Attempting To Free Run-aground Aster, Berberry Gets Stuck
Shortly after midnight on 8 October, while Berberry was on station northeast of Mound Light, observers reported an approaching boat. Griffith hailed the stranger and ordered her alongside. She proved to be from the tug Aster — that had run aground on Caroline Shoals while chasing a blockade runner that was attempting to enter New Inlet — and requested assistance.
Berberry quickly set a course for New Inlet Bar where she took a hawser from Aster and attempted to pull the stranded tug free. However, the hawser parted without Aster's budging; and Berberry made several more unsuccessful attempts before the falling tide compelled her to abandon the effort. She then tried to go alongside Aster so that she might rescue the tug's crew. It took Berberry some 20 minutes of difficult maneuvering to work into a position suitable for the transfer. She then took on board everyone from Aster with the exception of that vessel's captain, executive officer, and pilot who all remained behind to destroy their ship lest she fall into enemy hands. During the operation, Berberry thumped "...heavily on the bottom...."
Then, as she moved away from Aster, Berberry ran over the hawser that became entangled with her propeller. Griffith then had his men raise all the awnings, blankets, and other large pieces of cloth as jury-rigged "...sails to drift the Berberry off shore." Meanwhile, he burned Coston signal lights to call for help.
Read more about this topic: USS Berberry (1864)
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