Enoch Greenleafe Parrott
Encyclopedia
Enoch Greenleafe Parrott (December 10, 1814–May 10, 1879) was an American naval officer who fought in the Mexican-American War and Civil War
, later rising to the rank of Rear admiral
.
on December 10, 1814. He entered the United States Navy
in 1831 as a midshipman
, and was promoted to lieutenant
in 1841.
In 1843 he took part in the anti-slavery expedition of Commander Matthew C. Perry's Africa Squadron
.
During the Mexican-American War he served aboard the 52-gun frigate , and took part in John C. Frémont
's expedition from Monterey
to Los Angeles
, and in the capture of Guaymas
and Mazatlán
.
Parrott was commissioned as Commander
in 1861 at the beginning of the Civil War, and was involved in the destruction of Norfolk Navy Yard before it could be taken over by the Confederacy.
In the brig he captured the Confederate privateer Savannah
, for which he received the commendation of the Navy Department. He commanded the steamer from 1861 to 1863, participating in the battle of Port Royal
, and engaged the Confederate rams Palmetto State
and Chicora
at the time of their sortie from Charleston on January 31, 1863.
Parrot was in command of the monitor of the North Atlantic squadron in the engagements with the ironclads on the James River
in 1864, and in the fights with Howett's battery.
He commanded the in the first attack on Fort Fisher
in December 1864, and in the second attack
in January 1865, and was present at the surrender of Charleston, South Carolina
.
Parrott was promoted to Captain in 1866, to Commodore in 1870, and to Rear admiral
in 1873. He retired in 1874.
Parrott died in New York City
on May 10, 1879, and is buried at St. John's church in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, later rising to the rank of Rear admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
.
Biography
Parrott was born in Portsmouth, New HampshirePortsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
on December 10, 1814. He entered the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in 1831 as a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
, and was promoted to lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 1841.
In 1843 he took part in the anti-slavery expedition of Commander Matthew C. Perry's Africa Squadron
Africa Squadron
The Africa Squadron was a unit of the United States Navy that operated from 1819 to 1861 to suppress the slave trade along the coast of West Africa...
.
During the Mexican-American War he served aboard the 52-gun frigate , and took part in John C. Frémont
John C. Frémont
John Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...
's expedition from Monterey
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, and in the capture of Guaymas
Guaymas
Guaymas is a city and municipality located in the southwest part of the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico. The city is located 117 km south of the state capital of Hermosillo, and 242 miles from the U.S. border, and is the principal port for the state. The municipality is located in the...
and Mazatlán
Mazatlán
Mazatlán is a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa; the surrounding municipio for which the city serves as the municipal seat is Mazatlán Municipality. It is located at on the Pacific coast, across from the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula.Mazatlán is a Nahuatl word meaning...
.
Parrott was commissioned as Commander
Commander (United States)
In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...
in 1861 at the beginning of the Civil War, and was involved in the destruction of Norfolk Navy Yard before it could be taken over by the Confederacy.
In the brig he captured the Confederate privateer Savannah
USS Chotank (1861)
The USS Chotank was a schooner captured by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Navy for various purposes, but especially to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries....
, for which he received the commendation of the Navy Department. He commanded the steamer from 1861 to 1863, participating in the battle of Port Royal
Battle of Port Royal
The Battle of Port Royal was one of the earliest amphibious operations of the American Civil War, in which a United States Navy fleet and United States Army expeditionary force captured Port Royal Sound, South Carolina, between Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina, on November 7, 1861...
, and engaged the Confederate rams Palmetto State
CSS Palmetto State
CSS Palmetto State, an ironclad ram, was built by Cameron and Co., Charleston, South Carolina in January 1862, under the supervision of Flag Officer D. N. Ingraham, CSN. She was readied for service by September 1862 when Lieutenant Commander John Rutledge, CSN, was placed in command. Her armor was...
and Chicora
CSS Chicora
CSS Chicora was a Confederate ironclad ram that fought in the American Civil War. She was built under contract at Charleston, South Carolina in 1862. James M. Eason built her to John L...
at the time of their sortie from Charleston on January 31, 1863.
Parrot was in command of the monitor of the North Atlantic squadron in the engagements with the ironclads on the James River
James River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
in 1864, and in the fights with Howett's battery.
He commanded the in the first attack on Fort Fisher
First Battle of Fort Fisher
The First Battle of Fort Fisher, was a siege fought from December 23 to December 27, 1864, was a failed attempt by Union forces to capture the fort guarding Wilmington, North Carolina, the South's last major port on the Atlantic Ocean...
in December 1864, and in the second attack
Second Battle of Fort Fisher
The Second Battle of Fort Fisher was a joint assault by Union Army and naval forces against Fort Fisher, outside Wilmington, North Carolina, near the end of the American Civil War...
in January 1865, and was present at the surrender of Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
.
Parrott was promoted to Captain in 1866, to Commodore in 1870, and to Rear admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
in 1873. He retired in 1874.
Parrott died in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on May 10, 1879, and is buried at St. John's church in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
.