Some Civil War Naval Men from Union City and Northwestern Pennsylvania
Several Union City Civil War veterans who served in the United States Navy are buried in Evergreen Cemetery. They had some exciting nautical adventures. Researching their lives in depth and writing about them would be a great class project or a good project for someone who loves Union City and Northwestern Pennsylvania history!
John H. Blount. McKean. In early life he was a sailor on the Great Lakes and on August 28, 1863, he volunteered in the Navy. He served on the gunboat Silver Lake of the Gulf Squadron, operating chiefly on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. In December 1863 he was transferred to the hospital ship Fitch and served until the end of the war. His brother Thomas also served on the Silver Lake.
Thomas A. Blount. McKean. He enlisted in the Navy on August 25, 1864 and was appointed to the gunboat Silver Lake. His vessel operated chiefly on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, its principal engagements being at Johnsonville and Nashville, Tennessee, and the capture of Moseby's Guerrillas. He was discharged on August 18, 1865. His brother John also served on the Silver Lake.
Joseph Clayton. Seaman on the U.S. gunboat "General Thomas." Born June 1, 1834 in England and died in 1900. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Union City, Pa.
Samuel Crumb. U.S. Navy. Served on the "Musterel" from 1864-1865 at the close of the war. He was born in 1816 and died in 1908. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Union City, Pa.
Samuel Devereaux. U.S. Navy. Discharged on a doctor's certificate. He died March 10, 1910 and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
Thomas H. Dumars. Seaman on the U.S. gunboat "Burnside." He served from August 22, 1864 until June 21, 1865. He was born in 1822 and died at Union City in 1897. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
William Dunmeyer. Served on the monitor "Sangamon." He was born in 1840 and died in 1926. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
William Dunton. Seaman on the U.S. gunboat "General Sherman." He served from August 24, 1864 to June 23, 1865. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
Daniel R. Earll. Seaman on the U.S. Gunboat Moose. He served September 6, 1864 to June 29, 1865. He is buried in Asbury Cemetery, Erie County, Pa.
Ezra N. Emerson. Landsman on "U.S. Abcona." He was born in 1858 and died in 1907. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
Jacob Etter. East Green. He enlisted in the Navy on July 13, 1864, and severed in different departments of the Navy on the Atlantic Coast, the Bahama Islands, along the coast of South America and along the coast of South Africa. He was discharged in 1868.
Wallace W. Fields. Seaman on the U.S. gunboat "General Sherman." He served August 27, 1864 to June 21, 1865. He is buried at Beaverdam Cemetery in Erie County, Pa.
Eber F. Howe. Served on U.S.S. "Silver Lake. He was born in 1844 and died in 1900. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
John J. Johnson. Enlisted as seaman on the U.S. Gunboat "Mound City." He was born in Union Township February 24, 1846. He was mustered in the Nay on August 22, 1864 and discharged on June 23, 1865. He died at Union City on April 26, 1932 and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
David Kinaman. Waterford. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1864 and served on the gunboat Benton as a Quarter Gunner. He served on the Red and Mississippi Rivers for 15 months and participated in the siege of Vicksburg, battle of Grand Gulf and in several other encounters. In 1865, after he was discharged, he returned to Waterford and engaged in the milling business.
George W. Magee. U.S. Navy. Served on the "Michigan." He was born in 1846 and died in 1910. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Union City, Pa.
Peter H. Nellis. Girard. He entered the U.S. Navy as a landsman in 1864. He was assigned to the steamer General Thomas, then at Bridgeport, Alabama, and participated in Hood's engagement and in several skirmishes. He served to the end of the war.
Henry H. Niles. Landsman on U.S. Gunboat "Moose." Served from August 27, 1864 to June 20, 1865. He was born on July 26, 1841 and died in 1926. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
George Platt. Girard. When the Civil War broke out, he was put in command of the mercantile school-ship "Ocean Eagle." He transported troops on the Ocean Eagle for a year or more.
Hiram Rice. Waterford. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in July 1864 and served in the North Atlantic Squadron on the gunboat "Pontoosuc." He was in the coast service and was engaged in both battles of Fort Fisher, in the bombardment of Fort Darling, and in several minor engagements. After serving ten months, he was honorably discharged at the close of the war and returned home. He was Commander of the J.F. Rice Post No. 345 of Waterford, which was named after his brother, J.F. who was killed at Malvern Hill.
