second Army Corps, superseding Brig Gen William Hays ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hays_(general) ). A five-day Union expedition operated from Memphis, Tennessee to Hernando, Mississippi.

President Lincoln again wrote Gov Seymour of New York regarding problems of the draft, concluding, “My purpose is to be just and fair; and yet to not lose time.”

U.S.S. Rhode Island, Commander Trenchard, seized blockade running British steamer Cronstadt north of Man of War Cay, Abaco, with cargo of turpentine, cotton, and tobacco.

U.S.S. De Soto, commanded by Captain W. M. Walker, captured steamer Alice Vivian in the Gulf of Mexico with cargo of cotton.

U.S.S. Gertrude, commanded by Acting Master Cressy, captured steamer Warrior bound from Havana to Mobile with cargo of coffee, cigars, and dry goods.

U.S.S. Pawnee, Commander Balch, escaped undamaged when a floating Confederate torpedo exploded under her stern, destroying a launch, shortly after midnight at Stono Inlet, South Carolina. Four hours later, another torpedo exploded within 30 yards of the ship.. In all, four devices exploded close by, and two others were picked up by mortar schooner C. P. Williams. In addition, a boat capable of holding 10 torpedoes was captured by Pawnee. Commander Balch informed Rear Admiral Dahlgren that the torpedoes were "ingenious and exceedingly simple" and suggested that "they may be one of the means" which the Confederates would use to destroy Northern ships stationed in the Stono River. The threat posed by the torpedoes floating down rivers caused grave concern among Northern naval commanders, and Dahlgren came to grips with it at once. Within 10 days, Lieutenant Commander Bacon, U.S.S. Commodore McDonough, reported from Lighthouse Inlet that a net had been stretched across the Inlet "for the purpose of stopping torpedoes. . . ."

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

August 17, 1863 Monday
With reverberating roars accelerating in frequency, the eleven guns of the Federal breeching batteries on Morris Island, aided by naval armament, fired a total of 938 shots in the first major bombardment of Fort Sumter. Batteries Wagner and Gregg were also fired upon. Sumter’s brick walls crumbled under the blows of the Parrotts, including the two-hundred-pounder Swamp Angel. But the rubble and sand formed an even more impregnable bulwark against Federal fire.

Far to the west in Arkansas a Federal expedition to Little Rock skirmished at Grand Prairie. In initial action of the Federal campaign toward Chattanooga, a skirmish broke out at Calfkiller Creek, near Sparta, Tennessee. To the twenty-sixth Federal expeditions operated from Cape Girardeau and Pilot Knob, Missouri to Pocahontas, Arkansas.

Alvan Cullem Gillem, USA, and James Clay Rice, USA, were appointed to Brigadier General.

U.S.S. De Soto, commanded by Captain W. M. Walker, captured steamer Nita, from Havana, in Apalachicola Bay, Florida, with cargo of provisions and medicines. Walker observed: "The fact that steamers are employed at great cost with all the attendant risk, in transporting provisions from Havana to Mobile is the most conclusive evidence I have yet had of the scarcity of supplies in the Gulf States."

U.S.S. Satellite, commanded by Acting Master Robinson, seized schooner Three Brothers in Great Wicomico River, Maryland.

U.S.S. Crocus, commanded by Acting Ensign J. LeGrand Winton, ran aground at night and was wrecked at Bodie's Island, North Carolina.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

August 18, 1863 Tuesday
The second day of heavy bombardment at Charleston against Fort Sumter and Battery Wagner showed that the Federals were tenacious in their attempts to reduce the Confederate forts. Although severely damaged they held on despite the pounding fire.

Inland skirmishes flared at Bristoe Station, Virginia; near Pasquaotank, North Carolina; and near Crab Orchard and Albany, Kentucky. In New Mexico Territory Federal troops skirmished with Indians at Pueblo Colorado. President Lincoln tested the new Spencer rifle in Washington by firing a few shots in Treasury Park. Henry Brevard Davidson, CSA, was appointed to Brigadier General.

President Lincoln writes to Major General James Blunt, who is feuding with Kansas Governor Thomas Carney. Carney, whom Blunt called "a theif and a liar," informed Lincoln that Blunt allowed "Citizens" to "execut[e]" two men who had been accused of "robbery." Lincoln notes that he has been satisfied with Blunt's past performance, "[but] to take men charged with no offence against the military, out of the hands of the courts, to be turned over to a mob to be hanged, can find no precedent or principle to justify it." http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/te ... oln6%3A823

U.S.S. Niphon, commanded by Acting Master Breck, chased steamer Hebe north of Fort Fisher, Wilmington. She was carrying a cargo of drugs, clothing, coffee, and provisions when she was run aground and abandoned. Because of a strong gale, Breck determined to destroy her rather than attempt to get her off. Three boat crews sent to the steamer for that purpose were captured by the Confederates when the boats were either stove in or swamped by the heavy seas. U.S.S. Shokokon, commanded by Lieutenant Cushing, assisted in the destruction of Hebe by commencing "a heavy fire, that soon riddled her." Rear Admiral Lee reported in summation: "She was as thoroughly burned as the water in her would allow."

