USS Galena: Flawed, but Still Standing

In preparation for Drewry's Bluff, we present USS Galena .  This is the ship that is often mentioned in passing and in hush circles as t...

Drewry's Bluff Commemoration

Today, Laura Orr and I traveled to Drewry's Bluff to talk about some recent developments brewing with the National Park Service for the ...

The Unfavorable Mortar Boats

In the later fall of 1861, Captain (later flag officer) Andrew Foote inherited a squadron in the making. The warships under construction an...

The First Year in Review

Civil War Navy and Marine Reenactors at Portsmouth Navy Birthday (October 2011)  " Nor must Uncle Sam's web-feet be forgotten. At...

Ft. Pickens and the Pensacola Navy Yard III

Reinforcement of Ft. Pickens by Union forces in mid-1861 (source: Fla. Dept. of State): In prior posts, I covered the events transpiring at...

Commander Walke Runs the Gauntlet

The Union Navy was busy during the early months of 1862.  With commanders Andrew Hull Foote and Major General John Pope fresh off recent suc...

No Fools in April: Some Sunday Fun and News

It's been a few days since the last post.  The education staff (including myself) at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum was busy this past ...