Cenotaph (remains lost during collision on James River during Naval battle, Civil War.)
Naval Lieutenant In the Confederacy, had been in the Union Navy before that.
Married Henrietta E. Vickers.
Died when the CSS Hornet, which was a steam launch fitted out as a torpedo boat on the James River late in 1864. Under Master Samuel P. Blanc, CSN, she took an active part in the attempted passage through the obstruction at Trent's Reach on 23 and 24 January 1865. She sank 2 days after colliding with the flag-of-truce steamer Allison.
Located in Block nine, Central Avenue Division, (Left).
Collision on the James River - Sinking of a Torpedo Boat and Loss of Life. - The flag of truce steamer William Allison, on her return trip up the river on Thursday evening encountered the "Torpedo," a small steamer commanded by Lieutenant Armstrong, of the navy, carrying a crew of seven men, and employed in the torpedo work of the river. The "Torpedo" attempted, in the darkness, to cross the bow of the Allison, and was cut in twain, the Torpedo sinking immediately, and leaving the commander and crew struggling in the chilly waves. The Allison was at once put about, and succeeded in picking up all of the crew, but Lieutenant Armstrong was drowned. His body was not recovered. The crew were brought up to the city the same night. The Torpedo is a total loss. We learn through an officer who was on board the Allison, that the collision occurred at a point between Drewry's Bluff and Chaffin's Farm, in the dusk of the evening. When the engineer of the "Torpedo" observed the approach of the other steamer, he reversed his engine, which made three reverse revolutions, when the Allison struck her, and being a light, frail vessel, with one gun, she broke in two, and as the parts went down all on board sprang into the water. Lieutenant Armstrong grasped one of the crew and was supporting himself, when the seaman exclaimed, "Lieutenant let go; you'll drown us both." The self sacrificing lieutenant replied, "Man, I'll not drown you," and let go his hold. The seaman was rescued and Lieutenant Armstrong floated off a short distance. They shouted to him from the Allison to hold on, and the reply faintly came, "Make haste; I'm benumbed." The boat was within fifteen feet of him when he went down the first time, but coming up again, he said, "It is no use; I'm gone," and disappeared. Source; from the Richmond Examiner (Virginia), of Saturday, January 28, 1865.
Naval Lieutenant In the Confederacy, had been in the Union Navy before that.
Married Henrietta E. Vickers.
Died when the CSS Hornet, which was a steam launch fitted out as a torpedo boat on the James River late in 1864. Under Master Samuel P. Blanc, CSN, she took an active part in the attempted passage through the obstruction at Trent's Reach on 23 and 24 January 1865. She sank 2 days after colliding with the flag-of-truce steamer Allison.
Located in Block nine, Central Avenue Division, (Left).
Collision on the James River - Sinking of a Torpedo Boat and Loss of Life. - The flag of truce steamer William Allison, on her return trip up the river on Thursday evening encountered the "Torpedo," a small steamer commanded by Lieutenant Armstrong, of the navy, carrying a crew of seven men, and employed in the torpedo work of the river. The "Torpedo" attempted, in the darkness, to cross the bow of the Allison, and was cut in twain, the Torpedo sinking immediately, and leaving the commander and crew struggling in the chilly waves. The Allison was at once put about, and succeeded in picking up all of the crew, but Lieutenant Armstrong was drowned. His body was not recovered. The crew were brought up to the city the same night. The Torpedo is a total loss. We learn through an officer who was on board the Allison, that the collision occurred at a point between Drewry's Bluff and Chaffin's Farm, in the dusk of the evening. When the engineer of the "Torpedo" observed the approach of the other steamer, he reversed his engine, which made three reverse revolutions, when the Allison struck her, and being a light, frail vessel, with one gun, she broke in two, and as the parts went down all on board sprang into the water. Lieutenant Armstrong grasped one of the crew and was supporting himself, when the seaman exclaimed, "Lieutenant let go; you'll drown us both." The self sacrificing lieutenant replied, "Man, I'll not drown you," and let go his hold. The seaman was rescued and Lieutenant Armstrong floated off a short distance. They shouted to him from the Allison to hold on, and the reply faintly came, "Make haste; I'm benumbed." The boat was within fifteen feet of him when he went down the first time, but coming up again, he said, "It is no use; I'm gone," and disappeared. Source; from the Richmond Examiner (Virginia), of Saturday, January 28, 1865.
