Melancton Smith (1810-1893)

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Melancton Smith
May 24, 1810 – July 19, 1893
Image:A-Melancton Smith-1a.jpg
Place of birth Flag of New York New York, New York
Place of death Flag of Wisconsin Green Bay, Wisconsin
Allegiance Flag of the United StatesUnited States of America
Service/branch United States Navy Seal U.S. Navy
Years of service 1826 – 1871
Rank Rear Admiral
Unit USS Massachusetts
USS Wabash
Battles/wars Seminole Wars
American Civil War

Melancton Smith (May 24, 1810 – July 19, 1893) was a United States Naval Officer who served in the Union Navy during the American Civil War.

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[edit] Early life

Melancton Smith was born in New York City. He was the son of Colonel Melancton Smith, an 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. He served in the navy during the Seminole Wars and the American Civil War.

[edit] Civil War

At the outbreak of the American Civil War He 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 Battle of Fort Jackson. He was appointed captain and took part in the naval part of the Siege of Port Hudson. He 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 his own words describing the havoc caused by one well-placed shot with the USS Massachusetts rifled pivot gun, at the CSS Selma Oct 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."

He was in command of the frigate USS Wabash during both attacks on Fort Fisher.

In Rear admiral David Dixon Porter’s, Report to the U. S. Navy, dated Jan 28, 1865, from U. S. Flagship USS Malvern, on the Cape Fear River, in commendation of officers of his command the North Atlantic Squadron, the following was written about Captain Melancton Smith. “Captain Melancton Smith, in the Wabash, has performed his duty well. He has also made a good record at the Department, and has been actively engaged in fighting since the rebellion first broke out. His old ship has done good service here, and if he had done nothing more than assist, as he has done in the capture of this place, he deserves promotion, which I hereby recommend.”

[edit] Post Civil War

He was chief of the bureau of equipment and recruiting in the navy department after the war and was in charge of the New York navy-yard until his retirement.

Smith died in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

[edit] Appointments and ranks

[edit] External links