The USS Water Witch was a 380-ton sidewheeler, and was taken into the Vernon River and moored above the obstructions. For Union Lt.-Cmdr. Austin Pendergrast, this was the second time he lost his ship. As the second-in-command of the USS Congress, he had to also surrender his ship.
Confederate Secretary of the Navy Mallory wrote: "The plan and gallant execution of the enterprise reflect great credit upon all who were associated with it, and upon the service which they adorn. The fall of Lieutenant Pelot and his gallant associates in the moment of victory, and the suffering of his companions wounded, sadden the feelings of patriotic pleasure with which this brilliant achievement is everywhere received."
--Old B-R'er
Showing posts with label Pendergrast Austin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pendergrast Austin. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Capture of the USS Water Witch, 150 Years Ago-- Part 1
JUNE 3, 1864: A Confederate boat expedition of 130 officers and men under the command of Lt. Thomas P. Pelot, CSN, surprised and captured the USS Water Witch, Lt. Cmdr. Austin Pendergrast, in an early morning raid odd Ossabaw Island, Georgia.
In pitch darkness at 2 a.m., Pelot silently led his men to the ship and was within 50 yards when discovered. Before the Union sailors could man their stations, the Confederates had boarded the ship and a wild hand-to-hand fight ensued.
Rear Admiral Dahlgren noted in his diary: "The fight was hard, but brief."
The Confederates won, but Lt. Pelot and five others were killed and 17 were wounded. Lt. Joseph Price, CSN, assumed command and said of Pelot: "In his death the country has lost a brave and gallant officer, and society one of her highest ornaments."
--Old B-Runner
In pitch darkness at 2 a.m., Pelot silently led his men to the ship and was within 50 yards when discovered. Before the Union sailors could man their stations, the Confederates had boarded the ship and a wild hand-to-hand fight ensued.
Rear Admiral Dahlgren noted in his diary: "The fight was hard, but brief."
The Confederates won, but Lt. Pelot and five others were killed and 17 were wounded. Lt. Joseph Price, CSN, assumed command and said of Pelot: "In his death the country has lost a brave and gallant officer, and society one of her highest ornaments."
--Old B-Runner
Friday, May 10, 2013
The Grave of Garrett J. Pendergrast
From Find-A-Grave.
Garrett J. Pendergrast commanded the Union Navy in the early days of the war in southern Chesapeake Bay. He is buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Section 1, Lot 106, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
His son, Commander Austin Pendergrast is also interred on the plot but there is no mention of him on the family obelisk monument there. Austin Pendergrast was the one who surrendered the USS Congress and had another command of his, the USS Water Witch, captured by a Confederate raiding party. Austin died in 1874.
But, the monument does have an anchor.
Wikipedia refers to Garrett Pendergrast as being Austin's uncle.
A Naval Followup to the Battle of Gloucester, Virginia.
Old B-R'er
Garrett J. Pendergrast commanded the Union Navy in the early days of the war in southern Chesapeake Bay. He is buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Section 1, Lot 106, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
His son, Commander Austin Pendergrast is also interred on the plot but there is no mention of him on the family obelisk monument there. Austin Pendergrast was the one who surrendered the USS Congress and had another command of his, the USS Water Witch, captured by a Confederate raiding party. Austin died in 1874.
But, the monument does have an anchor.
Wikipedia refers to Garrett Pendergrast as being Austin's uncle.
A Naval Followup to the Battle of Gloucester, Virginia.
Old B-R'er
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
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
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
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Union Flag-Officer Garrett J. Pendergrast, USN-- Part 1
From Wikipedia.
Born Dec. 5, 1812, Died Nov. 7, 1862. Became a midshipman in US Navy in 1812 (age ten) and fought in the War of 1812. Uncle of Austin Pendergrast, who took command of the USS Congress after it sank in the battle with the CSS Virginia and later commanded the USS Water Witch when it was captured by the Confederates. I wrote a lot about the Water Witch in my Saw the Elephant Civil War blog.
Garret Pendergrast commanded the USS Boston during the Mexican War and was commanding officer at the commissioning of the USS Merrimack Feb. 20, 1856. The Merrimack later became the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia.
At the onset of the war, Pendergrast commanded the USS Cumberland (later attacked by the Virginia in 1862. Kind of an interconnected story.
Starting April 24, 1861, the Cumberland and a support ship began seizing Confederate ships and privateers of Fort Monroe in the Chesapeake Bay and in short time had captured 16 ships.
I Had Never Heard of Him. --Old B-R'er
Born Dec. 5, 1812, Died Nov. 7, 1862. Became a midshipman in US Navy in 1812 (age ten) and fought in the War of 1812. Uncle of Austin Pendergrast, who took command of the USS Congress after it sank in the battle with the CSS Virginia and later commanded the USS Water Witch when it was captured by the Confederates. I wrote a lot about the Water Witch in my Saw the Elephant Civil War blog.
Garret Pendergrast commanded the USS Boston during the Mexican War and was commanding officer at the commissioning of the USS Merrimack Feb. 20, 1856. The Merrimack later became the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia.
At the onset of the war, Pendergrast commanded the USS Cumberland (later attacked by the Virginia in 1862. Kind of an interconnected story.
Starting April 24, 1861, the Cumberland and a support ship began seizing Confederate ships and privateers of Fort Monroe in the Chesapeake Bay and in short time had captured 16 ships.
I Had Never Heard of Him. --Old B-R'er
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