Ironclads, 1861 to 1903
The American Civil War on the rivers and the coast, Hampton Roads, Lissa, the War of the Pacific, the Yalu, Manila Bay and Santiago de Cuba.
This chapter of Naval Battles holds 150 battles. For each one we give when and where it was fought, who fought it, the ships that took part, what happened, how it ended and why it is remembered. See all 2,188 battles on one page.
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This database was put together by Ai Refloat™, Marea’s own artificial intelligence, from naval histories, museums, official records and encyclopaedias in many languages. Ai Refloat is still young & like any teenager, it can be a little volatile and unpredictable at times, but above all, it is learning fast. So this list may well contain mistakes and we welcome the input of everyone who knows these battles better than we do.
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The battles
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Aquia Creek Landing or siege
29 May to 1 June 1861 · Potomac River at Aquia Creek, Stafford County, Virginia
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders James H. Ward (Union); Daniel Ruggles (Confederacy)
Forces 1 Union sloop of war and 3 gunboats against 2 shore batteries with 13 guns
Ships USS Pawnee, Live Yankee, Freeborn, Anacostia, Lioness
Losses Union: up to 9 wounded, a sloop and a gunboat damaged. Confederacy: 1 wounded.
Result Inconclusive
Union gunboats exchanged fire with Confederate shore batteries placed to block traffic on the lower Potomac and protect the railhead at Aquia Landing. Neither side did much damage or caused serious casualties, and the Union ships could not dislodge the batteries.
Why it is remembered On 7 July 1861 the Confederates first used naval mines, without success, off the Aquia Landing batteries. The National Park Service lists the engagement among the 384 principal battles of the Civil War.
Sources differ Casualty figures vary: the National Park Service gives 0 to 10 for both sides together, one source gives 1 Confederate wounded, and others do not mention casualties.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Cochinchina campaign (1858 to 1862)
Capture of Biên Hòa Landing or siege
16 December 1861 · Biên Hòa, now in Đồng Nai Province, Vietnam
Fought between France and Spain against the Nguyễn dynasty of Vietnam
Commanders Louis-Adolphe Bonard (France); Diego Domenech (Spain); Nguyen Ba Nghi (Vietnam)
Ships L'Avalanche, L'Alarme, Fusée
Losses Franco-Spanish: 2 dead, several wounded. Vietnamese: unknown
Result Franco-Spanish victory
French gunboats, among them L'Avalanche, L'Alarme and Fusée, attacked the forts and dams defending Biên Hòa, and the town was taken by the allied force on 16 December 1861.
Why it is remembered It was an important allied victory in the campaign that ended with the founding of the French colony of Cochinchina.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Cockle Creek Single-ship action
5 October 1861 · Off Chincoteague, Virginia
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Alexander Murray (Union)
Forces USS Louisiana with 98 men against the schooner Venus and two sloops with more than 300 men
Ships USS Louisiana, Venus
Result Union victory
A minor naval engagement off Chincoteague, Virginia, between USS Louisiana and Confederate vessels, which the Union won.
Why it is remembered One of the early small naval actions of the American Civil War on the Virginia coast.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Gloucester Point (1861) Single-ship action
7 May 1861 · Gloucester Point, opposite Yorktown on the York River, Virginia
Fought between United States (Union) against Virginia
Commanders Garrett J. Pendergrast, Thomas O. Selfridge Jr. (Union); William B. Taliaferro, William C. Whittle, John Thompson Brown (Virginia)
Forces Union: the gunboat USS Yankee. Virginia: a shore battery garrison of 60 to 70 men.
Ships USS Yankee
Losses None on either side.
Result Inconclusive
As the Union blockade was extended to Virginia, Lieutenant Selfridge in USS Yankee was ordered to reconnoitre the new fortifications at Gloucester Point. The gunboat and the battery exchanged shots without casualties, Selfridge reporting that his guns were too small to damage the battery.
Why it is remembered It was the first reported exchange of fire of the Civil War after the surrender of Fort Sumter, and John Thompson Brown is credited with firing the first cannon shot of the war in Virginia.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown, US Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Forts Hatteras and Clark
28 to 29 August 1861 · Hatteras Inlet, Outer Banks, North Carolina
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Silas H. Stringham and Benjamin F. Butler (Union); Samuel Barron, who surrendered, and William F. Martin (Confederacy)
Forces 7 Union warships and 935 men against 900 Confederates in Fort Clark and Fort Hatteras
Losses Union: 1 killed, 2 wounded. Confederacy: 4 killed, 20 wounded, 691 captured.
Result Union victory
The Confederates had built Fort Clark and Fort Hatteras on the Outer Banks to protect their commerce raiders. Flag Officer Stringham's fleet bombarded them while keeping on the move, so the forts' guns could not reply effectively. Despite bad weather the fleet landed troops under General Butler, who took the surrender of Flag Officer Barron.
Why it is remembered The first combined operation of the Union Army and Navy, and the first application of the naval blockade strategy. It gave the Union access to the North Carolina Sounds, much reduced commerce raiding and cheered a Northern public demoralised by the First Battle of Bull Run.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of the Head of Passes Raid
12 October 1861 · Head of Passes, Mississippi River Delta, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana
Fought between Confederate States against the United States (Union)
Commanders George N. Hollins (Confederacy); John Pope (Union)
Forces 1 Confederate ironclad, 6 gunboats and 3 fire rafts against 3 Union sloops of war, 1 schooner and 1 gunboat
Ships CSS Manassas
Losses No casualties on either side. Union: 2 sloops of war and 1 schooner damaged. Confederacy: the ironclad damaged.
Result Confederate victory
After moonset in the early hours of 12 October 1861, the Confederate river defence fleet, known locally as the mosquito fleet, raided the Union blockade squadron at anchor at the Head of Passes. Three fire rafts were lit and followed the ironclad ram CSS Manassas into the attack. The Union ships fled in disorder down Southwest Pass. After sunrise Commodore Hollins, short of ammunition and fuel, withdrew upriver.
Why it is remembered A bloodless Confederate success against the Union blockade, made by the ironclad ram Manassas early in the war.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Mathias Point Landing or siege
27 June 1861 · Mathias Point, Potomac River, King George County, Virginia
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders James H. Ward, killed, James C. Chaplin and J. P. K. Mygatt (Union); Daniel Ruggles, John M. Brockenbrough and R. M. Mayo (Confederacy)
Forces Two Union gunboats and a landing party of 36 to 50 men against 400 to 500 Confederates
Ships USS Thomas Freeborn
Losses Union: 1 killed, 4 wounded. Confederacy: none.
Result Confederate victory
Two Union gunboats tried to stop the Confederates installing a battery at Mathias Point on the Potomac. A landing party was beaten back before it could unload its guns from USS Thomas Freeborn. Covered by her guns, Commander Ward ordered a second landing, which was also repulsed, and Ward was killed.
Why it is remembered Ward was the first Union Navy officer killed in the war. The Confederates held the point until March 1862.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Cochinchina campaign
Capture of Mỹ Tho Landing or siege
Also known as Prise de Mỹ Tho
12 April 1861 (operations from 1 April) · Mỹ Tho and the Arroyo de la Poste, Mekong Delta, southern Vietnam
Fought between France and Spain against Vietnam (Nguyễn dynasty)
Commanders François Page, Bourdais, killed, and Le Couriault du Quilio (France)
Forces About 200 French sailors, 30 Spanish soldiers and a mountain mortar at first, later reinforced with chasseurs, sailors, marine infantry and guns; the avisos Monge and Echo, the gunboats Alarme and Mitraille, small gunboats Nos. 16, 18, 20, 22 and 31, and Admiral Page's flotilla on the Mekong
Ships Monge, Alarme, Mitraille, Echo, Gunboat No. 18
Losses France: Capitaine de frégate Bourdais killed; no totals given. Vietnam: not stated.
Result French and Spanish victory
French gunboats and landing parties fought their way along the Arroyo de la Poste towards Mỹ Tho from 1 April, taking two forts at the creek's entrance and destroying Vietnamese stockades. On 9 April Vietnamese fireships were towed aside and grounded, and on 10 April Bourdais was killed leading Gunboat No. 18 against Fort No. 5, which the defenders then abandoned. On 12 April Page's flotilla arrived up the Mekong and the town was occupied without a shot.
Why it is remembered An important allied victory in the Cochinchina campaign, which ended with the French colony of Cochinchina and nearly a century of French rule in Vietnam. The captured fort was renamed Fort Bourdais.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Piracy in Asia
North Star affair Blockade and raiding
13 to 14 May 1861 · Off Ling Ting, Hong Kong, South China Sea
Fought between Britain against Chinese pirates
Commanders Voight (Britain)
Forces 1 British brig against 1 pirate junk
Ships North Star
Losses British: 8 killed, 1 wounded, among them a Royal Navy officer. Pirates: none.
Result The merchant ship was robbed and released; the pirates escaped
Chinese pirates attacked the British merchant brig North Star. Several men were killed, including a Royal Navy officer, and the pirates escaped with 4,000 dollars' worth of gold.
Why it is remembered A piracy attack on a British merchant ship in Chinese waters in which a Royal Navy officer died.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Pig Point Landing or siege
5 June 1861 · Pig Point, near Suffolk, Virginia
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders John Faunce (Union); Robert B. Pegram and John C. Owens (Confederacy)
Forces The Union gunboat USRC Harriet Lane against a Confederate shore battery
Ships USRC Harriet Lane
Losses Union: 5 wounded. Confederacy: none.
Result Confederate victory, or inconclusive; the Union gunboat withdrew
After Lincoln extended the Union blockade to Virginia, Harriet Lane was ordered to attack the battery at Pig Point. Because of shallow water her shots fell short, and after five men were wounded she withdrew.
Why it is remembered One of the earliest naval actions of the American Civil War.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Port Royal Landing or siege
7 November 1861 (fleet assembled from 3 November) · Port Royal Sound, South Carolina
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Samuel F. Du Pont and Thomas W. Sherman (Union); Thomas F. Drayton, Stephen Elliott Jr. and Josiah Tattnall III (Confederacy)
Forces 77 Union vessels and 12,653 troops against 44 guns, 3,077 troops and 4 gunboats
Losses Union: 8 killed, 23 wounded. Confederacy: 11 killed, 48 wounded, 4 missing.
Result Union victory
A storm on the way south cost the expedition the means to land the army, so the battle became a contest between ships' guns and the forts. Du Pont ordered his ships to steam in an ellipse, firing on Fort Walker and then Fort Beauregard, but most ships soon took enfilading positions against Fort Walker. By early afternoon most of its guns were out of action, its gunners fled, and a landing party from the flagship took the fort. Fort Beauregard was abandoned and occupied the next day.
Why it is remembered One of the earliest amphibious operations of the American Civil War, it gave the Union Port Royal Sound between Savannah and Charleston. Loss of life was low despite the heavy fire.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: W.T. Crane, after a Confederate officer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Cochinchina campaign
Bombardment of Qui Nhơn Landing or siege
31 July 1861 · Qui Nhơn, south central coast of Vietnam
Fought between United States against Vietnam (Đại Nam)
Commanders James F. Schenck and Frederick K. Engle (United States)
Forces 1 American sloop of war against 1 fort with about 1 gun
Losses United States: none. Vietnam: unknown; the fort destroyed.
Result American victory
An American warship went to southern Vietnam to search for missing American citizens and was met with cannon fire on arrival at Qui Nhơn. In reply she bombarded the fort until it was reduced.
Why it is remembered A brief American clash with Vietnam during the French and Spanish conquest of the south.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Sewell's Point Landing or siege
18, 19 and 21 May 1861 · Sewell's Point, Norfolk County, Virginia, southern Chesapeake Bay
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Henry Eagle and Daniel L. Braine (Union); Walter Gwynn and Peyton H. Colquitt (Confederacy)
Forces 2 Union gunboats against 1 shore battery of three 32-pounder guns
Ships USS Monticello, USS Thomas Freeborn
Losses About 10 in all by National Park Service figures; little damage to either side.
Result Inconclusive; the Union gunboats withdrew
USS Monticello, supported by USS Thomas Freeborn, exchanged fire with the Confederate battery on Sewell's Point over several days. Little damage was done to either side and the gunboats withdrew.
Why it is remembered One of the earliest Union Navy actions against Confederate forces, sometimes called the first gunfire of the Union Navy in the war, though USS Yankee had exchanged fire with Virginia batteries at Gloucester Point on 7 May 1861.
Sources differ One account gives 18, 19 and 21 May; another account gives 18 to 19 May. The National Park Service gives 10 casualties; other sources give no Confederate casualties and at least six Union sailors wounded aboard Monticello.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: American Battlefield Protection Program, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Cockpit Point Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Freestone Point; Battle of Shipping Point
3 January 1862 · Cockpit Point, Potomac River, Prince William County, Virginia
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Robert H. Wyman (Union); Samuel G. French (Confederacy)
Forces 2 Union gunboats against 50 men in 4 batteries
Ships USS Anacostia, USS Yankee, USS Jacob Bell, USS Seminole, CSS Page
Losses Not stated; Yankee slightly damaged in the shelling of 1 January.
Result Inconclusive
From late 1861 Confederate batteries along the Potomac banks, 37 heavy guns by mid December, tried to close the river and isolate Washington. Union gunboats shelled them, Jacob Bell and Seminole at Freestone Point in September 1861 and Anacostia and Yankee at Cockpit Point in January 1862, without either side gaining an advantage. On 9 March 1862 a landing party from Anacostia and Yankee found the batteries abandoned, destroyed them and found CSS Page blown up.
Why it is remembered Part of the Confederate blockade of the Potomac, which closed the river to shipping for nearly five months.
Sources differ One account dates the battle to 3 January 1862; another account describes the shelling of Cockpit Point on 1 January.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Corpus Christi Landing or siege
12 to 18 August 1862 · Corpus Christi and Corpus Christi Bay, Texas
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders John W. Kittredge (Union); Alfred Marmaduke Hobby and Charles G. Lovenskiold (Confederacy)
Forces Union: 1 bark, 1 sloop of war, 1 schooner, 1 steamer, 1 yacht and 100 sailors with 1 gun ashore. Confederacy: 1 sloop of war, 2 schooners, 1 steamer, 700 militia, 5 guns and 1 fort.
Losses Union: about 2 wounded; a sloop of war, a steamer and a yacht damaged. Confederacy: 1 killed, 1 wounded; 1 schooner captured, and 1 schooner, 1 sloop of war and 1 steamer scuttled; the fort damaged.
Result Union tactical victory, Confederate strategic victory
United States Navy blockaders fought a small land and sea action in and around Corpus Christi Bay and bombarded the town. They defeated the Confederate vessels operating there but were driven back when they landed on the coast.
Why it is remembered A small battle of the Union blockade of the Texas coast in which the Union won on the water but failed ashore.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War (Peninsula Campaign)
Battle of Drewry's Bluff Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Fort Darling; Battle of Fort Drewry
15 May 1862 · Drewry's Bluff, James River, Chesterfield County, Virginia
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders John Rodgers (Union); Ebenezer Farrand, William Mahone and John Taylor Wood (Confederacy)
Forces 3 Union ironclads and 2 gunboats against 1 fort and 1 shore battery with about 8 guns
Ships USS Monitor, USS Galena, USRC Naugatuck
Losses Union: 27 killed or wounded, 2 ironclads and 2 gunboats damaged. Confederacy: 15 killed or wounded, the fort damaged.
Result Confederate victory
Union warships, including the ironclads Monitor and Galena and the revenue cutter Naugatuck, steamed up the James River to test the defences of Richmond. They met submerged obstacles, and the guns of Fort Darling on Drewry's Bluff badly damaged Galena and forced the ships to turn back.
Why it is remembered It stopped a Union naval advance on the Confederate capital, Richmond.
Sources differ One account counts four Union warships; another account gives 3 ironclads and 2 gunboats.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War (Burnside Expedition)
Battle of Elizabeth City Fleet battle
10 February 1862 · Pasquotank River near Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Stephen C. Rowan (Union); William F. Lynch (Confederacy)
Forces 13 Union gunboats against 5 Confederate gunboats, 1 schooner and a four-gun battery at Cobb's Point with about 34 men
Losses Union: 2 killed, 7 wounded, 2 steamers damaged. Confederacy: 5 killed, 7 wounded, 34 captured; 1 steamer sunk, 1 armed tug captured, and 1 steamer, 1 armed tug and 1 schooner scuttled.
Result Union victory
Straight after the Battle of Roanoke Island, gunboats of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron attacked the Confederate Mosquito Fleet on the Pasquotank River, supported by a shore battery at Cobb's Point. The Confederate fleet was captured, sunk or scattered.
Why it is remembered It destroyed the Mosquito Fleet and gave the Union Elizabeth City and its waters.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
First Battle of Memphis Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of the Rams
6 June 1862 · Mississippi River just north of Memphis, Tennessee
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Charles H. Davis and Charles Ellet Jr., mortally wounded (Union); James E. Montgomery and M. Jeff Thompson (Confederacy)
Forces 5 Union ironclads and 4 rams against 8 Confederate rams
Ships USS Benton, USS Louisville, USS Carondelet, USS Cairo, USS St. Louis, USS Queen of the West, USS Monarch, USS Lancaster, USS Switzerland, CSS General Beauregard, CSS General Bragg, CSS General Sterling Price, CSS General Earl Van Dorn, CSS General M. Jeff Thompson, CSS Colonel Lovell, CSS General Sumter, CSS Little Rebel
Losses Union: 1 ram disabled, 1 man mortally wounded. Confederacy: 7 rams destroyed or captured, about 100 killed or wounded, about 150 captured.
Result Union victory
A Union flotilla of ironclads and rams met the Confederate River Defense Fleet on the Mississippi just above Memphis, watched by many of the city's people. Seven of the eight Confederate rams were destroyed or captured, and Confederate naval power on the river was all but wiped out.
Why it is remembered It was the last time civilians with no military experience were allowed to command ships in combat, a milestone in the professionalism of the United States Navy. A. R. Waud drew it as the Battle of the Rams.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Alfred Rudolph Waud, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
First Battle of Sabine Pass Landing or siege
Also known as Bombardment of Fort Sabine
24 to 25 September 1862 · Fort Sabine, below Sabine City (now Sabine Pass), Jefferson County, Texas
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Frederick Crocker (Union); Josephus S. Irvine (Confederacy)
Forces 2 Union schooners and 1 steamer against 28 artillerists, about 30 cavalry and four guns in Fort Sabine
Losses None on either side.
Result Union victory
Ships of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron bombarded the Confederate fort below Sabine City, the high point of a series of skirmishes at the mouth of the Sabine River, and Sabine Pass was captured. The aim was to tighten the blockade and stop Confederate troops moving along the coast to reinforce Galveston.
