So What Became of Acting Master's Mate William H. Kitching?

Two days ago I mentioned that he was captured in a picket boat from the USS Nipsic on Feb. 26, 1864, and held on the CSS Charleston in Charleston Harbor.

What happened to him after that?

On March 28, 1864, Gen. Benjamin F. Butler wrote from Fort Monroe to Robert Ould, Confederate Agent of Prisoner Exchange.

"Sir, Will you please inform me as to the whereabouts and present condition of William H. Kitching, who was taken prisoner while in command of a picket boat, from the U.S. gun-boat Nipsic, on the night of the 26th February, last, near Charleston, S.C?"

I couldn't find a reply.

Elsewhere in the U.S. Navy  Register of officers I found his name, with his joining on 28 March 1863 and resignation on 22 April 1865.

Other than that, I can find nothing about him.

He Evidently Survived His Ordeal.  --Old B-Runner

USS Nipsic-- Part 2: The War and Afterwards

On June 27, 1864, she captured the blockade running schooner Julia as it attempted to enter Charleston Harbor.

On June 26, 1865, three sailors deserted from the Nipsic:   Henry May, Ordinary Seaman, Julius Bergan, Seaman and John Partington, Seaman.   The three had served together on three vessels:  Allegheny, Mahaska and Nipsic.

After the war, the Nipsic served primarily with the South Atlantic Squadron off the coast of Brazil and the West Indies, protecting American interests until 1873 when she was decommissioned and broken up.

But, That Was Not All.  --Old B-Runner

USS Nipsic-- Part 1: Launching and Duty Station

From Wikipedia.

Was a ship in the Union Navy, laid down at Portsmouth Navy Yard on 24 December 1862 and launched  15 June 1863, commissioned  2 September 1863 with Lt. Cmdr. George Bacon in command.  179 feet long,  30-foot beam.

Armament:

one 150-pdr. rifle
one 30-pdr. rifle
two 9-inch Dahlgren smoothbores
two 24-pdr. howizers
two 12-pdr. guns

Arrived off Morris Island, Charleston, S.C., on 5 November 1863 and served Charleston blockade for the rest of the war.

--Old B-R'er

February 26, 1864: Union Picket Boat Captured at Charleston Harbor

FEBRUARY 26TH, 1864:  While on night picket duty at Charleston Harbor, a boat commanded by Acting Master's Mate William H. Kitching, Jr., from the USS Nipsic, was captured by a Confederate cutter from the CSS Palmetto State.

The Union boat encountered her captors in a thick fog and was unable to withdraw rapidly enough against the flood tide to escape.  Kitching and his five crew members were taken prisoner and confined initially aboard the CSS Charleston near Fort Sumter.

Small Actions, But Always Vigilant.  --Old B-Runner

Dangerous Charleston Night Picket Duty

FEBRUARY 26TH, 1864:

While on night picket duty at Charleston Harbor, a boat from the USS Nipsic was captured by a Confederate cutter from the CSS Palmetto State. The Union boat encountered her captors in a thick fog and was unable to get away rowing against the the flod tide to escape.

The six men aboard were held captive initially aboard the CSS Charleston near Fort Sumter.

--Old B-R'er

150 Years Ago-- December 26-31: Action on the Cumberland River and At Charleston, S.C.

DECEMBER 26-31:

 The USS Reindeer and Army steamer Silver Lake No. 2 reconnoitered the Cumberland River at the request of General Grant, moving from Nashville to Carthage, chasing Confederates from their batteries. The expedition went as far as Creelsboro, Kentucky, before returning because the river was falling.

DECEMBER 29TH: Five Union ships departed from Morris Island for Murrell's Inlet to attack a blockade-runner fitting out for sea but heavy weather caused the attack to be called off. But, on January 1, 1864, the USS Nipsic returned and succeeded in destroying it.

 --Old B-Runner