Amos Roberts. Waterford. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in August 1864. He served on the gunboat "General Burnside" on the Upper Tennessee. After a years service, he was honorably discharged. He was a member of G.A.R. Bates Post, No. 83.
J. Les Saunders. Landsman on the U.S. Gunboat "Moose." He served from August 29, 1864 to June 29, 1865. He was born July 7, 1849 and died on June 27, 1892. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
William Sexton. Seaman on the U.S. Gunboat "General Sherman." He served from August 18, 1864 to June 1865. He fought in the battle at Decatur, Alabama. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
Samuel G. Shephard. Seaman on U.S. Guardship "North Carolina." Discharged from gunboat "Savannah." Served from August 13, 1861 to December 7, 1864. Born in London, England on April 24, 1838. Died May 10, 1902. Buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
Jesse E. Sherman. East Springfield. Enlisted in the Navy in 1862 and served 14 months in the Mississippi Squadron under Admiral Porter. Discharged in 1863.
John L. Shipman. Seaman on the U.S. Navy boat "Mound City." Born in 1821 and died in 1906. Buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
Malvin M. Smith. Lowville. He enlisted in the navy in August 1863 and was assigned to the South Atlantic Squadron, U.S.N., under Admiral Porter. He served on board the man-of-war R.R. Cuyler and participated in the engagements at Hampton Roads, Wilmington, N.C.' New Orleans, Louisiana and many others. He was discharged in June 1865.
Timothy A. Sturtevant. Lowville. He was a soldier in the 145th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and then in the gunboat service. He served on the "General Thomas."
John W. Tyndell. Seaman on the U.S. Gunboat "Mound City." He served from September 1864 to January 29, 1865. He was born January 26, 1844 and died January 29, 1924. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
H.N. Wadsworth. Harbor Creek. Enlisted in the Navy in 1864 and served under Captain M.W. Caldwell on the U.S. Steamer R.R. Cuyler. He participated in the siege of Fort Fisher and was mustered out at the end of the war on July 1, 1865.
Robert B. Wilkins. Seaman on U.S. Gunboat "General Burnside." Served from August 1864 to June 12, 1865. Promoted to paymasters steward. Buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
Thomas Williamson. Seaman on the U.S. Gunboat "Burnside" from April 1865 to May 1865. Buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pennsylvania
Erie County Pennsylvania Sailors in the Union Navy
Erie County Union soldiers not only served honorably in the infantry, cavalry, and artillery but also in the United States Navy. They saw exciting action in the North Atlantic Squadron and on inland waters like the Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers.
The gunboat "General Burnside" patrolled the Upper Tennessee River as part of its war time duties and Erie County sailors Thomas H. Dumars, Amos Roberts, Robert B. Wilkins, and Robert Williamson served on her.
William Dunmeyer and the Sangamon
William Dunmeyer was a sailor on the monitor Sangamon. The Sangamon was part of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron which in the fall of 1863 was patrolling on the James River off New Port News, Virginia. Lt. John Weidman reported on his expedition up the Rappahannock River to his Senior Office Captain Gansevoort on September 3, 1863. On his way to Fortress Monroe, he had received sealed orders and opened them when he was past Willoughby's Spit Lights, as directed. He discovered that the Sangamon's destination was to be the mouth of the Rappahannock River, where he was to report to Commodore Harwood for duty. When Lt. Weidman arrived there on August 30, 1863, he couldn't find Commodore Harwood and weighed anchor until the morning of August 31, when Commodore Harwood arrived. With Commodore Harwood aboard leading the flotilla, the Sangamon and the other ships sailed up the Rappahannock River.
About seventy miles from the river's mouth, they arrived opposite a town called Rappahannock. Lt. Weidman reported what happened next. "...The tide having reached its extreme rise, the attempt was made to get beyond this point, but failed, not having gone over 400 yards from our anchorage before grounding in eleven feet of water. The vessel was steaming very slowly, with barely steerage way upon her, and no possible injury could have resulted from this circumstance. The bottom was soft mud, with a crust of oyster shells on top."
The Sangamon was grounded, freed and grounded another time before it made its way slowly back up the river to Newport News. The Sangamon saw naval action against Confederate blockade runners. It also participated in the capture of Richmond, Va., and the destruction of the Confederate Rams in the James River.
The Pontoosuc and the Moose
Hiram Rice of Waterford enlisted in the U.S. Navy in July 1864 and served on the gunboat Pontoosuc, of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. He was in the coast service and participated in the battles of Fort Fisher, in the bombardment of Fort Darling and in several minor engagements.
