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Melancton Smith (1810-1893)
Encyclopedia
Melancton Smith was a United States Navy
officer who served during the Seminole Wars
and the American Civil War
.
, the was the son of Col.
Melancton Smith, Jr., an army officer during the War of 1812
, and grandson of Melancton Smith
, a Continental Congress
man. The third Melancton joined the U.S. Navy at a young age.
Smith commanded the USS 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
October 1861.
He was in command of the frigate USS Wabash
during both attacks on Fort Fisher
in December 1864 and January 1865. In Real Admiral
David Dixon Porter’s
, Report to the U. S. Navy, dated January 28, 1865, from his flagship USS Malvern
, on the Cape Fear River
, in commendation of officers of his command the North Atlantic Squadron
, the following was written about Melancton Smith:
from September 17, 1866 to July 17, 1870. He was then in charge of the New York Naval Shipyard
at Brooklyn, New York until his retirement on May 24, 1871. Smith died in Green Bay, Wisconsin
.
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...
officer who served during the Seminole Wars
Seminole Wars
The Seminole Wars, also known as the Florida Wars, were three conflicts in Florida between the Seminole — the collective name given to the amalgamation of various groups of native Americans and Black people who settled in Florida in the early 18th century — and the United States Army...
and the American Civil War
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...
.
Early life
Melancton Smith III was born in New York CityNew 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...
, the was the son of Col.
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
Melancton Smith, Jr., an army officer during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, and grandson of Melancton Smith
Melancton Smith
Melancton Smith was a New York Delegate to the Continental Congress. His first name is sometimes spelled "Melanchthon"; it derives from Philipp Melanchthon, the leader in the Reformation....
, a Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
man. The third Melancton joined the U.S. Navy at a young age.
Civil War service
At the outbreak of the American Civil WarAmerican 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...
Smith commanded the USS Massachusetts
USS Massachusetts
USS Massachusetts may refer to:, a topsail schooner, was the first Revenue Marine cutter of the United States, was a wooden steamer that saw action during the Mexican-American War and in Puget Sound...
and on June 9, 1861 he captured the British blockade runner Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
with cargo of cotton near Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
. He also took part in the battles for Forts Jackson and St. Philip
Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip
The Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip was the decisive battle for possession of New Orleans in the American Civil War. The two Confederate forts on the Mississippi River south of the city were attacked by a Union Navy fleet...
in April 1862. He was appointed captain and took part in the naval part of the Siege of Port Hudson
Siege of Port Hudson
The Siege of Port Hudson occurred from May 22 to July 9, 1863, when Union Army troops assaulted and then surrounded the Mississippi River town of Port Hudson, Louisiana, during the American Civil War....
in May to July, 1863. Smith was senior naval officer of a small fleet in Albemarle Sound
Albemarle Sound
Albemarle Sound is a large estuary on the coast of North Carolina in the United States located at the confluence of a group of rivers, including the Chowan and Roanoke. It is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Outer Banks, a long barrier peninsula upon which the town of Kitty Hawk is located,...
where he attacked the Confederate ram CSS Albemarle
CSS Albemarle
CSS Albemarle was an ironclad ram of the Confederate Navy , named for a town and a sound in North Carolina and a county in Virginia...
at the Battle of Albemarle Sound
Battle of Albemarle Sound
The Battle of Albemarle Sound was an inconclusive naval battle fought in May of 1864 along the coast of North Carolina during the American Civil War. Three Confederate warships, including an ironclad, engaged eight Union gunboats...
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
CSS Selma
CSS Selma was a steamship in the Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War.Selma was a coastwise packet built at Mobile, Alabama for the Mobile Mail Line in 1856. Little doubt now remains that she was originally named Florida...
October 1861.
He was in command of the frigate USS Wabash
USS Wabash (1855)
USS Wabash was a steam screw frigate of the United States Navy that served during the American Civil War. She was based on the same plans as . Post-war she continued to serve her country in European operations and eventually served as a barracks ship in Boston, Massachusetts, and was sold in...
during both attacks on Fort Fisher
Battle of Fort Fisher
Two battles were fought over Fort Fisher during the American Civil War. The first battle was a failed attempt by the Union army and Navy to capture the fort. The second battle was a successful operation which led to the fall of the fort and the city of Wilmington, North Carolina.* First Battle of...
in December 1864 and January 1865. In Real 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 :...
David Dixon Porter’s
David Dixon Porter
David Dixon Porter was a member of one of the most distinguished families in the history of the United States Navy. Promoted as the second man to the rank of admiral, after his adoptive brother David G...
, Report to the U. S. Navy, dated January 28, 1865, from his flagship USS Malvern
USS Malvern
USS Malvern may refer to:, was built in 1860 as William G. Hewes and served the Union Navy, was a tug commissioned 27 April 1917 and returned to her owner On 16 January 1919, was acquired by the US Navy 11 May 1944 and decommissioned 16 February 1946...
, on the Cape Fear River
Cape Fear River
The Cape Fear River is a long blackwater river in east central North Carolina in the United States. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear, from which it takes its name. The overall water quality of the river is continuously measured and monitored by and conducted by the , , and the...
, in commendation of officers of his command the North Atlantic Squadron
North Atlantic Squadron
The North Atlantic Squadron was a section of the United States Navy operating in the North Atlantic. It was renamed as the North Atlantic Fleet in 1902. In 1905 the European and South Atlantic Squadrons were abolished and absorbed into the North Atlantic Fleet. On Jan...
, the following was written about Melancton Smith:
Post Civil War
After the war Smith was chief of the Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting in the Department of the NavyUnited States Department of the Navy
The Department of the Navy of the United States of America was established by an Act of Congress on 30 April 1798, to provide a government organizational structure to the United States Navy and, from 1834 onwards, for the United States Marine Corps, and when directed by the President, of the...
from September 17, 1866 to July 17, 1870. He was then in charge of the New York Naval Shipyard
Brooklyn Navy Yard
The United States Navy Yard, New York–better known as the Brooklyn Navy Yard or the New York Naval Shipyard –was an American shipyard located in Brooklyn, northeast of the Battery on the East River in Wallabout Basin, a semicircular bend of the river across from Corlear's Hook in Manhattan...
at Brooklyn, New York until his retirement on May 24, 1871. Smith died in Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
.
Appointments and ranks
- Midshipman — March 1, 1826
- Passed Midshipman — April 28, 1832
- LieutenantLieutenantA 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...
— March 8, 1837 - CommanderCommander (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...
— September 14, 1855 - Captain — July 16, 1862
- Commodore — July 25, 1866
- Real AdmiralRear 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 :...
— July 1, 1870 - added to Retired List — May 24, 1871