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James
He was among those eventually captured at the Battle of Portland, Maine and was imprisoned in the Union prison at Fort Warren. Some indicate he was a Chaplain on the Tacony, however, all documented sources show his rating was that of a seaman, and there is no official evidence that any Chaplain was ever appointed in the Confederate States Navy, despite the Confederate Congress passing a bill to allow for such appointments.
He may, however, have acted in that capacity aboard ship to give comfort to his shipmates. Coffee was listed in Confederate Personnel Records as being a Second Class Fireman aboard the CSS McRae and was wounded in action, April 24-25, 1862. |
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Though there are numerous records relating to Civil War soldiers of the army on both sides, little is available relating to the many naval veterans. Records are almost non-existent and as such, much information relating to those individuals are derived from collected oral histories. The collecting of such naval records is an ongoing project by a number of governmental and private agencies throughout the United States and else where. Many private researchers, however, are reluctant to share such information, hoarding what little is uncovered, to the detriment of information preservation and to society as a whole. There is information, however, on the ships and the activities in which they participated.
The blockade runner “CSS Florida”, originally called the CSS “Selma” prior to 1862, was commissioned the CSS “Florida” in January 1862. She was built by William C. Miller and Sons of Liverpool, and was the first contract negotiated by Captain James Bulloch as Naval Agent of the Confederate States. She carried the dockyard name of “Oreto” and by March 1862, was ready for sea. An English crew was assigned to sail her as an unarmed ship, the arrangement was necessary to avoid any conflict with the neutrality regulations of the period. On the 22nd of March, she left Liverpool carrying as a passenger, Master John Lowe of the Confederate States Navy who had been ordered to deliver the ship to Captain J. N.. Maffitt at Nassau; where the necessary guns and equipment to fit her out as an Armed Raider were shipped separately aboard the steamer “Bahama”.
Bulloch was watched the whole time he was in England and all his activities were documented by Union observers. The U.S. Consul had petitioned the British Governor to seize the “Oreto” as soon as she arrived in Nassau, as she was intended for Confederate service. A petition was submitted twice, between April and August, but the Admiralty Court submitted that the “Oreto” was British property and ordered the ship released.
In Nassau, the armament for the “Oreto” was placed in a schooner, which then met the new Raider at Green Cay on the 10th. of August, 60 miles away from Nassau. There, the “Oreto” was transformed into CSS “Florida” and fitted with two 7 inch and four 6 inch Blakely rifled guns. |
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Captain Maffitt only had 18 men on board, which included Lieutenant J.M. Stribling, three Midshipmen, Floyd, Bryan and Sinclair, and Acting Master W.L. Bradford when yellow fever struck the crew; sparing only four deck hands and one fireman. The “Oreto” then made for Cardenas, Cuba, and six men died, the Captain also falling ill with the fever and was summoned to Havana by his Captain General. The ship was neither properly manned nor as equipped as she needed to be, and with stringent Spanish regulations in place, the Captain decided to take his vessel into Mobile, Alabama. By September 4, 1862 the “Florida” was standing off the bar at the mouth of Mobile Bay and displayed the British flag, hoping to deceive three Union blockade ships.
The “Florida” was cleared to proceed towards them, then was ordered to stop. As he did so, Captain Maffitt hoisted the Confederate flag, which brought instant fire at point blank range from the Union sloop “Oneida”, until the “Florida” could run in under the protective guns of Fort Morgan. They were so close together that two shells passed completely through the “Florida”, killing one and wounding another seven men; her rigging being torn to shreds. Rising from his sick bed to fight, Captain Maffitt made it into Mobile, where the “Florida” was repaired, completely fitted out and properly manned.
The “Florida” was the second most successful Confederate raider, after the “C.S.S. Alabama”, capturing 33 ships and was considered the scourge of the U.S. Navy; feared by all Union shipping. She was illegally rammed and captured by the “U.S.S. Washusett” on October 7, 1864, while in the international neutral port of Bahia, Brazil.
The US Consul assigned to that port sent a letter of protest to the President of the Province, claiming that the CSS “Florida” was “not entitled to the privileges and immunities conceded to vessels navigating under the flag of a civilized nation.” The President rejected his protest, however, advising him that the Imperial Government of Brazil recognized the Confederate States as legal belligerents, and as such, they were entitled to any humanitarian assistance required, as laid down by international law. |
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The USS “Wachusett”, commanded by Napoleon Collins, anchored in the port of Bahia. at the same time, however, realized that his chance to capture or destroy the “Florida” might slip out of his hands; since there was a 24 hour departure law between belligerent vessels in a neutral port setting sail, so he illegally decided to try and sink or capture the vessel by any means necessary in violation of neutrality laws and the orders of the Brazilian government.
In the early hours of Friday, October 7, the USS “Wachusett” rapidly moved under a full head of steam, and struck the CSS “Florida” on her starboard side. Several shots were exchanged between the two vessels, and the “Florida” eventually succumbed to Collins' demands for surrender. Prisoners were taken off the Confederate vessel and she was towed out of the harbor, under fire of the forts in Bahia. Two Brazilian naval vessels also gave chase, but the USS “Wachusett” with the “Florida” in tow managed to elude them. Lieutenant Reid, however, had been ashore when she was attacked and therefore eluded capture.