C.S.S. Oconee, commanded by Lieutenant Oscar F. Johnston, foundered in heavy seas near St. Catherine's Sound, Georgia, after running the blockade out of Savannah the night before. She was carrying a cargo of cotton "on navy account," Secretary Mallory reported. All hands were saved, but 2 days later a boat containing 4 officers and 11 men was captured by U.S.S. Madgie, commanded by Acting Master Woodbury H. Polleys.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

August 19, 1863 Wednesday
Northern authorities resumed the draft in New York City with no difficulties, although troops protected the draft headquarters against a repetition of the disastrous riots of July. In Charleston Harbor the guns boomed for a third day against Fort Sumter and Battery Wagner. In West Virginia Averell’s Federal raiders destroyed a saltpeter works near Franklin. A Confederate signal station was captured at St John’s Mill, Florida and a skirmish occurred at Weems’ Springs, Tennessee. Henry Watkins Allen, CSA, was appointed to Brigadier General. U.S.S. Restless, commanded by Acting Master William R. Browne, captured schooner Ernti with cargo of cotton southwest of the Florida Keys.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

August 20, 1863 Thursday
The bombardment of Fort Sumter and Battery Wagner continued in Charleston Harbor. Rosecrans’ advancing Army of the Cumberland neared the Tennessee River west of Chattanooga, and more Federal troops arrived at Covington, Kentucky for the offensive into east Tennessee. In Kansas guerrilla forces under William Clarke Quantrill approached the unsuspecting town of Lawrence. In an expedition lasting until Aug 28, Federals operated from Vicksburg, Mississippi to Monroe, Louisiana. Cullen Andrews Battle, CSA, was appointed to Brigadier General. Major General William B. Franklin ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_B._Franklin ), USA, assumes command of the Federal 29th Army Corps, in Louisiana.

In the Far West Col Christopher “Kit” Carson had been commanding expeditions against the Navajo Indians in Arizona Territory lasting July 7-19. This day Carson’s command left Pueblo Colorado, operating until Dec 16 to the area of Canon de Chelly, in reprisal against Indian depredations. The plan was for the government to move them to a reservation at Bosque Redondo on the Pecos River near Fort Sumner, New Mexico Territory. The Federal District of Utah is enlarged to include the Territory of Utah; Camp Ruby; the Nevada Territory; and the new outpost at Soda Springs, Idaho Territory.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

August 21, 1863 Friday
About 150 men and boys died and a million and a half dollars’ worth of property was destroyed in the massacre at Lawrence, Kansas ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantrill%27s_raid ). Storming into the town at dawn, some 450 Confederate and Missouri guerrillas or bushwhackers under William Clarke Quantrill ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Quantrill ) sacked, burned, and murdered. Only women and smaller children were spared, although some men did escape. The raid grew out of festering bitterness created by the so-called Kansas War, by the Federal raid on Osceola, Missouri and by Quantrill’s personal grudge against Lawrence. One eyewitness said, “The town is a complete ruin. The whole of the business part, and all good private residences are burned down. Everything of value was taken along by the fiends….I cannot describe the horrors.” Other forces skirmished near Brooklyn and Paola, Kansas.

Gen Q.A. Gillmore demanded the surrender of Fort Sumter and immediate evacuation of Morris Island, threatening to bombard Charleston if his terms were not met. When the Confederates refused, the bombardment of the forts continued for the fifth day. Casualties remained low.

About 1 A.M. Confederate torpedo boat Torch, Pilot James Carlin, formerly a blockade runner, made a gallant night attempt to sink U.S.S. New Ironsides, commanded by Captain Stephen C. Rowan, in the channel near Morris Island. The small steamer, which was constructed from the hulk of an unfinished gunboat at Charleston, sailed low in the water, was painted gray and burned anthracite coal to avoid detection. She took on much water and her engines were of dubious quality when she made her run on the heavy Union blockader. When but 40 yards away from New Ironsides, Carlin ordered the engines cut and pointed her at his prey. The boat failed to respond properly to her helm, and, as New Ironsides swung about her anchor slowly with the tide, the torpedo failed to make contact with the ship's hull. While alongside the Union ship, Carlin could not start the engines for some minutes, but the daring Confederate kept up a cool conversation with the officer of the deck on New Ironsides, who finally became alarmed but was unable to depress any of the guns sufficiently to fire into the little craft. At this moment, the torpedo boat's engines started, and Carlin quickly made his way back to Charleston, two shots from New Ironsides falling 20 feet to either side of his torpedo boat. General Beauregard, seeking to lift the blockade and the continuing bombardment of his forces at Forts Wagner and Sumter, wrote Carlin: "I feel convinced that another trial under more favorable circumstances will surely meet with success, notwithstanding the known defects of the vessel."

