History

Civil War Naval History
September 8-9, 1864

     U.S.S. Tritonia, Rodolph, Stockdale, and an Army transport commenced a two-day expedition under Acting Lieutenant George Wiggin to destroy large salt works at Salt House Point near Mobile Bay. Only Rodolph and Stockdale crossed the bar and entered Bon Secours River. Arriving at the Point at mid-morning, Wiggin sent two boat crews ashore and demolition of the salt works began immediately. So extensive were the works that destruction was not completed until late afternoon the next day. Wiggin reported: "I found some of the works well built and very strong, particularly one known as the Memphis Works, said to have cost $60,000. . . . Another work, which was very strong and well built, said to have cost $50,000." Rear Admiral Farragut, who had ordered the attack, observed: "There were 55 furnaces, in which were manufactured nearly 2,000 bushels of salt per day, and their destruction must necessarily inconvenience the rebels."

     Source: Historycentral.com

Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", 29 April 1865, page 268, depicting USS Rodolph being sunk by a mine in the Blakely River, Alabama, near Mobile, on 1 April 1865. At the time, Rodolph was towing a barge with equipment to salvage the monitor USS Milwaukee, which had been sunk by a mine (then called torpedoes) on 28 March. - Click to Enlarge.

     The USS Rodolph was one of only two Union ships that crossed the sand bar and entered the Bon Secour River. The two ship's crews destroyed several large Confederate salt works at Salt House Point in Bon Secour Bay, Ala. As they returned to Mobile Bay on 11 September, the vessels were fired upon but suffered no casualties.

     The USS Rodolph stayed in service for the Union Navy only another six months. It sank in Mobile Bay on April 1, 1865, when it ran into a mine (then called torpedoes).

     Source: Naval Historical Center