• Sunday-What'sUP July 23 - 03:55 pm

In the spring of 1864 Confederate forces had their eye on the Federal gun-boat Michigan, the only war vessel permitted on the Great Lakes, as terms of a treaty with Canada. Jefferson Davis personally ordered the capture of the craft, which set the stage for an adventure which reads like a made-for-TV movie. (see Rebels on Lake Erie)

Somehow the Gun Boat avoided destruction in those turbulent years, and in 1880 was spotted at Sault Ste. Marie, where it was finally captured on this Cyanotype Photograph. Thanks to the Bayliss Public Library and the Superiorland Library Cooperative staff, the image and memory of the Michigan lives on.

Today's Shoebox Memory was a bit delayed as lightning rumbled across the Keweenaw Peninsula with some scattered power outages. After a nice rain everything here in Eagle River looks so green. Down past our back yard, beyond the dunes below, the Lake is oscillating colors - first blue, then gray, then blue again, under a cloudy sky. Reminds me of that struggle between the Blue and the Gray back in the 1860's, which extended all the way to these inland seas.

Have a good week :o)

Very interesting, Charlie. I didn't know any of this.

Did anybody see the movie "The Blue and the Gray". That was a great movie if you're a Civil War buff.

It must be true,your never to old to learn something new. thanx Charlie didn't know this eather. Very cool :)

I read a story of a ship that wrecked somewhere between Menominee and the Door peninsula. It was supposed to be carrying a Confederate gold shipment that was to be hidden somewhere. I wouldn't think that area would be deep enough to hide a shipwreck for so long but the currents are supposed to be pretty strong there.

I have Deb. One of my favorites movies about the Civil War. My intrest in the Civil War was kindled when my 7th Grade Teacher was a Mr. McClellan. His last name being the same as a Civil War General. Its a Blue and grey day here in Tampa also. Rain is forcasted for the afternoon and evening.
What I wouldn't have done, to have spent the last week in "da U.P". The dual fireworks between the Twin-Soo's on the 1st of July by Canada and followed by the 4th of July in the U.S. is what I remember most about Lake Superior, the Soo Locks, and the St Mary's seaway. Ah, to be a kid again.

The USS Michigan was the first ironclad in the US Navy. An interesting little history of the ship can be found at the follwing website: http://www.unionnavy.org/page7.html}

Some of todays Great Lks Coast Guard vessels are equipped with high powered machine guns, though are kept out of sight below deck and in agreement with Canada for border patrol use. This summers live practice firings in Lk. Huron were postponed

Check it out - CBC News

Being a Civil war buff of sorts, never was aware of this. Skirmishes, fighting, capturing ships etc. right almost in our backyard here! WOW!
Those Confederate Rebel Raiders were really bold! I find this all so interesting!