C.S.S. Florida, Commander Maffitt, captured and burned ship Anglo Saxon with cargo of coal near Brest, France.

Federal troops threw a few shells into Chattanooga. Skirmishing occurred at Maysville, Alabama and Shellmound, Tennessee as Rosecrans drew neared the strategic city. In West Virginia there was a skirmish near Glenville. Brigadier General Robert B. Potter ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_B._Potter ), USA, assumes command of the Federal 9th Army Corps, in Kentucky.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

August 22, 1863 Saturday
Fort Sumter was feeling the impact of the sustained bombardment, now in its sixth day. Only four guns remained serviceable in the fort. Five Federal monitors made a night attack Aug 22-23, and only two guns returned fire. Nevertheless, there was no indication of surrender. Other Union guns opened fire on Charleston itself. The Federals suffered a severe blow, however, when the famed Swamp Angel exploded while firing its thirty-sixth round.

As Quantrill’s men withdrew from smoldering Lawrence, Kansas there was a skirmish on Big Creek, near Pleasant Hill. Elsewhere, fighting broke out at San Pedro Crossing, Arizona Territory; Huntersville, West Virginia; and Stafford Court House, Virginia. As part of the Federal advance toward Chattanooga, troops operated around Tracy City, Tennessee to the Tennessee River. Meanwhile, President Davis sought reinforcements for Bragg’s threatened army in Tennessee.

Boat crew from U.S.S. Shokokon, commanded by Lieutenant Cushing, destroyed schooner Alexander Cooper in New Topsail Inlet, North Carolina. "This was," Rear Admiral Lee wrote, "a handsome affair, showing skill and gallantry." Ten days before, Cushing had sighted the blockade runner while he was on a reconnaissance of the Inlet. "This schooner," he said, "I determined to destroy, and as it was so well guarded I concluded to use strategy." The evening of the 22nd, he sent two boats' crews ashore under command of Acting Ensign Joseph S. Cony. The men landed, shouldered a dingy, and carried it across a neck of land to the inlet. Thus the assault took place from behind the Confederate works with marked success. In addition to burning Alexander Cooper, Cony destroyed extensive salt works in the vicinity and took three prisoners back to Shokokon.

U.S.S. Cayuga, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Dana, captured schooner Wave with cargo of cotton southeast of Corpus Christi.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

August 23, 1863 Sunday
The first period of the bombardment of Fort Sumter came to an end but only after 5009 rounds had been fired by Federals and only one gun left in good condition in the fort, now a mass of rubble and wreckage. There was a skirmish at Fayetteville, Arkansas and Federals scouted on Bennett’s Bayou, Missouri. Confederates captured two small Federal gunboats, Satellite and Reliance, at the mouth of the Rappahannock River in Virginia. Lieutenant L. Taylor Wood accomplished the feat in four small boats with sixty men and thirty army sharpshooters. It was a galling experience for the North.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

August 24, 1863 Monday
For the rest of August, John Singleton Mosby and his Confederate raiders were especially active in Virginia north of Meade’s Rappahannock line. Other action included a Federal scout at Barbee’s Cross Roads and skirmishing at Coyle’s Tavern near Fairfax Court House, near King George Court House, and near Warm Springs, Virginia. In Charleston Harbor the bombardment of Fort Sumter and Battery Wagner was considerably lighter. In Alabama skirmishing occurred at Gunter’s Landing near Port Deposit.

General Dabney H. Maury, CSA, reported: "The submarine boat sent to Charleston found that there was not enough water under the Ironsides for her to pass below her keel; therefore they have decided to affix a spike to the bow of the boat, to drive the spike into the Ironsides, then to back out, and by a string to explode the torpedo which was to be attached to the spike." H. L. Hunley had originally been provided with a floating copper cylinder torpedo with flaring triggers which she could tow some 200 feet astern. The submarine would dive beneath the target ship, surface on the other side, and continue on course until the torpedo struck the ship and exploded. When the method proved unworkable, a spar torpedo containing 90 pounds of powder was affixed to the bow. A volunteer crew commanded by Lieutenant Payne, CSN, of C.S.S. Chicora took charge of H. L. Hunley in the next few days.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

August 25, 1863 Tuesday
Extensive skirmishing flared in Missouri near Waynesville, near Independence, and at Hopewell. Federals scouted from the Sedalia area. Union forces moving toward Little Rock skirmished at Brownsville, Arkansas. On Morris Island, South Carolina, Federal troops failed to capture Confederate rifle pits in front of Battery Wagner. Along the Rappahannock River there was a skirmish at Hartwood Church and along the Chickahominy River near Lamb’s Ferry. In West Virginia Federals destroyed Confederate saltpeter works on Jackson’s River.