While being towed back to the United States, the “Florida” was said to have sank in a collision with the transport ship, the “U.S. Alliance”; in reality, it is believed she was purposefully sank out of fear she may escape Union hands and again pillage Union shipping. |
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The “Clarence”, also known as “Coquette”, was a Union ship built at Baltimore, Maryland in 1857. While transporting a cargo of aromatic coffee from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Baltimore on May 6, 1863, when she was captured by the CSS “Florida”. Some 300 bags were transferred to the “Florida” and Lieutenant Charles W. Read pleaded with his Captain to be allowed to man the “Clarence” and operate her as an armed cruiser. She was placed then under the command of Lt. Read with 20 men as a prize crew and Lieutenant Read suggested that he might try to sail into Hampton Roads, Virginia and if possible destroy or capture a Federal gunboat and burn Union merchant vessels congregated at Fortress Monroe; so Commander Maffitt armed the “Clarence” with one gun. A 6 pounder gun was added to some small arms and Read took over his command, planning to enter Chesapeake Bay, with her genuine papers and port of Registry; he hoped to make it through the Union blockade into the harbour, where he hoped he could destroy enemy ships and escape to rejoin the “Florida”.
In route to Virginia on June 6, 1863, the “Clarence” captured the Union bark “Windward”, also known as the “Whistling Wind” and the next day the schooner “Alfred H. Partridg”; followed by the brig “Mary Alvina” on June 9th. By early June the “Clarence” approached the American coast, her armament transformed. Spars had been turned into dummy guns, mounted on wooden carriages, gun ports had been cut, and the 6 pounder provided a puff of smoke at the appropriate time to make it look as if a broadside had been fired. On June 6th she captured her first prize, the Union “Whistling Wind”, crammed full of coal to fill the bunkers of Admiral Farragut’s ships on the Mississippi, but Read burned the ship instead. Read next came across a schooner named “Alfred H. Partridge” from New York, her Captain claiming her cargo of arms and clothing were destined for the Confederate army in Texas; shipped through a neutral port in Mexico; since she was bonded for $5,000 she was released to deliver her cargo to the Confederacy.
The “Clarence” next captured the “Mary Alvina”, a Union Boston bark with supplies for the U.S. army. She, of course was burned after taking and removing some of her supplies, and recent newspapers. They gave Lieutenant Read useful information on entering Hampton Roads, as they related that all vessels were stopped, searched, and only those with cargoes earmarked for the Federal Government were allowed to dock. Realizing his initial intentions were now in jeopardy, he made for the coast, hoping to capture a faster ship than the rather sluggish “Clarence”, and one that would carry proper clearance papers.
His chance came on the June 12th when he sighted a ship running about 6 miles ahead of him; but he was too slow to catch her, and his modest 6 pounder was far too light to make an impression at that range. So he closed his gun ports and raised the U.S. flag upside down; as an international signal of distress.
For the “Tacony”, running from South Carolina to Philadelphia, that created a problem. Captain William Munday did not like the look of the distressed brig, but if she was in trouble the law of the sea demanded he give assistance. Then too, the possibility of salvage money may have been what made him decide to ease his vessel close to the brig. As he did so, a boat with some 10 sailors in it from the “Clarence” bumped alongside the “Tacony” and as its occupants scrambled on board they presented themselves, revolvers in hand; the surprise was complete and ownership of the American ship was now transferred to Lieutenant Read.
On June 12th the “Clarence” captured the Union bark “Tacony”, and then the schooner “M. A. Shindler”. Lieutenant Read transferred his force to the “Tacony”, a better and faster ship than the “Clarence”, and while that was being done, she intercepted her last prize, the schooner “Kate Stewart”. The “Clarence” was then burned after her short but unusually successful career, and Lieutenant Read and his men continued on the “Tacony”, now a Confederate ship, along the Atlantic coast. Within 30 days, no less than 38 armed ships were sent out and were on the hunt along the coast, seeking to catch up with and destroy the “Clarence”; which of course no longer existed.
The “Tacony”, also known as “Florida No. 2”, was built in 1856 at Newcastle, Delaware. Now called the “Florida No. 2” by her captors, the “Tacony” sailed northward along the New England coast to attack Union shipping.
