Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren and Staff - U.S.S. Pawnee - Charleston Harbor - June 17, 1865

3D red/cyan anaglyph created from glass plate stereograph at Library of Congress - Prints & Photographs Online Catalog: www.loc.gov/pictures/

 

LOC Title: Charleston Harbor, S.C. Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren (fifth from left) and staff aboard U.S.S. Pawnee

 

Date: June 17, 1865

 

Photographer: Not Identified

 

Link to glass plate: www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2018666841/

 

Notes: The Library of Congress (LOC) website provided this historic stereograph of Rear-Admiral Dahlgren and part of the staff of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, aboard the U.S.S. Pawnee in Charleston harbor, on June 17, 1865. This was the day that Dahlgren and the Pawnee departed Charleston and headed to Washington, D.C. , where later, on July 11, President Lincoln and cabinet were to come on board for a visit, at Dahlgren’s invitation.

 

The LOC has two different versions of this scene, with some of the officers moving around between shots; staff officers are not identified. The Naval History and Heritage Command website has this well-known photo too, but they do not identify any of the staff officers either. The NARA website also has the two versions of this scene and provide six names for the nine officers, but don’t specify who is who.

 

Which brings me to the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection. They have one of the largest Civil War photo collections in the world, but, unfortunately, their search engine, at the moment, appears to be completely broken. For example, a query on the terms “Antietam” and “Gettysburg” brought back no photos at all. There are 136 “volumes” in the MOLLUS-MASS collection with thousands of photos, but thumbnails don’t appear until you open each volume and click each photo link in turn. Without a viable search engine, it’s a time consuming process to find specific items.

 

After opening about 50 MOLLUS-Mass volumes, and clicking each link, in Vol. 63, page- 3127, up-came a print of one of the two versions of this scene, with all nine officers identified – names annotated under each man, in the bottom margin. Turns out that three of the names were misspelled, but close enough to be able to go to naval records and pin them down.

 

So thanks to the U.S Army, below are listed all the Navy officers’ names, with what background information I could readily find on each, starting from the left of the stereograph and moving to the right:

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(1) Ensign, Ernest Jefferson Dichman (1845 - 1916)

 

Ernest Jefferson Dichman was born in Wisconsin in 1845, and died in New York City in 1916, at age 70; he is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Below are two obituaries for Dichman.

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New York Tribune

Sunday, April 23, 1916

 

DICHMAN FUNERAL HELD

 

"Veteran Naval Officer To Be Buried in Arlington Cemetery.

The funeral of Lieutenant Commander Ernest Dichman, U. S. N. (retired) was held yesterday afternoon in the mortuary chapel of Edward Gordon's Son by the Rev. Father Sullivan, C. S.P. of the Paulist Fathers. Two sons, one of whom is a naval officer, were present. Burial will take place in the national cemetery at Arlington.

 

Commander Dichman was the son of a poor Wisconsin farmer, having been born on a pioneer farm seventy years ago. He was graduated at the Naval Academy and attained the rank of lieutenant commander during the Civil War on the staff of Admiral Dahlgren.

 

He saw service in a number of naval engagements and was a staff officer on Dahlgren's flagship when the fleet made a junction with General Sherman off the mouth of the Savannah River after Sherman's memorable march to the sea.

 

He was later in command of the fleet which was sent to protect American fishermen from the British of the coast of Nova Scotia. President Grant sent him on a confidential mission to several American embassies and later appointed him Minister to Colombia."

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The Washington Herald

Wednesday, April 26, 1916

 

"COMMANDER ERNEST DICHMAN IS BURIED

 

Last Rites Conducted for Civil War Veteran and Former Minister to Colombia.

 

Lieut. Commander Ernest Dichman, a civil war veteran, who resigned from the navy in 1871, and died in New York City last week, was buried In Arlington yesterday with military honors.

 

Commander Dichman was born in Wisconsin and appointed to the Naval Academy from that State in September, 1860. He was graduated in an advance class in May, 1863, when he was commissioned ensign. He served as flag lieutenant of the staff of Rear Admiral Dahlgren in the civil war. He won rapid promotion and reached the grade of lieutenant commander in 1868, resigning in 1871 to take up the practice of law In Washington.

 

In 1878, President Hayes appointed him Minister to Colombia on the eve of the Panama Canal project. He retired from the diplomatic service In 1883, and resumed the practice of law in New York City, continuing In active practice until his death. He leaves a widow, two sons and a daughter. The eldest son, Grattan Colley Dichman, is a lieutenant in the navy. The daughter is the wife of First Lieut. T. H. Bane, Sixth Cavalry, U.S.A. A son, Earnest Dichman, is an electrical engineer."