The recently captured U.S.S. Satellite, now commanded by Lieutenant Wood, CSN, seized schooners Golden Rod, with cargo of coal, Coquette, and Two Brothers with cargoes of anchor and chain, at the mouth of the Rappahannock River; the schooners were taken up river by their captors. "The Golden Rod," Wood wrote, "drawing too much water to go up, was stripped and burned. The other two were towed up to Port Royal . . . ... There they, too, were stripped of useful parts and destroyed together with ex-U.S.S. Reliance and Satellite which Wood had taken by boarding just two days earlier.

Guerrilla warfare in Missouri and Kansas had reached a climax in the Lawrence, Kansas massacre four days before. Now Federal Brig Gen Thomas Ewing ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Ewing,_Jr. ), in command at Kansas City, issued General Orders No 11. All persons in Jackson, Cass, and Bates counties, Missouri plus parts of Vernon County, were to leave their homes. Those who could prove their loyalty would be permitted to stay at military posts. All others had to get out of the area. An estimated 20,000 people lost their homes around Kansas City. Barns, houses, and crops were burned. This anti-guerrilla move had little effect on the raiders, but it caused deep animosities that lasted for years.

U.S.S. WIlliam G. Anderson, commanded by Acting Lieutenant F. S. Hill, captured schooner Mack Canfield off the mouth of the Rio Grande River with cargo of cotton.

Jeremy Francis Gilmer, CSA, and William Andrew Quarles, CSA, were appointed to Brigadier General.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

August 26, 1863 Wednesday
In a second effort, Federals captured the Confederate rifle pits in front of Battery Wagner on Morris Island. In West Virginia Averell’s Federals expedition fought a heavy engagement at Rock Gap, near White Sulphur Springs. Other fighting took place near Moorefield and Sutton. In Virginia a four-day Federal expedition operated from Williamsburg to Bottom’s Bridge. In the West skirmishing broke out at Bayou Meto, Arkansas and at Perryville, Indian Territory. Former U.S. Secretary of War and Confederate general John B. Floyd ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_B._Floyd ) died at Abingdon, Virginia.

President Davis confirmed by telegram Gen Beauregard’s decision to hold Fort Sumter. President Lincoln, in a letter to “Unconditional Union Men” in Springfield, Illinois said, “I do not believe any compromise, embracing the maintenance of the Union, is now possible.” He added, “Peace does not appear so distant as it did.”

Boat crew from U.S.S. Beauregard, commanded by Acting Master Francis Burgess, seized schooner Phoebe off Jupiter Inlet, Florida.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

August 27, 1863 Thursday
At least nine skirmishes marked the day: at Bayou Meto or Reed’s Bridge, Arkansas; Mount Pleasant and near Vicksburg, Mississippi; Carter County and Clark’s Neck, Kentucky; Elk River, Glenville, and Ball’s Mill, West Virginia; Edward’s Ferry, Maryland; Little Washington and Weaversville, Virginia. Firing was all but suspended in Charleston Harbor. President Davis was deeply concerned, wiring Beauregard regarding his strength and possible reinforcements. Increased pressure at Chattanooga and in east Tennessee also demanded Davis’ attention.

U.S.S. Sunflower, commanded by Acting Master Van Sice, captured schooner General Worth in the straits of Florida.

U.S.S. WIlliam G. Anderson, commanded by Acting Lieutenant F. S. Hill, captured schooner America off the coast of Texas with cargo of cotton.

U.S.S. Preble, commanded by Acting Master William F. Shankland, was destroyed by accidental fire at Pensacola.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00

August 28, 1863 Friday
Only three skirmishes and two expeditions are recorded. Fighting was at Hartwood Church, Virginia; the Narrows near Shellmound, Tennessee; and Jacksborough, Tennessee. The expeditions, both by Federals, operated from Stevenson, Alabama to Trenton, Georgia; and from Lexington into La Fayette, Johnson, Cass, and Henry counties, Missouri. C.S.S. Alabama, commanded by Captain Semmes, and C.S.S. Tuscaloosa, commanded by Lieutenant Low, joined briefly in the Bay of Angra Pequena on the African coast. Semmes ordered Tuscaloosa to proceed on a cruise to the coast of Brazil.

_________________
Gen Ned Simms
2/XVI Corps/AotT
Blood 'n Guts hisself, a land lovin' pirate. Show me some arty tubes and we'll charge 'em.
VMI Class of '00