Crew of the "CSS Macon,"

December, 1864-April, 1865.

Compiled by Terry Foenander.

The following list of personnel of the CSS Macon for the period between December, 1864 and April, 1865, was compiled from several rolls and registers of the vessel, in the Special Collections of Tulane University, and is used with their kind permission. Copies of these rolls and registers are in the possession of Mr. David M. Sullivan, of Rutland, Massachusetts, who was kind enough to forward a set to the author.

The manuscripts include a Quarterly Return of Punishments on board the "CSS Macon" from January 1st up to March 31st 1865, two lists of officers of the vessel, one undated, and the other dated at Augusta, Georgia, April 13, 1865, and the Monthly Report of Officers and Crew of the "CS Steamer Macon" dated January 1865.

The vessel was a wooden steam gunboat, of about 150 feet length, which carried 6 guns. She was formerly named the Ogeechee, which was fitted out in early 1864, at Savannah, Georgia, and commissioned in the Confederate States Navy. The vessel was renamed the Macon in June of that year, and reported as being ready for duty by early August, although her crew numbers were still below the required amount of about 100. When Savannah was taken by Union forces in late December, 1864, the CSS Macon moved up the Savannah River, on December 24, to Augusta, Georgia, where she remained until the end of the war. [DANFS 2, 545.]

Sources of additional information are shown at the end of the listing.

D.C. Barrett, landsman.

H.S. Barron, private, Confederate States Marine Corps.

Patrick Bartley, landsman; punished by being placed in single irons, for going ashore without liberty, and again, placed in single irons, triced up and gagged, for attempting to strike the officer of the deck.

William Matthew Bowen, born Thomas County, Georgia, March 25, 1837; resided in Florida since 1859; enlisted August 4, 1861 (another source shows July, 1861) at Tampa, Florida, in company K, 4th Florida Infantry; transferred to Confederate States Navy, at Dalton, Georiga, April 11, 1864 (another page in his pension file indicates his transfer date was 1863, at Savannah, Georgia); involved in the expedition that took out the USS Water Witch; served as landsman, 1865, on the CSS Macon; married Mary M. Singletary at Polk County, Florida, January 12, 1868; shown as a resident of Fort Meade, Florida, in 1907; died and buried at Polk County, Florida, June 23, 1918. [Florida Confederate Pension File no. A02085] .

Daniel Gonzalez Brent, born April 17, 1842, Washington, D.C. (his father was Thomas W. Brent, who served in the Confederate States Navy); moved to Florida that same year with his family; served under E.A. Perry during the capture of the Pensacola Navy Yard; enlisted May 31, 1861, or June 11, 1861, at Pensacola, in company K, 1st Florida Infantry; discharged at Tullahoma, Tennessee (may have also served in company A, 2nd Florida Infantry); appointed 2nd lieutenant, Confederate States Marine Corps, March 31, 1863; stationed at Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina; sent aboard the CSS Macon, March 1, 1865; surrendered at Augusta, Georgia, May, 1865; died at Pensacola, Florida, November 28, 1918, and is buried at St. Michael's Cemetery. [Florida Confederate Pension File no. A06530.]

J.T. Burns, ship's cook.

W.F. Burts, seaman.

W.W. Campbell, ship's steward.

Thomas Carpenter, ordinary seaman.

John Carr, private, Confederate States Marine Corps; previous service on the CSS Atlanta, on which he was captured at Wassaw Sound, Georgia, June 17, 1863; also shown as among a group of privates in the CSMC who were transferred from the CSS Savannah to Richmond, Virginia, at an unspecified date; in January, 1865, shown as being left in hospital at Savannah. [ORN 1, 14, 268 & 2, 1, 316.]

George W. City, first assistant engineer.

T.G. Clark, boatswain's mate.

William Force Clayton, passed midshipman; commanded the CSS Sampson in 1864; later served aboard the CSS Peedee; assigned to the CSS Macon, March 22, 1865. [ORN 1, 15, 772 & 1, 16, 511.]

John Coleman, seaman; placed in double irons and gagged, early 1865, for drunkenness and using insulting language to officers; also placed in double irons, again, for drunkenness and bad conduct.

