Thomas Phelps

Infobox Person
name = Thomas Stowell Phelps


caption =
birth_date = 2 November 1822
birth_place = Buckfield, Maine
death_date = 10 January 1901
death_place = New York City, New York
other_names =
known_for = Commanded "USS Juniata" during the critical battle to capture Fort Fisher in January 1865, secret coastal surveying and bouying of the Confederate and Virginia coastal waters
occupation = Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy
nationality = American

Thomas Stowell Phelps (Buckfield, Maine, 2 November 1822 – New York City, New York, 10 January 1901) was an officer in the United States Navy. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1840 to 1884, attaining the rank of Captain in 1871 and Rear Admiral in 1884. He served in the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, and the Pacific, and commanded "USS Juniata" during the critical battle to capture Fort Fisher in January 1865.cite web | title=Thomas Stowell Phelps, Sr. Rear Admiral, United States Navy| url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/tsphelps.htm | accessdate=2009-09-21|date=19 November 2006]

ervice prior to the Civil War

Phelps was born in Buckfield, Maine. He joined the Navy in 1840. He served on the Labrador Coast and then with the Mediterranean Squadron from March 1840 to September 1843. He then served aboard the "USS Boston" in the Brazil Squadron. He was assigned to the United States Naval Academy in October 1843 and graduated in February 1846.

He rejoined USS Boston for duty as a member of the Gulf Squadron from October 1846 through February 1847, and then served aboard the "USS Polk" from February to May 1847. After duty aboard the "USS Independence", the flagship of the Mediterranean Squadron from June 1849 through December 1850, he transferred to the "USS Constitution" and served in the Mediterranean Squadron from December 1850 to February 1851. He then served in the Coast Survey from May 1851 until August 1852.

He served in the Indian War in Washington Territory. While serving on the "Decatur", he was active at the Battle of Seattle which took place on on 26 January 1856. In 1882, he wrote "Reminiscences of Seattle: Washington Territory and the U. S. Sloop-of-War "Decatur" During the Indian War of 1855-56" [cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/decatur_sloop.htm|title= Reminiscences of Seattle: Washington Territory and the U. S. Sloop-of-War "Decatur" During the Indian War of 1855-56"|publisher=The Alice Harriman Company|location=Seattle|date=1908| accessdate=2006-10-02]

Action during Civil War

When the Civil War began, Confederate forces destroyed or sabotaged many navigational aids in the Potomac River. Phelps was called on to use his experience conducting coastal surveys to chart the Potomac River. He was part of the expedition sent to relieve Fort Sumter and assisted in secretly surveying and marking the Confederate coast. He later conducted a secret survey of Virginia coastal waters and was recognized by the Secretary of the Navy for his efforts.

In September 1861, he was transferred to the steamer "Corwin" and surveyed and bouyed Hatteras Inlet in preparation for Union incursions into the inlets and rivers, along with other coastal inlets. His ship engaged the Confederate gunboat "Curlew" in Hatteras Inlet on 14 November 1861, and skirmished with gunboats in Pamlico Sound.

He engaged the Yorktown and Gloucester Point batteries, sunk two Confederate vessels, and prevented Confederate forces from destroying White House Bridge during April and May 1862. Phelps was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in July 1862 and was charged with surveying and charting coastal waters for blockades and navigational purposes. He commanded the "Juniata" during the successful attack on Fort Fisher, which had been protecting blockade runners' vital access to the Confederate port at Wilmington, North Carolina until it was capture by the Union in 15 January 1865. This was the last supply route open to Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.

During the Battle of West Point on 16 April 1865 in West Point, Georgia, he prevented a large force of Confederate forces from joining with their main army. In 1865, he was commissioned Commander, promoted to captain in 1871, to Commodore in 1879, and Rear Admiral in 1884, and retired in 1885. Phelps died in the Naval Hospital in New York City on 10 January 1901 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery (Section 1 grave 504).

Family Life

He married Margaret Riche Levy. They had one son, Thomas Stowell Phelps, Jr. (1848-1915), who also attained the rank of Rear Admiral, and a daughter. Mother, father and son are buried in adjacent plots in Arlington Cemetery. The destroyer USS "Phelps" (DD-360) was named for him.

References