Why it is remembered The first Union Navy bombardment of the Confederate fort below Sabine City, part of an effort to open the way for the invasion of Texas attempted almost a year later at the Second Battle of Sabine Pass.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: American Battlefield Protection Program, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Fort Donelson Landing or siege
11 to 16 February 1862 · Fort Donelson, Cumberland River, Stewart County, Tennessee
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Ulysses S. Grant and Andrew H. Foote (Union); John B. Floyd, Gideon J. Pillow and Simon Bolivar Buckner, captured (Confederacy)
Forces 24,531 Union troops, 4 ironclads and 3 timberclads against 16,171 Confederates
Losses Union: 507 killed, 1,976 wounded, 208 captured or missing; 4 ironclads damaged, 2 heavily. Confederacy: 327 killed, 1,127 wounded, 12,392 captured or missing.
Result Union victory
After taking Fort Henry, Grant marched on Fort Donelson. On 14 February Foote's gunboats tried to reduce the fort by gunfire but were driven off with heavy damage by its water batteries. A Confederate breakout attack on 15 February opened an escape route, but the commanders pulled back, Floyd and Pillow escaped, and Buckner accepted Grant's demand for unconditional surrender.
Why it is remembered It opened the Cumberland River to invasion, brought most of Kentucky and much of Tennessee under Union control, and made Grant a major general, known as Unconditional Surrender Grant.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Johnston, William Preston, No known restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Fort Henry Landing or siege
6 February 1862 · Fort Henry, Tennessee River, Stewart County, Tennessee
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Ulysses S. Grant and Andrew H. Foote (Union); Lloyd Tilghman, captured (Confederacy)
Forces 15,000 Union troops and 7 ships against 3,000 to 3,400 Confederates and 17 heavy guns
Ships USS Essex
Losses Union: about 40 casualties; one ironclad seriously and one moderately damaged; 48 killed and wounded aboard the ironclad Essex, including 19 soldiers. Confederacy: 79 casualties and 90 surrendered; the rest of the garrison escaped to Fort Donelson.
Result Union victory
Grant landed two divisions north of the fort and planned to attack it on 6 February while Flag Officer Foote's gunboats bombarded it. Accurate naval gunfire, heavy rain and a poorly sited fort almost flooded by the rising river led General Tilghman to surrender to Foote before the army arrived. Union ironclads then raided upriver, destroying Confederate shipping and railway bridges.
Why it is remembered The first important Union victory in the Western Theater and Grant's first, it opened the Tennessee River to Union traffic and led to the Battle of Fort Donelson.
Sources differ The main account gives 40 Union casualties but also 48 killed and wounded aboard Essex alone.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Currier and Ives, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Siege of Fort Macon Landing or siege
23 March to 26 April 1862 · Fort Macon, Outer Banks, Carteret County, North Carolina
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders John G. Parke and Commander Samuel Lockwood (Union); Colonel Moses J. White (Confederacy)
Forces Union: 3,259 men of the 3rd Division, Department of North Carolina, with ships of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Confederacy: a garrison of 450, 263 fit for duty
Ships USS Daylight, USS State of Georgia, USS Chippewa, the bark Gemsbok
Losses Union: 2 killed, 5 wounded, 8 captured. Confederate: 8 killed, 16 wounded, about 400 captured
Result Union victory; the fort surrendered
Burnside's troops invested the masonry fort guarding the channel to Beaufort with siege works and opened accurate fire on 25 April. Hearing the guns, Commander Lockwood brought the steamers Daylight, State of Georgia and Chippewa and the bark Gemsbok into action, but heavy seas spoiled their aim and they withdrew after about an hour; two ships were hit, with little damage. The shore batteries breached the walls and dismounted 19 guns, and that afternoon Colonel White raised a white flag. Union troops took over the fort the next morning.
Why it is remembered The fort commanded the channel to Beaufort, and its capture was part of Burnside's North Carolina Expedition.
Sources differ Losses: the main account gives Union 2 killed, 5 wounded and 8 captured, and Confederate 8 killed and 16 wounded; the aftermath section of the same article gives Union 1 killed and 3 wounded, and Confederate 7 killed outright, 2 died of wounds and 16 wounded.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Siege of Fort Pulaski Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Fort Pulaski; siege and reduction of Fort Pulaski
10 to 11 April 1862 (end of a siege of 112 days) · Fort Pulaski, Cockspur Island, mouth of the Savannah River, Georgia
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Samuel F. Du Pont, David Hunter and Quincy A. Gillmore (Union); Robert E. Lee, Josiah Tattnall III and Charles H. Olmstead (Confederacy)
Forces Union: 15 warships, 36 transports, 10,000 men and 36 guns including rifled Parrotts and James rifles. Confederacy: 3 warships, 2 transports, a garrison of 385 men and 48 guns.
Losses Union: 1 killed, several wounded. Confederacy: several mortally wounded, 363 captured.
Result Union victory
Union forces on Tybee Island, supported by naval operations, besieged Fort Pulaski for 112 days. On 10 and 11 April 1862 they bombarded it for 30 hours with rifled guns until the garrison surrendered.
Why it is remembered The rifled guns used here made existing coastal forts obsolete. The surrender closed Savannah as a port, though the Confederates kept the city itself safe from attack by sea for the rest of the war.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip Fleet battle
18 to 28 April 1862 · Forts Jackson and St. Philip, Mississippi River below New Orleans, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders David G. Farragut, David Dixon Porter and Benjamin F. Butler (Union); Johnson K. Duncan, John K. Mitchell and John A. Stephenson (Confederacy)
Forces Much of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron with Porter's flotilla of mortar schooners, and 18,000 army troops, against the two forts and the Confederate gunboats and River Defense Fleet
Losses Union: 229 killed and wounded, 1 armed steamer and 1 mortar boat lost. Confederacy: 782 killed and wounded; every ship lost except 1 gunboat and 1 ram.
Result Union victory
Farragut's fleet entered the Mississippi from the Gulf and on 18 April Porter's mortar schooners began a largely ineffective bombardment of the forts. On the night of 24 April much of the fleet ran past the forts; one Union warship was lost and three turned back, while the Confederate gunboats were almost destroyed. New Orleans was taken with little further resistance, and the men of Fort Jackson mutinied and forced its surrender.
Why it is remembered The decisive battle for New Orleans, the largest city of the Confederacy. Its loss was a blow from which the Confederacy never recovered.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Galveston Harbor (1862) Landing or siege
4 October 1862 · Galveston, Texas
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders William B. Renshaw (Union); Joseph J. Cook (Confederacy)
Forces Five Union naval vessels against a Confederate artillery regiment
Ships USRC Harriet Lane
Losses None on either side.
Result Union victory; Union troops occupied Galveston
Five Union vessels under Commander Renshaw approached Galveston, whose defences had lost most of their guns, and sent Harriet Lane into the bay under a flag of truce. Misunderstandings led to artillery fire before a four-day truce was agreed, which the Confederates used to evacuate the city. When the truce expired, Union troops landed and raised the United States flag.
Why it is remembered It gave the Union the port of Galveston, which the Confederates retook on 1 January 1863 in the Battle of Galveston.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Hampton Roads Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack; Battle of Ironclads
8 to 9 March 1862 · Hampton Roads, off Sewell's Point, Virginia
Fought between Confederate States against the United States (Union)
Commanders Franklin Buchanan, wounded, and Catesby ap Roger Jones (Confederacy); John Marston and John Worden (Union)
Forces Confederacy: the ironclad Virginia, 2 wooden warships, 1 gunboat, 2 tenders and 1 shore battery. Union: the ironclad Monitor, 5 frigates, 6 auxiliary boats, 2 forts and 1 shore battery.
Ships CSS Virginia (ex USS Merrimack), USS Monitor, USS Congress, USS Cumberland, USS Minnesota
Losses Union: 261 killed, 108 wounded; 2 frigates sunk, 2 frigates, the ironclad and 3 auxiliary boats damaged. Confederacy: 7 killed, 17 wounded; the ironclad and a gunboat damaged.
Result Inconclusive; the blockade remained in place
On 8 March the Confederate ironclad ram Virginia, built on the hull of the burned frigate Merrimack, destroyed the wooden Union ships Congress and Cumberland and was about to attack the grounded Minnesota when darkness and the falling tide stopped her. Overnight the Union ironclad Monitor arrived. On 9 March the two ironclads fought for about three hours without doing serious damage to each other, and both withdrew.
Why it is remembered The first battle between ironclad warships. Britain and France stopped building wooden-hulled warships, monitors were built on the pattern of the original, heavy guns firing in all directions became standard, and rams were built into warship hulls for the rest of the century.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Kurz and Allison, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Island Number Ten Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Island No. 10
28 February to 8 April 1862 · Island Number Ten and New Madrid, Kentucky Bend of the Mississippi River, Missouri and Tennessee
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders John Pope and Andrew H. Foote (Union); John P. McCown and William W. Mackall (Confederacy)
Forces 23,000 Union troops, 6 gunboats and 11 mortar rafts against about 7,000 Confederates
Ships USS Carondelet, USS Pittsburg
Losses Union: 23 killed, 50 wounded, 5 missing. Confederacy: about 30 killed and wounded, 7,000 surrendered.
Result Union victory
After Pope took New Madrid, Union gunboats and mortar rafts bombarded Island No. 10 for three weeks while the army dug a canal to bypass it. Carondelet ran past the batteries on the night of 4 April and Pittsburg two nights later, and with their support Pope's army crossed the river and trapped the Confederates. The island garrison surrendered to Foote and the flotilla.
Why it is remembered The first time the Confederate Army lost a position on the Mississippi in battle. It opened the river to the Union Navy as far as Fort Pillow.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Official U.S. Navy Photograph. Photo #: KN-969 (Color), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Joint Expedition Against Franklin Landing or siege
Also known as Action at Crumpler's Bluff; Battle of Crumpler's Bluff
3 October 1862 · Blackwater River near Franklin, Virginia
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders C. W. Flusser, Edmund R. Colhoun, Charles A. French, Samuel P. Spear (Union); Dennis Dozier Ferebee, J. K. Marshall, Edward Graham, Collet Leventhorpe (Confederate)
Forces Union: three gunboats and 1,300 infantry with an artillery section. Confederate: 10,000 to 12,000 infantry
Losses Union: five killed, 21 wounded. Confederate: estimated 70 to 100
Result Confederate victory
A Union flotilla was to support an army advance on Franklin, Virginia, but delays meant the gunboats started before the army was ready. On 3 October 1862 they found themselves on the Blackwater River facing far larger Confederate infantry forces and had to retreat. An army reconnaissance force nearby attacked the town expecting naval support, not knowing the gunboats had withdrawn, and also failed.
Why it is remembered Afterwards Navy officers questioned the use of gunboats in joint expeditions where they could not support themselves.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: U.S. Naval Historical Center, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Lucas Bend Fleet battle
11 January 1862 · Lucas Bend, Mississippi River, four miles north of Columbus, Kentucky
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Andrew Hull Foote and William D. Porter (Union); George N. Hollins and John Rodgers (Confederacy, as given in the main account)
Forces 2 Union ironclad gunboats against 3 Confederate cottonclad gunboats, 1 floating battery and a shore battery at Columbus
Ships USS Essex, USS St. Louis, CSS General Polk, CSS Ivy, CSS Jackson, CSS New Orleans
Losses Union: none. Confederacy: unknown.
Result Inconclusive; the Confederate ships escaped
The Union ironclads Essex and St. Louis, carrying troops down the Mississippi in fog, met the Confederate gunboats General Polk, Ivy and Jackson and the floating battery New Orleans at Lucas Bend. After an hour of skirmishing the Confederate ships fell back to the shelter of the battery at Columbus, where the Union ships could not follow.
Why it is remembered One of the first occasions on which the new ironclads clearly outclassed timber-armoured warships, and one of the last engagements in which such ships played a major part.
Sources differ One account says a Union commander was wounded; another account gives no Union casualties.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Piracy in Asia
Battle off Mukah Single-ship action
23 May 1862 · Off Mukah, northern coast of Borneo, South China Sea
Fought between Raj of Sarawak against Moro pirates
Commanders John Brooke, Rajah Muda of Sarawak
Forces 1 Sarawak steamer and 1 gunboat against 6 pirate prahus
Losses Sarawak: about 1 killed and 2 wounded; the steamer and gunboat damaged. Pirates: about 100 killed or wounded, 4 prahus sunk, 1 damaged.
Result Sarawak victory
After pirates had kidnapped Sarawak subjects, two small Sarawak gunboats met the pirates off Mukah. John Brooke, heir to the White Rajah, led his force to defeat the six pirate ships and rescue the captives.
Why it is remembered An unusual action in which the heir to the Raj of Sarawak led a naval fight against pirates.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War (Burnside Expedition)
Battle of New Bern Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of New Berne
14 March 1862 · Near New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Ambrose Burnside and Stephen C. Rowan (Union); Lawrence O'B. Branch (Confederacy)
Forces 13 infantry regiments (11,000 men) and 14 gunboats against 6 infantry regiments (4,000 men) and 1 cavalry regiment
Losses Union: 90 killed, 380 wounded, 1 missing. Confederacy: 64 killed, 101 wounded, 413 men and nine guns captured or missing.
Result Union victory
General Burnside's Coast Division, accompanied by gunboats of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, which advanced up the river and passed the barricade, attacked the Confederate breastworks below New Bern. The Union troops broke through a weak point in the centre of the line, the militia gave way and the whole Confederate force retreated to Kinston.
Why it is remembered New Bern stayed under Union control for the rest of the war.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Herbert Eugene Valentine,, Artist, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Plum Point Bend Fleet battle
10 May 1862 · Plum Point Bend, Mississippi River, near Osceola, Arkansas, above Fort Pillow, Tennessee
Fought between Confederate States against the United States (Union)
Commanders J. E. Montgomery (Confederacy); Charles Henry Davis (Union)
Forces 8 Confederate cottonclad rams of the River Defense Fleet against 7 Union ironclads and 1 mortar boat of the Western Flotilla
Ships USS Cincinnati, USS Mound City, USS Carondelet, USS Benton, CSS General Bragg, CSS General Sterling Price, CSS General Sumter, CSS General Earl Van Dorn
Losses Union: 2 ironclads sunk, later raised; 4 men killed or wounded. Confederacy: about 12 men killed or wounded; several ships damaged.
Result Confederate victory
Each day the Union sent one mortar boat with a guard ironclad downriver to shell Fort Pillow. On 10 May the Confederate rams attacked while most Union ironclads had no steam up. General Bragg, General Sterling Price and General Sumter rammed the guard ship Cincinnati, which sank, and General Earl Van Dorn rammed Mound City, which was run onto a shoal and sank. The Union ironclads then moved into shallow water out of reach, and the Confederates, outgunned, withdrew.
Why it is remembered One of the few fleet actions of the Civil War. The Union strengthened its ships at the waterline afterwards; the River Defense Fleet was destroyed a month later at Memphis.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War (Burnside Expedition)
Battle of Roanoke Island Landing or siege
7 to 8 February 1862 · Roanoke Island and Croatan Sound, North Carolina
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Ambrose Burnside and Louis M. Goldsborough (Union); Henry A. Wise, in hospital, Henry M. Shaw and William F. Lynch (Confederacy)
Forces About 10,000 Union troops with gunboats of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron and army gunboats, against about 3,000 Confederates, the gunboats of the Mosquito Fleet, four forts and two batteries
Losses Union: 37 killed, 214 wounded, 13 missing. Confederacy: 23 killed, 58 wounded, 62 missing, about 2,500 captured, 30 guns captured.
Result Union victory
On the first day the Union gunboats fought the forts, with some help to the defenders from the Mosquito Fleet. Late in the day Burnside's troops landed unopposed with six naval howitzers. On 8 February they were halted by a battery in the centre of the island, then outflanked it through swamps the Confederates thought impassable. The forts were taken from the rear and Colonel Shaw surrendered.
Why it is remembered The amphibious opening of the Burnside Expedition, which gave the Union control of the island and the sounds around it.
Sources differ One account gives about 2,000 Confederate soldiers; another account gives 3,000.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Currier and Ives, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of St. Charles Landing or siege
17 June 1862 · St. Charles, White River, Arkansas
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Graham Fitch and Augustus Kilty, wounded (Union); Joseph Fry, captured (Confederacy)
Forces 2 Union ironclads, 2 timberclads and the 46th Indiana Infantry against two Confederate batteries and part of the 29th Arkansas Infantry
Ships USS Mound City, CSS Maurepas
Losses Union: aboard USS Mound City, all but about 25 of some 175 men killed or wounded. Confederacy: not stated.
Result Union victory
A Union naval force went up the White River to resupply General Curtis's army. The Confederates built two batteries at St. Charles and scuttled three ships, including CSS Maurepas, to block the river. While the 46th Indiana attacked by land and took the position, a Confederate shot pierced a steam drum of the ironclad Mound City and scalding steam filled the ship.
Why it is remembered The shot that hit Mound City has been called the deadliest shot of the war. Part of the battlefield is on the National Register of Historic Places as the St. Charles Battle Site.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Alexander Simplot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Tampa Landing or siege
Also known as Yankee Outrage at Tampa
30 June to 1 July 1862 · Tampa Bay and Fort Brooke, Tampa, Florida
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders A. J. Drake (Union); John William Pearson (Confederacy)
Forces 1 Union gunboat against 1 Confederate artillery company in Fort Brooke
Ships USS Sagamore
Losses None on either side.
Result Confederate victory
The gunboat USS Sagamore entered Tampa Bay and demanded the surrender of Fort Brooke, which Captain Pearson refused. That evening she began a long-range bombardment of the fort and town, and the fort answered with its three larger guns. Neither side did real damage, and after more rounds the next morning Sagamore returned to her blockade station.
Why it is remembered A small episode in the Union blockade of Tampa, a port used by blockade runners, followed by heavier Union attacks in October 1862 and May 1864.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: American Battlefield Protection Program, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Cochinchina campaign (1858 to 1862)
Capture of Vĩnh Long Landing or siege
22 March 1862 · Vĩnh Long, Mekong Delta, southern Vietnam
Fought between France and Spain against the Nguyễn dynasty of Vietnam
Commanders Louis-Adolphe Bonard and Lieutenant-Colonel Reboul (France); Carlos Palanca Gutiérrez (Spain); Vietnamese commander unknown
Forces 2 despatch vessels, 9 gunboats, 700 French and 300 Spanish infantry
Result French and Spanish victory
A Franco-Spanish force carried by 2 despatch vessels and 9 gunboats attacked the citadel of Vĩnh Long in the Mekong Delta and took it on 22 March 1862.
Why it is remembered It was the last major allied victory of the Cochinchina campaign, which ended with the founding of the French colony of Cochinchina and nearly a century of French dominance in Vietnam.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: afrer M. H. Lugeol, Prehom. Peulot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Second French intervention in Mexico
Battles of Acapulco Landing or siege
Also known as First Battle of Acapulco
10 to 12 January 1863 (first battle) · Bay of Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Fought between France against the Mexican Republicans, with the United States neutral
Commanders Eugène Le Bris Durumain and Rear Admiral Adolphe Bouët (France); Diego Álvarez Benítez, Juan Álvarez and Luis Ghilardi (Mexico); John Augustus Sutter Jr. (United States, neutral)
Forces 4 French warships and 100 marines of the French naval division of the Pacific against a garrison of about a dozen; the American warship Saranac present
Ships Pallas, USS Saranac
Losses Mexico: 12 or 13 dead. France: possibly none.