William Van Comstock, lieutenant and executive officer.

Patrick J. Conners, landsman; enlisted 1864, at Savannah, Georgia; surrendered at Augusta, Georgia, April, 1865; married Annie (maiden name not shown), April 6, 1869; died August 7, 1903, at Savannah. [Georgia Confederate Pension file for Patrick J. Conners, Chatham County.]

J. Cookson, ordinary seaman.

A.G. Corran, master's mate; on duty at Shell Bluff, Georgia, March, 1865. [CSN Register.]

J.F. Daily, landsman.

Thomas Devany, private, Confederate States Marine Corps; previous service on the CSS Atlanta, on which he was captured at Wassaw Sound, Georgia, June 17, 1863. [ORN 1, 14, 268 (in which his surname is shown as Davenney, and as Delaney in the Atlanta Medical Journal).]

F. Donahue, private, Confederate States Marine Corps.

Jeremiah Duggan, first class boy; resided in Savannah, Georgia, in 1910. [Georgia Confederate Pension file for Patrick J. Conners, Chatham County.]

James Dunn, landsman; deserted at Augusta, Georgia, January 5, 1865.

James L. Fabian, second assistant engineer; reported for duty on the CSS Macon, at Augusta, Georgia, January 5, 1865. [CSN Register.]

William Farley, landsman; placed in double irons for fighting, early 1865.

John Finney, second class fireman; deserted at Augusta, Georgia, January 5, 1865; also previously served aboard the CSS Chicora, 1863-1864. [ORN 2, 1, 284.]

James Fleetwood, first class pilot; originally served as private in Captain A.C. Davenport's Independent Company, Georgia Volunteer Cavalry, January, 1861; enlisted as private, company C, 1st Regiment Georgia Infantry (Olmstead's), May 30, 1861; detailed as pilot in the Confederate States Navy, May 28, 1863; captured at Wassaw Sound, Georgia, June 17, 1863, aboard the CSS Atlanta; confined at Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, from which he was paroled, September 28, 1864, and sent to Cox's Wharf, James River, Virginia, for exchange, October 18, 1864; after his release he was assigned to the CSS Macon; went on leave, and was later re-captured by the Union Navy, and taken aboard the USS Pontiac, off Sister's Ferry, Savannah River, late January, 1865. [ORN 1, 14, 268 & 1, 16, 189.]

Charles R. Floyd, master's mate.

John Flynn, ordinary seaman; also served on the CSS Oconee, CSS Savannah and the CSS Georgia. [ORN 2, 1, 287, 297 & 304.]

J. Gabel, seaman.

Manuel Garcia, private, Confederate States Marine Corps.

George J. Granger, third assistant engineer; previous service as first class fireman aboard the CSS Sampson; promoted for bravery in the taking out of the USS Water Witch, June 3, 1864. [ORN 1, 15, 502.]

John Gray, second class fireman.

Thaddeus S. Gray, master's mate; shown as a prisoner, in April, 1865.

J.C. Greene, private, Confederate States Marine Corps.

Albert G. Hall, master's mate.

J. Harbin, corporal, Confederate States Marine Corps; also shown as among a group of privates in the CSMC who were transferred from the CSS Savannah to Richmond, Virginia, at an unspecified date. [ORN 2, 1, 316.]

N.J. Harness, sergeant, Confederate States Marine Corps.

P.F. Hayden, first class boy; left in Savannah at Hospital.

Louis Hinckle, second class fireman.

Alex Hobbs, first class boy.

Peter Holm, carpenter's mate.

William Wilbern Howell, ordinary seaman; born Barbour County, Alabama, March 5, 1836; resided in Florida since 1845; enlisted September 7, 1861, at Vernon, in company H, 4th Florida Infantry; transferred to the Confederate States Navy, April 11, 1864; served aboard the CSS Tennessee; surrendered and discharged at Augusta, Georgia, May 9, 1865; died January 23, 1910, and buried at New Hope Cemetery, Vernon, Washington County, Florida. [Florida Confederate Pension File no. A11069.]

