Ammunition schooners

[tmh10]

Hampton Roads, Virginia. Ammunition schooners.
CREATED/PUBLISHED
1864 Dec.
NOTES
Title from Civil War caption books.
Caption from negative sleeve: Ammunition schooners in Hampton Road's Dec. 1864.
Corresponding print is in LOT 4175.
Forms part of Civil War glass negative collection (Library of Congress).

 

[5fish]

An interesting collection of ships in the background all different sizes and designs....I wonder what type of ship that big one is. It looks to have like three levels to it...

 

[ExNavyPilot]

Judging by the distance from shore to shore, I'd say this photo was taken more towards the mouth of the James and not in the Roads, proper.

 

[tmh10]

Judging from the boxes on board looks like plenty of ammo to get to the troops.

 

[ExNavyPilot]

Judging from the boxes on board looks like plenty of ammo to get to the troops.

For security's sake, it was a good idea to moor the 4 schooners together, but considering safety? That would make one big bang (kinda like the one at City Point). The Dept of Defense Explosive Safety Board (DDESB--the group that sets current explosive handling standards in the military) would NOT approve.