The U.S. gunboat Moose was home ship to Erie County sailors Daniel R. Earll, Henry H. Niles and J. Les Saunders. The Moose was purchased as the Florence Miller No. 2 at Cincinnati, Ohio, where she was built by Admiral D.D. Porter at a cost of $32,000. She was a wooden stern wheel steamer with a battery of six 24 pounders, two heavy twelve pounders, and six twenty four pounders.
The Moose patrolled the Ohio River as part of the Mississippi Squadron in 1863 and encountered the famous Confederate raider John Morgan on the Ohio River near Brandenburg, Kentucky in July 1863. Lieutenant Commander LeRoy Fitch writes about an encounter with the Confederate raider Morgan in a report to Rear-Admiral David D. Porter, Commander of the Mississippi Squadron. Morgan's troops were attempting to cross the river and Lt. Commander Fitch and his men were determined to stop them. Lt. Fitch wrote, "The next I saw of them, the head of their column came down a steep ravine and broke into the river. I threw one shell at the head of this column, which by this time had got nearly a third across. They immediately put back."
The Confederates couldn't get back up the ravine again, because the Moose was very close and they tried to avoid fire from her. The bank was too steep for them to climb, so the entire Confederate force moved in a line leading directly from the Moose, hemmed in by the high bank on one side and the river on the other. They couldn't keep that position either, because the shell and shrapnel from the Moose was too uncomfortable. The Confederate line broke in confusion. They threw away their arms, abandoned their loot and took to the woods. They left buggies, carriages, and two pieces of artillery standing on the beach.
Lt. Fitch said that early the next morning the Alleghany Belle joined him at the foot of Buffington and he directed the pilot Sebastian to keep close to the Moose. In case the Moose was disabled, he could take hold of her and pull her out or tow her through the shallows. The Moose and Alleghany Belle moved up the Ohio River, followed by General Scammon's Union Forces on transports. Again, they found a squad of Confederates trying to cross the river, about 500 of them this time. The Moose shelled most of them, killing and drowning a large number. "Judging from the number of horses left standing in the river and on each shore, and the numbers of garments floating by us; some, however, about forty, succeeded in reaching the Virginia shore," Lt. Fitch concluded.
The Moose moved up the river about 14 miles and again the men saw a small Confederate squad of about 30 men breaking into the river and trying to cross. Here, the current was swift and the water shallow, so the Moose couldn't get within firing range. The Confederates crossed, hid their horses in the brush, and crept down a willow filled ravine where they lay in wait for the Moose.
Just as the Moose was passing about twenty yards from them, they fired two volleys into the boat, but didn't do substantial damage. They wounded one man on the Moose slightly and one on the Alleghany Belle. The Moose's starboard guns had not been fired and were loaded with one-second shrapnel. The Moose returned fire and nine of the Confederates were left dead in the ravine. Lt. Fitch concluded: "This was the last attempt the scattered rebels made to cross the river. All that were then left of them broke from the river and, headed by Morgan himself, made for the interior again."
Eber F. Howe and the Silver Lake
Eber F. Howe served on the U.S.S. Silver Lake. The Silver Lake was purchased on November 15, 1862 at Cincinnati, Ohio by Rear Admiral D.D. Porter. She was a wooden, stern wheel steamer with a battery of howitzers, Parrott rifles and Dahlgren guns. The Silver Lake was also part of the Mississippi Squadron and was involved in the July 1863 Morgan encounter on the Ohio River near Brandenburg, Kentucky. Again, Lt. Commander LeRoy Fitch told the story in a report to Acting Rear-Admiral D.D. Porter, Commander of the Mississippi Squadron.
Confederate raider John Morgan had captured two steamers on the Ohio River at Brandenburg, Kentucky, put a force of his men on them, and traveled down the river. Lt. Commander LeRoy Fitch dispatched a gunboat, the Moose, from Louisville to intercept Morgan and his rumored force of 6,000 men. Large companies of Union troops from Indiana and Kentucky pursued Morgan on shore as well as those in the gunboat Moose and the Ship Queen City. The Fairplay and the Silver Lake also were called into service. Lt. Fitch arrived off Brandenburg and discovered that Morgan had already crossed the river in the two captured steamers. Shortly after that the Fairplay and Silver Lake arrived with a convoy of seven steamers.