Result French victory; the city was evacuated and three forts put out of action
The French Pacific division entered the Bay of Acapulco on 10 January 1863 and shelled the town and its forts. According to accounts, John Sutter Jr. raised the American flag on a boat, crossed under the gunfire to the French flagship Pallas and persuaded Admiral Bouët to stop shelling civilian houses. The city was evacuated.
Why it is remembered Acapulco, a key Pacific port, changed hands several times during the French intervention, and its population fell from 6,000 to 2,000.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War (Vicksburg campaign)
Battle of Arkansas Post Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Fort Hindman
9 to 11 January 1863 · Fort Hindman, Arkansas Post, Arkansas River, Arkansas
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders John A. McClernand and David D. Porter (Union); Thomas J. Churchill, who surrendered (Confederacy)
Forces About 30,000 Union troops with Porter's Mississippi Squadron against about 5,000 Confederates
Losses Union: 1,092. Confederacy: 60 killed, about 80 wounded, 4,791 captured.
Result Union victory
Confederates raiding from Fort Hindman had captured a Union supply vessel, so McClernand and Sherman moved against it with Porter's fleet. Troops landed downriver on 9 January, and Porter's warships bombarded the fort on 10 January and again on 11 January as the army attacked. The assault was repulsed, but white flags appeared along parts of the Confederate line, Union troops pressed in amid the confusion, and General Churchill surrendered.
Why it is remembered A large surrender of Confederate troops early in the Vicksburg campaign; Grant at first disapproved of the operation and soon took command of the campaign from McClernand.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Currier & Ives., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
First Battle of Charleston Harbor Landing or siege
7 April 1863 · Entrance to Charleston Harbor, South Carolina
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Samuel Francis Du Pont (Union); P. G. T. Beauregard (Confederacy)
Forces 9 Union ironclads, seven of them Passaic class monitors, with New Ironsides and Keokuk, against 2 Confederate ironclads and 385 guns ashore
Ships USS New Ironsides, USS Keokuk
Losses Union: 1 killed, 21 wounded, 1 ship sunk and most others damaged. Confederacy: 5 killed, 8 wounded.
Result Confederate victory
Du Pont's ironclads attacked the forts at the harbour entrance late in the afternoon. In less than two hours of firing they could not get past even the first line of defences, and when the tide turned Du Pont broke off. One ship was left sinking and most of the rest damaged, and after consulting his captains he did not renew the attack.
Why it is remembered The Navy Department had hoped for a stunning success that would prove armoured ships with heavy guns could reduce traditional forts. The attack failed and was not renewed.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
First Battle of Fort McAllister Landing or siege
27 January to 3 March 1863 · Fort McAllister, Bryan County, Georgia
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Percival Drayton, John L. Worden and Daniel Ammen (Union); John B. Gallie, killed, and George Wayne Anderson (Confederacy)
Forces The Union monitors Montauk, Patapsco, Passaic and Nahant against the fort's garrison
Ships USS Montauk, USS Patapsco, USS Passaic, USS Nahant
Losses Unknown on both sides; the Confederate commander John B. Gallie was killed.
Result Confederate victory
Rear Admiral Du Pont, commanding the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, sent his new monitors in a series of attacks on Fort McAllister to test them before a major operation against Charleston. The fort held.
Why it is remembered A trial of the new monitors against a fort, ahead of the attack on Charleston Harbor.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Fort Brooke Raid
16 to 18 October 1863 · Tampa and the Hillsborough River, Florida
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders A. A. Semmes (Union navy); John S. Westcott (Confederacy)
Forces USS Tahoma and USS Adela against Company A, 2nd Florida Infantry
Ships USS Tahoma, USS Adela
Losses Union: 16. Confederate: unknown
Result Union victory
A minor engagement fought in and around Tampa from 16 to 18 October 1863. Its main result was the destruction of two Confederate blockade runners that had been hidden upstream on the Hillsborough River.
Why it is remembered It is remembered for the destruction of the two blockade runners hidden up the Hillsborough River.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: American Battlefield Protection Program, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Galveston Landing or siege
Also known as Second Battle of Galveston
1 January 1863 · Galveston, Texas
Fought between Confederate States against the United States (Union)
Commanders John B. Magruder and Leon Smith (Confederacy); William B. Renshaw, killed, and Isaac S. Burrell (Union)
Forces 2 Confederate cottonclad gunboats and infantry against 6 Union gunboats and infantry
Ships USRC Harriet Lane, USS Westfield, CS Bayou City
Losses Union: about 420 captured, 1 gunboat captured, 1 gunboat destroyed. Confederacy: 26 killed, 117 wounded.
Result Confederate victory
Confederate forces under General Magruder attacked the Union troops occupying Galveston by land and water. The cottonclad Bayou City captured Harriet Lane, and the Union commander Renshaw blew up the stranded Westfield to keep her from the enemy. Union troops ashore thought the fleet was surrendering and laid down their arms.
Why it is remembered It returned Galveston to Confederate hands three months after the Union took it in the Battle of Galveston Harbor.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Alfred Hudson Guernsey / Henry Mills Alden, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Action off Galveston Light Single-ship action
11 January 1863 · Off Galveston Lighthouse, Texas, Gulf of Mexico
Fought between Confederate States against the United States (Union)
Commanders Raphael Semmes (Confederacy); Homer C. Blake (Union)
Forces The Confederate sloop of war CSS Alabama against the Union steamer USS Hatteras
Ships CSS Alabama, USS Hatteras
Losses Union: 2 killed, 5 wounded, 118 captured; Hatteras sunk. Confederacy: 2 wounded; Alabama damaged.
Result Confederate victory
The Confederate raider Alabama met the Union steamer Hatteras off the Galveston lighthouse and sank her in a short fight. Most of the Union crew were taken prisoner.
Why it is remembered A short action in which the Confederate commerce raider Alabama sank a Union warship in the Gulf of Mexico.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War (Vicksburg campaign)
Battle of Grand Gulf Landing or siege
29 April 1863 · Grand Gulf, Mississippi River, Mississippi
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders David D. Porter (Union); John S. Bowen (Confederacy)
Forces 7 Union ironclads and about 10,000 men on transports against 4,200 Confederates in Forts Wade and Cobun
Losses Union: 75 to 80. Confederacy: 18 to 22, including the commander of Fort Wade.
Result Confederate victory
To clear the way for Grant's army to cross the Mississippi south of Vicksburg, seven ironclads of Porter's Mississippi Squadron bombarded the Confederate forts at Grand Gulf. They silenced Fort Wade and killed its commander, but the position held, and Grant crossed instead at Bruinsburg the next day.
Why it is remembered After the Union victory at Port Gibson, Grand Gulf was abandoned and became a Union supply point on the road to Vicksburg. The battlefield is preserved as Grand Gulf Military State Park.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Bakumatsu
Bombardment of Kagoshima Landing or siege
Also known as Anglo-Satsuma War (Satsu-Ei Sensō, 薩英戦争)
15 to 17 August 1863 · Kagoshima, Satsuma Domain, Japan
Fought between Britain against the Satsuma Domain
Commanders Augustus Kuper (Britain); Shimazu Hisamitsu (Satsuma)
Forces 7 British warships against Satsuma coastal batteries
Losses Britain: 13 killed, 59 wounded. Satsuma: 5 killed, 3 merchant ships and 5 junks destroyed.
Result Indecisive; the British withdrew, Satsuma claimed victory and later met some British demands
A Royal Navy squadron under Sir Augustus Kuper came to Kagoshima to obtain compensation for the Namamugi incident of 1862. Fired on by Satsuma's coastal batteries, the British bombarded the city but could not win a decisive result and withdrew two days later.
Why it is remembered Satsuma declared victory, and after negotiations met some of the British demands over the Namamugi incident.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: E. Roevens after special artist and correspondent in Japan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Portland Harbor Raid
27 June 1863 · Off Portland, Maine
Fought between Confederate States against the United States (Union)
Commanders Charles Read (Confederacy); Jacob McLellan (Union)
Forces 1 Confederate schooner against 1 revenue cutter and 2 steamers
Ships USRC Caleb Cushing
Losses Union: the cutter Caleb Cushing scuttled, 2 steamers damaged. Confederacy: 25 captured, the schooner captured.
Result Union victory
Confederate raiders under Charles Read captured the revenue cutter Caleb Cushing at Portland and later scuttled and burned her. Two civilian steamers went after them, and the Confederates and their schooner were captured.
Why it is remembered A Confederate raid in the waters of Maine in which a United States revenue cutter was captured and destroyed.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Second Battle of Charleston Harbor Landing or siege
Also known as Siege of Charleston Harbor; Siege of Fort Wagner; Battle of Morris Island
18 July to 7 September 1863 · Charleston, South Carolina
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Quincy Gillmore and John A. Dahlgren (Union); P. G. T. Beauregard and Roswell S. Ripley (Confederacy)
Forces X Corps and the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron against the garrisons of Fort Wagner and Fort Sumter
Losses Union: 358. Confederacy: 655.
Result Inconclusive
A combined Union Army and Navy force attacked the Confederate defences of Charleston in the late summer of 1863, besieging Fort Wagner on Morris Island and bombarding Fort Sumter.
Why it is remembered A combined army and navy siege of the defences of Charleston that ended inconclusively after seven weeks.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Second Battle of Fort Sumter Landing or siege
7 to 8 September 1863 · Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina
Fought between United States against the Confederate States
Commanders Quincy Gillmore (Union); P. G. T. Beauregard (Confederate)
Forces Union: a naval landing party of 413 men, with Marines. Confederate: 320 infantrymen.
Losses Union: 117. Confederate: 9.
Result Confederate victory
Union batteries on Morris Island bombarded Fort Sumter at the mouth of Charleston Harbor until it was a pile of rubble. Expecting an assault, Beauregard replaced the artillerymen and all but one of the guns with 320 infantrymen, who repulsed a Union naval landing party that tried to enter the fort through the breach in the wall facing Morris Island.
Why it is remembered Although the fort was reduced to ruins, the Confederate flag still flew over it.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Second Battle of Sabine Pass Landing or siege
8 September 1863 · Sabine Pass, Jefferson County, Texas
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders William B. Franklin and Frederick Crocker (Union); Richard W. Dowling and Leon Smith (Confederacy)
Forces 5,000 Union infantry, 4 gunboats and 18 transports against 46 Confederate gunners with 4 reinforcements, 6 guns and 1 fort
Losses Union: more than 350 killed, wounded or captured; gunboats captured and destroyed. Confederacy: none.
Result Confederate victory
A Union army and navy force tried to invade Texas through Sabine Pass. The small Confederate garrison of the fort drove off the attack, and the Union Navy lost gunboats captured and destroyed.
Why it is remembered Often called the most one-sided Confederate victory of the war. In 1876 Jefferson Davis called it the most remarkable battle in military history.
Sources differ One account says three Union gunboats were lost, two captured and one destroyed; another account lists 2 gunboats captured.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Shimonoseki campaign
Battle of Shimonoseki Straits Single-ship action
Also known as Shimonoseki Kaisen (下関海戦)
16 July 1863 · Shimonoseki Straits, Honshu, Japan
Fought between United States against the Chōshū Domain
Commanders David McDougal (United States); Mōri Takachika (Chōshū)
Forces 1 American screw sloop with 198 sailors and marines against 4 shore batteries, 1 barque, 1 brig and 1 steamer
Ships USS Wyoming, Daniel Webster, Lanrick, Lancefield
Losses United States: 4 killed, 7 wounded, the sloop considerably damaged. Chōshū: about 40 killed; 1 brig and 1 steamer sunk, the barque damaged, 4 shore batteries damaged.
Result American tactical victory; Wyoming withdrew
Captain McDougal took USS Wyoming into the strait alone and engaged the American-built but poorly manned ships of the Chōshū clan. In almost two hours of fighting he sank two vessels and badly damaged the third before withdrawing.
Why it is remembered A prelude to the larger Shimonoseki campaign of 1863 and 1864 by the foreign powers, during the troubled years of Japan's opening to the West.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Wassaw Sound Single-ship action
Also known as Capture of CSS Atlanta
17 June 1863 · Wassaw Sound, Chatham County, Georgia
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders John Rodgers (Union); William A. Webb (Confederacy)
Forces 2 Union monitors and 1 gunboat against 1 Confederate ironclad ram and 2 wooden steamers
Ships CSS Atlanta, USS Weehawken, USS Nahant, USS Cimmerone
Losses Union: none. Confederacy: 1 killed, 16 wounded, the ironclad captured.
Result Union victory
The Confederate ram Atlanta tried to break the Union blockade and ran aground in Wassaw Sound. After a short fight with the monitors Weehawken and Nahant she surrendered.
Why it is remembered Captain Rodgers became a national hero, was promoted to commodore and received the Thanks of Congress.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War (Vicksburg campaign)
Yazoo Pass expedition Landing or siege
3 February to 12 April 1863 (attacks on Fort Pemberton 11 to 16 March) · Yazoo Pass, Coldwater and Tallahatchie rivers, Fort Pemberton near Greenwood, Mississippi
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Watson Smith, later James P. Foster, and Leonard F. Ross (Union); William W. Loring (Confederacy)
Forces 8 Union gunboats, 2 rams and 1 mortar raft with army troops against 2,000 Confederates and 8 guns
Result Confederate victory
To outflank Vicksburg, the Union breached a levee on the Mississippi and sent a flotilla through Moon Lake, the Yazoo Pass and the Coldwater and Tallahatchie rivers towards the Yazoo. Natural obstacles slowed it to as little as ten miles a day, giving the Confederates time to build a fort near Greenwood. The ironclads were repulsed there on three separate days, and with the ground flooded the troops could not help. The force withdrew and was back by 12 April.
Why it is remembered A failed attempt by Grant and Porter to bypass the defences of Vicksburg through the flooded Mississippi Delta; the naval commander's very poor health was an important factor in its failure.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Albemarle Sound Fleet battle
5 May 1864 · Albemarle Sound, North Carolina
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Melancton Smith (Union); James W. Cooke (Confederacy)
Forces 8 Union gunboats against 1 Confederate ironclad and 2 steamers
Ships CSS Albemarle, USS Sassacus
Losses Union: 31 killed or wounded. Confederacy: 57 killed or wounded.
Result Inconclusive
Three Confederate warships, led by the ironclad Albemarle, engaged eight Union gunboats in Albemarle Sound. USS Sassacus rammed Albemarle. The fight ended without a decision at sunset.
Why it is remembered An indecisive fight between the Confederate ironclad Albemarle and a Union gunboat squadron on the North Carolina coast.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Ambush of the steamboat J. R. Williams Raid
Also known as Ambush at Pleasant Bluff
15 June 1864 · Pleasant Bluff, Arkansas River, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma)
Fought between Confederate States and Native American allies against the United States (Union)
Commanders Stand Watie (Confederacy); Horace Cook (Union)
Forces 400 Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Creek troops against 26 Union men aboard the steamboat
Ships J. R. Williams
Losses Union: 4 killed, 6 captured. Confederacy: not stated.
Result Confederate victory
Confederate Native American troops under the Cherokee general Stand Watie ambushed the Union supply steamboat J. R. Williams on the Arkansas River, striking at the Union Army's supply line.
Why it is remembered It is popularly called the only naval battle in the landlocked state of Oklahoma.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Bahia incident Raid
Also known as Incidente da Bahia
7 October 1864 · Port of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States, in neutral Brazil
Commanders Napoleon Collins (Union); T. K. Porter (Confederacy); Antônio Gomes (Brazil)
Forces 1 Union sloop of war against 1 Confederate sloop of war, with 2 Brazilian forts and 1 paddle steamer present
Ships USS Wachusett, CSS Florida
Losses Union: 3 wounded, the sloop damaged. Confederacy: about 5 killed, about 9 wounded, 60 captured, the sloop captured. Brazil: none.
Result Union victory; the Americans withdrew from Salvador
The Union sloop Wachusett attacked and cut out the Confederate warship Florida in the harbour of Salvador, Bahia, and took her away.
Why it is remembered The attack in a neutral harbour violated Brazilian neutrality and caused a diplomatic incident between the United States and Brazil.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: F. Guterkunst, United States Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Cherbourg (1864) Single-ship action
Also known as Battle off Cherbourg; Sinking of CSS Alabama; Combat naval à Cherbourg
19 June 1864 · Off Cherbourg, France, English Channel
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders John Winslow (Union); Raphael Semmes (Confederacy)
Forces The screw sloop USS Kearsarge with 163 men against the screw sloop CSS Alabama with 149 men
Ships USS Kearsarge, CSS Alabama, Deerhound, Couronne
Losses Union: 1 died of wounds, 2 wounded. Confederacy: Alabama sunk; 19 dead (9 killed in action, 10 drowned), 21 wounded, about 70 captured.
Result Union victory
After five commerce-raiding cruises, Alabama put into Cherbourg on 11 June 1864 for repairs, and Kearsarge arrived to watch her. On 19 June Alabama came out, escorted by the French ironclad Couronne. Outside French waters the two ships circled each other seven times in just over an hour of firing; Kearsarge, with chain cable hung along her sides, fired more slowly and more accurately. Holed below the waterline, Alabama sank, and the British yacht Deerhound picked up Semmes and others and carried them to Southampton.
Why it is remembered It ended the career of the Confederate commerce raider Alabama. Édouard Manet painted the battle. The wreck was found by the French minesweeper Circé in 1984 at 60 metres, and more than 300 artefacts, including the ship's bell, were raised in 2002.
Sources differ One account says about 38 to 41 Confederate sailors were rescued by the British yacht; another account says about 30. Kearsarge's casualties are given as 1 died of wounds and 2 wounded, or 3 wounded.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
First Battle of Fort Fisher Landing or siege
24 to 27 December 1864 · Fort Fisher, New Hanover County, North Carolina
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Benjamin Butler and David D. Porter (Union); William H. C. Whiting and William Lamb (Confederacy)
Forces The Expeditionary Corps of the Army of the James and the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron against Hoke's Division and the Fort Fisher garrison
Losses 320 in all.
Result Confederate victory
The Union tried to take Fort Fisher, which guarded Wilmington, the South's last major Atlantic port. The navy first tried to blow down the fort's walls by detonating a ship filled with powder, which failed, then bombarded the fort for two days. On the second day troops began to land, but Butler, hearing of Confederate reinforcements and facing worsening weather, called off the attack and declared the fort impregnable.
Why it is remembered Butler was relieved of command on 8 January 1865, and a new expedition under Alfred H. Terry took the fort a week later.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Second Schleswig War
Battle of Heligoland (1864) Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Helgoland; Seegefecht bei Helgoland
9 May 1864 · Off Heligoland, German Bight, North Sea
Fought between Denmark against Austria and Prussia
Commanders Edouard Suenson (Denmark); Wilhelm von Tegetthoff (Austria)
Forces 2 Danish screw frigates and 1 screw corvette against 2 Austrian screw frigates, 1 Prussian aviso and 2 Prussian gunboats
Ships SMS Schwarzenberg, SMS Radetzky, Niels Juel, Jylland, Hejmdal
Losses Denmark: 14 killed, 54 wounded, 1 frigate damaged. Austria and Prussia: 36 killed, 108 wounded, 2 frigates damaged.