W.S. Hubbard, landsman.

John B. Jackson, landsman; born Hillsboro County, Florida, October 23, 1845; enlisted, March 1, 1862, at Tampa, Florida, in company K, 7th Florida Infantry; transferred to the Confederate States Navy, about May, 1864; served on the CSS Savannah, and on the CSS Macon, 1865; surrendered and discharged at Augusta, Georgia, 1865; post war occupation, carpenter; resided in Tampa, Florida, in 1907, and was a member of Camp No. 1126, United Confederate Veterans. [Florida Confederate Pension File no. A07479.]

William S. Johns, second assistant engineer.

J.W. Johnson, seaman; shown, in January, 1865, as being on duty down the [Savannah] River; previous service on the CSS Atlanta, on which he was captured, June 17, 1863, at Wassaw Sound, Georgia. [ORN 1, 14, 268.]

Joel S. Kennard, lieutenant commanding; previously commanded the CSS Isondiga, Savannah Squadron, 1863. [ORN 1, 14, 724.]

Pat. Kennedy, coal heaver; deserted at Augusta, Georgia, December 29, 1864.

Pat. Lacy, second class fireman.

Henry G. Land, assistant surgeon.

George M. Law, gunner. [CSN Register shows his middle initial as H.]

P.C. Luddy, landsman.

Luke Maley (name also incorrectly shown as Duke Malig, and as Luke Malloy), born Ireland; private, Confederate States Marine Corps; aged 37; captured aboard the CSS Atlanta, Wassaw Sound, June 17, 1863; later promoted corporal; deserted at Augusta, Georgia, January 5, 1865. [Atlanta Medical Journal, see entry for Friday, February 27, 1863; ORN 1, 14, 268.]

Addison Mansell, ordinary seaman.

N.A. Marshall, ordinary seaman.

G.W. Mattair, seaman.

James William McCarrick, master.

W. McClelland, landsman.

Thomas O. McCleskey (surname shown in CSN Register as McClesky), third assistant engineer.

John McDonald, quartermaster; shown as being detailed and left in Savannah, January, 1865; possibly captured there.

A. McGilloway, quarter gunner.

Peter McGovern, landsman; shown as being on duty down the [Savannah] River, January, 1865.

William McTaggert, boatswain's mate; shown, in January, 1865, as being on duty down the [Savannah] River.

William F. McVeal (name may be William F. M. Veal), private, Confederate States Marine Corps; also shown as among a group of privates in the CSMC who were transferred from the CSS Savannah to Richmond, Virginia, at an unspecified date. [ORN 2, 1, 316.]

George Meeker, landsman; punished by being triced up and gagged, early 1865, for drunkenness and using insulting language to officers; also placed in double irons and triced up for fighting, and again, triced up, for fighting.

C. Montedeoca, quartermaster.

Frederick Mundorf, ordinary seaman; detailed and left in Savannah; possibly captured there.

P. Murphy, quarter gunner.

S. Nash, ship's steward.

John Norris, landsman; punished, by being triced up, early 1865, for fighting.

Daniel O'Conner, landsman.

Charles O'Maley, second class boy.

Thomas Paget, second class boy.

John Perry, boatswain; served as a seaman on the CSS Virginia, and participated in the action against the USS Monitor, at Hampton Roads, Virginia, in 1862; severely wounded in the taking out of the USS Water Witch, June 3, 1864; on duty at Shell Bluff, Georgia, in April, 1865. [CSN Register; ORN 1, 15, 502.]

T.S. Philpot, pilot. [CSN Register shows his middle initial as N.]

George F. Powledge, landsman; also served aboard the CSS Savannah. [ORN 2, 1, 305.]

Jacob Quint, officers' cook; deserted at Augusta, Georgia, January 5, 1865; also served as boy aboard the CSS Atlanta, on which he was captured at Wassaw Sound, Georgia, June 17, 1863. [ORN 1, 14, 268.]

J. Reagan, ordinary seaman [see next entry].

John Reagan, second class fireman; placed in double irons, early 1865, for going ashore without liberty; [this may be the same person listed in the previous entry, although the ratings are different].