The Union forces on land were commanded by General Hobson and they arrived in Brandenburg following General Morgan. Lt. Fitch said that as soon as he got word that Morgan was marching on Louisville, he made arrangements to protect the canal, because he knew that gunboats couldn't prevent Morgan from coming in the rear of the city. In the evening of July 7, 1863, instead of marching on Louisville, Morgan moved off to the left, came up the Ohio River at Brandenburg, planted the batteries and captured the steamers McCombs and Alice Dean.
When the news of Morgan's deeds reached Lt. Fitch on July 8, he started down the River at once. He directed acting ensign Joseph Watson, commander of the Springfield, to move up river and when Ensign Watson got word of Morgan on the river, he moved down to Brandenburg. As he approached Brandenburg, two heavy forces of Confederate infantry from the Indiana side fired on him, but he didn't stop. When he got within a mile of Brandenburg, the Confederates opened fire on him with a battery of two 20 pounder Parrotts on a high hill near the court house, and two small guns further down the hill.
Ensign Watson and his men fired for an hour and a half but couldn't dislodge the Confederates because of the great elevation and superior range of their guns. Ensign Watson withdrew and waited until two transports of about 500 Union infantry arrived from Louisville. Then the Union and Confederate forces battled again, but since Ensign Watson and the Springfield were not supported by land forces and being alone on the water, they couldn't dislodge the Confederates and had to retreat. The Springfield returned to Louisville to send a message to Lt. Commander Fitch and bring back some steamers that had started down the river after her.
At this point, Morgan's forces were supposed to number around eleven regiments consisting of 6,500 men, with five pieces of artillery, two of which were 20 pounder Parrotts. Also, lack of communication on the Union side seemed to contribute to Morgan's success. Lt. Commander Fitch explained Morgan's success this way:
"Although I feel very much mortified at not being able to get at Morgan here, yet I can not , with justice to myself, shoulder the whole blame, for I was laboring under several disadvantages. First, the numerous reports of threatened raids above and below Cincinnati; second, having to rely solely upon newspaper reports for all my information. The citizens living on the Kentucky shore, and knowing the rebel's whereabouts, take good care not to inform us, but rather to inform the guerrillas of our moves. Again, I am sorry to say, the army officers, with few exceptions either do not know the whereabouts or movements of the enemy, or knowing them seem to think it beneath their dignity to inform or communicate with a naval commander."
Lt. Commander Fitch concluded by telling Admiral Porter that the Fairplay and Silver Lake were patrolling the river below Brandenburg, Kentucky and the Springfield and Victory above. He said that since he could not get any word or clues as to which direction Morgan was moving, he would keep cruising between New Albany and Cannelton coal mines.
John H. Blount and Thomas A. Blount, two brothers from McKean, also served on the Silver Lake, after Lt. Commander Fitch had been promoted to Commodore. It now operated chiefly on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers and took part in the repulse of Hood from Nashville and Clarksville, Tennessee. It also aided in the capture of Moseby's Guerrillas.
The General Sherman, the Mound City, the General Burnside, the Benton and the Michigan
William Dunton, Wallace W. Fields and William Sexton served on the U.S.S. General Sherman. She was a wooden side wheeler steamer with a battery of Parrott rifles and howitzers.
John L. Shipman served on the U.S. Navy boat Mound City, as did John W. Tyndell. The Mound City was also part of the Mississippi Squadron and patrolled on the Ohio River under the command of Lt. Commander Byron Wilson.
William Dunton, Wallace W. Fields and William Sexton served on the General Burnside. The U.S. General Burnside was a wooden side wheel steamer that had been fitted to be a gunboat. It had three 24 pound howitzers and a parrott rifle as part of its armaments.
David Kenaman, of Waterford, was a quarter gunner on the gunboat Benton, which was stationed at Natchez, Mississippi, as part of the Mississippi Squadron commanded by Rear-Admiral David D. Porter. He served on the Red and Mississippi Rivers for 15 months and participated in the siege of Vicksburg, battle of Grand Gulf, and several other engagements.
George W. Magee of Union City enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on board the Michigan, as did Reverend James Summerton. The Michigan was involved in a spy story on Lake Erie during the Civil War. Confederate refugees in Canada captured the passenger steamers Philo Parsons and Island Queen near Sandusky, Ohio. They also intended to capture the Michigan and turn her into a pirate ship to prey on lake shipping and ports and use her to free the Confederate prisoners held on Johnsons Island in Sandusky Bay. The scheme failed and the Michigan ended up chasing the captured steamers into the open waters of Lake Erie, where they escaped to Canada.