Result Disputed: a Danish tactical success, but the Danish blockade was lifted
Austria sent the steam frigates Schwarzenberg and Radetzky to help the small Prussian Navy break the Danish blockade of the German North Sea ports. Off Heligoland, then a neutral British island, Tegetthoff attacked Suenson's squadron with his two frigates while the slower Prussian ships lagged behind. His flagship Schwarzenberg caught fire three times, and the last fire forced him to take shelter in neutral waters. An armistice followed three days later and the blockade was ended.
Why it is remembered The last battle fought by squadrons of wooden ships and the last major action by Danish warships. Jylland survives at Ebeltoft as the last wooden-hulled screw warship, and Josef Carl Püttner painted the battle.
Sources differ Historians differ: some call it a Danish tactical victory, others an Austro-Prussian strategic victory because the blockade was lifted, others inconclusive.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Josef Carl Püttner (1821, 1881), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Second Schleswig War
Battle of Jasmund (1864) Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Rügen
17 March 1864 · East of the Jasmund peninsula, Rügen, Bay of Pomerania
Fought between Denmark against Prussia
Commanders Edvard van Dockum (Denmark); Eduard von Jachmann (Prussia)
Forces 1 Danish ship of the line, 1 steam frigate and 2 steam corvettes against a Prussian squadron of 2 steam warships, 1 paddle steamer and 6 gunboats
Ships Sjælland, Loreley, Nymphe
Losses Denmark: 6 dead, 16 wounded. Prussia: 5 dead, 8 wounded, 1 ship damaged.
Result Danish tactical victory; the blockade of the Prussian coast was maintained
The Prussian squadron sortied from the coast of Rügen to attack the Danish ships blockading the eastern Prussian coast. In a two-hour action the stronger Danish squadron forced the Prussians to withdraw, with damage and light casualties on both sides. More Danish warships arrived afterwards and the blockade held.
Why it is remembered A Danish naval success that made no difference to the war, which was decided by Prussian and Austrian victories on land. Alexander Kircher painted Sjælland engaging Loreley and Nymphe.
Sources differ One account gives the Prussian squadron as a screw frigate and a screw corvette with the steamer and gunboats; another account gives 2 steam corvettes.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Alexander Kircher, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Mobile Bay Fleet battle
5 August 1864 · Mobile Bay, Alabama
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders David G. Farragut and Gordon Granger (Union); Franklin Buchanan and Richard L. Page (Confederacy)
Forces 12 Union wooden ships, 2 gunboats, 4 ironclad monitors and 5,500 men against 3 Confederate gunboats, 1 ironclad, 1,500 men and Forts Morgan, Gaines and Powell
Ships CSS Tennessee, USS Tecumseh
Losses Union: 151 killed, 177 wounded, 1 ironclad sunk, 1 dispatch vessel destroyed. Confederacy: 13 killed, 22 wounded, 1,587 captured; 1 gunboat captured, 1 gunboat destroyed and the ironclad captured.
Result Union victory
Farragut's fleet ran past the forts at the entrance to Mobile Bay and through a minefield that had just sunk one of his monitors. The Confederate squadron was reduced to the ironclad Tennessee, which fought the whole Union fleet alone and did more damage than she received, but was finally reduced to a motionless hulk and surrendered. The three forts surrendered within days.
Why it is remembered It closed Mobile, the last important Confederate port on the Gulf east of the Mississippi, and with the fall of Atlanta helped Lincoln's re-election. Farragut's order, remembered as “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead”, became famous; it was his last battle.
Sources differ One account dates the battle to 5 August 1864; another account gives 2 to 23 August, to the fall of Fort Morgan.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Julian O. Davidson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Capture of Plymouth (1864) Landing or siege
29 to 31 October 1864 · Plymouth, Roanoke River and Middle River, North Carolina
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders William H. Macomb and William B. Cushing (Union)
Forces 9 Union gunboats and 1 torpedo boat against 3,500 Confederates with 22 guns in 3 shore batteries
Ships CSS Albemarle
Losses Union: 6 killed, 9 wounded, 3 gunboats damaged. Confederacy: 37 captured, 22 guns and 3 batteries captured.
Result Union victory
After CSS Albemarle was sunk in a commando raid led by Lieutenant William B. Cushing, Union naval forces attacked Plymouth, held by Confederate artillery. After three days of fighting the Confederates withdrew, and the navy landed men and occupied the town.
Why it is remembered It followed the sinking of the ironclad Albemarle and brought Plymouth under Union control. Alexander C. Stuart painted the capture.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Rainbow Bluff Expedition Other action
9 December 1864 · Roanoke River below Rainbow Bluff, North Carolina
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Rear Admiral David Porter and Lieutenant Colonel Innis N. Palmer (Union)
Forces The Union gunboats Wyalusing and Otsego and the tug Bazely against Confederate river mines and the position on Rainbow Bluff
Ships USS Wyalusing, USS Otsego, Bazely
Losses Union: Otsego and Bazely sunk. Confederacy: none.
Result Confederate victory
A Union naval expedition went up the Roanoke River towards Rainbow Bluff. Confederate river mines sank the gunboat Otsego and blew up the tug Bazely, and with the Confederate position reinforced the Union force abandoned the expedition.
Why it is remembered An example of Confederate mines turning back a Union river expedition late in the war.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Frederick Gutekunst, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Chincha Islands War
Action of 17 November 1865 Single-ship action
Also known as Combate del 17 de noviembre de 1865
17 November 1865 · Off Tomé, Concepción Bay, Chile
Fought between Chile against Spain
Forces The unarmed Chilean tug Independencia against a Spanish gunboat with 2 guns
Ships Independencia, Resolución
Losses Spain: about 50 taken prisoner, the gunboat captured. Chile: none.
Result Chilean victory
The Chilean tug Independencia captured a gunboat belonging to the Spanish frigate Resolución off Tomé.
Why it is remembered A minor Chilean success in the Chincha Islands War, nine days before the Battle of Papudo.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Chincha Islands War
Action of Calderilla Raid
Also known as Acción militar de Calderilla; 1865 Calderilla clashes
27 December 1865 · Calderilla, near Caldera, Chile
Fought between Spain against Chile
Forces Boats and armed launches from the Spanish frigates Berenguela and Numancia against Chilean infantry of the 4th Line and artillery ashore
Ships Berenguela, Numancia
Losses Chile: none reported. Spain: three sailors killed, according to Chilean claims.
Result Chilean victory; the Spanish failed to take the steamer
Spanish boats from Berenguela and a steam launch from Numancia tried to cut out a Chilean steamer and towed her away, but Chilean soldiers saw them and opened fire. The launches withdrew and left the steamer stranded. Berenguela came in under steam and fired on the Chilean positions, which had been reinforced with artillery, and the Spanish withdrew when Numancia arrived.
Why it is remembered A failed Spanish attempt to reduce Chile's war capacity by seizing one of its ships.
Sources Wikipedia (ES)
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Paraguayan War (Corrientes campaign)
Battle of Corrientes Raid
13 April to 25 May 1865 · Corrientes, Paraná River, Corrientes Province, Argentina
Fought between Paraguay against Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay
Commanders Pedro Ignacio Meza and Wenceslao Robles (Paraguay); Wenceslao Paunero and Bartolomé Mitre (Argentina); Joaquim M. Lisboa (Brazil)
Forces Paraguay: 37,000 soldiers and 5 warships. Allies: 10,000 Argentine soldiers and 4 frigates, 15,000 Brazilian soldiers and 17 warships, 1 Uruguayan ironclad.
Ships Tacuarí, Paraguarí, Marqués de Olinda, Ygurey, Yporá, 25 de Mayo, Gualeguay
Losses Paraguay: more than 400 dead left behind on 25 May. Argentina: the ships 25 de Mayo and Gualeguay captured.
Result Allied victory
On 13 April 1865 a Paraguayan squadron of five ships under Pedro Ignacio Meza arrived at Corrientes and seized the Argentine ships 25 de Mayo and Gualeguay, which were under repair. Paraguayan troops occupied the city the next day. On 25 May an Argentine force of 725 men under General Paunero attacked the city, and the Paraguayans withdrew to Empedrado.
Why it is remembered The invasion of Corrientes brought Argentina and Uruguay into the war alongside Brazil in the Triple Alliance, and its failure led to the allied invasion of Paraguay.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Jules Gaildrau / Louis Paul Pierre Dumont, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Chincha Islands War
Battle of Papudo Single-ship action
Also known as Naval Battle of Papudo; Combate naval de Papudo
26 November 1865 · Off Papudo, 55 miles north of Valparaíso, Chile
Fought between Chile against Spain
Commanders Juan Williams Rebolledo (Chile); Luis Fery, captured (Spain)
Forces The Chilean corvette Esmeralda, 18 guns, against the Spanish schooner Virgen de Covadonga, 3 guns
Ships Esmeralda, Virgen de Covadonga, Villa de Madrid
Losses Spain: 4 dead, 22 wounded, 122 captured, the schooner captured. Chile: none.
Result Chilean victory
Esmeralda, flying a British flag, closed with Covadonga, whose captain took her for a British ship. She then opened fire, and her gunners proved more accurate. After about half an hour Covadonga, badly hit, tried to escape, and Fery surrendered. The Chileans took the schooner and the correspondence of the Spanish admiral, Juan Manuel Pareja.
Why it is remembered Admiral Pareja took his own life aboard his flagship Villa de Madrid two days later. Arturo Prat, Juan José Latorre and Carlos Condell served in Esmeralda, and Covadonga joined the Chilean Navy and later fought at the Battle of Iquique.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Somerscales, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Paraguayan War (Corrientes campaign)
Battle of Paso de Cuevas Landing or siege
12 August 1865 · Cuevas pass, Paraná River, Corrientes Province, Argentina
Fought between Brazil and Argentina against Paraguay
Commanders Francisco M. Barroso (Brazil); José Murature (Argentina); José María Bruguez (Paraguay)
Forces 12 Brazilian ships with 60 guns, 3 frigates, 3 corvettes, 5 gunboats and a transport, with 1 Argentine gunboat, against 3,000 Paraguayan soldiers with 34 guns
Losses Allies: 24 killed, 42 wounded. Paraguay: unknown.
Result Allied victory; the warships passed
A day after running past Bruguez's guns at Bella Vista, the allied fleet continued down the Paraná so as not to be cut off from its supply base. At the Cuevas pass it again came under fire from 3,000 of Bruguez's men with 34 guns and forced its way through with losses.
Why it is remembered The last naval combat of the Argentine Navy against a foreign nation before the Falklands War. José Murature painted the battle.
Sources differ The account of Riachuelo gives 21 Brazilian killed at Cuevas; the main account gives 24 killed and 42 wounded.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Paraguayan War (Corrientes campaign)
Battle of Paso de Mercedes Landing or siege
Also known as Combate de Paso de Mercedes
11 August 1865 · Bella Vista on the Paraná River, west of Mercedes, Corrientes Province, Argentina
Fought between Brazil against Paraguay
Commanders Francisco M. Barroso (Brazil); José María Bruguez (Paraguay)
Forces 12 Brazilian ships with 60 guns against 3,000 Paraguayan soldiers with 34 guns on the bank
Losses Brazil: 20 killed and wounded. Paraguay: 2 killed, 8 wounded.
Result Brazilian victory; the warships passed
Paraguayan batteries under José María Bruguez at Bella Vista fired on the Brazilian squadron as it ran down the Paraná, and the warships forced their way past.
Why it is remembered The first of two passages the Brazilian squadron forced past Bruguez's riverbank guns after Riachuelo, followed the next day by Paso de Cuevas.
Sources differ One account gives 11 August 1865; a contemporary engraving used in another account dates the forcing of the Mercedes pass to 18 June 1865.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Antonio Luiz von Hoonholtz (1837 to 1931), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Paraguayan War (Corrientes campaign)
Battle of Riachuelo Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of the Riachuelo; Batalha Naval do Riachuelo
11 June 1865 · Paraná River at the mouth of the Riachuelo stream, near Corrientes, Argentina
Fought between Brazil against Paraguay
Commanders Francisco Manuel Barroso (Brazil); Pedro Ignacio Meza, mortally wounded (Paraguay)
Forces Brazil: 1 frigate, 4 corvettes and 4 gunboats with 58 guns. Paraguay: 2 corvettes, 6 steamers and 7 barges with 44 guns, plus 22 guns and 2 Congreve rocket batteries ashore.
Ships Amazonas, Belmonte, Jequitinhonha, Parnaíba, Ypiranga, Araguari, Tacuarí, Paraguarí, Marqués de Olinda, Salto Guairá, Yporá, Pirabebé
Losses Brazil: 104 killed, 123 wounded, 20 missing; the Jequitinhonha lost. Paraguay: about 750 casualties; 4 steamers and 7 barges sunk.
Result Brazilian victory
Eight Paraguayan steamers from Humaitá under Captain Meza, towing gun barges, opened fire on the Brazilian squadron at anchor as they passed downstream. In the confusion Jequitinhonha turned the wrong way, Belmonte was left alone and disabled, and Jequitinhonha ran aground. Admiral Barroso then counter-attacked in the frigate Amazonas, ramming and disabling Paraguarí and then ramming Marqués de Olinda and Salto. Paraguay lost four steamers and all its barges.
Why it is remembered The decisive naval battle of the Paraguayan War, which began to turn the tide in favour of the allies. Barroso signalled that Brazil expected every man to do his duty, and Victor Meirelles painted the battle.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Oscar Pereira da Silva / After Victor Meirelles, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Second Battle of Fort Fisher Landing or siege
13 to 15 January 1865 · Fort Fisher, south of Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina
Fought between United States (Union) against the Confederate States
Commanders Alfred H. Terry and David D. Porter (Union); Braxton Bragg, William H. C. Whiting, mortally wounded, Robert Hoke and William Lamb, who surrendered (Confederacy)
Forces 9,632 Union soldiers and 58 ships with 2,261 sailors and marines against 1,900 men in Fort Fisher and Hoke's Division of 6,400
Losses Union: army 111 killed, 540 wounded, 13 missing; navy 88 killed, 271 wounded, 34 missing; 1,057 in all. Confederacy: 583 killed and wounded and the whole Fort Fisher garrison of 1,900 captured.
Result Union victory
A Union army, navy and marine force attacked Fort Fisher, the last major coastal stronghold of the Confederacy, after the failure of the first attempt in December. The fleet supported the assault, and on 15 January the fort was taken and its garrison captured.
Why it is remembered Called the Gibraltar of the South and the last major coastal stronghold of the Confederacy, Fort Fisher had kept a port open for blockade runners supplying the Army of Northern Virginia.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Paraguayan War (Mato Grosso campaign)
Capture of the gunboat Anhambaí Single-ship action
Also known as Capture of the Amambaí
6 January 1865 · São Lourenço River near Morro do Caracará, Mato Grosso, Brazil
Fought between Paraguay against Brazil
Commanders José Guimarães, captured (Brazil)
Forces 2 Paraguayan corvettes against 1 Brazilian gunboat with 34 soldiers
Ships Anhambaí, Yporá, Río Apa
Losses Brazil: the gunboat and all her crew captured. Paraguay: unknown.
Result Paraguayan victory
After people evacuated from Fort Coimbra and Corumbá had landed at Sará, the Paraguayan corvettes Yporá and Río Apa attacked the Brazilian gunboat Anhambaí on the São Lourenço River. Yporá rammed her and drove her against the bank, and she was captured.
Why it is remembered A Paraguayan success in the Mato Grosso campaign of the Paraguayan War.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Hugo Diaz Lavigne, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · American Civil War
Battle of Trent's Reach Fleet battle
23 to 25 January 1865 · Trent's Reach, James River, Henrico County, Virginia
Fought between Confederate States against the United States (Union)
Commanders John K. Mitchell and Charles W. Read (Confederacy); William A. Parker, Henry H. Pierce and Ulysses S. Grant (Union)
Forces Confederacy: 3 ironclads, 5 gunboats and 3 torpedo boats, with about 16 guns in 2 shore batteries. Union: 1 monitor, 2 gunboats, 1 torpedo boat and 1 torpedo launch, with about 30 guns in Fort Brady and 4 shore batteries.
Losses Union: 3 killed, about 40 wounded; a monitor, a gunboat and the fort damaged. Confederacy: 4 to 10 killed, 15 wounded; 1 gunboat and 1 torpedo boat sunk, 3 ironclads, 3 gunboats and 1 torpedo boat damaged.
Result Union victory
A Confederate flotilla came down the James River, bombarded Fort Brady and engaged the Union ships, aiming to break through to City Point, Grant's base for the siege of Petersburg. It broke through the boom at Trent's Reach, but after two days of fighting withdrew upriver without reaching its objective.
Why it is remembered One of the last major naval battles of the American Civil War. Alfred Waud sketched the Confederate ships breaking the boom.
Sources differ Confederate killed are given as 4 to 10.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Chincha Islands War
Battle of Abtao Fleet battle
7 February 1866 · Abtao island, Gulf of Ancud, near the Chiloé Archipelago, Chile
Fought between Spain against Peru and Chile
Commanders Claudio Alvargonzález Sánchez and Juan Bautista Topete (Spain); Manuel Villar Olivera, Miguel Grau and Manuel Ferreyros (Peru); Manuel Thomson (Chile)
Forces 2 Spanish frigates against 1 frigate, 2 corvettes and 1 schooner of the allied fleet
Ships Reina Blanca, Villa de Madrid
Losses Spain: 6 wounded. Peru and Chile: 2 to 12 killed, 1 to about 20 wounded.
Result Inconclusive
The allied ships lay at anchor behind Abtao island in shallow water the Spanish ships could not enter. The action was limited to a long-range exchange of fire, in which the Spanish gunnery was more accurate and damaged the Chilean and Peruvian ships.
Why it is remembered The allied squadron, whose officers included Miguel Grau, held its protected anchorage. Federico Castellón Martínez painted the Spanish frigates in action; the painting is in the Naval Museum of Madrid.
Sources differ Allied losses are given as 2 to 12 killed and 1 to about 20 wounded.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Federico Castellón Martínez, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Chincha Islands War
Battle of Callao Landing or siege
Also known as Combate del Dos de Mayo
2 May 1866 · Callao, Peru
Fought between Spain against Peru
Commanders Casto Méndez Núñez, wounded (Spain); Mariano I. Prado (Peru)
Forces 1 Spanish ironclad, 5 frigates and 1 corvette against 2 small Peruvian ironclads, 3 gunboats, 52 shore guns and 3,000 infantry and cavalry
Ships Paquete de Maule
Losses Spain: 43 killed, 83 wounded, 68 lightly wounded. Peru: sources vary, from 180 to 200 killed and wounded, to 83 to 90 killed and 260 wounded, to more than 350 killed, to 2,000 killed and wounded.
