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Re: CS Indian Chief
In Response To: CS Indian Chief ()

James,

I don't have a list of the Indian Chief but here is some facts concerning some of the Mallett Battlion men who went into the Confedrate Navy.A number of years ago I started research on one of my grandfathers John P. Wilkinson of Co.D. Mallett's Battlion. Finding information on it wasn't hard,but when I received the pension of my grandmother it also said he served in the navy at Charleston S.C. Writing to the National Archives I received one piece of paper saying that he was found in Articles of Shipping and had joined at Raleigh N.C. 4 June 1864 as was last paid as a seaman.No farther information.
Along the way I came into contact with Walter Hilderman who has grandfather also served in Mallett's and he was doing a book which he completed in 2005 called "They Went In Fighting" in the book are a few letters from a Burgess Gaither of Co.D. Mallett's Battlion concerning him and his cousin's Mel and Sid Summmers. Now in trying to track the where abouts and duties John P. Wilkinson and your grandfather Robert Hill were doing the letters I think give the answer along with the O.R. Records.
The first is dated 11 June 1864 Camp Holmes Near Raleigh where Burgess is telling his sister that he and 21 more of his company have joined the Navy and are going to Charleston. On 25 June 1864 at Charleston he writes he is on the "wreciven ship" which we know is the Indian Chief and talks of the yankee's shelling Charleston and Fort Sumter daily. On 1 July from C.S.N. Ship Charleston Harbor he writes of "drilling in little boats which was very hard work" This is proably training that Lt.William Dozier was doing with the hand held torpedo's .he also say's they were a half a mile from Fort Sumter.
On 2 July 1864 Major General Jones to Brig.Gen. Taliaferio C.S. Army that a officer and 150 navy men will be at Hatcher's Wharf on James Isand and to but them were he needs them.This men appeared to be under the command of Lt.William G. Dozier of the Indian Chief who under orders from Commodore Tucker formed the Charleston Naval Battlion of men who had been on unservable ships. Gaither writes on 5 July 1864 from James Island that he had been under the fire of the yankee's for four day's and they were camping in the breast works.8 july 1864 from the Battle field James Island and talks of hard times and the pickets having a fight ever night and that he was going on it that night.they're knapsacks were on the ship which all they're things are in and to direct mail to the ship. Sadly for us historians Burgess died 29 July 1864 in the hospital at Charleston and we have no more letters to glen information.
I have nothing from that time till 30 Decemember 1864 when Commodore Tucker of Charleston Squadron is ordered to keep what men he might requre and send the rest to Flag officer Robert F. Pinkney at Wilmington N.C. Lt.H.H. Dalton is first ordered to led the men ,but in appears Lt.Gwatheney ends up going there instead.The naval detachment at Wilmington was under the command of Lt. Robert Chapman at Fort Fisher and Battery Buchann.There was also a Lt Francis Roby .There is know information as to how many from Charleston were sent to Wilmington. Chapman jumped in the boats and told his men to get away as best they could at the over running of Fort Fisher in Jan. 1865 and do notfind him on the list at Sailor's Creek nor is John P. Wilkinson . The men I know that were in Mallet's and the Navy capured at Sailors Creek are;
David Campbell-Sailor
Robert Hill -Sailor -Yours
Wright Reeves -sailor
Alexander Turner-seaman witness Francis Wilkinson's pension for John P. Alexander Co.N.C.
William Walker private Naval Battlion ?
William T Watts Sailor
Nicholas P..Watts -sailor -also witness pension for Francis
Some men also where sent to Fort Darien at Drewry's Bluff Reuben Lamar Hill being one.
I hope this helps. How did you come by your information on the Captain Ray? Does he appear to be the enlisting officer?

Yours in Heriage,

Raymond M. Williams

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