John Rearnes, coal heaver.

A. Reynaud, first class fireman.

George R. Rice, born Marion County, Florida, January 6, 1846; enlisted June 6, 1861, at Tampa, Florida, in company K, 4th Florida Infantry; transferred to the Confederate States Navy, at Dalton, Georgia, April 11, 1864; sent to Savannah, Georgia, and served aboard the CSS Georgia, and later on the CSS Macon; surrendered and discharged at Augusta, Georgia, 1865; resided in Hillsborough, County, Florida, after the war, and received a Florida Confederate pension. [Florida Confederate Pension file no. A08385.]

Charles Ringhill, landsman; placed in double irons, early 1865, for desertion.

J.H. Roberts, seaman.

John Russell, second class pilot; deserted at Augusta, Georgia, January 8, 1865 (a list of officers of the CSS Macon, dated April 13, 1865, indicates that he was a prisoner). [first name also shown as George.]

F. Sardinoes, ordinary seaman; shown as being on duty down the [Savannah] River, January, 1865.

W. Sheridan, landsman.

Clark Smith, officers' steward.

George Snowden, first class boy (colored).

P. Soper, seaman.

Marshall L. Sothoron, assistant paymaster.

Charles Stewart, landsman.

Charles B. Stiles, landsman (colored).

Ethan Tanner, seaman. placed in single irons, early 1865, for interfering with the Provost Guard.

W. Tanner, seaman.

James T. Tapper, first class fireman; deserted from the CSS Macon, late January, 1865 [surname shown as Tappan], and boarded the USS Pontiac, off Sister's Ferry, Savannah River, January 28, 1865. [ORN 1, 16, 189.]

Thomas S. Threlkeld (surname also shown as Thrallkald and Turkild), private, Confederate States Marine Corps; captured aboard the CSS Atlanta, Wassaw Sound, June 17, 1863; also served aboard the CSS Savannah, and at the Richmond Station. [Atlanta Medical Journal, entry dated Friday, May 8, 1863; ORN 1, 14, 268 & 2, 1, 316.]

J.M. Tooley, seaman.

William F. M. Veal, see William F. McVeal.

James F. Walters, landsman; detailed and left in Savannah; possibly captured there.

Frank Werm, landsman; died April 20, 1912 at Savannah, Georgia. [Georgia Confederate Pension file for Patrick J. Conners, Chatham County.]

John Wilson, gunner's mate.

Jeremiah S. Yates, third assistant engineer.

H.J. Yearty, quartermaster; shown, in January, 1865, as being in prison for theft.

Reference Sources:

Atlanta Medical Journal: "Journal of Medical and Surgical Practice on board of C.S. Steamer Atlanta" compiled by past assistant Surgeon Robert J. Freeman, assistant Surgeon Robert R. Gibbes, and Surgeon's Steward John Turner; unpublished document, with entries dated from December 1, 1862 until June 16, 1863; original copy in the collections of the McCain Library and Archives, University of Southern Mississippi, Box 5148, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39401.

CSN Register: "Register of Officers of the Confederate States Navy, 1861-1865," published at Washington, D.C., 1931; reprint edition published 1983, by J.M. Carroll & Company, Mattituck, New York.

DANFS: "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships," published by the United States Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.; reprint 1977, 8 volumes; citation includes volume and page number.

Florida Confederate Pension File: The Florida State Archives have taken the ultimate step of releasing all their Confederate Pension files online, and this has helped in compiling profiles of many of the men from that state who served in the Confederate Navy and the Coast Guard units. Each listing in the CSN index includes the pension file number.

Georgia Confederate Pension File: Information from the Georgia Confederate Pension files shown online at URL: http://docuweb.gsu.edu/scripts/webmain.dll?Anonymous Reference includes the county where the applicant resided at the time of the application.

ORN: "Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion," in 31 volumes (including index volume); Washington, D.C., 1921; reprint edition, 1987, by the National Historical Society, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Citation includes series, volume and page numbers.

© Terry Foenander.

April, 2003.