Between June 12th and June 24th the “Tacony” captured 15 Union ships; including the Union brig “Umpire”, on June 15th, about 300 miles off the Delaware River, which he burned. Among her captures was the schooner “Micabar”, the clipper “Byzantium”, the “Goodspeed”, 3 New England fishing schooners, the “Shatemuc” and her last capture on June 24th a small fishing schooner named the “Archer”. By then, subject to a frantic and intensive search for the “Tacony” by the U.S. Navy, Lieutenant Read again transferred his force, to the “Archer”; hoping to avoid Union pursuit; burning the “Tacony” on the same day, June 25, 1863. |
| The Battle of Portland Harbour, during which James Coffee was captured, was a naval battle fought on June 24, 1863, at Portland, Maine. The Confederate raider “Tacony” commanded by Lt. Reed of the Confederate States Navy, who according to some sources was known as C. S. Reed and to others as C. W. Read, had captured the fishing schooner “Archer” off Portland, Maine. Lt. Reed had proceeded to spread fear and consternation along the eastern seaboard of the United States by capturing and burning 21 Union merchant vessels. At Portland, realizing the Union navy was in pursuit of his ship, Reed had his men burnt the “Tacony”, then slipped into Portland harbour two days later aboard the captured “Archer”. Once in Portland Harbour they proceeded on June 27th to capture the Union revenue cutter “Caleb Cushing”. With both the “Archer” and the “Caleb Cushing”, Lieutenant Reed planned to slip out past the harbour fortifications before anyone knew what had happened, then return to set fire to its commercial shipping. |
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Word got out as to what had occurred, however, and the Confederate raiders were forced to flee from an assault by Union ships, the “USS Forest City” and “USS Chesapeake”. Later that same day Lieutenant Reed and his men were forced to set fire to the “Caleb Cushing” rather than have it fall into Union hands and both Reed and his crew were captured. Subsequently they joined other Confederate Navy prisoners at the Union prison of Fort Warren. On July 29th, the Portland Daily Press reported that the “Tacony Pirates” were being taken to Fort Warren in Boston on the train, under guard from a detachment of 50 men from the 17th Regulars.
Fort Warren was a pentagonal-shaped granite stone fortification, located on 28-acre Georges Island, at the entrance to Boston Harbor at Boston, Massachusetts; where it once commanded the main shipping channels. Its construction began in 1833 and wasn’t fully completed until shortly after the Civil War. Contrary to what many authors and historians would have you believe, that they were treated with the utmost respect, well-fed, and placed in comfortable quarters, just the opposite was true. Union prisons and officials at Fort Warren held no respect for southerners or secessionists who were fed only the barest of essentials to sustain life and more often than were forced to sleep in damp dungeon-like cells or in tents with nothing but straw for a bed. As a result there were many complaints, many deaths and numerous testimonials given after the war; both by former prisoners and Union guards. Graves are always good proof of prisoner’s deaths. |
| Lieutenant Read escaped from Fort Warren but was later recaptured and finally exchanged during the final days of the war. He then commanded a squadron of torpedo boats on the James River, south of Richmond, Virginia, refusing to recognize defeat. After that he led a daring overland expedition around Grant's army at Petersburg and then attempted a desperate dash down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico with the CSS “Webb”. Coffey, however, remained in Fort Warren until the end of the war, when he was released, and afterwards made his way to Australia. James Coffee was said to have been pretty much a loner and for reasons of his own always attempted to hide the knowledge of his Confederate naval service from those who knew him. It is known, however, that it was not because he deserted, as he did receive an honorable discharge. His name was often recorded as J. Coffee, J. Coffey or simply as Coffee or Coffey and on at least one source as “Goffee”. |
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After the war, like many American Civil War veterans of both sides, James Coffey eventually found his way to Australia in May 1865. He resided in Townsville and Brisbane in the state of Queensland and was involved in mining. James Coffee entered the Dunwich Asylum near Brisbane, Queensland in 1896, having no money or any property, due to a “bad mouth” and died there at 55 years of age a few months later on October 26, 1896. His cause of death was attributed to cancer of the face and neck; Reg. number 3306, cemetery number 396
Mr. Michael Forrest of Noble Park, Victoria and Mr. Phil Forrest of Western Australia, who were helpful in compiling information on him, are descendants of James Coffee. James Coffee was Mr. Forrest’s great grandmother’s brother. An application for the acquisition of a headstone was approved and was received in August 2006 for placement on his gravesite. |
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AII POW-MIA InterNetwork Althea Dickers, North Stradbroke Island Historical Museum Assn. Bill Martin, Bristol Virginia Bob Niepert, Florida Reenactors Online News Magazine “Civil War Naval History”, June 1863 Confederate Naval Personnel Records Confederate States Navy Research Library, Mobile, Alabama C.S. Florida letter of crew member C.S. Florida Roster of Officers and Crew Daily Picayune, Tuesday, April 29, 1862; ORN 2, 1, 290 George Wright, Dora Alabama “Journal of C.S. Corvette Florida, No. 2” Michael Forrest, Noble Park, Victoria; descendant “More Confederate Faces”, William A. Albaugh Naval Historical Society of Australia, Inc. Newspaper, “Mississipi Sun”, Charleston, Mississipi, June 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th, 1921. Articles by Walter Scott Meriweather, "The Paul Jones of Mississippi" Newspaper, “Richmond Dispatch”, Sunday, November 24, 1895 “Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion”, Series 1, Volume 3 “Sea Hawk of the Confederacy, Lt. Charles W. Read and the Confederate Navy”, R. Thomas Campbell “The Image of War”, William C. Davis, Volume 4 U.S. and C.S. Navy registers, reports of officers, records of the C.S. Navy Secretary's Office Wikipedia Encyclopedia “Southern Historical Society Papers”, Richmond, Va., Vol. XXIII. |
