Peter Umstead Murphey,

Lieutenant,

Confederate States Navy.

by Terry Foenander.

In mid-February, 2001, contact was made with descendants of a Confederate States Naval officer, who sent a copy of a photograph of their ancestor, Peter Umstead Murphey, together with some biographical details. Lee Dunn, whose husband, Michael Hanson Dunn, is the great, great, great grandson of Murphey had contacted me hoping I would be able to provide details of Murphey's place of death and burial. Not having these details on file, I advised her to get in touch with David M. Sullivan, of Rutland, Massachusetts, and John Ellis of Mobile, Alabama. David is a full time researcher into several aspects of the naval war, and has published several books on the subject, and John is administrator of the Confederate States Navy website, which does include details of the burial sites of numerous Confederate States Navy and Marine Corps personnel. With the help of these researchers, Lee was able to find out that Murphey had died in Mobile, Alabama, in 1876. His burial site is presumed to be somewhere along the Bay Shell Road in that city, and may have been washed away in one of the many storms that often hit the area. Further research is continuing in an effort to locate the exact site. Recent additional data, and corrections have been provided by Murphey' s great, great grandson, Randolph Clay Murphey IV, of Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Biography:

* Born in Caswell County, North Carolina, July 10, 1810; son of Archibald Debow Murphey (described as the father of North Carolina's public education). [Correction, and paternal data provided by Murphey's great, great grandson, Randolph Clay Murphey IV, of Harrisonburg, Virginia, in an e-mail (RCMurphey@aol.com) dated Thursday, May 31, 2007.]

* Appointed Midshipman, May 12, 1834; Passed Midshipman, July 8, 1839. [Correction provided by Murphey's great, great grandson, Randolph Clay Murphey IV, of Harrisonburg, Virginia, in an e-mail (RCMurphey@aol.com) dated Thursday, May 31, 2007.]

* Appointed Lieutenant, May 29, 1846.

* Dismissed from United States Navy, April 21, 1861, probably because of pro-Confederate sentiments.

* Lieutenant in the Virginia Navy, prior to transfer to Confederate States Navy.

* First Lieutenant, Confederate States Navy, June 10, 1861.

* In command of steamer Arrow, Chesapeake Bay, in April, 1861, and Naval Defenses of Virginia and North Carolina.

* Gosport Navy Yard, 1861-62.

* In command of CSS Morgan, Mobile Squadron, 1862.

* Commanded CSS Selma, 1862-64, and was in the battle of Mobile Bay, August 5, 1864, where he was wounded in the left arm, and captured; sent to Pensacola Hospital (where he wrote a report of the battle).

* Confined at Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts; exchanged at Cox's Wharf, Virginia, on October 18, 1864.

* Surrendered, May 4, 1865, at the close of hostilities, and paroled May 10, 1865, at Nanna Hubba Bluff, Alabama.

* Died of apoplexy, Sunday, August 13, 1876, at Mobile, Alabama.

The photograph of Murphey at left, shows him in his uniform of the United States Navy, and is a copy from an original daguerreotype on display at the Old Cannonball House Confederate Museum in Macon, Georgia. A copy of this image is in the possession of Mr. And Mrs. Michael Hanson Dunn, and is used with their kind permission. It shows Murphey in his rank of Lieutenant, indicated by the single large stripe, and three vertical buttons on his cuff sleeves, as well as the collar insignia. The sword shown is an 1852 pattern US Naval issue edged weapon. The image was obviously taken sometime between 1852, and his dismissal in 1861.

Another image of Murphey, in his uniform of the Confederate States Navy, and showing the Mameluke handled sword that hangs at the Macon Confederate Museum, is shown at right. Although non-regulation, the sword was probably used through the war for some sentimental reason. It is commonly known that officers in both the Union and Confederate Navies often used non-regulation items with their uniforms. This image is used through the kind courtesy of the Naval Historical Center.

At his capture during the battle of Mobile Bay, his sword was surrendered to Captain James E. Jouett of the Union Navy. Years later, Murphey's daughter, Kate Piercy Murphey Chestney, wrote to Jouett, requesting the return of the sword, which was eventually donated to the Old Cannonball House Confederate Museum in Macon, Georgia. (See Photo of the Sword, taken at the Museum, at right.)

The following obituary appeared in the Mobile, Alabama Register, of Monday, August 14, 1876:

