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Robert Townsend (Captain)
Encyclopedia
Captain Robert Townsend (October 21, 1819–August 15, 1866) was a Civil War era ship Captain in the United States Navy. He served twice, once before the war then again during the war. He saw active combat while serving aboard three ships, most notably as commander of the USS Essex from 1863–1864, an ironclad gunship on the Mississippi River. Captain Townsend died while commanding the USS Wachusett in China of heatstroke in 1866, and is buried in Albany, New York.
which under his great grandfather Peter Townsend forged the Great chain which was strung across the Hudson River
at West Point and prevented the British Royal Navy from threatening that important American base and potentially controlling the river. His grandfather was Captain Solomon Townsend
who was a merchant ship captain before the American Revolution. Robert Townsend was descended from John and Henry Townsend
, New York, among the first settlers of that area in the early 17th century.
Capt. Townsend married on June 19, 1850, Harriet Munro, daughter of Nathan Munro and Cynthia Champlin, of Elbridge, New York. The couple had three children, a son, Robert Townsend, Jr., born October 4, 1854, daughters Mary Walker Townsend born 23 December 1858, and Elizabeth Munroe Townsend born 19 July 1860.
Robert Townsend entered the United States Navy as a Midshipman on August 4, 1837, serving first as a Midshipman
on the ship USS John Adams
. In 1838 he was ordered to the battleship USS Ohio
, then in each subsequent year to the sloop USS Falmouth
, the steamship Missouri
. In 1843 he was promoted past Midshipman and served on the frigate Raritan
, then a year later on the brig USS Porpoise
.
He served in the Mexican-American war from 1846–1847 where he was engaged in the capture of Veracruz. He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1850 and resigned from the navy on April 7, 1851.
In 1862 Townsend was Acting Lieutenant of the USS Miami
under the command of Abram Davis Harrell. The Miami was a side-wheel, double-ender gunboat with a crew of 134 and armament of one 80 pounder Parrott rifle
one 9 inch smoothbore, and four 24 pounder cannon. The ship participated under Admiral David Farragut
as part of the Mortar Flotilla in neutralizing Confederate forts below New Orleans. Eliminating the forts permitted the Union ships to move upriver and eventually take New Orleans. Townsend became Commander of the Miami by October of that year.
In 1863, he was promoted to Commander and given command of the USS Essex
under Admiral David Dixon Porter
’s Mississippi Squadron. The USS Essex was a 1000 ton ironclad river gunboat
of the United States Army
and later United States Navy
during the American Civil War
. It was named for Essex County, Massachusetts
. USS Essex was originally constructed in 1856 at New Albany, Indiana
as a steam powered ferry named New Era. She had a crew of 134, armament consisting of 1 x 32-pounder; 3 x 11-inch Dahlgren smooth bore
s;1 x 10-inch Dahlgren smoothbore;1 x 12-pounder howitzer
, and armor consisting of 1 ¾" forward casemate, ¾" sides.
Under Townsend’s command the Essex participated in the Siege of Port Hudson
which occurred from May 21 to July 9, 1863, when Union Army troops assaulted and then captured the Mississippi River town of Port Hudson, Louisiana. Along with the USS Mortilla, the Essex bombarded the area daily and helped bring about the surrender of the city. The Union’s success in this battle gave Northern forces effective control of the Mississippi River and effectively cut the states of Arkansas and Texas off from the rest of the confederacy.
On July 9, she engaged the enemy at Donaldsonville and although damaged in the battle, carried out her patrol duty at this point through March 6, 1864 when she sailed with the fleet into the mouth of the Red River and assisted in the capture of Fort de Russy on March 15 and 16.
Townsend relinquished command of the Essex on November 3, 1864 to Commander Bryson.
After relinquishing command of the Essex, Townsend was given command of the USS Wachusett. The Wachusett was a wooden steam frigate with a detachable propeller, carrying nine guns and a complement of 170 men. She was a large (1,032-ton) steam sloop-of-war
that served the United States Navy in the American Civil War
. She was outfitted as a gunboat
and used by the Navy as part of the Union blockade
of the Confederate States of America
. On February 17, 1865 The ship was given orders to proceed to the East India (China) station by way of the Cape of Good Hope. There, she joined USS Wyoming and USS Iroquois in an effort to track down the Confederate commerce raider CSS Shenandoah.