Result Inconclusive
Admiral Méndez Núñez's squadron bombarded the fortified port of Callao and its batteries, then withdrew.
Why it is remembered The last battle between Spanish and Peruvian forces in the war, remembered in South America as the Dos de Mayo.
Sources differ Peruvian and American sources say the Spanish withdrew without doing notable damage to the city; Spanish accounts and French observers say they first silenced almost all the coastal guns. Peruvian losses vary widely between sources.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903
General Sherman incident Other action
Also known as 제너럴셔먼호 사건
9 August to 2 September 1866 · Taedong River, Pyongyang, Korea
Fought between Joseon Korea against the American merchant ship General Sherman
Commanders Regent Daewongun, Bak Gyusu and Yi Hyon-ik (Korea); Captain Page, killed (General Sherman)
Forces Korean troops, 1 turtle ship and 9 fire ships against the armed merchant ship General Sherman
Ships SS General Sherman
Losses General Sherman: 19 killed, the ship destroyed. Korea: 1 killed, 6 fire ships destroyed; 7 civilians killed.
Result General Sherman destroyed and her crew killed
The American merchant ship General Sherman sailed up the Taedong River trying to open trade with Korea and ignored orders to leave. Her crew took the Korean official Yi Hyon-ik hostage, and when angry civilians attacked the ship she fired her guns on them. Korean troops and an improvised warship were driven off, but waves of fire ships finally set her alight, and her crew were killed on the shore.
Why it is remembered It led in part to the American expedition to Korea of 1871, sent to learn the ship's fate.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Chincha Islands War
Battle of Huite Landing or siege
Also known as Combat de Huite; Combate de Huite
2 March 1866 · Huite estuary, east coast of Chiloé Island, Chile
Fought between Spain against Chile
Commanders Casto Méndez Núñez and Juan Bautista Topete (Spain); Major Jorge Wood (Chile)
Forces The Spanish armoured frigate Numancia and screw frigate Blanca against 200 Chilean soldiers of the 4th Ancud battalion ashore
Ships Numancia, Blanca
Losses None on either side.
Result Inconclusive; the Spanish ships withdrew to a safer anchorage
During the second Spanish expedition to Chiloé, the frigates Numancia and Blanca under Admiral Méndez Núñez exchanged fire with Chilean troops under Major Jorge Wood on the east coast of Chiloé Island. Neither side suffered losses, and the Spanish squadron withdrew to a safer anchorage.
Why it is remembered A minor episode of the second Spanish expedition to Chiloé in the war with Chile and Peru.
Sources Wikipédia (FR)
Image: Unknown artist (El Museo Universal), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Paraguayan War
Battle of Jaguarí Single-ship action
Also known as Combate do Jaguari
23 March 1866 · Mouth of the Jaguari River on the Paraná River, Argentina and Paraguay
Fought between Paraguay against Brazil
Commanders Joaquim Marques Lisboa (Brazil)
Forces 1 Paraguayan steamer and 1 towed flat-bottomed boat against the Brazilian steamer Cisne with the ironclad Tamandaré and the gunboats Beberibe and Henrique Martins
Ships Cisne, Tamandaré, Beberibe, Henrique Martins, Gualeguai
Losses Brazil: 1 ship damaged; Tamandaré ran aground. Paraguay: unknown.
Result Brazilian victory
Admiral Marques Lisboa and Generals Osório, Mitre and Flores were reconnoitring the Paraná aboard the steamer Cisne under escort. The Paraguayan steamer Gualeguai and a towed boat found the flotilla at the mouth of the Jaguari and opened fire without causing damage, but Tamandaré ran aground on Itapiru island.
Why it is remembered The reconnaissance fixed the site where the Triple Alliance troops later landed to invade Paraguay.
Sources differ The main account names the escort as Tamandaré, Beberibe and Henrique Martins; a picture of the reconnaissance names Tamandaré, Mearim and Henrique Martins.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Third Italian War of Independence
Battle of Lissa (1866) Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Vis; Bitka kod Visa; Seeschlacht von Lissa
20 July 1866 · Off the island of Lissa (Vis), Adriatic Sea
Fought between Austria against Italy
Commanders Wilhelm von Tegetthoff (Austria); Carlo Pellion di Persano (Italy)
Forces Austria: 4 ironclads, 3 armoured frigates, 1 ship of the line, 5 screw frigates, 1 screw corvette and smaller vessels. Italy: 9 ironclads, 1 armoured frigate, 2 armoured corvettes, 7 screw frigates and smaller vessels.
Ships Erzherzog Ferdinand Max, Kaiser, Habsburg, Drache, Kaiser Max, Prinz Eugen, Don Juan d'Austria, Salamander, Re d'Italia, Affondatore, Re di Portogallo, Palestro, Maria Pia, Castelfidardo, Ancona, San Martino, Principe di Carignano, Terribile, Formidabile, Varese
Losses Austria: 38 killed, 138 wounded. Italy: 612 killed, 36 wounded, 19 captured; 1 armoured frigate and 1 gunboat sunk.
Result Austrian victory
The Italian fleet attacking Lissa was met by Tegetthoff's Austrian fleet. Persano moved his flag from Re d'Italia to Affondatore without signalling, which confused his fleet and opened a gap that Tegetthoff exploited. Re d'Italia, her rudder shot away, was rammed by the Austrian flagship Erzherzog Ferdinand Max and sank in about three minutes. The wooden ship of the line Kaiser rammed Re di Portogallo and survived heavy damage. The Austrians relieved Lissa after sinking two Italian warships.
Why it is remembered The first battle fought with ironclads on a large scale. Too much was later made of ramming, though only one ship was sunk that way. Persano was dismissed in disgrace while Tegetthoff was promoted and honoured. Carl Frederik Sørensen painted the battle in 1868.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Carl Frederik Sørensen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Chincha Islands War
Capture of the Paquete de Maule Blockade and raiding
Also known as Apresamiento del Paquete del Maule
6 March 1866 · Gulf of Arauco, Chile
Fought between Spain against Chile
Commanders Juan Bautista Topete (Spain); Luis Alfredo Lynch Solo de Zaldívar, captured (Chile)
Forces The Spanish steam frigate Blanca, 39 guns, against the unarmed Chilean sidewheel steamer Paquete de Maule
Ships Blanca, Paquete de Maule, Independencia
Losses Chile: 134 captured, the steamer captured. Spain: none.
Result Spanish victory
The unarmed Chilean auxiliary steamer Paquete de Maule, sailing from Lota for Montevideo with 126 sailors meant to complete the crews of the Peruvian ironclads Huáscar and Independencia, was captured by the Spanish frigate Blanca. She flew British colours and her crew claimed to be British, but the Spanish arrested them. The small Chilean vessel Independencia, which had accompanied her, escaped into shallow water.
Why it is remembered The Spanish armed the steamer with two guns and used her at the Battle of Callao, then burned and scuttled her near San Lorenzo Island on 10 May 1866 when they withdrew.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Chincha Islands War
Bombardment of Valparaíso Raid
31 March 1866 · Valparaíso, Chile
Fought between Spain against Chile
Commanders Casto Méndez Núñez (Spain)
Forces 1 Spanish ironclad, 5 frigates and 1 corvette against an undefended port
Losses Chile: 2 killed, 10 wounded, 33 ships sunk. Spain: none.
Result Spanish victory
The Spanish fleet shelled, burned and destroyed the undefended port of Valparaíso.
Why it is remembered The Spanish fleet destroyed an undefended port and sank 33 ships in it.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: William Gibbons, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Paraguayan War (Mato Grosso campaign)
Battle of Alegre Fleet battle
Also known as Naval Battle of Alegre; Combate do Alegre
11 July 1867 · São Lourenço River near Corumbá, now Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
Fought between Brazil against Paraguay
Commanders Antônio João da Costa (Brazil)
Forces 2 Brazilian gunboats, 6 flat-bottomed boats and 840 soldiers against 3 Paraguayan gunboats
Ships Jauru
Losses Brazil: 33 casualties, 1 gunboat sunk. Paraguay: unknown; 1 gunboat burned.
Result Brazilian victory; the Paraguayan ships withdrew
After the Brazilians retook Corumbá, a small Paraguayan squadron of steamers came up the river after them and attacked by surprise. The Brazilians under Lieutenant Colonel Antônio João da Costa beat them off. The Brazilian steamer Jauru was lost and retaken during the fight.
Why it is remembered It is shown on the monument to the heroes of Laguna and Dourados in Rio de Janeiro.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Paraguayan War (Humaitá campaign)
Passage of Curupayty (1867) Landing or siege
Also known as Siege of Curupaiti; Passagem de Curupaiti; Paso de Curupayty
15 August 1867 · Curupayty Fort, Paraguay River, Paraguay
Fought between Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay against Paraguay
Commanders Joaquim José Inácio (Brazil); Francisco Solano López (Paraguay)
Forces 18 Brazilian warships and 3 flat-bottomed boats against Curupayty Fort with 35 guns
Losses Allies: 25 casualties, 1 warship damaged. Paraguay: 1 dead, 2 wounded.
Result Brazilian and allied victory
A Brazilian squadron forced its way upriver past the guns of the fort at Curupayty on the Paraguay River. A second passage on 13 February 1868 brought monitors up to join the ships that had passed first, forming the squadron that forced the Passage of Humaitá.
Why it is remembered It opened the way for the Passage of Humaitá. Júlio Raison painted the passage.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Paraguayan War (Humaitá campaign)
Assault on the battleships Barroso and Rio Grande Raid
Also known as Assault on the battleships at Tagy
9 July 1868 · Tagy ravine, left bank of the Paraguay River
Fought between Paraguay against the Empire of Brazil
Commanders Francisco Lino Cabriza (Paraguay); Artur Silveira da Mota, Antônio Joaquim, killed, Mena Barreto (Brazil)
Forces 270 Paraguayan bogavantes in 20 canoes, against the Brazilian ironclad Barroso and monitor Rio Grande, supported by the 40th Fatherland Volunteers Corps ashore
Ships Barroso, Rio Grande
Losses Paraguay: 74 (42 killed, 32 captured). Brazil: 11 (three killed, eight wounded)
Result Brazilian victory
Francisco Solano López wanted to capture Brazilian ironclads. At 11.50 pm on 9 July 1868, 270 Paraguayan boarders in canoes attacked Barroso and Rio Grande at anchor near Tagy. The attacks on the two ships did not come at the same time, so each could support the other with her guns, and army infantry ashore joined in. The Paraguayans reached the decks but were quickly driven off.
Why it is remembered After the failure, the last defenders of the fortress of Humaitá tried to escape into the Chaco and were surrounded and defeated, and the fortress was soon occupied. The assault is the subject of a painting in Brazil's National Historical Museum.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Eduardo de Martino, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Paraguayan War (Humaitá campaign)
Assault on the battleships Cabral and Lima Barros Raid
Also known as Abordagem aos couraçados Lima Barros e Cabral; Asalto a los acorazados Cabral y Lima Barros
2 March 1868 · Tagy, left bank of the Paraguay River
Fought between Paraguay against Brazil
Commanders Ignacio Genes (Paraguay); Joaquim da Costa, killed (Brazil)
Forces 1,100 Paraguayan soldiers in 22 canoes against 6 Brazilian ironclads
Ships Cabral, Lima Barros, Silvado, Brazil, Mariz e Barros, Herval
Losses Paraguay: 100 to 400 killed and wounded, 14 canoes lost. Brazil: 16 killed, 55 wounded, 15 captured.
Result Brazilian victory
At dawn Paraguayan canoes, lashed in pairs, disguised with branches and each carrying about 50 soldiers, approached the Brazilian ironclads Lima Barros and Cabral to board them. Other ironclads, Silvado, Brazil, Mariz e Barros and Herval, came to their aid and swept the boarders with grapeshot.
Why it is remembered An attempt by Paraguayan soldiers in canoes to board and capture two Brazilian ironclads.
Sources differ Paraguayan losses are given as 100 to 400 killed and wounded.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Angelo Agostini, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Boshin War
Battle of Awa Fleet battle
Also known as Awa oki kaisen (阿波沖海戦)
28 January 1868 · Awa Bay, near Osaka, Japan
Fought between Tokugawa shogunate against Satsuma and the Imperial court
Commanders Enomoto Takeaki (shogunate); Akatsuka Genroku (Satsuma)
Forces 3 shogunate warships against 1 Satsuma warship and 2 transports
Ships Kasuga, Kaiyō
Losses Satsuma: 1 transport destroyed. Shogunate: unknown.
Result Shogunate victory
Ships of the Tokugawa navy under Enomoto Takeaki met Satsuma vessels loyal to the Imperial court in Awa Bay, one day after the land Battle of Toba-Fushimi began. The shogunate ships destroyed a Satsuma transport; pictures show the Satsuma Kasuga engaging the shogunate Kaiyō.
Why it is remembered The second naval battle in Japanese history between modern naval forces, after Shimonoseki Straits in 1863, and one of the few Tokugawa successes of the Boshin War.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Paraguayan War (siege of Humaitá)
Passage of Humaitá Landing or siege
Also known as Passagem de Humaitá
19 February 1868 · Fortress of Humaitá, Paraguay River, Paraguay
Fought between Brazil against Paraguay
Commanders Delfim Carlos de Carvalho (Brazil); Paulino Alén (Paraguay)
Forces 3 Brazilian armoured ships, each with a river monitor lashed alongside, against the fortress of Humaitá with 8 river batteries and contact mines
Ships Bahia, Barroso, Tamandaré, Rio Grande, Alagoas, Pará
Losses Brazil: 10 wounded in the squadron. Paraguay: unknown. In a land diversion the same day about 150 and about 1,200 were killed or wounded.
Result Brazilian victory
Six Brazilian armoured ships ran past the guns of Humaitá in darkness in three pairs: Barroso with Rio Grande, Bahia with Alagoas, and Tamandaré with Pará. The river was high and passed over the chain boom. Alagoas lost her tow and was hit in the engine but got through, and at dawn the ships were struck hard by an unsuspected battery at Timbó.
Why it is remembered Some neutral observers had thought it almost impossible. It cut the fortress's supply by river, restored the reputation of the Brazilian navy and the Empire's credit, and led the Paraguayans to evacuate Asunción; some authors see it as the turning point of the war. Humaitá fell on 25 July 1868.
Sources differ The main account lists land diversion losses of about 150 and about 1,200 killed or wounded without clearly assigning them to a side.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Trajano Augusto de Carvalho, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Boshin War
Battle of Miyako Bay Raid
Also known as Miyako-wan Kaisen (宮古湾海戦)
6 May 1869 · Miyako Bay, Iwate Prefecture, Japan
Fought between Ezo Republic against Imperial Japan
Commanders Arai Ikunosuke, Eugène Collache and Kōga Gengo, killed (Ezo Republic); Masuda Toranosuke and Shirō Nakajima (Imperial navy)
Forces 3 Ezo steam warships with 500 samurai against 1 Imperial steam ironclad, 7 steam warships and 2,500 men
Ships Kōtetsu
Losses Ezo Republic: 15 killed, 1 warship scuttled. Imperial navy: 4 killed, 3 warships damaged.
Result Imperial victory
Samurai loyal to the former Tokugawa shogunate, under the flag of the Ezo Republic, tried to seize the ironclad Kōtetsu, flagship of the Imperial forces, in Miyako Bay. The attempt failed.
Why it is remembered A failed attempt to capture the Imperial flagship Kōtetsu, part of the wider Battle of Hakodate at the end of the Boshin War.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Piracy in North America
Battle of Boca Teacapan Raid
17 June 1870 · Boca Teacapan and the Teacapan Estuary, Sinaloa, Mexico
Fought between United States against Mexican pirates
Commanders Willard H. Brownson and Jonathan Wainwright, killed (United States); Plácido Vega Daza (pirates)
Forces About 25 marines and 50 sailors in 6 armed boats against about 160 pirates, 4 guns, a shore battery and 1 steamer
Losses United States: 2 killed, 8 wounded, 3 boats damaged. Pirates: 6 to 8 captured, the steamer captured.
Result American victory; the pirate ship was destroyed
A United States Navy expedition went after a Mexican pirate ship that had been raiding in the Pacific. Sailors and marines in small boats chased the pirates into the Boca Teacapan and 42 miles up the Teacapan Estuary over several days, then defeated them at their hideout and destroyed the ship.
Why it is remembered A long boat expedition by the United States Navy against piracy on Mexico's Pacific coast.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Franco-Prussian War
Battle of Havana (1870) Single-ship action
Also known as Combat du Bouvet et du Meteor; Gefecht vor Havanna
9 November 1870 · Off Havana, Cuba
Fought between North German Confederation against France
Commanders Eduard von Knorr (North German Confederation); Alexandre Franquet (France)
Forces The German gunboat Meteor against the French aviso Bouvet
Ships Meteor, Bouvet
Losses Germany: 2 killed, 1 wounded, the gunboat damaged. France: 3 wounded, the aviso damaged.
Result Indecisive
Meteor had slipped the French blockade and sailed from Nassau to Havana, then Spanish and neutral. Bouvet waited outside the harbour and her captain issued a challenge, which the German captain accepted. At the Spanish authorities' demand the ships fought a safe distance from Havana. Neither could do serious damage, and when a German shot briefly disabled Bouvet's engine she withdrew to neutral waters.
Why it is remembered The only naval engagement of the Franco-Prussian War. Both captains were promoted for their conduct, and Christopher Rave painted the battle.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Christopher Rave (1881, 1933), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Franco-Prussian War
Battle of Putziger Wiek Raid
Also known as Seegefecht in der Putziger Wiek
23 August 1870 · Putziger Wiek (Bay of Puck), near Danzig
Fought between North German Confederation against France
Commanders Johannes Weickhmann (North German Confederation); Vice Admiral Louis Edouard Bouët-Willaumez (France)
Forces The German corvette Nymphe, 17 guns, against the anchored armoured ships of the French Baltic Squadron, including Surveillante and Thétis
Ships Nymphe, Surveillante, Thétis
Losses None known on either side.
Result Indecisive
The French armoured ships anchored in line in the bay. At about 1.15 in the morning Nymphe, out from Neufahrwasser, fired a broadside at the first ship from about 1.1 nautical miles, then turned and fired her other broadside. Finding the French ready, Weickhmann withdrew at full steam, and after a few shots the French gave up the chase. Nymphe was back in Neufahrwasser by about 3 a.m.
Why it is remembered A night attack by a single German corvette on the anchored French Baltic Squadron. Weickhmann later received the Iron Cross, Second Class.
Sources differ A German newspaper report of October 1870 claimed a shell killed 18 men on a French ship; the main account treats this as unverified.