DEATH OF CAPTAIN P.U. MURPHY- (sic)There was a gloom cast over this community Sunday morning by the fact and painful intelligence that Capt. Pat Murphy had died suddenly, or was drowned while bathing at Mr. Paul Ravesies' place, on the Bay Shell Road. The report was at first thought to be idle rumor, some corner lounger had manufactured as a joke, but upon enquiry (sic), it turned out to be true. "Capt. Pat", as he was familiarly called, and Mr. Ravesies were intimate and warm friends, and Friday afternoon he went down to Mr. Ravesies' place to spend a few days. Sunday morning they walked to the end of the wharf together, and after remaining a short while, Capt. Pat said he would take a bath. Mr. Ravesies told him not to stay in the water too long, as it might prove injurious. Capt. Murphy (sic) went into the bathhouse, undressed, and Mr. Ravesies heard him plunge into the water. After waiting ten minutes, and thinking Capt. Murphy (sic) had been in the water long enough, Mr. Ravesies called him to come out. Receiving no answer, and feeling anxious he entered the bath house and there to his utter amazement, beheld Captain Murphy (sic) lying in the water with his face down, apparently dead. Mr. Ravesies got hold of and pulled him out, and tried by every means in his power to resuscitate the then inanimate form, but all to no purpose. After a few heaving respirations the vital spark went out, and the once proud, noble and chivalrous form of Capt. P.U. Murphy (sic) lay dead. The supposition is that his death was caused by apoplexy, as we learn from Mr. O. U. Murphy, with whom the deceased had been staying for the last three years, that he was subject to these attacks. He could not possibly have been drowned, as the water in the bathhouse was not over two feet deep. The body was taken to the house and the Coroner, Mr. O. U. Murphy, Dr. Crampton and others notified, who immediately repaired to Mr. Ravesies', where an inquest was held, and a verdict in accordance with the above facts rendered. It was then decided to procure a coffin and bury him near Mr. Ravesies' place. The funeral took place Sunday afternoon in the presence of a large concourse of friends, the obsequies being conducted by Captain Grant, according to the rites of Spiritualism-Captain Murphy (sic) having been an ardent believer in this doctrine. It was his earnest request, made shortly after one of his attacks of apoplexy, that when he died he wanted Capt. Grant to officiate at his funeral. Capt. Grant, in his remarks, after reminding those present of the brevity and uncertainty of life, gave a brief and comprehensive description of the doctrine of Spiritualism of which he had the honor of being the head in Mobile. "Man," he said "has spiritual nature as well as corporeal; in other words, that the real man is a spirit, which spirit is an organized form, composed of spiritual substance with parts and organs corresponding with those of the corporeal body, that man has a spirit, is immortal and has continued identity; that there is a spirit world with all its subjective; that happiness or suffering in the spirit world, as in this, depend not on arbitrary decree, or special provision, but on character, aspiration and degree of harmonization, or of personal conformity to universal and Divine law. Hence, that the experience and attainments of this life like the foundation on which the next commences. That since growth in the law of the human being in the present life, and since the process called death is in fact, but another condition of life, retaining all the advantages gained in the experience of this life, it may be inferred that growth, development or progression is the endless destiny of the human spirit; that the spirit world is near or around, and interblended with our present stage of existence; and hence, that we are constantly under the cognizance and influence of spiritual beings. The form that lies before us is without life, but his spirit is with us, maybe hovering near us at this moment." Captain Grant then gave a brief sketch of Captain Murphy (sic), and spoke of his many noble qualities, of his career as a soldier and of his devotion to the cause of his Southern land which he loved so well. The coffin was then closed, and the body laid away to sleep its eternal sleep. Captain Murphy (sic) was born in North Carolina, in 1812, and at the time of his death was 64 years and 2 months old. He was twice married, his first wife being from North Carolina, and his second from Philadelphia. At the breaking out of the war he was First Lieutenant, commanding the rendezvous of receiving ship Pennsylvania, at the Norfolk Navy Yard, offered his services to the Confederate Government and was stationed at Norfolk until the evacuation of that place, when he was ordered to report to Commodore Lynch at Roanoke Sound from where he was ordered by Admiral Buchanan to Mobile, as first Lieutenant of the gunboat Morgan, and shortly afterward succeeded Captain Chas. Hays, of the Selma. In the memorable Naval engagement with Farragut, on the 5th of August, 1864, he commanded this vessel, and after fighting most gallantly, was compelled to surrender to overwhelming number, though not until most of his men were killed and wounded—his First Lieutenant Comstock, killed, and himself badly wounded in the arm. He was sent to New York, was exchanged and on his way to here, when he heard of the fall of Mobile. He then went to Philadelphia, where he remained a few years, and came to Mobile where he has been ever since. He had many warm friends in Mobile, chiefly among them Mr. A. O. Murphy, whom the deceased spent the last three years of his life. He was also the guest of Dr. Carter for more than a year. Captain Murphy was proud of his connection with the United States Navy before the war, and said in his speech at the R. E. Lee Club celebration last January, that in ante-bellum times the greatest honor a man could aspire to was to be an officer in the United States Navy. He was noted for his generous hospitality, and his house at Norfolk was always open for his friends. He was fond of sport, and always kept his guns and dogs. He was one of the most handsome, polished and chivalrous men in the navy. His last cruise was in the St. Lawrence on the coast of Brazil, as First Lieutenant. He has a son living in Philadelphia, and two daughters, one in Warrenton, Va., and the other, Mrs. Chesney (sic) in Macon, Ga. His right name was Peter. "Pat" was a nickname given him by his naval friends. His relatives have been advised of his death, and the body will remain in its temporary resting place until instructions have been received from them as what final disposition will be made of it. Strange that a man who lived on the water and fought on the water should at last be found dead in water two feet deep

Sources:

Most of the information shown above was sent to this author by Lee Dunn, and used with her kind permission. Details of Murphey's place of death and burial were supplied through the kind courtesy of David M. Sullivan, of Rutland, Massachusetts, and John E. Ellis, of Mobile, Alabama. The top two images are the property of Mr. And Mrs. Michael Hanson Dunn, and used with their kind permission. The third image is the property of the Naval Historical Center. Details of the service of Peter Umstead Murphey in the United States and Confederate Navies were obtained from the List of Officers of the United States Navy and of the Marine Corps, 1775-1900 and the Register of Officers of the Confederate States Navy, 1861-1865.

Copyright, Terry Foenander.

March, 2001 (Updated May, 2007).