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Findagrave Link: www.findagrave.com/memorial/49228600/ernest-jefferson-dic...

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(2) Lieutenant Commander, Edmund Orville Matthews (1836 - 1911)

 

Edmund Orville Matthews was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1836, and died in Cambridge, Mass., in 1911 at age 74; he is buried in Island Cemetery, Newport, Rhode Island. As noted in the two obituaries, below, Matthews eventually attained the rank of Rear Admiral.

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The Washington Herald

Tuesday, January 31, 1911

 

"Admiral Edmund O. Matthews.

Boston. Jan 30.-- Rear Admiral Edmund Orville Matthews, U. S. N, retired, died at his home in Cambridge last night, aged seventy-five. He was born in Baltimore, and in I851 was appointed from Missouri to the United States Naval Academy. He saw service on the Wabash In the early part of the civil war, and served on the South Atlantic blockading squadron. He came to Boston in 1887, and remained as captain of the navy yard until 1890. He was retired from active service in 1898, and since then had lived In Cambridge. He married Hattie R. Hammond, of Newport, who, with a daughter, survives him."

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The Evening Star

Washington, D.C.

Monday, January 30, 1911

 

"ADMIRAL MATTHEWS DEAD.

Retired Naval Officer Had Been in Poor Health Over a Year.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., January 30--Admiral Edmund Orville Matthews, U. S.N., retired, died at his home here today. Rear Admiral Matthews had been in poor health for more than a year. He was born in Baltimore in 1836. During the civil war Rear Admiral Matthews participated in the capture of the forts at Hatteras Inlet and in the battle at Tullifinny Cross Roads. He was made a rear admiral June 10, 1897, and was retired October 24, 1898. From 1891 to 1894 Rear Admiral Matthews was chief of the bureau of yards and docks. In the latter year he was elected president of the examining and retiring boards, holding the office until his own retirement."

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Findagrave link (has additional photos): www.findagrave.com/memorial/42355387/edmund-orville-matthews

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(3) Fleet Paymaster, James Horatio Watmough (1822-1917)

James Horatio Watmough was born in Pennsylvania in 1822 and died in 1917, at age 95; he is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. As noted in his obituary, below, Watmough eventually attained the rank of Rear Admiral.

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The Evening Star

Washington, D.C.

Thursday, January 18, 1917

 

"ADMIRAL WATMOUGH DIES IN NINETY-FIFTH YEAR

 

Veteran of Mexican and Civil Wars

Passes Away at His Home in This City.

 

REAR ADMIRAL J. H. WATMOUGH.

Rear Admiral James Horatio Watmough, U. S. N., retired, former pay director of the navy, a veteran of the Mexican and civil wars and probably the oldest man who has ever served in the navy, died at the family residence, 2144 Wyoming avenue, today shortly after 8 o'clock. He was in his ninety-fifth year and had been ill for several days of grip.

 

Funeral services will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 23d street, Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock, with the rector, Rev. Dr. Robert Talbot, officiating. Rev. G. W. Atkinson, jr., rector of Grace Episcopal Church, Georgetown, will assist. Interment will be in Arlington cemetery, with naval honors.

 

Mrs. Watmough, who was formerly Miss Annie Bowie Harris of this city, survives, together with a daughter of Admiral Watmough by a former marriage, Mrs. E. C. Griffith of this city and formerly of Paris, France.

 

Hoisted First U. S. Flag in California

Admiral Watmough was responsible for the hoisting of the first United States flag in California, when the naval forces landed there during the Mexican war. He ordered the flag hoisted by one or the small force in which he was in command at that time, and shortly thereafter gave $5 to the man who set the flag flying.

 

It is believed that Admiral Watmough was the last living man who sailed on the Constitution when that ship was in active service. After serving in the Mexican war, Admiral Watmough was seeing service on the African coast and returned to this country shortly after the outbreak of the civil war.

Advanced to Rear Admiral.

 

He served as acting midshipman in the navy from 1843 to 1844, being made paymaster December 12 of the latter year, and in the war with Mexico he was commander of Santa Clara and on Jose, Cal. While in the civil war he was fleet paymaster of the South Atlantic squadron in 1864 and 1865, serving in a number of important actions. He was later made general pay inspector of the navy and from 1873 to 1877 was paymaster general. He retired from active service in 1884, and in June, 1906, was advanced to the rank of rear admiral.

