From the March 6, 2011 Charleston (SC) Post and Courier "Lt. Thomas Pelot, CSN and the capture of the Water Witch" by Gary Nichols, Citadel Professor Emeritus.
Thomas Pelor graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1853 at the age of 17 and resigned his commission when South Carolina seceded and then was commissioned a lieutenant in the Confederate States Navy.
He commanded the iron tug Lady Davis in Charleston harbor and on June 21, 1861, captured the USS A. B. Thompson and took the prize to Beaufort, SC.
Promoted to 1st Lt, he was placed in command of the Confederate floating battery Georgia in the Savannah Squadron commanded by Flag officer William J. Hunter. In late May, 1864, Hunter placed Pelot in command of an expedition to surprise and capture an enemy vessel reported anchored at the mouth of the Little Ogeechee River, south of Savannah. Twelve officers and 115 men were selected from the crews of the Georgia, ironclad Savannah and gunboat Sampson.
Pelot was assisted by Lt. jg Joseph Price. The expedition left June 1st, with seven rowboats and muffled oars. Arriving at the mouth of the river, they found the ship had left and went looking for it., finding it at anchor in Occabow Sound, about three miles away.
In a poring rain on the night of June 2nd, the expedition approached the USS Water Witch, were sighted and fired upon. They continued the attack. Lt. Pelot was the first Confederate on deck and shot through the heart, dying instantly. Five others shared his fate and eleven were wounded, but they took the ship.
Of the 80 Union crew, 2 were killed and 12 wounded, the rest captured.
How to Capture an Enemy Ship. --Old B-Runner
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