While in China the ship was engaged in efforts to track down outlaws and pirates who were harming American interests. In mid-August the ship sailed up the Yangtze River in this mission. The heat was reportedly 107 degrees Fahrenheit (42 °C) in the shade and the ship made difficult passage up the river. A number of cases of heat stroke, some of them fatal occurred. At 1:45 am on August 15, 1866, Robert Townsend died of heat stroke. The executive officer John Woodward (Jack) Philip
, (later Admiral) assumed command of the Wachusett and sailed it downriver with the goal of making it to Japan for the health of the crew. That evening the ship anchored by the consulate in Shanghai and held a funeral for their commander.
Ancestry
Robert Townsend was born on October 21, 1819 in Albany, New York to Isaiah and Hannah Townsend. His father was an executive of the Stirling Iron WorksStirling Iron Works
The Sterling Iron Works owned by Peter Townsend was one of the first steel and iron manufacturer in the American colonies and the first steel producer in the colony of New York...
which under his great grandfather Peter Townsend forged the Great chain which was strung across the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
at West Point and prevented the British Royal Navy from threatening that important American base and potentially controlling the river. His grandfather was Captain Solomon Townsend
Solomon Townsend
Solomon Townsend was a merchant ship’s captain prior to the American Revolution, owned an ironworks in New York State, and was a representative to the New York State Legislature. Stranded in London following the outbreak of hostilities, Townsend's passage back to America was facilitated by...
who was a merchant ship captain before the American Revolution. Robert Townsend was descended from John and Henry Townsend
Henry Townsend (Oyster Bay)
Henry Townsend was the son of Henry Townsend, an early settler settler of the American Colonies, and a member of the Quaker religion.-Biography:...
, New York, among the first settlers of that area in the early 17th century.
Early life and pre-Civil War career
Townsend received his primary education at the Albany Academy, and his secondary education at the Rev. Dr. Dewey's Boarding School in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. After graduating he attended Union College in Schenectady, New York, but left college before graduating in order to join the board of survey of the Utica and Schenectady Railroad Company.Capt. Townsend married on June 19, 1850, Harriet Munro, daughter of Nathan Munro and Cynthia Champlin, of Elbridge, New York. The couple had three children, a son, Robert Townsend, Jr., born October 4, 1854, daughters Mary Walker Townsend born 23 December 1858, and Elizabeth Munroe Townsend born 19 July 1860.
Robert Townsend entered the United States Navy as a Midshipman on August 4, 1837, serving first 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...
on the ship USS John Adams
USS John Adams (1799)
The first John Adams was originally built as a frigate in 1799, converted to a corvette in 1809 and later converted back to a frigate in 1830 for use in the United States Navy...
. In 1838 he was ordered to the battleship USS Ohio
USS Ohio (1820)
The second USS Ohio was a ship of the line of the United States Navy. She was designed by Henry Eckford, laid down at New York Navy Yard in 1817, and launched on 30 May 1820. She went into ordinary and in the ensuing years decayed badly. Refitted for service in 1838, Ohio sailed on 16 October 1838...
, then in each subsequent year to the sloop USS Falmouth
USS Falmouth (1827)
USS Falmouth was a sloop of war in the United States Navy during the mid-19th century.Falmouth was launched on 3 November 1827 by Boston Navy Yard, and declared ready for sea 19 January 1828, Commander C. W. Morgan in command....
, the steamship Missouri
USS Missouri (1841)
The first Missouri, a 10‑gun side‑wheel frigate, one of the first steam warships in the Navy, was begun at New York Navy Yard in 1840; launched 7 January 1841; and commissioned very early in 1842, Capt. John Newton in command....
. In 1843 he was promoted past Midshipman and served on the frigate Raritan
USS Raritan (1843)
The first USS Raritan was a wooden-hulled, three-masted sailing frigate of the United States Navy built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, laid down in 1820, but not launched until 13 June 1843, sponsored by Commodore Frederick Engle. She was one of the last sailing frigates of the United States...
, then a year later on the brig USS Porpoise
USS Porpoise (1836)
The second USS Porpoise was a 224-ton Dolphin class brigantine The USS Porpoise was later rerigged as a brig...
.
He served in the Mexican-American war from 1846–1847 where he was engaged in the capture of Veracruz. He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1850 and resigned from the navy on April 7, 1851.
