SCANDAL ABOARD THE USS ADOLPH HUGEL.

by Terry Foenander.

In the summer of 1862 complaints were received from residents of Alexandria, Virginia, that, on several occasions, suspicious happenings seemed to be going on aboard the Guard Vessel Adolph Hugel, James Van Boskirk commanding. The vessel had been patrolling the Potomac for smugglers, rebels and other unsavoury characters, and was usually stationed off Alexandria, Virginia.
Because of complaints sent to Gustavus V. Fox, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy in Washington, D.C., proceedings were launched to investigate these claims and to punish those responsible for allowing such conduct. Fox ordered Commodore Harwood, on November 7th, 1862, to investigate these claims, but, due to the scarcity of investigating officers senior to the accused, the investigation was delayed for some time. On August 14, 1863, Harwood was able to muster an investigating team of only two officers, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Thomas Poynton Ives and Acting Master Joshua H. Eldridge who were advised that 'complaints have been made against the U.S. Guard vessel "Adolph Hugel" at Alexandria, Va., stating that prostitutes have been allowed to go on board that vessel at all times' and that they were appointed to investigate these charges. Ives and Eldridge visited Alexandria and interviewed officials and citizens of the town. On September 8, 1863, the Collector of the town, Andrew Jamieson, sent word to Commodore Harwood that: 'On several occasions women of known disrepute have been seen to come on the pier [at Alexandria], signal the ship, and go aboard in the ship's boat, which was promptly sent for the purpose. Frequently, at night, women have been seen to visit the Ship, and the fun has been so fast and furious as to attract numbers of persons to the contiguous docks.' Jamieson then provided the names of half a dozen witnesses to the proceedings on the docks.
On September 29, 1863, a Court of Inquiry was convened at the Washington Navy Yard to investigate the accusations, with Lieutenant Commander M. Patterson Jones as President, Captain J.H. Jones and Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Ives as Members, and Lieutenant M. Lane Tilton of the Marine Corps as Judge Advocate of the Court.
Over a period of a week the Court heard evidence from several witnesses and details of some rather amusing incidents.
On the first day of testimony, September 30th, 1863, Lieutenant James W. Atwell, of the 1st District of Columbia Volunteers, testified that, on several occasions, he had seen women of bad character go on board the Adolph Hugel at Alexandria, accompanied by officers of the vessel, named as Master's Mates' Miller and O'Brien. When queried as to how he, Atwell, knew these women were of bad character, he replied that they had been pointed out as such by persons living in Alexandria, and also that he had seen several of these women in public houses, using language uncharacteristic of proper ladies. When questioned about a group of girls, referred to as the Canterberry Girls being seen going aboard the vessel, Atwell replied that he had seen them boarding the vessel himself, and that they were pretty lively on board and drank whiskey. He added that the "Canterberry Girls" were considered as 'rather loose characters.'
Another witness called to the stand was Samuel Baker, Inspector of Revenue at Alexandria, who testified that he had also seen women being taken aboard the Adolph Hugel on several occasions, and that he had overheard a conversation between the Captain of the Washington [ferry] boat and two women waiting to board the naval vessel. When asked if they were going on board the gunboat to fire a salute, they answered that they were not going to fire a salute, but to handle a gun or words to that effect.
Captain Samuel Gidney, commanding the steamer Thomas Collier was also questioned by the court and stated that he had also been given a joking answer when he had questioned two women who were about to board the Adolph Hugel. He was able to name one of these women as Nelly Peirce, who was known to be of bad character.
Several other witnesses were interviewed by the court, including several who stated that the only women they had seen go aboard the vessel were wives and friends of visiting army and navy officers. Many of the witnesses were also questioned about the character of the commander of the Adolph Hugel, Acting Master James Van Boskirk, and it was noted that, at all times, he conducted himself in the manner of a gentleman.
Henry C. Fuller, Acting Master's Mate and Executive Officer of the Adolph Hugel, was also called as a witness and when questioned by the Court, stated that he had seen two women, who had been arrested on the Maryland shore, by Captain Van Boskirk, for assisting sailors to desert, who were kept under guard in the Cabin, which was given up by the Captain for this purpose. He also mentioned that another woman was arrested, who had pretended to be a detective, but she was released the next morning with a warning to leave Alexandria.
Captain Van Boskirk, in his own defence mentioned that there were many army officers at Alexandria, who on occasion came aboard the vessel for a visit, and sometimes brought lady friends or wives with them.
Although there were numerous witnesses to the fact that scandalous conduct had indeed occurred aboard the vessel on several occasions, it was not enough to convict the commander or any other person aboard the vessel and the charges remained unproven.
James Van Boskirk continued in the naval service, later commanding the U.S. Bark Pursuit, and was honorably discharged on January 14, 1868. His Executive Officer, Henry C. Fuller, also continued serving in the naval service after the war was over, being honorably discharged on November 23, 1868.

(Details of the Court of Inquiry relating to the allegations against Acting Master James Van Boskirk were obtained from the Records of General Courts Martial and Courts of Inquiry of the Navy Department, Microfilm Publication No. M273, Reel No. 112, Case No. 3335. The transcripts include, when applicable, the name of the sailor charged; his rating, ship or station, and other service information; the alleged offense; place and date of trial; and the sentence. These reels of microfilm are available for sale at the National Archives.)

©Terry Foenander

July, 2001