Officers on USS Mackinaw, January 1, 1865

Naval History and Heritage Command.

The ship was in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron under Rear Admiral David D. Porter.

MACKINAW (3rd rate)

COMMANDER:  J.C. Beaumont

ACTING MASTER:  A.J. Louch

ACTING ENSIGNS:  William H. Penfield, J.T. Blanchard, Joseph Estes

ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON:  Joseph T. Cottrell

ACTING ASSISTANT PAYMASTER:  Wm. T. Whittmore

ACTING MASTER'S MATES:  John A. Thomas, Solomon Barstow, Ed K. Green

ENGINEERS:

FIRST ASSISTANT:  Jefferson Young
SECOND ASSISTANT:  Daniel A. Sawyer
THIRD ASSISTANTS:  R.W. Milligan, Sylvanus McIntyre
ACTING THIRD ASSISTANTS:  Patrick Hagan, J.W. Reed

ACTING GUNNER:  Thomas Keer

This was the ship John S. Griscom was on when he was killed when the 100-pdr. Parrot exploded December 24, 1864, during the First Battle of Fort Fisher.

--Old B-Runner

John S. Griscom, USN-- Part 3: Killed by Exploding 100-Pdr. Parrott Gun at First Battle of Fort Fisher

John Griscom was on the USS Mackinaw at the First Battle of Fort Fisher as an acting ensign, likely in command of the 100-pdr. Parrott cannon on the ship.

At the first battle, Rear Admiral David D. Porter reports that 20,271 projectiles were fired at Fort Fisher and Union naval casualties mounted to 20 killed and 63 wounded.  Also reported was that six 100-pdr. Parrot guns exploded killing and wounding men.

The explosion of the Parrott gun on the USS Mackinaw resulted in one officer being killed and five men wounded.  That one officer would have to be Mr. Griscom.

The Mackinaw was listed as having two 100-pdr. Parrott  rifles.

Also:  four 9-inch smoothbores, two 24-pdr. smoothbores, one heavy 12-pdr and one 12-pdr. rifle.

--Old B-Runner

John S. Griscom-- Part 2: Killed at First Battle of Fort Fisher

From Find A Grave

ENS JOHN SERGEANT GRISCOM

BIRTH:  Unknown

DEATH:  24 December 1864

BURIAL:  Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

PLOT:  Section Y, Lot 167

Civil War Union naval officer.  He was killed in the First Battle of Fort Fisher, North Carolina.  On USS Mackinaw.

--Old B-Runner

John S. Griscom, USN-- Part 1

While looking up information on Henry Walton Grinnell who made that overland expedition from Wilmington, N.C., to deliver letters to Sherman's army at Fayetteville on this site, the next person listed under him was this man.  And, since he had a Fort Fisher connection, a sad one, I decided to try to find out as much about him as I could.  I couldn't find much.

From U.S. Navy & Marine Officers 1775 - 1900.

JOHN S. GRISCOM

MATE--  12 October 1862

ACTING ENSIGN--  22 February 1864

KILLED on the USS Mackinaw December 25, 1864.  Fort Fisher

--Old B-Runner