All things dealing with the Civil War Navies and actions along the coasts and rivers and against forts. Emphasis will be placed on Fort Fisher and all operations around Wilmington, NC. And, of course, the Blockade and Running the Blockade.
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Charles K. Mallory's Brothers-- Part 2
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Charles K. Mallory's Brothers
From Find-a-Grave.
These people were buried at Saint John's Church Cemetery in Hampton, Virginia, unless otherwise noted.
CHARLES KING MALLORY, JR. was the oldest child.
Born: 21 Nov 1844
Died: 1 June 1863
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EDMUND SKINNER MALLORY
Born: 22 Sep 1846, Hampton, Va.
Died: 1903 (aged 56-57), Jackson, Tn
Buried: Riverside Cemetery, Jackson, Tn.
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ENS STEVENSON BLOUNT MALLORY (Ensign)
Birth: 15 June 1856
Died 14 Nov 1878 (aged 22)
Buried: Frederiksted, Santa Cruz, West Indies
U.S. Navy and USNA graduate.
--Old B-R'er
Friday, April 26, 2024
Another of Charles Mallory's Brothers Was Brigadier General in U.S. Army: John Skinner Mallory
From Find-A-Grave.
JOHN SKINNER MALLORY
BORN: 1 November 1857, Hampton City, Virginia
DIED: 2 February 1932, aged 74, Lexington, Virginia
BURIED: Saint Johns Church Cemetery, Hampton, Virginia.
Brigadier General, U.S. Army.
--Old Secesh
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Another Mallory Dies at Sea
I have already written about Charles K. Mallory dying in the boiler explosion of the CSS Chattahoochee and of his brother Stephenson Blount Mallory dying of yellow fever while in the service of the U.S. Navy in 1878.
There was yet another brother, Francis Mallory, born April 22, 1850, who attended William and Mary College, and, being of a roving disposition went to sea and as a mate on the brig Chattanooga, of Baltimore, lost his life in a hurricane bear St. Thomas, West Indies, April 4th, 1874, while attempting to get from the shore to his ship.
He died unmarried.
--Old B-Runner
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Charles K. Mallory, CSN-- Part 2: His death on the CSS Chatahoochee
Captain Parker of the Confederate States Navy also had this to say about young midshipman Mallory: "After serving with me in three engagements, he was ordered to the gunboat Chattahoochee, at Columbus, Georgia, and lost his life by the explosion of her boiler.
"He was from Hampton and was an honor to his birthplace. Had he lived and had the opportunity he would have become a great naval officer."
After the explosion, young Mallory, although badly injured, swam ashore, but died after in the Ladies' Hospital, Columbus, June 2d, 1863, at age of eighteen and a half.
He was, of course, unmarried.
--Old B-R'er
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Charles K. Mallory, CSN: Received Surrender of the USS Congress at Battle of Hampton Roads
From the Virginia Historical Magazine "Funeral of Charles K. Mallory" the father of Charles K. Mallory who died in the boiler explosion of the CSS Chattahoochee.
Born November 21, 1844. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was appointed a midshipman in the Confederate States Navy and served as such until his death.
He participated in the naval engagements at Hampton Roads, serving on the gunboat CSS Beaufort. When the USS Congress hoisted the white flag of surrender, he, with Midshipman Foreman and a boat crew, were sent to take charge of her.
He brought back to the CSS Beaufort the sword of the commander of the Congress, Lieutenant Joseph B. Smith, who had been killed. This sword was afterwards sent through the lines by Commodore Tattnall, with Mallory's consent to Admiral Smith, the father of Lt. Richard Smith.
--Old B-Runner
Saturday, April 20, 2024
The Mallory Family Had Ties to the Sea: Charles' Brother Stephen
A letter to the William and Mary College Quarterly from John S. Mallory, brother of Charles K. Mallory, written in 1925.
Stephen Blount Mallory was born at Hampton, Virginia, June 15, 1856. In 1872, as a result of a competitive examination he was appointed a Cadet Midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy after taking a short preparatory course at William and Mary College.
Upon graduation in 1876 from the Academy, he was appointed midshipman in the U.S. Navy and served as such until his untimely death of yellow fever in 1878, contracted while his ship, the USS Plymouth, lay in the harbor of Frederiksted, St. Croix, (Santa Cruz), Danish West Indies, now the Virgin Islands of the United States.
He was buried in the cemetery of St. Paul's Church (Anglican), Frederiksted, where his remains still are. He had the reputation of being a very efficient and popular young officer. He died unmarried.
--Old B-Runner
Friday, April 19, 2024
Charles K. Mallory on the CSS Chattahoochee
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Some More on Charles K. Mallory
Monday, April 15, 2024
Some More on Charles K. Mallory: A Benjamin Butler Connection?
Midshipman Charles Mallory was the son and namesake of Charles K. Mallory, a lawyer, plantation owner and militia colonel of Hampton, Virginia. In May 1861, three of the senior Mallory slaves, Frank Baker, Sheppard Mallory and James Townsend, escaped to Union lines.
Their return was demanded of the Union commander in the area, General Benjamin Butler, under the terms of the Fugitive Slave Act.
Butler refused stating that since Virginia had claimed independence the Act did not apply. And, because Virginia was at war with the United States, the runaway slaves, legally being "chattel property" were now "contraband of war."
So, that's where all that comes from.
--Old B-R'er
Friday, April 12, 2024
If You Want to Visit Fort Fisher, Better Do It Before April 16
From the April 9, 2024, NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
In the interest of safety and security, the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources announced today that the Fort Fisher Historic Site will temporarily close to the public beginning Tuesday, April 16 as workers relocate exhibits, artifacts and staff offices to the site' new 20,000 square foot visitors center.
In addition, work will begin on the restoration of parts of the fort which were demolished when the fort was used as an anti-aircraft training facility during World War II
This temporary closure refers to all parts of the fort west of US-421, including the museum, restrooms, tour trails around the mounds and parking lots.
The sites Battle Acre, east of US-421, will remain open.
Plans called for a phased reopening during the summer.
But, if you want to see the fort, you'd better get out there before this coming Tuesday.
--Old B-Runner
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Confederate Midshipman Scalded to Death When Chattahoochee's Boiler Exploded: Charles K. Mallory
From the August 19, 2014, Civil War Talk Forum by Ernie Mac.
When I first saw the last name, I thought perhaps he might have been related to Confederate Secretary of the Navy Stephen Mallory but he wasn't.
Midshipman Charles K. Mallory was one of the casualties of the CSS Chattahoochee, severely scalded in the explosion on May 27, 1863. He died several days later (June 1) of his injuries.
Mallory was a native of Virginia who enlisted as a midshipman at the beginning of the war, serving aboard the CSS Virginia during the Battle of Hampton Roads. He was one of two midshipman who boarded the USS Congress after that vessel struck her colors during the battle.
--Old B-Runner