John H. Blount. McKean. In early life he was a sailor on the Great Lakes and on August 28, 1863, he volunteered in the Navy. He served on the gunboat Silver Lake of the Gulf Squadron, operating chiefly on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. In December 1863 he was transferred to the hospital ship Fitch and served until the end of the war. His brother Thomas also served on the Silver Lake.
Thomas A. Blount. McKean. He enlisted in the Navy on August 25, 1864 and was appointed to the gunboat Silver Lake. His vessel operated chiefly on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, its principal engagements being at Johnsonville and Nashville, Tennessee, and the capture of Moseby's Guerrillas. He was discharged on August 18, 1865. His brother John also served on the Silver Lake.
Joseph Clayton. Seaman on the U.S. gunboat "General Thomas." Born June 1, 1834 in England and died in 1900. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Union City, Pa.
Samuel Crumb. U.S. Navy. Served on the "Musterel" from 1864-1865 at the close of the war. He was born in 1816 and died in 1908. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Union City, Pa.
Samuel Devereaux. U.S. Navy. Discharged on a doctor's certificate. He died March 10, 1910 and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
Thomas H. Dumars. Seaman on the U.S. gunboat "Burnside." He served from August 22, 1864 until June 21, 1865. He was born in 1822 and died at Union City in 1897. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
William Dunmeyer. Served on the monitor "Sangamon." He was born in 1840 and died in 1926. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
William Dunton. Seaman on the U.S. gunboat "General Sherman." He served from August 24, 1864 to June 23, 1865. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
Daniel R. Earll. Seaman on the U.S. Gunboat Moose. He served September 6, 1864 to June 29, 1865. He is buried in Asbury Cemetery, Erie County, Pa.
Ezra N. Emerson. Landsman on "U.S. Abcona." He was born in 1858 and died in 1907. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
Jacob Etter. East Green. He enlisted in the Navy on July 13, 1864, and severed in different departments of the Navy on the Atlantic Coast, the Bahama Islands, along the coast of South America and along the coast of South Africa. He was discharged in 1868.
Wallace W. Fields. Seaman on the U.S. gunboat "General Sherman." He served August 27, 1864 to June 21, 1865. He is buried at Beaverdam Cemetery in Erie County, Pa.
Eber F. Howe. Served on U.S.S. "Silver Lake. He was born in 1844 and died in 1900. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
John J. Johnson. Enlisted as seaman on the U.S. Gunboat "Mound City." He was born in Union Township February 24, 1846. He was mustered in the Nay on August 22, 1864 and discharged on June 23, 1865. He died at Union City on April 26, 1932 and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
David Kinaman. Waterford. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1864 and served on the gunboat Benton as a Quarter Gunner. He served on the Red and Mississippi Rivers for 15 months and participated in the siege of Vicksburg, battle of Grand Gulf and in several other encounters. In 1865, after he was discharged, he returned to Waterford and engaged in the milling business.
George W. Magee. U.S. Navy. Served on the "Michigan." He was born in 1846 and died in 1910. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Union City, Pa.
Peter H. Nellis. Girard. He entered the U.S. Navy as a landsman in 1864. He was assigned to the steamer General Thomas, then at Bridgeport, Alabama, and participated in Hood's engagement and in several skirmishes. He served to the end of the war.
Henry H. Niles. Landsman on U.S. Gunboat "Moose." Served from August 27, 1864 to June 20, 1865. He was born on July 26, 1841 and died in 1926. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
George Platt. Girard. When the Civil War broke out, he was put in command of the mercantile school-ship "Ocean Eagle." He transported troops on the Ocean Eagle for a year or more.
Hiram Rice. Waterford. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in July 1864 and served in the North Atlantic Squadron on the gunboat "Pontoosuc." He was in the coast service and was engaged in both battles of Fort Fisher, in the bombardment of Fort Darling, and in several minor engagements. After serving ten months, he was honorably discharged at the close of the war and returned home. He was Commander of the J.F. Rice Post No. 345 of Waterford, which was named after his brother, J.F. who was killed at Malvern Hill.
Amos Roberts. Waterford. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in August 1864. He served on the gunboat "General Burnside" on the Upper Tennessee. After a years service, he was honorably discharged. He was a member of G.A.R. Bates Post, No. 83.
