Death of Lieutenant Aeneas Armstrong, CSN.

An Account of the Death of Lieutenant Aeneas Armstrong, C.S.N.

by Terry Foenander.

The following account of the death by drowning of Confederate Naval officer, Lieutenant Aeneas Armstrong, was transcribed, in full, from the Richmond Examiner (Virginia), of Saturday, January 28, 1865. Although his first initial is incorrectly shown in the account as J, and the name of the vessel indicated as being the Torpedo (it was in fact the Hornet), it is clear that the article relates the collision that resulted in the drowning of Aeneas Armstrong.

----------

Collision on the James River - Sinking of a Torpedo Boat and Loss of Life. - The flag of truce steamer William Allison, on her return trip up the river on Thursday evening encountered the "Torpedo," a small steamer commanded by Lieutenant Armstrong, of the navy, carrying a crew of seven men, and employed in the torpedo work of the river. The "Torpedo" attempted, in the darkness, to cross the bow of the Allison, and was cut in twain, the Torpedo sinking immediately, and leaving the commander and crew struggling in the chilly waves. The Allison was at once put about, and succeeded in picking up all of the crew, but Lieutenant Armstrong was drowned. His body was not recovered. The crew were brought up to the city the same night. The Torpedo is a total loss.

We learn through an officer who was on board the Allison, that the collision occurred at a point between Drewry's Bluff and Chaffin's Farm, in the dusk of the evening. When the engineer of the "Torpedo" observed the approach of the other steamer, he reversed his engine, which made three reverse revolutions, when the Allison struck her, and being a light, frail vessel, with one gun, she broke in two, and as the parts went down all on board sprang into the water. Lieutenant Armstrong grasped one of the crew and was supporting himself, when the seaman exclaimed, "Lieutenant let go; you'll drown us both." The self sacrificing lieutenant replied, "Man, I'll not drown you," and let go his hold. The seaman was rescued and Lieutenant Armstrong floated off a short distance. They shouted to him from the Allison to hold on, and the reply faintly came, "Make haste; I'm benumbed." The boat was within fifteen feet of him when he went down the first time, but coming up again, he said, "It is no use; I'm gone," and disappeared.

The deceased was Lieutenant J.B. Armstrong, of Virginia; but we were unable to learn any further particulars of his connections. His last words and actions proved him a gallant and noble officer, and his death is a loss to the James River Squadron.

----------

Lieutenant Aeneas Armstrong was actually detached to the CSS Fredericksburg, and was on picket aboard the Hornet at the time of the disaster. [See the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, series 1, volume 11, pages 691 and 811.]

June, 2001