William H. Face

William Haley Face (1827-08-02 - 1894-08-16) served as Acting Master of CSS "Teaser" during the Battle of Hampton Roads (March 8-9, 1862).

Battle of Hampton Roads

Face was recognized in the official report of the battle by Franklin Buchanan, Flag Officer, Confederate States Navy. Buchanan, the captain of the ironclad CSS "Virginia" during the battle, cited "Teaser" for actions in support of "Virginia"'s attack on the Federal fleet:

"Lt. Commanding Webb (William A. Webb) specially notices the coolness displayed by Acting Master Face... when facing the heavy fire of artillery and musketry from the shore..."

"Teaser" took an active part in both days of the battle, acting as tender to "Virginia". She received the thanks of the Congress of the Confederate States for this action.

Face had previously commanded the boat (June 1861 - January 1862).

"Teaser" was built at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Purchased at Richmond, Virginia by the State of Virginia in 1861, she was assigned to the naval forces in the James River with Lieutenant James Henry Rochelle, Virginia State Navy, in command prior to June 1861.

Postwar career

After the War, Capt. Face became a founder of the Virginia Pilot Association, which represents the ship pilots who guide all commercial shipping... and some military shipping... through the navigable waters of the state of Virginia.

Family

William H. Face was the son of Edward Face [ [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=face&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=5405855 Edward Face (1808 - 1840) - Find A Grave Memorial ] ] (1808-1840) and Catherine Heffley Face [ [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=face&GScid=50142&GRid=5405850 Catherine Heffley Face (later) Bennett (1805 - 1876) - Find A Grave Memorial ] ] (1805-1876).

Edward Face was the chief carpenter at Fortress Monroe while 1st Lieutenant Robert E. Lee was stationed there (1831-34). Lee played a major role in the final construction of both Fortress Monroe and its opposite, Fort Calhoun, later renamed Fort Wool. Both forts would later provide great vantage points for the Battle of Hampton Roads but neither played an important part in the action.

William H. Face married Sarah E. Dunbar [ [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=face&GSfn=s&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=8677321 Sarah E. Face (1828 - 1889) - Find A Grave Memorial ] ] (1828-1889) in Norfolk County, Virginia on April 10, 1850.

His brother, Edward Webster Face [ [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=face&GSfn=e&GSmn=w&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=5405781 Edward Webster Face (1829 - 1907) - Find A Grave Memorial ] ] (1829-1907), Private, Company H, 54th Virginia Infantry, CSA, married Sarah Dunbar's sister, Elizabeth Widgeon Dunbar [ [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=face&GSfn=e&GSmn=w&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=5405800 Elizabeth Widgeon Dunbar Face (1831 - 1913) - Find A Grave Memorial ] ] (1831-1913) on March 27, 1851.

The brothers, their wives and many of their descendents are buried in Elmwood Cemetery [ [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&GSln=face&GSfn=william&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=48&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=8677314&CRid=50142 Find A Grave: Elmwood Cemetery ] ] in Norfolk, Virginia.

A nephew, Sgt. Samuel T. Face, [ [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=face&GSfn=s&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=13017503 Sgt Samuel T. Face (1843 - 1862) - Find A Grave Memorial ] ] Longstreet's Command, Semmes' Brigade, McLaws' Division, 32nd Virginia Infantry, CSA (1843-1862), was killed on the bloodiest day of the Civil War, September 17, 1862, the second day of the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam) and was buried near the battlefield.

ources

* The War of the Rebellion (June 16, 1880)
* Virginia Pilot Association archives
* Newport News, Va. "Daily Press" archives
* Coski, John M., "Capital Navy: The Men, Ships and Operations of the James River Squadron", (1996), Campbell, CA: Savas Woodbury Publishers
* "The Home Bulletin" of the Hampton, Va. Soldiers Home, July 10, 1886
* Virginia Marriage Records
* findagrave.com

External links

* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=face&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=5405855 Obituary of Edward Face]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=face&GSfn=s&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=8677321& Obituary of Catherine Heffley Face]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=face&GSfn=s&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=8677321& Obituary of Sarah Dunbar Face]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=face&GSfn=e&GSmn=w&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=5405781& Obituary of Edward Webster Face]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=face&GSfn=e&GSmn=w&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=5405800& Obituary of Elizabeth Widgeon Dunbar Face]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&GSln=face&GSfn=william&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=48&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=8677314&CRid=50142& findagrave listing for Elmwood Cemetery]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=face&GSfn=s&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=13017503& Obituary of Sgt. Samuel T. Face]