J. Les Saunders. Landsman on the U.S. Gunboat "Moose." He served from August 29, 1864 to June 29, 1865. He was born July 7, 1849 and died on June 27, 1892. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
William Sexton. Seaman on the U.S. Gunboat "General Sherman." He served from August 18, 1864 to June 1865. He fought in the battle at Decatur, Alabama. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
Samuel G. Shephard. Seaman on U.S. Guardship "North Carolina." Discharged from gunboat "Savannah." Served from August 13, 1861 to December 7, 1864. Born in London, England on April 24, 1838. Died May 10, 1902. Buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
Jesse E. Sherman. East Springfield. Enlisted in the Navy in 1862 and served 14 months in the Mississippi Squadron under Admiral Porter. Discharged in 1863.
John L. Shipman. Seaman on the U.S. Navy boat "Mound City." Born in 1821 and died in 1906. Buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
Malvin M. Smith. Lowville. He enlisted in the navy in August 1863 and was assigned to the South Atlantic Squadron, U.S.N., under Admiral Porter. He served on board the man-of-war R.R. Cuyler and participated in the engagements at Hampton Roads, Wilmington, N.C.' New Orleans, Louisiana and many others. He was discharged in June 1865.
Timothy A. Sturtevant. Lowville. He was a soldier in the 145th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and then in the gunboat service. He served on the "General Thomas."
John W. Tyndell. Seaman on the U.S. Gunboat "Mound City." He served from September 1864 to January 29, 1865. He was born January 26, 1844 and died January 29, 1924. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
H.N. Wadsworth. Harbor Creek. Enlisted in the Navy in 1864 and served under Captain M.W. Caldwell on the U.S. Steamer R.R. Cuyler. He participated in the siege of Fort Fisher and was mustered out at the end of the war on July 1, 1865.
Robert B. Wilkins. Seaman on U.S. Gunboat "General Burnside." Served from August 1864 to June 12, 1865. Promoted to paymasters steward. Buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pa.
Thomas Williamson. Seaman on the U.S. Gunboat "Burnside" from April 1865 to May 1865. Buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Union City, Pennsylvania
Erie County Pennsylvania Sailors in the Union Navy
Erie County Union soldiers not only served honorably in the infantry, cavalry, and artillery but also in the United States Navy. They saw exciting action in the North Atlantic Squadron and on inland waters like the Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers.
The gunboat "General Burnside" patrolled the Upper Tennessee River as part of its war time duties and Erie County sailors Thomas H. Dumars, Amos Roberts, Robert B. Wilkins, and Robert Williamson served on her.
William Dunmeyer and the Sangamon
William Dunmeyer was a sailor on the monitor Sangamon. The Sangamon was part of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron which in the fall of 1863 was patrolling on the James River off New Port News, Virginia. Lt. John Weidman reported on his expedition up the Rappahannock River to his Senior Office Captain Gansevoort on September 3, 1863. On his way to Fortress Monroe, he had received sealed orders and opened them when he was past Willoughby's Spit Lights, as directed. He discovered that the Sangamon's destination was to be the mouth of the Rappahannock River, where he was to report to Commodore Harwood for duty. When Lt. Weidman arrived there on August 30, 1863, he couldn't find Commodore Harwood and weighed anchor until the morning of August 31, when Commodore Harwood arrived. With Commodore Harwood aboard leading the flotilla, the Sangamon and the other ships sailed up the Rappahannock River.
About seventy miles from the river's mouth, they arrived opposite a town called Rappahannock. Lt. Weidman reported what happened next. "...The tide having reached its extreme rise, the attempt was made to get beyond this point, but failed, not having gone over 400 yards from our anchorage before grounding in eleven feet of water. The vessel was steaming very slowly, with barely steerage way upon her, and no possible injury could have resulted from this circumstance. The bottom was soft mud, with a crust of oyster shells on top."
The Sangamon was grounded, freed and grounded another time before it made its way slowly back up the river to Newport News. The Sangamon saw naval action against Confederate blockade runners. It also participated in the capture of Richmond, Va., and the destruction of the Confederate Rams in the James River.
The Pontoosuc and the Moose
Hiram Rice of Waterford enlisted in the U.S. Navy in July 1864 and served on the gunboat Pontoosuc, of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. He was in the coast service and participated in the battles of Fort Fisher, in the bombardment of Fort Darling and in several minor engagements.
