Melancton Smith (1810-1893)
| Melancton Smith | |
|---|---|
Melancton Smith III
|
|
| Born |
May 24, 1810 New York City, New York |
| Died | July 19, 1893 (aged 83) Green Bay, Wisconsin |
| Allegiance |
United States of America Union |
| Service/branch |
United States Navy Union Navy |
| Years of service | 1826–1871 |
| Rank |
 Rear Admiral
|
| Commands held |
USS Massachusetts USS Wabash |
| Battles/wars |
Seminole Wars American Civil War |
Melancton Smith (May 24, 1810 – July 19, 1893) was a United States Navy officer who served during the Seminole Wars and the American Civil War.
Melancton Smith III was born in Jamaica, Long Island in New York, the son of Col. Melancton Smith, Jr., an army officer during the War of 1812, and grandson of Melancton Smith, a Continental Congressman. The third Melancton joined the U.S. Navy at a young age.
At the outbreak of the American Civil War Smith commanded the Massachusetts and on June 9, 1861 he captured the British blockade runner Perthshire with cargo of cotton near Pensacola, Florida. He also took part in the battles for Forts Jackson and St. Philip in April 1862. He was appointed captain and took part in the naval part of the Siege of Port Hudson in May to July, 1863. Smith was senior naval officer of a small fleet in Albemarle Sound where he attacked the Confederate ram CSS Albemarle at the Battle of Albemarle Sound in May 1864.
In his own words describing the havoc caused by one well-placed shot with the Massachusetts rifled pivot gun, at the CSS Selma in October 1861.
It entered the starboard side abaft the engine five feet above the water line, cutting entirely through 18 planks of the main deck, carried away the table, sofas, eight sections of iron steam pipe, and exploded in the stateroom on the port side, stripping the bulkheads of four rooms, and setting fire to the vessel ... 12 pieces of the fragments have been collected and weigh 58 pounds.
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Wikipedia