New Hampshire Elks Honor Union Sailor Recipients of Medal of Honor-- Part 5: Robert Anderson

ROBERT ANDERSON

(1843-1900)

Union Navy Civil War

Interred at Cavalry Cemetery

All five of these Union sailors are buried in cemeteries around Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  Pictures of each of their graves accompany the article.

Anderson served aboard the USS Crusader and the USS Keokuk during various actions in these vessels.

Carrying out his duties skillfully while serving aboard the Crusader, Quartermaster Robert Anderson, on all occasions, set forth the greatest  intrepidity and devotion.

During the attack on Charleston, while serving on board the USS Keokuk, Robert Anderson was stationed at the wheel of the ship when shot penetrated the ironclad and with the scattering of iron from it, shielded  the body of his commander with his body.

He survived.

--Old B-R'er

New Hampshire Elks Honor Navy Medal of Honor Recipients-- Part 4: John Jones

JOHN JONES

(1841-1907)

Union Navy Civil War

Interred at Saint Mary's Cemetery

John Jones served on the USS Rhode Island, which engaged  in saving the lives of the officers and crew of the sinking USS Monitor.

Participating in this hazardous  rescue effort in a major storm, Jones after recuing several men, became separated in a heavy gale with other members of the cutter that had set out from the Rhode Island, and spent many hours in a small boat at the mercy of the weather and high seas until finally  picked up by a schooner  50 miles east of Cape Hatteras.

--Old B-Runner

Elks Honor Navy Medal of Honor Recipients: Frederick Franklin

FREDERICK FRANKLIN 

(1840-1873) 

U.S. Navy Korean Campaign

Interred at Proprietors  Cemetery (South Cemetery)

Franklin was on board the USS Colorado during the attack and capture of the Korean forts., June 11, 1871.

Assuming command of  Company D after Lieutenant  McKee was wounded, Franklin handled the company with great credit until relieved.

Born on 1840 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

He was one of 15  U.S. sailors and Marines to be awarded the Medal of Honor for this little-known military action.  (I never heard of it either.)

Franklin also might have been in the Navy during the Civil War.  The USS Colorado was at the Battles of Fort Fisher.

--Old B-Runner

N.H. Elks Honor Navy Medal of Honor Recipients: Mark Ham

MARK HAM  (1820-1869)

Union Navy Civil War

Interred at Harmony Grove Cemetery (South Cemetery)

Ham served on the USS Kearsarge when she sank the Confederate raider CSS Alabama off Cherbourg, France, on June 19, 1864.

Performing his duties  intelligently and faithfully, Ham distinguished himself in the face of bitter enemy fire and was highly recommended by his divisional officer.

--Old B-Runner

New Hampshire Navy Medal of Honor Recipients Honored on Memorial Day-- Part 1: John Sullivan of USS Monticello

From the June 4, 2021, Seacoastonline "Portsmouth (New Hampshire) Elks honor Medal of Honor recipients on Memorial Day"

The Portsmouth Lodge of Elks No. 97 purchased wreaths to place on the graves of  five veterans  over memorial Day weekend.

JOHN SULLIVAN (1839-1913 Union Navy Civil War.  Interred at Harmony Grove Cemetery (South Cemetery)

Sullivan served as a seaman on the USS Monticello during  the reconnaissance  of the harbor and water defenses of Wilmington, North Carolina, June 23-24, 1864.  This would have been under the command of Lt. William Cushing.

The reconnaissance took part over  two days and nights.

Sullivan courageously carried out his duties during this action, which resulted in the capture of a mail carrier and mail, the cutting of telegraph wire and the capture of a large group of prisoners.

Although in immediate danger  from the enemy at all times, Sullivan showed gallantry and coolness throughout this action which resulted in the gaining  of much vital information on the rebel defenses.

His Medal of Honor was issued December 31, 1864.

--Old B-Runner

From Tea Clipper to Slaver to U.S. Warship, The USS Nightingale-- Part 2: An Extreme Clipper

The Nightingale was designed and built and the Hanscomb Shipyard in Eliot, Maine, in 1851 by Samuel Hanscomb, Jr.,  receiving its final fit out in nearby Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

She was what was referred to as an Extreme Clipper type of ship whereby cargo room was sacrificed for speed.  The bow was lengthened above the water, drawing out the sharpening of the forward body with the greatest beam further aft.  Extreme clippers were built for speed and most constructed between 1845 and 1855.

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STATISTICS:

TONNAGE:  1066 tons

DRAFT:  36 feet

LENGTH:  177 feet

BEAM:  36 feet

PROPULSION:  Sails

--Old B-Clipper

Fire on the Water: USS Kearsarge vs. CSS Alabama

From the May 5, 2011 Seacoastonline.com "Fire on the Water exhibit at Athenaeum observes the 150th anniversary of the Civil War."

The new exhibit is called "Fire on the Water:  Portsmouth's Kearsarge Sinks the Deadly Confederate Raider Alabama" opened May 6th.

There were thousands of onlookers watching the 90 -minute battle off Cherbourg, France.

The Kearsarge, named for a New Hampshire mountain,  was a Mohican-Class Sloop-of-War and was built at Portsmouth Naval Yard in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  They are loaning the original construction plans of the three-masted, steam-powered Kearsarge and a sailor's hat.

The CSS Alabama had sunk 55 ships when Captain John H. Winslow docked at Flushing, Holland and learned that the Alabama was at Cherbourg undergoing a much-needed overhaul.  On June 14, 1864, Winslow anchored outside French territorial waters.

On June 20, the Alabama came out and the battle was on.  The Confederate raider lost 30 crew members killed or drowned and was sunk, while the Kearsarge had 3 wounded.

Roll, Alabama, Roll.  --Old B-R'er