- Josiah Tattnall
Commodore Josiah Tattnall, Jr. (
14 June 1794 –14 June 1871 ) was an officer in theUnited States Navy during theWar of 1812 , theSecond Barbary War , and theMexican-American War . He later served in theConfederate Navy during theAmerican Civil War .chooling and War of 1812
Josiah was the son of Josiah Tattnall who was Governor and U.S. Senator from Georgia. He was born on his father's plantation of "Bonaventure", near
Savannah, Georgia . After studying in England, he was appointed amidshipman on 1 January 1812 and attended theNaval School atWashington, D.C. , until 1 August when he was assigned to thefrigate "Constellation".When his ship tried to slip out to sea, the strong British squadron operating in the
Chesapeake Bay forced her to put intoNorfolk, Virginia . "Constellation" remained bottled up inHampton Roads for the duration of the War of 1812, but Tattnall and his comrades still managed to get into the fray. He was among the 100 or so sailors and marines assigned to the shore battery onCraney Island . On22 June ,1813 , the British attempted to carry the island by storm in preparation for an attack on nearby Norfolk. Tattnall's battery and a force of American boats gave the attackers a sound rebuff that deterred the British from further attempts to take the city.In April 1814, Midshipman Tattnall was detached from "Constellation" and, by
24 August , was in command of a force of employees from theWashington Navy Yard . He led them into theBattle of Bladensburg in an unsuccessful effort to stop the British advance on the American capital. On14 October , he was ordered to Savannah for duty on "Epervier". In May 1815, that sloop sailed for theMediterranean with CommodoreStephen Decatur 's squadron to engage theBarbary Pirates inAlgiers in theSecond Barbary War . On 17 June, she participated in the capture of the frigate "Mashouda" and, two days later, of thebrig "Estedio". In July, when "Epervier" was ordered back to the United States with dispatches, Tattnall remained in the Mediterranean in "Constellation". In January 1817, he transferred to "Ontario" and returned in her to the United States.Interwar Years, 1818-1845
Promoted to lieutenant on
1 April ,1818 , Tattnall was assigned to the frigate "Macedonian" on30 June , and he sailed in her for thePacific in November. He was detached from "Macedonian" on30 August ,1820 , and returned to the United States. Ordered to Norfolk on 26 December 1822, he joined Commodore David Porter's squadron inschooner "Jackall". Lieutenant Tattnall served in theWest Indies on an expedition to suppress piracy until he was detached on4 May ,1823 . On23 June ,1824 , Tattnall was ordered to "Constitution" for Mediterranean service. In March 1826, he transferred to "Brandywine" and returned home in her in May. On the 15th of that month, he was granted six months leave, which was later extended into 1828.Tattnall served in "Erie" from October 1828 to August 1829 and then went on to survey the
Tortugas until March 1830. Lt. Tattnall took command of schooner "Grampus" on15 April ,1831 , and cruised the West Indies and theGulf of Mexico . In August 1832, he captured the Mexican schooner, "Montezuma", which had boarded and robbed an American ship on the high seas. He was detached from "Grampus" in September 1832 and went on leave awaiting orders for almost four years before being ordered in, July 1836, to recruit men for CaptainThomas ap Catesby Jones ' survey and exploration expedition.Tattnall was promoted to commander on
25 February ,1836 , and, in April, reported for a three-year tour of duty at theBoston Navy Yard .Mexican-American War
Following service with the Mediterranean and African squadrons, Commander Tattnall joined the
Mosquito Division in the Gulf of Mexico in 1846, commanding the steam gunboat, "Spitfire". During theMexican-American War , he took part in the attacks on Vera Cruz,San Juan d'Ulloa , andTuxpan , and he suffered an arm wound. For his gallantry before Vera Cruz, the state of Georgia presented him with a sword.Interwar Years, 1848-1860
In 1848 and 1849, he returned to shore duty at the Boston Navy Yard. On 5 February 1850, he was commissioned captain and, the following month, was given command of "Saranac". Next, he commanded the
Pensacola Navy Yard from July 1851 to June 1854. From August 1854 to November 1855, Captain Tattnall was flag captain in "Independence" to CommodoreWilliam Mervine with thePacific Squadron . AtHong Kong on29 January ,1858 , he relieved Commodore James Armstrong taking command of theEast India Squadron , breaking his flag in "San Jacinto". During his two years in theFar East , Commodore Tattnall violated American neutrality to come to the assistance of a British squadron under fire from theTaku Forts at the mouth of the Pei Ho (Hai River). His explanation of his action, "Blood is thicker than water ", subsequently became a famous slogan. On his return voyage early in 1860, carried the first diplomatic embassy from Tokugawa Japan to the United States.American Civil War
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Capt. Tattnall held command of the
Sackett's Harbor Station . Though he opposed secession, Tattnall resigned his commission on21 February ,1861 . A week later, GovernorJoseph E. Brown commissioned Tattnall as the senior flag officer of theNavy of Georgia . On26 March ,1861 , he received his commission as a captain in theConfederate Navy . Tattnall commanded Southern naval units during the defense ofPort Royal until the harbor was captured by Union forces on7 November ,1861 . From there, he moved to overall command of the defense ofVirginia 's waters early in March 1862. Tattnall, by then a flag officer in the Confederate Navy as well as the Navy of Georgia, directed CSS "Jamestown" and other warships in captures of Federal merchantmen offSewell's Point in April 1862.On
11 May ,1862 , in the face of advancing Federal forces, Flag Officer Tattnall ordered the destruction of hisflagship , CSS "Virginia" (ex-"Merrimack"). He was later acquitted by a court martial of all charges stemming from that action. He resumed command of the naval forces of Georgia on29 May ,1862 , and retained it until31 March ,1863 , when he turned over command of forces afloat to Comdr.Richard L. Page and concentrated upon the shore defenses of Savannah. When Savannah fell to GeneralWilliam Tecumseh Sherman 's troops, Tattnall became a prisoner of war.He was paroled on
9 May ,1865 , and, soon thereafter, took up residence once more in Savannah. Captain Tattnall died there and was buried inBonaventure Cemetery .Legacy
Two ships, USS "Tattnall", have been named for him.
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