CSS Tallahassee-- Part 1: Ship of Many Names and Careers

From Wikipedia.

The CSS Tallahassee was a twin screw steamer (blockade runner) and cruiser used in the Confederate Navy.

It originally was the blockade runner Atalanta and then purchased by the Confederate Navy and renamed the CSS Tallahassee and became a cruiser preying on Northern shipping.

Late it became the CSS Olustee and went for a crusier under Lt. William Henry Ward and lastly, became a blockade runner again, this time named CSS Chameleon.

Chameleon was definitely a good name for the ship.

--Old B-Runner

William Henry Ward, USN

As I mentioned earlier, William Henry Ward was in the U.S. Navy until the Civil War.

From the Naval Historical Center U.S. Navy & Marine Corps Officers 1775-1900.

Midshipman  17 February 1849

Passed Midshipman   12 June 1855

Master  16 September 1855

Lieutenant  9 September 1856

Dismissed 16 July 1861

I was unable to learn anything more about his U.S. Navy service.

After this, he joined the Confederate Navy.

--Old B-Runner

William Henry Ward Grave

From CS Navy.org. 

His grave is located in Elmwood Cemetery in Columbia, South Carolina.

Sadly, in an unmarked grave  Lot 31,  Square 36.

Service:

CSS Louisiana
Ponchartrain
Richmond
CSS Palmetto State
CSS Tallahassee
CSS Chickamauga

Died 17 April 1920

--Old B-Runner

William Henry Ward-- Part 4: After the War Served in Egypt

In the service of the Khedive of Egypt, 870, as lieutenant colonel of Marines, on a pay rate of 1,066 francs.

Served in the Egyptian Army for nearly ten years.

Returned to the United States about 1882

Died at Norfolk, Virginia,  April 15, 1892.

--Old B-Runner

William Henry Ward, CSN-- Part 3: A Prisoner Three Times

Ward's vessel, the CSS Chickamauga was destroyed after the capture of Fort Fisher as an obstruction in the Cape Fear River.

After that, he returned to the Richmond Station once more and took command of the guns below Drewry's Bluff.

He was captured during the Confederate retreat at the Battle of Saylor's Creek, Virginia, on April 6, 1865 and sent to Johnson's Island, Ohio, and released after taking the Oath of Allegiance.

But. His Service Wasn't Over.  --Old B-Runner

William Henry Ward, CSN-- Part 2 Ironclad and Cruiser Duty

Captured at New Orleans in April 1862 and sent to Fort Warren as a prisoner for the second time in two years.

Exchanged after two months and proceeded to the Richmond Station for service aboard the CSS Richmond.

Applied for more active service and sent to Charleston Station to report for duty on the CSS Palmetto State in 1863.

Returned to the Richmond Station and shortly afterwards was sent to the Wilmington Station.

Next served as executive officer under Lt. John Taylor Wood on the cruiser CSS Tallahassee in 1864.

Subsequently transferred to the command of the cruiser CSS Chickamauga, December 1864.

--Old B-Runner

William Henry Ward, CSN-- Part 1: Former U.S. Navy Officer, Two-Time Prisoner at Fort Warren

In my October 29 post I wrote that he was in command of the CSS Olustee (CSS Tallahassee) when he eluded blockaders off Wilmington, N.C. and went on a commerce destroying mission along the Atlantic coast.

From the North Carolina Civil War Sailors Project site.

In 1861, resided in Norfolk, Virginia.    He had previous service in the U.S. Navy and was arrested for disloyalty and sent to Fort Fort Lafayette, New York August 31, 1861, and then to Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, until paroled and exchanged in January 1862.

An official Navy document has him being appointed as an acting sailing master in the Confederate Navy on October 21, 1861, at Tallahassee, Florida,  and was ordered to report to New Orleans  and report to Captain George N. Hollins for duty.

Served aboard the CSS Louisiana and appointed lieutenant March 13, 1862.  He was captured on the Mississippi River April 1862 and sent as a prisoner to Fort Warren again.

Same Old, Same Old.  --Old B-R'er