Civil War service
At the beginning of the civil war he re-entered the service on 17 September 1861 as acting lieutenant, receiving a promotion to Commander a few months later, and served on a number of fighting ships.USS Miami
USS Miami (1861)
The first USS Miami was a side-wheel, double-ender gunboat in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.Miami was launched by Philadelphia Navy Yard on November 16, 1861, and commissioned there on January 29, 1862, Lieutenant Abram Davis Harrell in command.-Battle of New Orleans:The...
under the command of Abram Davis Harrell. The Miami was a side-wheel, double-ender gunboat with a crew of 134 and armament of one 80 pounder Parrott rifle
Parrott rifle
The Parrott rifle was a type of muzzle loading rifled artillery weapon used extensively in the American Civil War.-Parrott Rifle:The gun was invented by Robert Parker Parrott, a West Point graduate. He resigned from the service in 1836 and became the superintendent of the West Point Foundry in Cold...
one 9 inch smoothbore, and four 24 pounder cannon. The ship participated under Admiral David Farragut
David Farragut
David Glasgow Farragut was a flag officer of the United States Navy during the American Civil War. He was the first rear admiral, vice admiral, and admiral in the United States Navy. He is remembered in popular culture for his order at the Battle of Mobile Bay, usually paraphrased: "Damn the...
as part of the Mortar Flotilla in neutralizing Confederate forts below New Orleans. Eliminating the forts permitted the Union ships to move upriver and eventually take New Orleans. Townsend became Commander of the Miami by October of that year.
USS Essex
USS Essex (1856)
USS Essex was a 1000-ton ironclad river gunboat of the United States Army and later United States Navy during the American Civil War. It was named for Essex County, Massachusetts...
under Admiral David Dixon Porter
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...
’s Mississippi Squadron. The USS Essex was a 1000 ton ironclad river gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and later 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...
during 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...
. It was named for Essex County, Massachusetts
Essex County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Parker River National Wildlife Refuge* Salem Maritime National Historic Site* Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site* Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:...
. USS Essex was originally constructed in 1856 at New Albany, Indiana
New Albany, Indiana
New Albany is a city in Floyd County, Indiana, United States, situated along the Ohio River opposite Louisville, Kentucky. In 1900, 20,628 people lived in New Albany; in 1910, 20,629; in 1920, 22,992; and in 1940, 25,414. The population was 36,372 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of...
as a steam powered ferry named New Era. She had a crew of 134, armament consisting of 1 x 32-pounder; 3 x 11-inch Dahlgren smooth bore
Dahlgren gun
Dahlgren guns were muzzle loading naval artillery designed by Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren USN, mostly used in the period of the American Civil War. Dahlgren's design philosophy evolved from an accidental explosion in 1849 of a 32-pounder being tested for accuracy, killing a gunner...
s;1 x 10-inch Dahlgren smoothbore;1 x 12-pounder howitzer
Howitzer
A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
, and armor consisting of 1 ¾" forward casemate, ¾" sides.
Under Townsend’s command the Essex participated in 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....
which occurred from May 21 to July 9, 1863, when Union Army troops assaulted and then captured the Mississippi River town of Port Hudson, Louisiana. Along with the USS Mortilla, the Essex bombarded the area daily and helped bring about the surrender of the city. The Union’s success in this battle gave Northern forces effective control of the Mississippi River and effectively cut the states of Arkansas and Texas off from the rest of the confederacy.
On July 9, she engaged the enemy at Donaldsonville and although damaged in the battle, carried out her patrol duty at this point through March 6, 1864 when she sailed with the fleet into the mouth of the Red River and assisted in the capture of Fort de Russy on March 15 and 16.
Townsend relinquished command of the Essex on November 3, 1864 to Commander Bryson.
USS Wachusett
Sloop-of-war
In the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. As the rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above, this meant that the term sloop-of-war actually encompassed all the unrated combat vessels including the...
that served the United States Navy in 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...
. She was outfitted as a gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
and used by the Navy as part of the Union blockade
Union blockade
The Union Blockade, or the Blockade of the South, took place between 1861 and 1865, during the American Civil War, when the Union Navy maintained a strenuous effort on the Atlantic and Gulf Coast of the Confederate States of America designed to prevent the passage of trade goods, supplies, and arms...
of the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
. On February 17, 1865 The ship was given orders to proceed to the East India (China) station by way of the Cape of Good Hope. There, she joined USS Wyoming and USS Iroquois in an effort to track down the Confederate commerce raider CSS Shenandoah.
While in China the ship was engaged in efforts to track down outlaws and pirates who were harming American interests. In mid-August the ship sailed up the Yangtze River in this mission. The heat was reportedly 107 degrees Fahrenheit (42 °C) in the shade and the ship made difficult passage up the river. A number of cases of heat stroke, some of them fatal occurred. At 1:45 am on August 15, 1866, Robert Townsend died of heat stroke. The executive officer John Woodward (Jack) Philip
John Woodward Philip
John Woodward Philip was an officer in the United States Navy during the Civil War and Spanish–American War.-Biography:...
, (later Admiral) assumed command of the Wachusett and sailed it downriver with the goal of making it to Japan for the health of the crew. That evening the ship anchored by the consulate in Shanghai and held a funeral for their commander.