The Battle of Gloucester Point, Virginia-- Part 1: Flag Officer Garrett J.Pendergast

From Wikipedia.

The battle took place May 7, 1861, during the early days of the Civil War and was inconclusive.

Flag Officer Garrett J. Pendergast commanded the Union Navy during this battle.  He was the uncle of Lt. Cmdr Austin Pendergast who took command of the USS Congress as it was sinking after being attacked by the CSS Virginia the next year.  His surrender of the ship worked against him as far as further promotion after that.  His reputation was further sullied when he commanded the USS Water Witch and it was captured later in the war by a Confederate boarding party.

Flag Offiver Pendergast (1802-1862, commanded the USS Boston during the Mexican War and commanded the pride of the US Navy, the USS Merrimack when it was commissioned February 20, 1856.  At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was in command of the USS Cumberland (later sunk by the CSS Virginia as well).

Pendergast's fleet began seizing Confederate ships and privateers off Fort Monroe, capturing 16 in short order.

After Glouchester Point, he was made a commodore in July 1862 and assigned to the Philadelphia Navy Yard where he died November 7, 1862, of a paralytic stroke.

It's a Family Affair.  --Old B-Runner