Sources Wikipedia (DE)
Image: Autor/-in unbekanntUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · United States expedition to Korea
Battle of Ganghwa Landing or siege
Also known as Shinmiyangyo
10 to 11 June 1871 · Ganghwa Island, Korea
Fought between United States against Joseon Korea
Commanders John Rodgers and Winfield Schley (United States); Eo Jae-yeon, killed, and Eo Jae-sun, killed (Korea)
Forces 651 American troops with 6 howitzers, 1 frigate, 2 sloops of war and 2 gunboats against 300 Korean troops, 40 guns, 6 forts and 4 shore batteries
Losses United States: 3 killed, 10 wounded, 1 gunboat damaged. Korea: 243 killed, 20 captured and later released; 40 guns captured, 5 forts and 4 batteries destroyed.
Result American victory
Five warships of the Asiatic Squadron sailed from Japan to learn the fate of the General Sherman's crew and to seek a trade treaty. When guns of a Korean fort opened fire on them, the mission turned to fighting, and American troops landed and captured the forts of Ganghwa Island.
Why it is remembered The largest engagement of the American expedition to Korea in 1871.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903
Nukapu Expedition Landing or siege
October 1871 to February 1872 · Nukapu, Solomon Islands, South Pacific
Fought between Britain against the people of Nukapu
Commanders Albert Hastings Markham (Britain)
Forces A Royal Navy warship with a landing party against the islanders and their war canoes
Losses Britain: 1 killed, 2 wounded. Nukapu: 20 to 30 killed.
Result British victory
After the missionary John Coleridge Patteson was killed by people of Nukapu, a Royal Navy warship was sent to the island. She sank a group of hostile war canoes and landed men to attack a fortified village.
Why it is remembered A British punitive expedition after the killing of the missionary John Coleridge Patteson.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Cantonal Rebellion
Battle of Portmán Fleet battle
Also known as Battle off Cartagena; Battle of Escombrera Island; Combate naval de Portmán
11 October 1873 · Off Cape Palos near Portmán, Cartagena, Spain
Fought between Spanish First Republic against the Canton of Cartagena
Commanders Miguel Lobo y Malagamba (Republic); Juan Contreras y Román (Canton)
Forces Republic: 1 armoured frigate, 3 screw frigates, 2 paddle gunboats and 2 screw schooners. Canton: 2 armoured frigates, 1 armoured corvette and 1 paddle gunboat.
Losses Republic: 11 dead, 32 wounded. Canton: 12 dead, 38 wounded. No ships lost.
Result The Cantonal squadron withdrew; the blockade held
The Cantonal squadron sailed from Cartagena to break the central government's blockade. The two fleets fought off Cape Palos, and although no ships were lost on either side, the Cantonal ships failed to break through and returned to Cartagena.
Why it is remembered A fleet action in a Spanish civil conflict, shown in The Illustrated London News in November 1873.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903
Ganghwa Island incident Landing or siege
Also known as Japanese Battle of Ganghwa; Un'yō incident (운요호 사건, Unyo-ho sageon); Kōka-tō jiken (江華島事件)
20 September 1875 · Ganghwa Island and Yeongjong Island, Korea
Fought between Japan against Joseon Korea
Commanders Inoue Yoshika (Japan); Lee Min-deok (Korea)
Forces 1 Japanese gunboat and 22 sailors and marines ashore against 500 Korean infantry with artillery
Ships Un'yō
Losses Japan: 1 killed, 1 wounded. Korea: 35 killed, 16 captured, 36 guns captured, 1 fort destroyed.
Result Japanese victory
An armed clash between Korea and the Japanese gunboat Un'yō near Ganghwa Island, in which marines from Un'yō landed and attacked the fort on Yeongjong Island.
Why it is remembered It led to the Treaty of Ganghwa between Japan and Korea.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · War between Buganda and Buvuma
Battles of Lake Victoria (1875) Fleet battle
Also known as Batailles du lac Victoria
1875 · Around Innghira island, northern Lake Victoria
Fought between Kingdom of Buganda against its vassal state Buvuma
Forces Huge fleets of canoes on both sides
Result Buganda victory
The kingdom of Buganda fought its vassal Buvuma entirely on the northern part of Lake Victoria, around Innghira island, with huge fleets of canoes. Three bloody naval battles were fought before Buganda won with a fortified vessel the Buvuma could not destroy.
Why it is remembered A rare example of naval warfare in sub-Saharan Africa.
Sources Wikipédia (FR)
Image: Auteur inconnuUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Russo-Turkish War (1877 to 1878) and Romanian War of Independence
Action off Măcin Air and submarine attack
25 to 26 May 1877 · Danube near Măcin, Romania
Fought between Romania and Russia against the Ottoman Empire
Forces 1 Romanian torpedo boat with a mixed Romanian and Russian crew and 3 Russian torpedo boats, 6 officers and 40 sailors, against 2 Ottoman monitors and 1 paddle steamer
Losses Ottoman Empire: 1 monitor sunk, casualties unknown. Romania and Russia: none.
Result Romanian and Russian victory
Four torpedo boats, one of them Romanian with a mixed Romanian and Russian crew, attacked Ottoman monitors near Măcin and sank one of them without loss.
Why it is remembered The first time in history that a torpedo craft sank its target without being sunk itself. Dimitrie Știubei's painting of the attack hangs in the Romanian Navy Museum at Constanța.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Dimitrie Știubei, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903
Battle of Pacocha Single-ship action
29 May 1877 · Off Ylo (Ilo), Peru, Pacific Ocean
Fought between Britain against Peruvian rebels
Commanders Algernon de Horsey (Britain); Luis Germán Astete (rebels)
Forces The British frigate HMS Shah, the corvette HMS Amethyst and 2 boats against the rebel-held monitor Huáscar
Ships HMS Shah, HMS Amethyst, Huáscar
Losses Rebels: 1 killed. Britain: unknown.
Result Inconclusive
The British warships Shah and Amethyst engaged the Peruvian monitor Huáscar, then in rebel hands, off Ylo. Neither side did significant damage.
Why it is remembered The first combat use of the self-propelled torpedo. William Frederick Mitchell painted the battle.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · War of the Pacific
Battle of Angamos Fleet battle
Also known as Combate Naval de Angamos
8 October 1879 · Punta Angamos, near Mejillones, about 80 km north of Antofagasta (then Bolivia, now Chile)
Fought between Chile against Peru
Commanders Galvarino Riveros Cárdenas and Juan José Latorre (Chile); Rear Admiral Miguel Grau Seminario, killed (Peru)
Forces 2 Chilean armoured frigates, 2 corvettes and 2 transports against the Peruvian monitor Huáscar and the corvette Unión
Ships Huáscar, Unión, Almirante Cochrane, Blanco Encalada
Losses Chile: 1 killed, 9 wounded. Peru: 31 killed, 4 missing, 162 captured; Huáscar captured.
Result Chilean victory
Riveros trapped Grau at Punta Angamos, and Grau ordered Unión to escape while Huáscar gave battle. Latorre in Almirante Cochrane shelled Huáscar for almost two hours with armour-piercing Armstrong guns, and Grau was killed. Blanco Encalada joined the fight, and after almost three hours the battered Huáscar was boarded and captured.
Why it is remembered It gave Chile command of the sea for the rest of the war and opened the way for the invasion of Tarapacá. Huáscar was repaired, served under the Chilean flag and is now a floating museum at Talcahuano.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Somerscales, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · War of the Pacific
Battle of Chipana Single-ship action
12 April 1879 · Off Huanillos, then the Bolivian coast (now Chile)
Fought between Chile against Peru
Commanders Juan José Latorre (Chile); Aurelio García y García (Peru)
Forces The Chilean corvette Magallanes against the Peruvian corvette Unión and gunboat Pilcomayo
Ships Magallanes, Unión, Pilcomayo
Losses No injuries on either side; Magallanes slightly damaged.
Result Inconclusive
Unión and Pilcomayo found Magallanes on her way to Iquique. Pilcomayo dropped out with boiler trouble, and after a two-hour running gun duel Unión developed engine problems and gave up the chase. Magallanes escaped with minor damage and delivered her papers to Iquique.
Why it is remembered The first naval engagement between Chile and Peru in the War of the Pacific.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · War of the Pacific
First Battle of Antofagasta Raid
Also known as Bombardment of Antofagasta
26 May 1879 · Antofagasta, Chile
Fought between Peru against Chile
Commanders Miguel Grau (Peru); Justo Arteaga Cuevas and Carlos Condell (Chile)
Forces The Peruvian ironclad Huáscar against three 150-pounder shore guns and the schooner Virgen de Covadonga
Ships Huáscar, Virgen de Covadonga
Losses Peru: 1 killed, 2 wounded. Chile: 1 gun, 220 killed or wounded.
Result Peruvian victory
Huáscar made a night raid on Antofagasta, exchanging fire with the shore guns and the schooner Covadonga.
Why it is remembered The first night raid of the war and the first of Huáscar's raids on Chilean ports and ships.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · War of the Pacific
Battle of Iquique Single-ship action
Also known as Combate naval de Iquique
21 May 1879 · Off the port of Iquique, Peru (now Chile)
Fought between Peru against Chile
Commanders Miguel Grau (Peru); Arturo Prat Chacón, killed (Chile)
Forces The Peruvian ironclads Huáscar and Independencia against the Chilean corvette Esmeralda and schooner Covadonga
Ships Esmeralda, Huáscar, Covadonga, Independencia
Losses Peru: 8 killed and wounded. Chile: 143 killed and wounded, 57 captured; Esmeralda sunk.
Result Peruvian victory
The Peruvian monitor Huáscar attacked the old wooden corvette Esmeralda off Iquique and rammed her three times. At the first ramming Prat leapt aboard Huáscar and was shot dead; a second boarding party also failed. Esmeralda sank after the third ramming, her last gun fired by Midshipman Ernesto Riquelme, after four hours of combat. Grau had boats pick up the survivors.
Why it is remembered Prat's death made him a national hero, and 21 May has been Chile's Day of Naval Glories since 1905. Grau returned Prat's diary, uniform and sword to his widow and is remembered in both countries as the Gentleman of the Seas. Thomas Somerscales painted the sinking of Esmeralda.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Somerscales, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · War of the Pacific
Bombardment of Pisagua Landing or siege
18 April 1879 · Pisagua, Tarapacá, Peru
Fought between Chile against Peru
Commanders Juan Rebolledo (Chile); José Becerra (Peru)
Forces Chile: the ironclad Blanco Encalada and the corvette Chacabuco with about 60 embarked marines. Peru: 300 soldiers
Ships Blanco Encalada, Chacabuco
Losses Peru: at least 6 soldiers wounded; several civilians killed, including five women and two children, and others injured. Chile: at least 1 dead and 6 wounded
Result Inconclusive
As part of Chile's naval operations on the Peruvian coast, the ironclad Blanco Encalada and the corvette Chacabuco, carrying about 60 marines, attacked and bombarded the port of Pisagua, held by about 300 Peruvian soldiers.
Why it is remembered It caused the first civilian casualties of the War of the Pacific.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: La ilustracion Española y Americana. NUM. XXXV, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · War of the Pacific
Battle of Punta Gruesa Single-ship action
21 May 1879 · Punta Gruesa, near Iquique, Peru (now Chile)
Fought between Chile against Peru
Commanders Carlos Condell (Chile); Juan Guillermo More (Peru)
Forces The Chilean schooner Covadonga against the Peruvian ironclad Independencia
Ships Covadonga, Independencia, Huáscar
Losses Chile: 3 dead, 5 wounded. Peru: 5 dead, 5 wounded; Independencia lost.
Result Chilean victory
Condell ran south in the slow Covadonga to draw Independencia away from Huáscar, his marksmen keeping up an accurate fire during a chase of over three hours. More twice tried to ram and twice broke off in shallow water. Near Punta Gruesa Covadonga scraped over a reef, and on the third attempt Independencia struck it and was wrecked. Huáscar arrived, chased Covadonga until dusk, and returned to salvage the wreck's guns before Independencia was burned.
Why it is remembered Peru lost one of its most powerful warships on the same day as the Battle of Iquique; many sources treat the action as the second part of that battle.
Sources differ The account of Iquique says Condell ordered survivors shot at Punta Gruesa; the account of Punta Gruesa does not mention this.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thomas Somerscales, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · War of the Pacific
Second Battle of Antofagasta Raid
28 August 1879 · Antofagasta, Chile
Fought between Peru against Chile
Commanders Miguel Grau and Carlos de los Heros, killed (Peru); Erasmo Escala, Juan José Latorre and Aureliano Sánchez, killed (Chile)
Forces The Peruvian ironclad Huáscar against the Chilean corvettes Abtao and Magallanes and shore guns of 300 and 150 pounds
Ships Huáscar, Abtao, Magallanes
Losses Peru: 1 killed, 1 wounded. Chile: 10 killed, 12 wounded, Abtao damaged.
Result Peruvian victory
Huáscar attacked Antofagasta again, fighting the corvettes Abtao and Magallanes and the shore batteries, and damaged Abtao.
Why it is remembered Another of Huáscar's raids on the Chilean coast in 1879; officers were killed on both sides.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Antonio Bisama Cuevas, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · War of the Pacific
Second Battle of Iquique Single-ship action
Also known as Segundo combate naval de Iquique
10 July 1879 · Iquique, Tarapacá, Peru (now Chile)
Fought between Peru against Chile
Commanders Miguel Grau (Peru); Enrique Simpson and Juan José Latorre (Chile)
Forces The Peruvian ironclad Huáscar against 1 Chilean ironclad, 1 gunboat and 1 transport of the blockading squadron
Ships Huáscar
Losses Peru: 2 wounded. Chile: 5 wounded, 1 transport damaged.
Result Indecisive
Huáscar came upon the 2nd Chilean Naval Squadron blockading Iquique, and the two forces fought without a decision.
Why it is remembered One of Huáscar's actions against the Chilean blockade during the naval campaign of 1879.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown photographer (Museo Naval del Perú), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · War of the Pacific
Capture of the Pilcomayo Single-ship action
Also known as Captura de la cañonera Pilcomayo
18 November 1879 · Off Mollendo, Arequipa, Peru
Fought between Chile against Peru
Commanders Galvarino Riveros and Luis Anacleto Castillo (Chile); Nicolás Portal, Carlos Ferreyros, who surrendered, and Manuel Villavicencio (Peru)
Forces The Chilean ironclad Blanco Encalada against the Peruvian corvette Unión, gunboat Pilcomayo and transport Chalaco
Ships Blanco Encalada, Pilcomayo, Unión, Chalaco
Losses Peru: 2 lightly wounded, 167 captured, Pilcomayo captured. Chile: none.
Result Chilean victory
The Chilean ironclad Blanco Encalada caught the Peruvian gunboat Pilcomayo off Mollendo and captured her after a brief fight.
Why it is remembered A further loss for the Peruvian Navy six weeks after Angamos.
Sources differ One account calls Pilcomayo a corvette; others call her a gunboat.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · War of the Pacific
Capture of the steamer Rímac Blockade and raiding
Also known as Hunt and seizure of the Chilean transport Rímac
23 July 1879 · Off Antofagasta, Chile
Fought between Peru against Chile
Commanders Miguel Grau and Aurelio García y García (Peru); Ignacio Luis Gana, who surrendered (Chile)
Forces The Peruvian ironclad Huáscar and corvette Unión against the Chilean transport Rímac
Ships Huáscar, Unión, Rímac
Losses Chile: 7 killed and wounded, 351 captured, Rímac captured. Peru: none.
Result Peruvian victory
During the raids of Huáscar, the Peruvian ships Huáscar and Unión hunted down and seized the Chilean armed transport Rímac, with all her cargo and crew, including a squadron of the Carabineros de Yungay.
Why it is remembered The news caused a political crisis in Chile and the resignation of several officials, among them Rear Admiral Juan Williams Rebolledo, commander of the Chilean Navy.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: La Ilustracion Espanola ... , 22 de septiembre de 1879, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · War of the Pacific
Rupture of the Blockade of Arica Blockade and raiding
Also known as Doble ruptura del bloqueo de Arica; Seconde bataille navale d'Arica
17 March 1880 · Arica, Tarapacá, Peru (now Chile)
Fought between Peru against Chile
Commanders Manuel Villavicencio and José Lagomarsino (Peru); Juan José Latorre and Carlos Condell (Chile)
Forces The Peruvian corvette Unión, with Peruvian forces given in the main account as 2 ironclads and 1 transport, against 2 Chilean corvettes and 5 land batteries with 13 guns
Ships Unión
Losses Peru: 1 killed, 8 wounded. Chile: 9 killed, 18 wounded.
Result Peruvian victory
Commander Manuel Villavicencio took the corvette Unión through the Chilean blockade of Arica and out again, breaking it twice in less than eight hours.
Why it is remembered A Peruvian corvette broke the Chilean blockade of Arica twice in one day.
Sources differ One account names only the corvette Unión; another account gives the Peruvian force as 2 ironclads and 1 transport. Another account casualty figures are identical to those given for the Naval Battle of Arica of 27 February 1880.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: La ilustracion Española y Americana. Año XXIV. NUM XXII, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Anglo-Egyptian War
Bombardment of Alexandria Landing or siege
11 to 13 July 1882 · Alexandria, Egypt
Fought between Britain against the Egyptian nationalists of Ahmed 'Urabi
Commanders Beauchamp Seymour (Britain); Ahmed 'Urabi (Egypt)
Forces 9 British battleships, 1 torpedo boat, 1 steamer and 5 gunboats against 11 Egyptian forts
Losses Britain: 6 killed, 27 wounded. Egypt: 600 to 700 killed, 250 to 350 wounded; an unknown number of civilians killed and large parts of the city destroyed by the bombardment and fires.
Result British victory
The British Mediterranean Fleet had gathered at Alexandria, with a French flotilla, to support the khedive against 'Urabi's nationalist uprising. After anti-European riots in June the Egyptian army began fortifying the harbour and refused an ultimatum to stop. The British fleet then bombarded the city for ten and a half hours without French help, and British sailors and marines occupied Alexandria two days later.
Why it is remembered It led to the British invasion of Egypt, which stayed under British influence until 1952. Historians still argue whether Admiral Seymour exaggerated the threat from the batteries to force the hand of Gladstone's government.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Tonkin campaign
Capture of Nam Định (1883) Landing or siege
27 March 1883 · Nam Định, northern Vietnam
Fought between France against Vietnam, the Black Flag Army and Qing China
Commanders Henri Rivière (France); Vũ Trọng Bình, Lê Văn Điếm, Hồ Bá Ôn and Vĩnh Thông Chất (Vietnam)
Forces 6 French gunboats, 500 marine infantry, 20 Cochinchinese riflemen and 60 sailors against 6,200 Vietnamese soldiers and 600 Chinese under Black Flag command
Losses France: 4 wounded, one of whom died; a gunboat lightly damaged. Vietnam: heavy; 98 guns captured.
Result French victory
In a short campaign in the last week of March 1883, Commandant Henri Rivière took a flotilla of gunboats and a battalion of marine infantry against Nam Định, the second city of Tonkin, and captured its citadel.
