Hello, Al- In the few years I have been researching the history of Mr. Lincolns War I have found the following useful in filling in the sequence of events.

The Official Records of the War of the Rebellion
This multi volume set of records is available online at:

http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/moa/

Don't turn your nose up at the Army portion of the records. A lot of the naval operational history is there. The Army needed a Navy to move them.

I do not know what newspapers were in print in Maine at the time of the Federal Incursion into the South, but if you search the archives of same you will find items of interest and enlightenment. A lot of what you seek was printed in the Boston, Mass. newspapers.

The history of the equipment involved:

http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/

I've found a wealth of information through searching manufacture. The lead times and amounts requested has given me insight into the planning that went into operations, as well as biography of the people involved.

You might search also the Library of Congress, as well as searching the Naval Academy site.

Regards.