Talk:Star of the West

Battery Gregg was not the Morris Island Battery

I'm using a map from

Wilcox, Arthur M. & Ripley, Warren. (1992) The Civil War at Charleston, Sixteenth Ed. Evening-Post Publishing Co.

The map is credited to the Charleston Planning Committee made 1961 and was a survey map of the archaelogical remains of the batteries, forts, etc. This is/was the official booklet sold at Patriot's Point when you go to Ft. Sumter..that is where I bought it. (Self Correction. I bought it in the gift shop inside Ft. Sumter...not the store at Patriot's Point).

There were three distinct batteries on Morris Island. The first was the Morris Island battery (middle of island), later named the Star of the West battery after firing on the Star of the West. Batteries Wagner (oceanside) and Gregg (harbor side) were built later. (According to your 2nd source, by 1863). Battery Gregg memorialized Maxcy Gregg after he was killed at Fredericksburg in December of '62. It wouldn't have been named after him in '61.

The two sources given state that Battery Gregg was on Morris Island..they don't support the statements that this was the battery that fired on the Star of the West. The second source states it was built later. Further, if you read Gen. Beauregard's report, you will realize that Battery Gregg didn't exist yet. ⋙–Berean–Hunter—► ((⊕)) 14:08, 22 July 2008 (UTC)

My mistake there. Thanks for the clarification. Reb (talk) 16:23, 22 July 2008 (UTC)

That's ok, you did good,...you produced two interesting sources that may help me with wikipedia articles I'm writing (or wanting to write). The map has 63 different forts & batteries. It can be very confusing to keep them straight. Thank you, ⋙–Berean–Hunter—► ((⊕)) 17:21, 22 July 2008 (UTC)

CSS St. Philip

It would seem appropriate to refer to the ship as the CSS St. Philip in the article after it was captured and renamed thus. This seems to be the proper procedure for many other vessels that were renamed and have articles about them on Wikipedia, and also throughout nautical history. Certainly at least a redirect seems in order here. Dr. Dan (talk) 23:11, 9 January 2010 (UTC)

Sunk "broadside" in the Tallahatchie River

The Star of the West was not sunk broadside in the Tallahatchie. No source says the word broadside and this would have been difficult to pull of given she was 228 feet in length and the Tallahatchie is hardly 260-280 feet wide today. (See Google Earth maps). Confederate defenders sank her facing the river current. This source also suggests this, "Yalobusha [spelling corrected] enters—or, more exactly speaking, at the head of the Yazoo. [Fort] Pemberton was built of earth and cotton. A deep slough was in front, while the right flank was barricaded by a raft similar to that at Haines Bluff. Here I renewed acquaintance with the famous steamer “Star of the West,” on her ocean-built hull, and I went to see the last of her when she was sunk at this fort, ending her varied career from salt water to this quiet shade of peaceful fresh water. On the right flank of the fort and above the raft in the Tallahatchie the “Star” had a satellite, the “John Walsh", these vessels reposing close together." “Afield - Afloat, Notable Events of the Civil War, by George S. Waterman, Confederate Veteran Magazine, Vo. VI, p. 171 (April 1898). Although this eyewitness did not know the steamer John Walsh was not scuttled at the last minute, was later used in at least one other engagement on the Yazoo River and burned in May 1863, this account also suggests the Star of the West was not sunk broadside in the Tallahatchie River. Rjr1960 (talk) 05:40, 10 August 2020 (UTC)

Incorrect summary statement

The sentence, "In a skirmish on April 12, 1863, the Union forces suffered heavy casualties and were forced to withdraw" is not accurate. See Wikipedia page "Yazoo Pass expedition" showing that intense bombardment by both Union and Confederate forces began March 11, 1863, continued on and off again and ended a few days after Gen. Sherman ordered the withdrawal of Union forces on April 5, 1863. Some renewed fighting occurred after the withdrawing force was met by Union riverine re-enforcements and they all returned but by April 12 the Union effort had completely ended. There was no fighting on April 12 in this area. Also, this was a battle proper, not a skirmish. Both sides suffered casualties. Rjr1960 (talk) 06:38, 10 August 2020 (UTC)