Personnel Captured Aboard the "CSS Bombshell,"

May 5, 1864.

Terry Foenander.

The CSS Bombshell, an armed steamer with a complement of about 37 personnel, is believed to have originally been a U.S. Army transport of the same name, which had been sunk, April 18, 1864, by Confederate batteries in Albemarle Sound, North Carolina. Raised by the Confederates, she was transferred into their naval service, but was recaptured in Albemarle Sound, when she accompanied the CSS Albemarle and the steamer Cotton Plant during the attack on the Union Naval vessels, Mattabesett, Wyalusing, Whitehead and Sassacus, May 5, 1864. [1]

The following list of personnel captured with the CSS Bombshell and taken aboard the USS Sassacus, is transcribed from the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, series 1, volume 9, pages 745 and 746. The names have been arranged alphabetically, showing their rank, where known, and any additional data from other reference sources as indicated by reference numbers to the notes shown at the end of the list. With less than three weeks in operation, the Bombshell may have had the shortest service life of any of the Confederate Naval vessels.

Thomas M. Ball, landsman, also served aboard the CSS Arctic and CSS Raleigh. [2] and [3]

A.B. Brant, an A.R. Brand, fireman, possibly the same person, died at Elmira Prison Camp, New York, on January 4, 1865, and is interred at the Prison Cemetery. [4]

Michael Brennan.

J. Bright.

George Clemens.

William D. Crocker, seaman, died March 25, 1865, at Elmira Prison Camp, New York, and is interred at the Prison Cemetery. [4]

S.B. Davenport, seaman, also served aboard CSS Arctic, and as landsman on CSS Raleigh. [2] and [3].

B.W. Davis.

William H. Dowd, seaman, also shown as W.H. Dowds, on CSS Arctic, and William H. Dowds, ordinary seaman, on the CSS Raleigh. [2] and [3].

Andrew Farraday, also served as seaman on the CSS McRae, and quartermaster on the CSS North Carolina. [5] and [6].

Thomas Fitzgerald, also served as seaman on the CSS Arctic, and master at arms on the CSS Raleigh. [2] and [7].

Thomas George, a Confederate sailor of this name was also captured aboard the CSS Florida in October, 1864, but it is unlikely that they were one and the same person. Thomas George of the CSS Bombshell also served as seaman aboard the CSS Arctic and the CSS Raleigh. [2] and [7]

R.J. Hackley, assistant engineer, was still listed as being a prisoner of war in October, 1864. [8]

David Henry.

Jacob Hodges.

Albert Gallatin Hudgins, lieutenant, commander of the Bombshell, at her capture; had also served as second lieutenant on the CSS Raleigh, CSS Arctic, and at Wilmington; imprisoned at Fort Delaware. [2], [9], [10] and [12].

C.W. Jackson.

William Amos Kilby; resident of Culpeper, Virginia, born February 9, 1841 in Madison County, Virginia; enlisted in the 7th Virginia Infantry and transferred to the Confederate States Navy, in 1864; disabled in the service and provided with a disability pension after the war; married Lucy Melton (1843-1926), on December 6, 1867; died at Culpeper, January, 1916; buried at the family plot, Fairview Cemetery. [Service and other details provided by Mr. Scott Harlow (Crest746@aol.com) in e-mails dated July 8, 2002 and September 6, 2002; Kilby's obituary in Culpeper Exponent of January 28, 1916.]

J.C. King

E.D. McCulloch.

William A. McFarland, also served as landsman on the CSS Arctic and CSS Raleigh. [2] and [3].

A.S. Mitchell, also served as landsman on the CSS Arctic and CSS Raleigh. [2] and [3].

William Morton.

William H. Phipps, also served as quartermaster on the CSS Raleigh. [7]

Henry Roberts, lieutenant; also served aboard the CSS North Carolina. [11]

W. Roberts.

R.B. Rodgers.

J.J. Sugenbuhl, also shown variously as J.J. Lugenbuhl, quartermaster on the CSS Raleigh and as J.J. Loogenbuhl, landsman on the CSS Arctic. [2] and [7].

Joseph J. Sumner, fireman; born in Hertford County, North Carolina; was a farmer or mechanic by occupation; originally served in company D, 17th Regiment North Carolina Troops (1st Organization), enlisting at the age of 21, May 22, 1861; captured at Fort Hatteras, August 29, 1861, and incarcerated at Fort Columbus, New York Harbor, and Fort Warren, Boston Harbor; paroled on or about January 30, 1862; transferred to company C, 17th Regiment North Carolina Troops (2nd Organization), March 24, 1864; transferred to Confederate States Navy at a later date. [13]

James Thornton, also served as seaman on the CSS North Carolina and CSS Raleigh. [2] and [7]

Joseph S. Tipton, assistant surgeon, also served on the CSS Arctic. [5]

R.E. Weeman.

John Wesley.

A.G. [or J.] Wilson, boatswain, imprisoned at Fort Delaware. [12]

Reference Notes:

[1] Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Volume 2, page 505, Navy Department, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, reprint 1977.

[2] Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, (hereafter cited as ORN), series 2, volume 1, page 278.

[3] ORN, series 2, volume 1, page 302.

[4] Refer to the internet listing of Confederate soldiers and sailors buried at the Elmira Prison Camp Cemetery, New York at URL: http://www.rootsweb.com/~nychemun/cemetery/prison.htm

[5] ORN, series 2, volume 1, page 291.

[6] ORN, series 2, volume 1, pages 294-296.

[7] ORN, series 2, volume 1, page 301.

[8] ORN, series 1, volume 10, page 766.

[9] ORN, series 2, volume 1, page 275.

[10] ORN, series 2, volume 1, page 323.

[11] ORN, series 2, volume 1, page 293.

[12] Information as supplied by Fort Delaware Society member, Dan Cashin, and to be included in a forthcoming web page.

[13] North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865: A Roster, volume 6, pages 148 and 230; compiled by Weymouth T. Jordan, Jr.; published by the State Division of Archives and History, Raleigh, North Carolina; second printing (with addenda), 1990.

Copyright, Terry Foenander.

February, 2001.[Updated, November, 2002.]