The U.S. gunboat Moose was home ship to Erie County sailors Daniel R. Earll, Henry H. Niles and J. Les Saunders. The Moose was purchased as the Florence Miller No. 2 at Cincinnati, Ohio, where she was built by Admiral D.D. Porter at a cost of $32,000. She was a wooden stern wheel steamer with a battery of six 24 pounders, two heavy twelve pounders, and six twenty four pounders.
The Moose patrolled the Ohio River as part of the Mississippi Squadron in 1863 and encountered the famous Confederate raider John Morgan on the Ohio River near Brandenburg, Kentucky in July 1863. Lieutenant Commander LeRoy Fitch writes about an encounter with the Confederate raider Morgan in a report to Rear-Admiral David D. Porter, Commander of the Mississippi Squadron. Morgan's troops were attempting to cross the river and Lt. Commander Fitch and his men were determined to stop them. Lt. Fitch wrote, "The next I saw of them, the head of their column came down a steep ravine and broke into the river. I threw one shell at the head of this column, which by this time had got nearly a third across. They immediately put back."
The Confederates couldn't get back up the ravine again, because the Moose was very close and they tried to avoid fire from her. The bank was too steep for them to climb, so the entire Confederate force moved in a line leading directly from the Moose, hemmed in by the high bank on one side and the river on the other. They couldn't keep that position either, because the shell and shrapnel from the Moose was too uncomfortable. The Confederate line broke in confusion. They threw away their arms, abandoned their loot and took to the woods. They left buggies, carriages, and two pieces of artillery standing on the beach.
Lt. Fitch said that early the next morning the Alleghany Belle joined him at the foot of Buffington and he directed the pilot Sebastian to keep close to the Moose. In case the Moose was disabled, he could take hold of her and pull her out or tow her through the shallows. The Moose and Alleghany Belle moved up the Ohio River, followed by General Scammon's Union Forces on transports. Again, they found a squad of Confederates trying to cross the river, about 500 of them this time. The Moose shelled most of them, killing and drowning a large number. "Judging from the number of horses left standing in the river and on each shore, and the numbers of garments floating by us; some, however, about forty, succeeded in reaching the Virginia shore," Lt. Fitch concluded.
The Moose moved up the river about 14 miles and again the men saw a small Confederate squad of about 30 men breaking into the river and trying to cross. Here, the current was swift and the water shallow, so the Moose couldn't get within firing range. The Confederates crossed, hid their horses in the brush, and crept down a willow filled ravine where they lay in wait for the Moose.
Just as the Moose was passing about twenty yards from them, they fired two volleys into the boat, but didn't do substantial damage. They wounded one man on the Moose slightly and one on the Alleghany Belle. The Moose's starboard guns had not been fired and were loaded with one-second shrapnel. The Moose returned fire and nine of the Confederates were left dead in the ravine. Lt. Fitch concluded: "This was the last attempt the scattered rebels made to cross the river. All that were then left of them broke from the river and, headed by Morgan himself, made for the interior again."
Eber F. Howe and the Silver Lake
Eber F. Howe served on the U.S.S. Silver Lake. The Silver Lake was purchased on November 15, 1862 at Cincinnati, Ohio by Rear Admiral D.D. Porter. She was a wooden, stern wheel steamer with a battery of howitzers, Parrott rifles and Dahlgren guns. The Silver Lake was also part of the Mississippi Squadron and was involved in the July 1863 Morgan encounter on the Ohio River near Brandenburg, Kentucky. Again, Lt. Commander LeRoy Fitch told the story in a report to Acting Rear-Admiral D.D. Porter, Commander of the Mississippi Squadron.
Confederate raider John Morgan had captured two steamers on the Ohio River at Brandenburg, Kentucky, put a force of his men on them, and traveled down the river. Lt. Commander LeRoy Fitch dispatched a gunboat, the Moose, from Louisville to intercept Morgan and his rumored force of 6,000 men. Large companies of Union troops from Indiana and Kentucky pursued Morgan on shore as well as those in the gunboat Moose and the Ship Queen City. The Fairplay and the Silver Lake also were called into service. Lt. Fitch arrived off Brandenburg and discovered that Morgan had already crossed the river in the two captured steamers. Shortly after that the Fairplay and Silver Lake arrived with a convoy of seven steamers.
