The Tallahassee burning the Adriatic, painting by Julian Oliver Davidson
History
United States
NameAdriatic
OwnerElisha E. Morgan & Wiley, Richard H. Moore
OperatorRichard H. Moore
Port of registry1861–1864
BuilderCurtis & Tilden shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts
Cost$100,000 at the time of capture[1]
Launched1861
In service1861–1864
Out of serviceAugust 12, 1864
Captured1864
FateFire, sank at sea
General characteristics
TypeWooden hull
Tons burthen989[2] (bm)
Length181 ft 3 in (55.25 m)
Beam34 ft 2 in (10.41 m)
Draft21 ft 0 in (6.40 m)
Depth of hold33 ft 5 in (10.19 m)
Propulsionsails
Sail planfull-rigged ship

The Adriatic was a three-masted, two deck, packet ship built in 1861 by Curtis & Tilden, Boston, Massachusetts, United States. On August 12, 1864, the Adriatic was embarked from London, England en route to New York City carrying 163 German immigrants and 100 US citizens. She made it as far as the New Jersey coast before meeting the Confederate raider CSS Tallahassee, that collided with her. Captain John Taylor Wood of Tallahassee ordered every passenger on the Adriatic to be taken prisoner and put on the Tallahassee. Wood then ordered the Adriatic to be burned.

Construction

The Curtis & Tilden shipyard at Boston, Massachusetts built the Adriatic in 1861.[3][4] The firm E. E. Morgan & Son, were owners of a line of packet ships that ran carried passengers and freight between London and New York, and Adriatic joined their line. Elisha E. Morgan was part-owner, along with Captain Richard H. Moore.[1]

The Adriatic was registered with the ‘’Record of American and Foreign Shipping’’, from 1862 to 1864. Her master was R. H. Moore; her owners were E. E. Morgan; built in 1861 at Curtis & Tilden East Boston; and her hailing port was the Port of New York.[2]

American Civil War

Confederate cruiser and blockade runner CSS Tallahassee

On July 7, 1864, during the American Civil War, Adriatic, Captain Richard H. Moore, sailed from London, England to New York City with 163 German immigrants, 100 US citizens, and 100-tons of coal. On August 12, 1864, she had made the New Jersey coast, 35 miles off Montauk, New York, when she met the Tallahassee, which collided with Adriatic. Captain Wood ordered every one on the Adriatic to be put on the Tallahassee. Wood then ordered the Adriatic to be burned.[5]

In the book, "From Sandy Hook to 62", Charles Edward Russell, describes Tallahassee's chase of Adriatic. When Tallahassee ran down the Adriatic, the Tallahassee lost her mainmast and stanchions.[6]

The next day, Captain Wood captured the bark Suliote, of Belfast, Maine. He transferred the passengers from the pilot boat William Bell, No. 24 and Adriatic to the Suliote. James Callahan was ordered to pilot the Suliote into Sandy Hook, New York.[5]

Alabama Claims

The Geneva Board of Arbitration settling the Alabama Claims.

On February 23, 1883, William D. Morgan, executor for Elisha E. Morgan, part-owner of the Adriatic, successfully petitioned the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York via the Alabama Claims award, for compensation of the loss of Adriatic during the Civil War. The case was called William D. Morgan v. The United States (No. 1058). The total claim was for $109,615.95.[1]

On February 10, 1883, James Callahan was deposed for the Alabama Claims award. In his deposition Callahan said that he was captain of the William Bell. The court then asked him to recount the capture of Adriatic by the CSS Tallahassee.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Records, 1882-85". 1882. p. 2. Retrieved 26 Aug 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Record of American and Foreign Shipping". Mystic Seaport Museum. New York. Retrieved 2021-08-26.
  3. "By Telegraph". The Buffalo Daily Republic. Buffalo, New York. 5 Sep 1855. p. 3. Retrieved 28 Jul 2021.
  4. Gaines, W. Craig (2008). Encyclopedia of Civil War Shipwrecks. LSU Press. p. 109. ISBN 9780807134245. Retrieved 26 Aug 2021.
  5. 1 2 "The Tallahassee. More Captures by the Privateer. Pilot boat Wm. Bell, No. 23, Burned". New York Daily Herald. 15 Aug 1864. p. 5. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  6. From Sandy Hook to 62°], Charles Edward Russell. Century Co., New York. 1929. p. 140. OCLC 3804485.
  7. "Deposition of James Callahan". United States. Court of Commissioners of Alabama Claims. February 23, 1883. p. 5. Retrieved August 5, 2021 via babel.hathitrust.org.
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