- James M. Prichett
James M. Prichett, USN (1836–1871) was an officer of the
United States Navy who served in theAmerican Civil War .Prichett, born in Centreville, Indiana, in 1836, graduated from the
United States Naval Academy in 1857. Prior to the Civil War he served aboard "Mississippi" on theChina Station , and in "Richmond" on theMediterranean Station .Assigned to the
Washington Navy Yard in 1861, he joined the Naval forces on theMississippi River in 1862. On4 July 1863 , while commandinggunboat USS Tyler , he participated in, and won praise for, effective action in repulsing a superior Confederate force during thebattle of Helena , Ark. He also commanded monitor "Mahopac" during the war.After the war he sailed with Admiral
David Farragut ’s expedition toRussia and, in 1869, returned to the Pacific Squadron. Lieutenant Commander Prichett died in 1871 while attached to receiving ship "Vermont" at theBrooklyn Navy Yard .In 1943, the
destroyer USS "Prichett" (DD-561) was named in his honor.References
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