 

Admiral Watmough was born at Whitemarsh, Pa., in 1822, and was educated at the University of Pennsylvania. His first wife was Miss Emmeline Sheaff, who died in 1904. He married Miss Harris in 1907.

 

He was one of the six original members of the Astec Club of 1847, and also belonged to the Union Club of New York, Loyal Legion, Order of Naval Wars of the United States, Society of the War of 1812, and the Society of Colonial Wars."

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Findagrave link: www.findagrave.com/memorial/49334556/james-horatio-watmough

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(4) Fleet Captain, Lieutenant Commander, Joseph M. Bradford (Abt. 1826 - 1872)

 

Joseph M. Bradford was born in Tennessee about 1826 and died in April 1872, age 46, at the naval hospital in Portsmouth, Va. He is buried in Proprietors Burying Ground, Portsmouth, New Hampshire along with his wife Georgette, who died during the war, in Feb. 1864, at age 29, a year before this stereograph was taken. They had two children.

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In General Order No. 64, Rear-Admiral Dahlgren expressed his appreciation for his staff’s service, below are his remarks regarding Fleet Captain Bradford:

 

“Charleston Harbor, S.C., June 16, 1865

It is but due, before leaving, that I should signify in general orders my appreciation of the officers of the staff whose ready assistance has so often contributed to lighten my labors.

 

First is Fleet Captain Joseph M. Bradford. Perhaps no one but a commander-in-chief can rightly understand the many and never-ceasing cares imposed by the proper discharge of the duties of this office, especially in war, and in a command so large as this has been, to say nothing of the abnegation of all opportunity of personal distinction which such a position demands. I shall never think but with great pleasure and satisfaction of the excellent service which this gentleman has rendered, and the never-failing energy with which he has discharged his many onerous duties….”

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From “Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography,” published 1887:

 

“Bradford, Joseph M., naval officer, b. in Sumner co., Tenn., Nov., 1824; d. in Norfolk, Va., April 1872. He entered the navy as midshipman, 10 Jan., 1840; became a lieutenant, 16 Sept., 1855; a commander, 25 July, 1866; retired 5 Feb., 1872, and was made a captain on the retired list, 16 March, 1872. He was fleet-captain of the South Atlantic blockading squadron from November, 1863, till June, 1865, during which period he saw severe service and performed his difficult duties to the satisfaction of his superior officers.”

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Findagrave Link: www.findagrave.com/memorial/11717674/joseph-m-bradford

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(5) Commander, Rear-Admiral, John Adolphus Dahlgren (1809- 1870)

 

John A. Dahlgren was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1809, and died in Philadelphia at age 60; he is buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pa. Dahlgren was married twice and, according to the Findagrave website posting, had nine children. The most famous of his offspring was Uric Dahlgren, who lost a leg at Gettysburg, and was later killed by the Confederates in a controversial Cavalry raid near Richmond in 1864. Rear-Admiral Dahlgren was much distressed to learn of what he describes in his diary as “…the brutality offered to the inanimate body….it was stripped ….the finger cut off to get the ring…“

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From Wikipedia: “John Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren (November 13, 1809 – July 12, 1870) was a United States Navy officer who founded his service's Ordnance Department and launched significant advances in gunnery. Dahlgren devised a smoothbore howitzer, adaptable for many sizes of craft and shore installations. He then introduced a cast-iron muzzle-loading cannon with vastly increased range and accuracy, known as the Dahlgren gun, that became the U.S. Navy's standard armament.

 

In the Civil War, Dahlgren was made commander of the Washington Navy Yard, where he established the Bureau of Ordnance. In 1863, he took command of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron at the rank of rear admiral. He helped William Tecumseh Sherman secure Savannah, Georgia.”

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Findagrave link: www.findagrave.com/memorial/12921/john-adolphus_bernard-d...

 

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(6) Acting Ensign, Walter Cooper (? – ?)

 

Unfortunately, my research on Walter Cooper came up empty. I assume a more thorough search of official Navy personnel records would be fruitful. Rear-Admiral Dahlgren refers to him in one line in his General Order No. 64, expressing his appreciation of his staff:

 

“Nor must I omit my thanks to Mr. Secretary Peterson, Mr. Cooper, and other members of the clerical department of the staff.”