Why it is remembered A sharp escalation of French ambitions in Tonkin. China began covertly supporting Vietnam, which led in the end to the Sino-French War.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Tonkin campaign
Battle of Thuận An Landing or siege
20 August 1883 · Thuận An forts, near Huế, central Vietnam
Fought between France against Vietnam (Nguyễn dynasty)
Commanders Amédée Courbet (France)
Forces 7 French ships, 2 gunboats, 2 ironclads, 1 cruiser, 1 transport and 1 troopship, against Vietnamese forts and guns
Losses France: 12 wounded; a gunboat and an ironclad lightly damaged. Vietnam: 2,500 killed and wounded; many guns captured.
Result French victory; Treaty of Huế
A French landing force under Admiral Courbet, supported by his warships, stormed the coastal forts guarding the river approaches to Huế, the Vietnamese capital.
Why it is remembered It let France dictate a treaty recognising a French protectorate over Tonkin. The attack did more than anything else to make war between France and China inevitable, and sowed the seeds of the Cần Vương uprising of 1885.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Charles-Lucien Huard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Sino-French War
Battle of Fuzhou Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Foochow; Battle of the Pagoda Anchorage; Combat naval de Fou-Tchéou; Battle of Mawei (馬江海戰)
23 August 1884 (operations to 28 August) · Pagoda Anchorage, Mawei harbour, 15 km south east of Fuzhou, China
Fought between France against Qing China
Commanders Amédée Courbet (France); Zhang Peilun (China)
Forces 13 French ships of the Far East Squadron against 22 ships of the Fujian Fleet, 11 of them Western style and the rest junks
Ships Volta, Triomphante, Duguay-Trouin, Villars, d'Estaing, Lynx, Aspic, Vipère, Torpedo Boat No. 45, Torpedo Boat No. 46, Yangwu, Fupo, Fuxing, Fusheng, Jiansheng, Yixin, Zhenwei, Chenhang, Yongbao, Feiyun, Ji'an
Losses France: 10 killed, 48 wounded (23 to 31 August). China: 796 killed, 150 wounded, 51 missing; 9 ships sunk and more than 10 damaged; 2,000 to 3,000 Chinese casualties for the whole operation.
Result French victory
Courbet attacked at about 2 p.m., when the Chinese ships swung on the tide. Torpedo Boat No. 46 struck the flagship Yangwu with a spar torpedo, and Fupo was crippled by a launch from Volta. In about three hours nine of the eleven Western-style ships of the Fujian Fleet were lost. The French then bombarded the Foochow Navy Yard and fought their way down the Min River, destroying the batteries on its banks.
Why it is remembered The opening battle of the Sino-French War, in which one of China's four regional fleets was virtually destroyed in an afternoon.
Sources differ Chinese casualties are given as 796 killed, 150 wounded and 51 missing for the battle, and 2,000 to 3,000 for the whole operation.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Sino-French War (Keelung Campaign)
Battle of Tamsui Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Danshui; Battle of Hobe
2 to 8 October 1884 · Tamsui, northern coast of Taiwan
Fought between France against Qing China
Commanders Sébastien Lespès (France); Sun Kaihua, Zhang Gaoyuan, Liu Chaoyou and Tio Li-xieng (China)
Forces 6 French ships of the Far East Squadron and 600 marines against 2,000 to 4,000 Chinese with artillery batteries
Losses France: 17 killed, 49 wounded. China: 80 killed, 200 wounded.
Result Chinese victory
French warships bombarded Tamsui from 2 October 1884, and a French attack with 600 marines was defeated by Qing forces.
Why it is remembered A significant French defeat on Taiwan during the Sino-French War.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Sino-French War
Battle of Shipu Raid
Also known as 石浦海戰
14 February 1885 · Shipu Bay, near Ningbo, China
Fought between France against Qing China
Commanders Amédée Courbet, with the launches under Palma Gourdon and Émile Duboc (France); Wu Ankang (China)
Forces 2 French ironclads, 3 cruisers and 1 gunboat, with two torpedo launches, against 3 Chinese cruisers, 1 frigate and 1 sloop
Ships Bayard, Triomphante, Nielly, Éclaireur, Aspic, Saône, Yuyuan, Chengqing, Kaiji, Nanchen, Nanrui
Losses France: 1 killed. China: the frigate Yuyuan sunk by torpedo and the sloop Chengqing sunk, apparently by Chinese fire.
Result French victory
At night, at the start of the Chinese New Year, two French torpedo launches under Gourdon and Duboc entered Shipu Bay. They were spotted and came under heavy rifle fire, but their spar torpedoes exploded against the frigate Yuyuan and crippled her. Both launches escaped and were picked up by Saône the next morning. The sloop Chengqing was also sunk.
Why it is remembered A French torpedo boat success of the Sino-French War; Gourdon and Duboc were decorated.
Sources differ The Chinese later said Chengqing was scuttled; eyewitnesses describe an explosion, and she was probably hit by a Chinese shell.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Sino-French War
Battle of Zhenhai Landing or siege
Also known as 鎮海之役
1 March 1885 · Zhenhai, 12 miles downstream from Ningbo, China
Fought between France against Qing China
Commanders Amédée Courbet (France); Ouyang Lijian, Xue Fucheng, Liu Bingzhang and Wu Ankang (China)
Forces 2 French ironclads, 1 cruiser and 1 troopship against 3 Chinese cruisers, 1 sloop, 1 transport, 2 gunboats and shore batteries
Losses Minimal on both sides.
Result Disputed
Courbet's Far East Squadron and the Chinese warships and shore batteries at Zhenhai exchanged fire.
Why it is remembered Still commemorated in China as an important Chinese victory of the Sino-French War; a monument with cannon stands at Zhenhai.
Sources differ French sources treat the encounter as a minor incident; Chinese sources consider it a striking defensive victory.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Scramble for Africa
Blockade of Zanzibar Blockade and raiding
November 1888 to October 1889 · East African coast, Sultanate of Zanzibar
Fought between Germany, Britain, Portugal and Italy against the Sultanate of Zanzibar
Commanders Karl August Deinhard (Germany); Edmund Fremantle (Britain); Augusto de Castilho (Portugal); Francesco Preve (Italy); Sultan Khalifa bin Said (Zanzibar)
Forces 25 warships, a turret ironclad, 3 cruisers, 8 corvettes, 10 gunboats, a sloop and 2 avisos, with about 4,200 men
Losses Minimal on both sides.
Result Coalition victory
A coalition led by Germany blockaded the coast of the Sultanate of Zanzibar to force Sultan Khalifa bin Said to enforce the treaties banning the sea-borne slave trade and the illegal arms trade from his East African lands.
Why it is remembered An international naval operation against the slave and arms trade off East Africa, following the Anglo-German agreement of 1886.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Chilean Civil War of 1891
Battle of Caldera Bay Air and submarine attack
Also known as Sinking of Blanco Encalada
23 April 1891 · Caldera Bay, Chile
Fought between Balmaceda government against the Congressional junta
Commanders Carlos E. Moraga and Juan Fuentes (government); Luis A. Goñi (Congress)
Forces 2 government torpedo boats of the Almirante Lynch class against the Congressional armoured frigate Blanco Encalada and 2 transports
Ships Blanco Encalada, Almirante Lynch, Almirante Condell
Losses Congress: Blanco Encalada sunk with 182 killed, a transport damaged. Government: 1 torpedo boat damaged.
Result Balmacedist victory
Two government torpedo boats attacked the Congressional armoured frigate Blanco Encalada in Caldera Bay. Both torpedoes from Almirante Condell missed, but one from Almirante Lynch hit and the frigate sank in minutes with the loss of 182 men.
Why it is remembered Blanco Encalada was the first ironclad sunk by a self-propelled torpedo. The action led navies to build up torpedo boats and torpedo boat destroyers quickly. The Congressional side still won the war that August.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Archivo de uso publico, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Chilean Civil War of 1891
Battle of Viña del Mar Landing or siege
Also known as Action of 23 August 1891; Acción del 23 de agosto de 1891
23 August 1891 · Viña del Mar and Fort Callao, Chile
Fought between Congressional rebels against the government of Balmaceda
Commanders Colonel Estanislao del Canto (rebels); General Orozimbo Barbosa (government)
Forces The rebel army supported from the sea by the cruiser Esmeralda and the Almirante Cochrane, against government troops in Fort Callao
Ships Esmeralda, Almirante Cochrane
Result The rebels did not take Viña del Mar but cut the railway and moved on Valparaíso
After defeating government troops at the mouth of the Aconcagua, the rebel army advanced on Valparaíso but was held at Viña del Mar by reinforced government troops. On the morning of 23 August rebel artillery opened fire, supported from the sea by Esmeralda and Almirante Cochrane, which silenced most of the batteries of Fort Callao. The rebels failed to take Viña del Mar but seized the railway inland, cutting off government reinforcements, and marched around the town towards Valparaíso.
Why it is remembered A step in the rebel advance on Valparaíso, in which warships supported the army from the sea.
Sources differ One account dates the battle to 23 August 1891; another account gives 21 August.
Sources Wikipedia (NL)
Image: Scientific American Supplement, No. 829, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Argentine Revolution of 1893
Battle of El Espinillo Single-ship action
Also known as Combate naval de El Espinillo
29 September 1893 · Paraná River off El Espinillo Island, Entre Ríos, opposite Rosario, Argentina
Fought between Argentine federal government against rebels of the Radical Civic Union
Commanders Manuel José María Mansilla (government); Gerardo Vallotta (rebels)
Forces 1 ironclad and 1 torpedo boat (government) against 1 ironclad (rebels)
Ships Los Andes
Losses Government: none. Rebels: 1 ironclad disabled. Four seamen (1 loyal, 3 rebels) had been killed in earlier actions.
Result Government victory
During the Radical Civic Union rising of 1893, warships of the Argentine Navy that had joined the rebels met loyal warships on the Paraná River beside El Espinillo Island, across the river from Rosario. The government ironclad and torpedo boat engaged the rebel ironclad, which was disabled.
Why it is remembered It is described as the largest battle involving armoured naval units in Argentina, fought between two parts of the same navy.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Franco-Siamese crisis of 1893
Paknam Incident Single-ship action
13 July 1893 · Paknam, mouth of the Chao Phraya River, Siam
Fought between France against Siam
Commanders Captain Borey (France); Andreas du Plessis de Richelieu (Siam)
Forces 1 French aviso, 1 gunboat and 1 steamer against 2 Siamese forts with 10 guns, 2 gunboats, 2 gun flats and 1 barque
Losses France: 3 killed, 3 wounded. Siam: 16 killed, 20 wounded.
Result French victory
Three French ships entered the Chao Phraya River at Paknam in breach of Siamese territory. A Siamese fort and gunboats fired warning shots, and the French won the fight that followed; a contemporary illustration shows the French ships anchored at their legation afterwards.
Why it is remembered France then blockaded Bangkok, which ended the crisis.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Michelet / After Alexandre Jean-Baptiste Brun, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · First Sino-Japanese War
Battle of Pungdo Fleet battle
Also known as Hoto-oki kaisen
25 July 1894 · Off Pungdo island, near Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea
Fought between Japan against Qing China
Commanders Tsuboi Kōzō, Itō Sukeyuki (Japan); Fang Boqian (China)
Forces 3 Japanese protected cruisers against 2 Chinese protected cruisers, 1 gunboat and 1 transport
Ships Yoshino, Naniwa, Akitsushima, Jiyuan, Kwang-yi, Tsao-kiang, Kowshing
Losses Japan: 1 protected cruiser damaged. China: about 1,100 killed and wounded; 1 protected cruiser destroyed, 1 gunboat captured, 1 transport sunk, 1 protected cruiser damaged. More than 800 Chinese troops died aboard the transport Kowshing.
Result Japanese victory
Japan aimed to blockade the Bay of Asan, through which the Chinese garrison at Asan was supplied by sea. Three Japanese cruisers met the Chinese ships off Pungdo: Jiyuan was badly damaged but escaped, Kwang-yi was beached and destroyed, and the gunboat Tsao-kiang surrendered to Akitsushima. Naniwa, under Tōgō Heihachirō, sank the British-owned transport Kowshing with the Chinese troops aboard.
Why it is remembered It was the first naval battle of the First Sino-Japanese War, and the sinking of the chartered British transport Kowshing drew wide attention.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Kobayashi Kiyochika, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Brazilian Naval Revolt
Rio de Janeiro Affair Single-ship action
9 to 21 January 1894 · Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Fought between United States against the Brazilian navy rebels
Commanders Andrew Benham, Willard Brownson (United States); Saldanha da Gama (rebels)
Forces United States: 2 gunboats, 3 cruisers. Rebels: 2 coastal battleships, 4 cruisers, 1 monitor, 1 gunboat, 7 torpedo boats, 9 auxiliary cruisers and 1 fort
Ships Detroit
Losses United States: none. Rebels: 1 ironclad heavily damaged. Two American merchant ships were slightly damaged by rifle fire.
Result American victory; the rebel blockade ended and Rio de Janeiro reopened to American commerce
During the Brazilian Naval Revolt, rebel ships attacked American merchant ships in the harbour of Rio de Janeiro three times. A bloodless engagement followed between a United States Navy warship and an ironclad of Rear Admiral Saldanha da Gama's rebel fleet. The Americans achieved their aim, and Gama offered to surrender his fleet to them, though the offer was never pursued.
Why it is remembered It ended the rebel interference with American shipping at Rio and reopened the port to American trade.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · First Sino-Japanese War
Battle of the Yalu River Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of the Yellow Sea; Battle of Haiyang Island; Battle of Dadonggou; Huáng Hǎi Hǎizhàn; Kōkai-kaisen
17 September 1894 · Yellow Sea off the mouth of the Yalu River, Korea Bay
Fought between Japan against Qing China
Commanders Itō Sukeyuki, Tsuboi Kōzō (Japan); Ding Ruchang, Liu Buchan, Deng Shichang, killed (China)
Forces Japan: 7 protected cruisers, 1 belted cruiser, 2 ironclads, 1 gunboat, 1 transport. China: 2 ironclad battleships, 1 coastal battleship, 2 armoured cruisers, 3 protected cruisers, 1 composite cruiser, 2 light cruisers, 1 gunboat, 2 torpedo boats
Ships Matsushima, Hashidate, Itsukushima, Chiyoda, Yoshino, Naniwa, Takachiho, Akitsushima, Fusō, Hiei, Akagi, Saikyō Maru, Dingyuan, Zhenyuan, Zhiyuen, Jingyuan, Laiyuan, Jiyuan, Chaoyong, Yangwei, Kwan Chia, Pingyuan
Losses Japan: 380 killed and wounded; 5 protected cruisers and 1 ironclad damaged. China: 1,350 killed and wounded; 1 protected cruiser, 1 armoured cruiser and 2 light cruisers sunk, 1 composite cruiser scuttled.
Result Japanese victory
The day after the Japanese victory on land at Pyongyang, the Imperial Japanese Navy met the Chinese Beiyang Fleet in the Yellow Sea off the mouth of the Yalu. The Japanese quick-firing guns told heavily and the Chinese formation broke down. Zhiyuen sank with her captain Deng Shichang after a failed attempt to ram, Jingyuan and Chaoyong burned, and Yangwei and Kwan Chia ran aground. The Japanese flagship Matsushima was badly hit and Admiral Itō shifted his flag to Hashidate.
Why it is remembered It was the largest naval engagement of the war and gave Japan command of the sea; the surviving Chinese ships were later destroyed at Weihaiwei.
Sources differ The main account notes that contemporary sources do not agree on the exact numbers and composition of either fleet.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · First Sino-Japanese War
Battle of Weihaiwei Landing or siege
Also known as Ikaiei-no-tatakai
20 January to 12 February 1895 · Weihai, Shandong Province, China
Fought between Japan against Qing China
Commanders Ōyama Iwao, Itō Sukeyuki, Ōdera Yasuzumi, killed (Japan); Li Hongzhang, Ding Ruchang, Liu Buchan (China)
Forces Japan: about 25,000 men, 13 cruisers, 5 gunboats, 15 torpedo boats. China: about 10,000 men, 2 battleships, 1 coastal battleship, 7 cruisers, 6 gunboats, 13 torpedo boats, 7 other vessels
Losses Japan: unknown. China: 4,000 killed; 1 battleship captured, 1 battleship scuttled, 1 coastal battleship captured, 3 protected cruisers scuttled, 1 protected cruiser captured, 6 gunboats captured, 6 torpedo boats destroyed, 7 torpedo boats captured.
Result Japanese victory
In early January 1895 Japanese troops landed in eastern Shandong behind the Chinese naval base at Weihaiwei. In a combined attack by land and sea forces the Japanese destroyed the forts and sank much of the Chinese Beiyang Fleet. The Chinese commanders Ding Ruchang and Liu Buchan took their own lives.
Why it is remembered With Shandong and Liaoning in Japanese hands, China faced a threat to Beijing and sued for peace, ending the war in April 1895.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Spanish-American War
Action of 13 June 1898 Single-ship action
13 June 1898 · Off Cienfuegos, Cuba
Fought between Spain against the United States
Commanders Juan de Carranza (Spain); Willard Herbert Brownson (United States)
Forces 3 Spanish gunboats against 1 American auxiliary cruiser
Ships USS Yankee, Diego Velázquez, Lince, Cometa
Losses Spain: 6 wounded, 1 gunboat damaged. United States: 2 wounded, 1 auxiliary cruiser damaged.
Result Spanish victory
The Spanish gunboat Diego Velázquez left Cienfuegos to inspect a suspicious steamer, which proved to be the American auxiliary cruiser USS Yankee. Though much weaker in armament, Diego Velázquez got back to Cienfuegos, where the small gunboats Lince and Cometa joined her. Yankee then withdrew.
Why it is remembered A minor action of the war in Cuba, counted as a Spanish success.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Spanish-American War
Action of 25 April 1898 Single-ship action
25 April 1898 · Off Cárdenas, Cuba
Fought between Spain against the United States
Commanders Antonio Pérez Rendón (Spain); William Ledyard Rodgers (United States)
Forces Spanish gunboat Ligera against American torpedo boat USS Foote
Ships USS Foote, Ligera
Losses Spain: Ligera damaged. United States: Foote seriously damaged.
Result Spanish victory
The American torpedo boat Foote and the Spanish gunboat Ligera exchanged fire near Cárdenas. Foote was seriously damaged and forced to withdraw.
Why it is remembered It was the first battle of the Spanish-American War and the first Spanish naval success.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Spanish-American War
Battle of the Aguadores Landing or siege
1 July 1898 · Aguadores River, near Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
Fought between Spain against the United States and Cuban rebels
Commanders Henry Duffield, William Sampson (United States); Spanish commander unknown
Forces United States: 2,700 men, 1 armoured cruiser, 2 gunboats. Spain: 274 men
Ships USS New York
Losses United States: 10 killed and wounded. Spain: none.
Result Spanish victory
Duffield's column attacked along the Aguadores River as a feint to draw Spanish troops away from San Juan Hill and El Caney. Poor coordination with the North Atlantic Fleet made its bombardment of the Spanish positions ineffective. Spanish rifle fire stopped the 33rd Michigan Regiment at the wrecked bridge and Duffield withdrew to Siboney.