The Union forces on land were commanded by General Hobson and they arrived in Brandenburg following General Morgan. Lt. Fitch said that as soon as he got word that Morgan was marching on Louisville, he made arrangements to protect the canal, because he knew that gunboats couldn't prevent Morgan from coming in the rear of the city. In the evening of July 7, 1863, instead of marching on Louisville, Morgan moved off to the left, came up the Ohio River at Brandenburg, planted the batteries and captured the steamers McCombs and Alice Dean.
When the news of Morgan's deeds reached Lt. Fitch on July 8, he started down the River at once. He directed acting ensign Joseph Watson, commander of the Springfield, to move up river and when Ensign Watson got word of Morgan on the river, he moved down to Brandenburg. As he approached Brandenburg, two heavy forces of Confederate infantry from the Indiana side fired on him, but he didn't stop. When he got within a mile of Brandenburg, the Confederates opened fire on him with a battery of two 20 pounder Parrotts on a high hill near the court house, and two small guns further down the hill.
Ensign Watson and his men fired for an hour and a half but couldn't dislodge the Confederates because of the great elevation and superior range of their guns. Ensign Watson withdrew and waited until two transports of about 500 Union infantry arrived from Louisville. Then the Union and Confederate forces battled again, but since Ensign Watson and the Springfield were not supported by land forces and being alone on the water, they couldn't dislodge the Confederates and had to retreat. The Springfield returned to Louisville to send a message to Lt. Commander Fitch and bring back some steamers that had started down the river after her.
At this point, Morgan's forces were supposed to number around eleven regiments consisting of 6,500 men, with five pieces of artillery, two of which were 20 pounder Parrotts. Also, lack of communication on the Union side seemed to contribute to Morgan's success. Lt. Commander Fitch explained Morgan's success this way:
"Although I feel very much mortified at not being able to get at Morgan here, yet I can not , with justice to myself, shoulder the whole blame, for I was laboring under several disadvantages. First, the numerous reports of threatened raids above and below Cincinnati; second, having to rely solely upon newspaper reports for all my information. The citizens living on the Kentucky shore, and knowing the rebel's whereabouts, take good care not to inform us, but rather to inform the guerrillas of our moves. Again, I am sorry to say, the army officers, with few exceptions either do not know the whereabouts or movements of the enemy, or knowing them seem to think it beneath their dignity to inform or communicate with a naval commander."
Lt. Commander Fitch concluded by telling Admiral Porter that the Fairplay and Silver Lake were patrolling the river below Brandenburg, Kentucky and the Springfield and Victory above. He said that since he could not get any word or clues as to which direction Morgan was moving, he would keep cruising between New Albany and Cannelton coal mines.
John H. Blount and Thomas A. Blount, two brothers from McKean, also served on the Silver Lake, after Lt. Commander Fitch had been promoted to Commodore. It now operated chiefly on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers and took part in the repulse of Hood from Nashville and Clarksville, Tennessee. It also aided in the capture of Moseby's Guerrillas.
The General Sherman, the Mound City, the General Burnside, the Benton and the Michigan
William Dunton, Wallace W. Fields and William Sexton served on the U.S.S. General Sherman. She was a wooden side wheeler steamer with a battery of Parrott rifles and howitzers.
John L. Shipman served on the U.S. Navy boat Mound City, as did John W. Tyndell. The Mound City was also part of the Mississippi Squadron and patrolled on the Ohio River under the command of Lt. Commander Byron Wilson.
William Dunton, Wallace W. Fields and William Sexton served on the General Burnside. The U.S. General Burnside was a wooden side wheel steamer that had been fitted to be a gunboat. It had three 24 pound howitzers and a parrott rifle as part of its armaments.
David Kenaman, of Waterford, was a quarter gunner on the gunboat Benton, which was stationed at Natchez, Mississippi, as part of the Mississippi Squadron commanded by Rear-Admiral David D. Porter. He served on the Red and Mississippi Rivers for 15 months and participated in the siege of Vicksburg, battle of Grand Gulf, and several other engagements.
George W. Magee of Union City enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on board the Michigan, as did Reverend James Summerton. The Michigan was involved in a spy story on Lake Erie during the Civil War. Confederate refugees in Canada captured the passenger steamers Philo Parsons and Island Queen near Sandusky, Ohio. They also intended to capture the Michigan and turn her into a pirate ship to prey on lake shipping and ports and use her to free the Confederate prisoners held on Johnsons Island in Sandusky Bay. The scheme failed and the Michigan ended up chasing the captured steamers into the open waters of Lake Erie, where they escaped to Canada.