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(7) Fleet Surgeon, William R. Johnson, Jr. ( 1804 - 1876)

 

William Johnson was born in Delaware in 1804 and died in 1876, at age 72; he is buried along with his wife, Maryetta, in Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery, Wilmington, Delaware. Based on his various navy appointments, Johnson evidently experienced firsthand the Navy recruiting slogan of, “Join the Navy, see the world.”

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The following summary of Johnson’s naval service is from “The Records of Living Officers of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps,” published 1870:

 

“SURGEON WILLIAM JOHNSON, Born in Delaware. Appointed from Delaware, August 16, 1826.Promoted to Surgeon, April 4, 1831; sloop Boston, West India Squadron, 1834-9; Navy Yard, New York, 1840-2; Fleet-Surgeon, Pacific Squadron, 1842-5; Navy Yard, Boston, 1846-8; Fleet-Surgeon, African Squadron, 1848-51; Navy Yard, Boston, 1852-5; Naval Hospital, Pensacola, 1857-8; Fleet-Surgeon, Mediterranean Squadron, 1858-60; Naval Asylum, Philadelphia, 1861-3; Fleet-Surgeon, South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, 1863-5; special duty, Philadelphia, 1866; Navy Yard, Boston, 1867; Navy Yard, Philadelphia, 1868-70.”

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Findagrave link: www.findagrave.com/memorial/118111386/william-johnson

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(8) Acting Volunteer Lieutenant and Pilot, William Haffards (1816 – 1881)

 

William Haffards was born in 1816 and died in 1881 at age 64; he is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in South Yarmouth, Mass. He was married and had at least one child. I didn’t find much information on Haffards, except the interesting story (link below) about his house. Rear-Admiral Dahlgren does mention Haffards in General Order No. 64, expressing his appreciation for his staff:

 

“Fleet Pilot and Lieutenant Haffards has also deserved good mention for faithful service at all times. He has generally piloted the flag-ship in action with the rebels.”

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The Cape Cod Times has an interesting story on Haffard’s 1850’s house in South Yarmouth, Mass., at this link: www.capecodtimes.com/story/business/2015/12/27/from-capta...

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Findagrave link: www.findagrave.com/memorial/166922600/william-haffards

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(9) Fleet Engineer, Robert Danby (1821 – 1886)

 

Robert Danby was born in Delaware in 1821 and died in 1887 at age 65; he is buried in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

 

Findagrave has a short bio at the link below, but the Green-Wood Cemetery has a really nice write-up on their website. Their Civil War biographies are grouped together althabetically, so you’ll have to scroll down to Danby’s name after clicking on the link here: www.green-wood.com/2015/civil-war-biographies-cullen-deca...

 

In addition to those bios, below are a couple short obituaries that provide a brief summary of his life and career.

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The National Tribune

Washington, D.C.

Thursday, January 13, 1887

 

"Danby, Capt. Robert Danby, of the Engineer Corps, U. S. N., died in Brooklyn, N. Y from a complication of diseases. He entered the service from Massachusetts in 1845 as Third Assistant Engineer. He was regularly promoted until he received his commission as Chief Engineer on June 26, 1856. When Fort Sumter was fired upon Mr. Danby was at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and he was retained on special duty there until 1863, when he became Fleet Engineer of the South Atlantic Squadron, remaining there until 1865. He was then ordered to special duty at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where he remained until 1869, and then was ordered as inspector of Machinery Afloat to New Orleans. He was again ordered to special duty at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1872, and remained there three years, when he went to the Norfolk Navy Yard on special duty. Capt. Danby six years ago while out driving was thrown from his carriage, receiving severe injuries, from which he never really recovered. He lay for several days at that time between life and death."

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The Evening Star

Washington, D.C.

Monday, January 3, 1887

 

"Death of a Retired Naval Officer.—Chief Engineer Danby, U.S.N., died of pneumonia at his home in Brooklyn last Friday. Three years ago he retired from active service at the age of 62. As first assistant engineer he did duty on the steam frigate Massachusetts when Commodore Perry made his expedition to Japan and trip around the world. He was fleet engineer of the South Atlantic blockading squadron in the war, with headquarters at Port Royal. He leaves a wife and five grown-up children."

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Findagrave link: www.findagrave.com/memorial/137097469/robert-danby

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Red/Cyan (not red/blue) glasses of the proper density must be used to view 3D effect without ghosting. Anaglyph prepared using red cyan glasses from The Center For Civil War Photography / American Battlefield Trust. CCWP Link: www.civilwarphotography.org/

 

Done