Why it is remembered No Spanish troops were moved to Aguadores, and the claim that the feint prevented reinforcement of the San Juan Heights is not supported.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Spanish-American War
Battle of Cárdenas Fleet battle
11 May 1898 · Port of Cárdenas, Cuba
Fought between Spain against the United States
Commanders Mariano Mateu, Antonio Rendón (Spain); Chapman C. Todd, John Bernadou, Frank Newcomb (United States)
Forces Spain: 2 gunboats and 1 armed tug. United States: 2 torpedo boats, 2 gunboats and 1 revenue cutter
Ships USRC Hudson, Winslow
Losses Spain: 1 wounded. United States: 5 killed, 3 wounded; 1 torpedo boat disabled, 1 gunboat damaged.
Result Spanish victory
An American squadron of five ships attacked three small Spanish vessels in the port of Cárdenas. The attack failed at an unusually high cost to the Americans, with one torpedo boat disabled.
Why it is remembered The reverse dissuaded the US Navy from further attacks on the port.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: http://www.uscg.mil/history/people/NewcombFrankHFinal.pdf, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Spanish-American War
Battle of Cienfuegos Raid
Also known as Raid on Cienfuegos
11 May 1898 · Off Cienfuegos, Cuba
Fought between Spain against the United States
Commanders Francisco Cróquer (Spain); Bowman McCalla, Cameron Winslow (United States)
Forces United States: 1 unprotected cruiser, 1 gunboat, 1 revenue cutter and 2 steam launches. Spanish strength unknown
Losses Spain: none. United States: 2 killed, 15 wounded.
Result Spanish victory
The US Navy sent a cable cutting expedition to Cienfuegos to tighten its blockade of Cuba. Men in boats from the American ships came under fire from the Spanish defenders.
Why it is remembered An early attempt to cut Spain's undersea telegraph links with Cuba.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Spanish-American War
First Battle of Cárdenas Blockade and raiding
8 May 1898 · Off Cárdenas, Cuba
Fought between United States against Spain
Commanders John Bernadou (United States); Antonio Rendón (Spain)
Forces United States: 1 gunboat, 1 torpedo boat. Spain: 2 gunboats, 1 armed tug
Ships USS Machias
Losses United States: none. Spain: 2 gunboats and 1 armed tug damaged.
Result American victory
Three Spanish vessels tried to lift the American blockade of Cárdenas. Two United States Navy warships drove them back into harbour.
Why it is remembered A small blockade action that kept the port of Cárdenas closed.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Spanish-American War
First Battle of Manzanillo Fleet battle
30 June 1898 · In and outside the harbour of Manzanillo, Cuba
Fought between Spain against the United States
Commanders Joaquín Barreda (Spain); Lucien Young (United States)
Forces Spain: 4 gunboats, 3 pontoons, 3 field guns. United States: 2 gunboats, 1 armed tug
Ships USS Wompatuck
Losses Spain: 2 killed, 4 wounded, 1 gunboat damaged. United States: 1 killed, 2 wounded; 2 gunboats and 1 armed tug damaged.
Result Spanish victory
Three American gunboats attacked a squadron of Spanish gunboats and auxiliaries in and outside the harbour of Manzanillo. After a series of engagements the Americans were forced to retire.
Why it is remembered The first of three attacks on Manzanillo in 1898.
Sources differ One account speaks of three American gunboats; another account lists 2 gunboats and 1 armed tug.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Spanish-American War
Battle of Guantánamo Bay Landing or siege
6 to 14 June 1898 · Guantánamo Bay, Cuba
Fought between United States and Cuban rebels against Spain
Commanders Bowman McCalla (United States); Félix Pareja Mesa (Spain)
Forces United States: 923 men, 1 unprotected cruiser, 2 auxiliary cruisers, 1 gunboat, 1 steamship. Spain: 5,000 men, 2 gunboats
Losses United States and Cuba: 29 killed and wounded; 1 unprotected cruiser damaged. Spain: 208 killed and wounded, 18 captured; 2 gunboats damaged.
Result American and Cuban victory
American and Cuban forces, supported by US warships, seized the harbour of Guantánamo Bay and routed the Spanish troops defending it. United States Marines raised the American flag on Cuban soil on 11 June.
Why it is remembered The bay served the later operations at Santiago and Puerto Rico, and the United States naval base at Guantánamo Bay dates from it.
Sources differ One account gives 6 to 14 June 1898; another account gives 6 to 10 June 1898.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Spanish-American War
Battle of Manila Bay Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Cavite; Batalla de Cavite
1 May 1898 · Manila Bay, off Manila, Philippines
Fought between United States against Spain
Commanders George Dewey (United States); Patricio Montojo y Pasarón (Spain)
Forces United States: 4 protected cruisers, 2 gunboats, 1 revenue cutter, 2 transports. Spain: 2 protected cruisers, 5 unprotected cruisers, 5 gunboats, 1 transport
Ships USS Olympia, USS Baltimore, USS Raleigh, USS Boston, USS Concord, USS Petrel, McCulloch, Reina Cristina, Castilla, Don Antonio de Ulloa, Don Juan de Austria, Isla de Cuba, Isla de Luzon, Marques del Duero
Losses United States: 1 dead of illness (a heart attack), 9 wounded, 1 protected cruiser damaged. Spain: 77 killed, 271 wounded; 2 protected cruisers scuttled, 5 unprotected cruisers, 1 gunboat and 1 transport sunk.
Result American victory
The US Asiatic Squadron under Commodore Dewey steamed into Manila Bay on 1 May and engaged the Spanish Pacific Squadron, which Montojo had kept close to the shore so that survivors could swim to safety. American gunnery was far superior and the whole Spanish squadron, mostly older cruisers and gunboats, was destroyed. Montojo ordered his flagship Reina Cristina and other ships scuttled to keep them out of American hands.
Why it is remembered It was the first major engagement of the Spanish-American War, one of the most one-sided naval battles on record, and marked the end of the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: James Gale Tyler (1855, 1931), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Spanish-American War
Battle of Nipe Bay Fleet battle
Also known as Batalla de la bahía de Nipe
21 July 1898 · Nipe Bay, Cuba
Fought between United States against Spain
Commanders John J. Hunker (United States); Spanish commander unknown
Forces United States: 1 auxiliary cruiser, 2 gunboats, 1 tug. Spain: the sloop of war Jorge Juan and 3 gunboats, supported by forts
Ships USS Annapolis, Jorge Juan
Losses United States: none. Spain: 1 sloop sunk, 1 gunboat scuttled.
Result American victory
Four United States Navy warships entered Nipe Bay and fought the Spanish sloop of war Jorge Juan and three gunboats, which were supported by the forts guarding the harbour. Jorge Juan was sunk and a gunboat was scuttled.
Why it is remembered One of the last naval actions of the war in Cuban waters.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Spanish-American War
Bombardment of San Juan Landing or siege
Also known as First Battle of San Juan
12 May 1898 · San Juan Bay, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Fought between United States against Spain
Commanders William T. Sampson (United States); Manuel Macías y Casado (Spain)
Forces United States: 2 battleships, 1 armoured cruiser, 2 unprotected cruisers, 1 auxiliary cruiser, 2 monitors, 1 torpedo boat, 1 collier, 2 yachts. Spain: 2,500 infantry, 29 guns, a castle, 2 forts, a shore battery and 2 gunboats
Ships Amiral Rigault de Genouilly
Losses United States: 2 killed, 7 wounded; 1 battleship and 1 cruiser damaged. Spain: 2 killed, 38 wounded; the castle, 2 forts and a battery damaged. Civilians: 5 killed, 18 wounded.
Result Spanish victory
United States Navy warships engaged the Spanish fortifications of San Juan. Both sides suffered damage and casualties, and the French cruiser Amiral Rigault de Genouilly, a neutral in the harbour, was slightly damaged by American fire.
Why it is remembered It was the first major action of the Puerto Rican campaign.
Sources differ One account dates the bombardment to 12 May 1898; another account gives 12 to 18 May 1898.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Carlton Theodore Chapman, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Spanish-American War
Battle of Santiago de Cuba Fleet battle
Also known as Batalla naval de Santiago de Cuba
3 July 1898 · Off Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
Fought between United States against Spain
Commanders William T. Sampson, Winfield Scott Schley (United States); Pascual Cervera y Topete, captured, Fernando Villaamil, killed (Spain)
Forces United States: battleships, 2 armoured cruisers and 2 armed yachts. Spain: 4 armoured cruisers and 2 destroyers
Ships USS New York, USS Brooklyn, USS Texas, USS Iowa, USS Indiana, USS Oregon, USS Gloucester, USS Vixen, Infanta Maria Teresa, Almirante Oquendo, Vizcaya, Cristóbal Colón, Furor, Plutón
Losses United States: 1 killed, 1 wounded. Spain: 343 killed, 151 wounded, 1,889 captured; 4 armoured cruisers and 2 destroyers lost.
Result American victory
Cervera's squadron, blockaded in Santiago harbour, steamed out on the morning of 3 July in an attempt to reach the open sea. The American battleships and cruisers pursued along the coast. The flagship Infanta Maria Teresa and Almirante Oquendo were beached in flames, Vizcaya was beached after an explosion, the destroyers Furor and Plutón were sunk or driven ashore, and Cristóbal Colón ran aground after her captain surrendered. The Americans pulled 1,889 Spanish sailors from the water, Cervera among them.
Why it is remembered The destruction of the Spanish squadron sealed the American victory in Cuba. The victory was followed by a long public dispute between Sampson and Schley over who deserved the credit, which reached Theodore Roosevelt.
Sources differ One account gives the American squadron as four battleships and two armoured cruisers; another account gives five battleships, two armoured cruisers and two armed yachts. One account says the Americans suffered two men killed or wounded; another account gives 1 killed and 1 wounded.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Benjamín Núñez González, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Spanish-American War
Second Battle of Manzanillo Fleet battle
1 July 1898 · Harbour of Manzanillo, Cuba
Fought between Spain against the United States
Commanders Joaquín Barreda (Spain); Adolph Marix (United States)
Forces Spain: 3 gunboats, 3 pontoons. United States: 1 armed tug, 1 patrol yacht
Ships USS Scorpion
Losses Spain: 3 wounded. United States: 1 armed tug damaged.
Result Spanish victory
Two American vessels tried and failed to destroy the Spanish ships in the harbour of Manzanillo.
Why it is remembered The second of three attacks on Manzanillo in 1898.
Sources differ One account speaks of two American gunboats; another account lists an armed tug and a patrol yacht.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: U.S. Naval Historical Center photo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Spanish-American War
Second Battle of San Juan Blockade and raiding
22 June 1898 · Off San Juan, Puerto Rico
Fought between United States against Spain
Commanders Charles Sigsbee (United States); Spanish commander unknown
Forces 1 American auxiliary cruiser against 1 Spanish unprotected cruiser and 1 destroyer
Ships Terror
Losses United States: 1 auxiliary cruiser damaged. Spain: 2 killed, 5 wounded, 1 destroyer damaged.
Result American victory
Two Spanish vessels came out of San Juan to try to break the American blockade of the port. They were engaged by an American auxiliary cruiser and the Spanish destroyer Terror was damaged.
Why it is remembered One of three naval actions off San Juan in 1898.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Spanish-American War
Third Battle of Manzanillo Fleet battle
18 July 1898 · Harbour of Manzanillo, Cuba
Fought between United States against Spain
Commanders Chapman C. Todd, Adolph Marix (United States); Joaquín Gómez de Barreda (Spain)
Forces United States: 4 gunboats, 2 armed tugs, 1 patrol yacht. Spain: 4 gunboats, 3 pontoons used as floating batteries, 3 transports, 3 field guns and 3 battalions of infantry
Ships USS Helena
Losses United States: 1 armed tug damaged. Spain: 3 killed, 14 wounded; 4 gunboats, 3 pontoons and 3 transports destroyed.
Result American victory
A stronger American squadron returned to Manzanillo and sank or destroyed every Spanish vessel in the harbour without losing a ship. The Spanish hold-out at Manzanillo was then bombarded.
Why it is remembered The bombardment led to the surrender of the city and the end of Spanish naval presence on the island.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Detroit Publishing Company, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Spanish-American War
Third Battle of San Juan Blockade and raiding
28 June 1898 · San Juan, Puerto Rico
Fought between Spain against the United States
Commanders Spanish commander unknown; William H. Emory Jr. (United States)
Forces Spain: 1 unprotected cruiser, 2 gunboats, 1 blockade runner, with a castle and a fort. United States: 1 auxiliary cruiser
Ships SS Antonio Lopez
Losses Spain: 1 blockade runner lost, 5 wounded. United States: none.
Result Inconclusive; the Spanish took off the supplies but the blockade runner was lost
An American auxiliary cruiser intercepted the Spanish blockade runner Antonio Lopez off San Juan. A Spanish squadron came out to help her and took off her supplies and crew, but the American warship engaged the runner and forced her aground, where she burned out.
Why it is remembered A small blockade action in which the cargo was saved but the ship was lost.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Second Samoan Civil War
Siege of Apia Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Apia
14 to 30 March 1899 · Apia, Upolu, Samoa
Fought between Samoans loyal to Malietoa Tanumafili I, Britain and the United States against the Samoan followers of Mata'afa Iosefo, supported by Germany
Commanders Albert Kautz (United States); Leslie Stuart (Britain); Mata'afa Iosefo (Mataafans)
Forces Allies: 2,260 men ashore, with 3 cruisers and 1 corvette. Mataafans: 4,000
Losses Allies: 9 killed, 10 to 15 wounded. Mataafans: about 27 killed.
Result Allied victory
Samoan forces loyal to Malietoa Tanumafili I were besieged at Apia by a larger rebel force loyal to Mata'afa Iosefo. Landing parties from four British and American warships supported Malietoa, and United States Marines manned a naval gun ashore. After several days of fighting the rebels were defeated.
Why it is remembered An episode of great power rivalry in Samoa in which warships' landing parties decided a local civil war.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: United States Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Thousand Days' War
Battle of the Magdalena River Fleet battle
Also known as Batalla del río Magdalena; Battle of Los Obispos; Battle of Gamarra
24 October 1899 · Magdalena River at Los Obispos, near Gamarra, Colombia
Fought between Colombian Conservative government against Liberal rebels
Commanders Diego de Castro (government); Domiciano Nieto, Manuel N. Vásquez, Nicanor Guerra, Efraín Mejía, all killed (rebels)
Forces Government: 2 gunboats. Rebels: 1 dredger, 7 passenger steamships, 500 men
Ships Colombia, Hércules
Losses Government: minimal. Rebels: more than 200 killed.
Result Conservative victory
The Liberal Party rose against the government on 17 October 1899 and tried to seize the Magdalena River, cutting river transport to Bogotá. Its flotilla of converted passenger steamers and a dredge held up the Conservative advance for a time. On the night of 24 October two government gunboats under General Diego de Castro destroyed the rebel flotilla.
Why it is remembered It was the first major battle of the Thousand Days' War. A painting of it by Francisco Valiente dates from 1899.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Francisco Valiente, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Philippine-American War
Battle of Mabitac Landing or siege
Also known as Labanan sa Mabitac; Batalla de Mabitac
17 September 1900 · Mabitac, Laguna, on the shore of Laguna de Bay, Philippines
Fought between First Philippine Republic against the United States
Commanders Juan Cailles (Philippines); Benjamin F. Cheatham Jr. (United States)
Forces Philippines: about 300 (Filipino account) or 800 (American estimate). United States: about 300 men of the 37th and 15th Volunteer Infantry, with several gunboats
Losses Philippines: 11 killed, 20 wounded (American estimate) or 2 dead, 3 wounded (Filipino claim). United States: 21 killed, 23 wounded (American claim) or 180 dead and wounded (Filipino estimate).
Result Filipino victory
American infantry advancing from Siniloan along a flooded causeway came under heavy fire from Filipino trenches and were pinned down in waist-deep water for about 90 minutes. A US Navy gunboat on the lake gave supporting fire, and the Filipino account says troops tried to land on the flank from the gunboats but were driven back. Cheatham withdrew and Cailles later slipped away to avoid envelopment.
Why it is remembered It was one of the heaviest American defeats of the war; Cailles allowed Cheatham to recover the bodies of eight fallen scouts.
Sources differ Strength and losses differ sharply between the American figures and the Filipino account in the Philippine Revolutionary Records.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Ramon FVelasquez, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Boxer Rebellion
Battle of the Taku Forts (1900) Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Dagu Forts (大沽口砲臺之戰)
16 to 17 June 1900 · Taku (Dagu) Forts at the mouth of the Hai River, near Tianjin, China
Fought between Eight-Nation Alliance (Russia, Britain, Japan, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy) against Qing China
Commanders Yakov Hildebrandt (Russia); Christopher Cradock (Britain); Hugo von Pohl (Germany); Lo Jung-Kuang (Qing)
Forces Allied: 900 men and 10 ships. Qing: 1,000 soldiers and sailors and 4 destroyers.
Losses Allied: 172 killed and wounded. Qing: unknown.
Result Allied victory; the forts were captured
European and Japanese naval forces attacked the Qing forts guarding the approach to Tianjin and captured them after a brief but bloody battle.
Why it is remembered The loss of the forts led the Qing government to side with the Boxers and order its army to resist all foreign forces in China. The Allies held the forts until the end of the Boxer Rebellion in September 1901.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Fritz Neumann / Adam Cuerden, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903
Venezuelan crisis of 1902 to 1903 Blockade and raiding
Also known as Venezuelan naval blockade of 1902 to 1903
9 December 1902 to 19 February 1903 · Coast of Venezuela
Fought between Britain, Germany and Italy against Venezuela
Commanders Cipriano Castro (Venezuela)
Losses Venezuela's small navy was quickly disabled.
Result Compromise: the blockade was lifted and Venezuela committed 30% of its customs duties to settling claims
Britain, Germany and Italy blockaded Venezuela after President Cipriano Castro refused to pay foreign debts and damages owed to European citizens. The blockade quickly disabled the Venezuelan navy, but Castro held out and agreed in principle to arbitration. Under American pressure the blockading powers accepted a compromise signed on 13 February 1903, which lifted the blockade.
Why it is remembered The Hague arbitration that followed favoured the blockading powers, and American fear of further European intervention led to the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.
Sources Wikipedia
Ironclads, 1861 to 1903 · Venezuelan crisis of 1902 to 1903
Bombardment of Fort San Carlos Landing or siege
17 January 1903 · Fort San Carlos de la Barra, entrance to Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela
Fought between Venezuela against Germany
Commanders Jorge Antonio Bello (Venezuela); Richard Eckermann (Germany)
Forces Germany: 1 light cruiser, 1 gunboat. Venezuela: 1 fort with 4 guns
Losses Germany: 1 gunboat damaged. Venezuela: 3 to 6 wounded. Civilians: 25 to 40 killed.
Result Venezuelan victory
Two warships of the Imperial German Navy tried to force their way into Lake Maracaibo. After a brief exchange of fire with the garrison of Fort San Carlos de la Barra they were driven off.
Why it is remembered The bombardment featured on the front page of Le Petit Parisien and added to the international criticism of the blockade.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Le Petit Parisien, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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