The Republican journal., 1910-05-26
\ Civil War Episode.

IT Which Thomas ]. Woodward
"a in the Sinking of the Rebel Ship
oslda." Known in New Orleans as
l Duke of Maine
j nm o. Johnson of Liberty in the Rock
land Courier-Gazette]
resumed that the people of your
his time know more about Capt.
]. Woodward than | do, as he is
Der of the great house of Wight &
ward of New Orleans, Mr.. Wight
q former resident of your city, and
Woodward being native of either
site or Damariseotta. But | had
nor and pleasure of knowing him
the War of the Rebellion. served
same fleet with him and knew him
borough seaman, brave officer,
gentleman.
inferred the U. S. Navy as an acting
-r as soon as Congress enacted a law
g the volunteer officers, and en-
the sounds Of North Carolina in
and of the U. S. tugboat Shaw
q with the Burnside expedition in
INTER of 1862. 1t is called the Burn
ypedition, but it should have been
2owan and Burnside expedition, for
side never could have obtained a
.Yid on Roanoke Island had it not
reen for the naval forces under the
land of Commodore Rowan. The
Shawsheen, under the command of
Woodward, did very efficient ser
nth other gunboats in shelling the
forces, thus permitting Burnside
ma his forces, and they continued to
great aid during the engagement,
tter@the rebel troops had retreated
Hatteras Beach and were on the
p the beach toward Norfolk the
from the gunboats fastened their
uents. The rebels had quite fleet
boats stationed at the upper end
anoke Island, which assisted the
army materially in making their
from the island But when our
zot after them they made a hasty
toward Elizabeth City.
next day Commodore Rowan sent
{ Of light draft gunboats under the
and of the gallant and intrepid
f Flusser to attack this rebel fleet.
gunboats We're the Commodore
flag ship, Flusser; Ceres, acting
r, MacDiarmid; Shawsheen, acting
T, 7. ]. Woodward; Whitehead,
master, French; Lockwood. act
naster, Graves; tug Seymour, acting
ter, Wells; steamer Bunker, acting
n, Giddings.
little fleet was composed of but
vessels, while there were twelve
~ls in the rebel fleet. The latter
commanded by Commodore Lynch
re Confederate navy, who was one
traitors who had left our navy to
>outh, and who had been a former
nate of Lieut.. Flusser. The Flusser
ID to engage him single handed, so
caring the rebel fleet. Lieutenant
ser signalled the fleet to attack any
ne ships except the one flying the
nodore's flag. That ship was his
cular meat, so that at the beginning
ae fight Flusser made for the rebel
nip direct.
-1ry Anderson, a native of Belfast,
was paymaster on board the Com
ore Perry, tells this good story: He
that tlusser stood right up to the
Il ship and hailed her, inquiring if
1oodore Lynch was on board. On
& told that he was, Flusser eXclaim-
Get your Tenders out, l am coming
side" and went at her full tilt. cut
her nearly IN two. She sank in less
five minutes. Com. Lynch had just
p to get into boat on the opposite
and in the confusion made his es-
g, Meanwhile the other vessels were
e good work and in less than two
rs the entire Rebel fleet was either
K or driven ashore and burned. Fol
and other good service Capt. Wood.
d was recommended for promotion by
lmodore Rowan in a letter to the
retary Of the Navy in the following
ds:
Acting Master Thomas J. Woodward
of the Shawsheen has shown
rgy, intelligence and spirit. His con-
met with my appreciation at the
t at Roanoke Island and at Elizabeth
7; and also the appreciation of Lieut.
'ser. l take great pleasure in recon.
ding him for promotion. His mora
cacter l believe to be exceptionable. u
apt. Woodward received his promo
in due time and was ordered to the
mand of the Commodore Perry
Sser's old ship. He remained in the
Ids Of North Carolina in command Of
ship for about year, after which
vas detached from that ship and or
I'd to the command of the Ironclae
anita, being stationed at Hampton
ds and on the James River till the
e of the war, rendering very efficient
to General Grant, and receiving sew.
letters from him.