Cenotaph (remains lost during collision on James River during Naval battle, Civil War.)
Naval Lieutenant In the Confederacy, had been in the Union Navy before that.
Married Henrietta E. Vickers.
Died when the CSS Hornet, which was a steam launch fitted out as a torpedo boat on the James River late in 1864. Under Master Samuel P. Blanc, CSN, she took an active part in the attempted passage through the obstruction at Trent's Reach on 23 and 24 January 1865. She sank 2 days after colliding with the flag-of-truce steamer Allison.
Located in Block nine, Central Avenue Division, (Left).
Collision on the James River - Sinking of a Torpedo Boat and Loss of Life. - The flag of truce steamer William Allison, on her return trip up the river on Thursday evening encountered the "Torpedo," a small steamer commanded by Lieutenant Armstrong, of the navy, carrying a crew of seven men, and employed in the torpedo work of the river. The "Torpedo" attempted, in the darkness, to cross the bow of the Allison, and was cut in twain, the Torpedo sinking immediately, and leaving the commander and crew struggling in the chilly waves. The Allison was at once put about, and succeeded in picking up all of the crew, but Lieutenant Armstrong was drowned. His body was not recovered. The crew were brought up to the city the same night. The Torpedo is a total loss. We learn through an officer who was on board the Allison, that the collision occurred at a point between Drewry's Bluff and Chaffin's Farm, in the dusk of the evening. When the engineer of the "Torpedo" observed the approach of the other steamer, he reversed his engine, which made three reverse revolutions, when the Allison struck her, and being a light, frail vessel, with one gun, she broke in two, and as the parts went down all on board sprang into the water. Lieutenant Armstrong grasped one of the crew and was supporting himself, when the seaman exclaimed, "Lieutenant let go; you'll drown us both." The self sacrificing lieutenant replied, "Man, I'll not drown you," and let go his hold. The seaman was rescued and Lieutenant Armstrong floated off a short distance. They shouted to him from the Allison to hold on, and the reply faintly came, "Make haste; I'm benumbed." The boat was within fifteen feet of him when he went down the first time, but coming up again, he said, "It is no use; I'm gone," and disappeared. Source; from the Richmond Examiner (Virginia), of Saturday, January 28, 1865.
Naval Lieutenant In the Confederacy, had been in the Union Navy before that.
Married Henrietta E. Vickers.
Died when the CSS Hornet, which was a steam launch fitted out as a torpedo boat on the James River late in 1864. Under Master Samuel P. Blanc, CSN, she took an active part in the attempted passage through the obstruction at Trent's Reach on 23 and 24 January 1865. She sank 2 days after colliding with the flag-of-truce steamer Allison.
Located in Block nine, Central Avenue Division, (Left).
Collision on the James River - Sinking of a Torpedo Boat and Loss of Life. - The flag of truce steamer William Allison, on her return trip up the river on Thursday evening encountered the "Torpedo," a small steamer commanded by Lieutenant Armstrong, of the navy, carrying a crew of seven men, and employed in the torpedo work of the river. The "Torpedo" attempted, in the darkness, to cross the bow of the Allison, and was cut in twain, the Torpedo sinking immediately, and leaving the commander and crew struggling in the chilly waves. The Allison was at once put about, and succeeded in picking up all of the crew, but Lieutenant Armstrong was drowned. His body was not recovered. The crew were brought up to the city the same night. The Torpedo is a total loss. We learn through an officer who was on board the Allison, that the collision occurred at a point between Drewry's Bluff and Chaffin's Farm, in the dusk of the evening. When the engineer of the "Torpedo" observed the approach of the other steamer, he reversed his engine, which made three reverse revolutions, when the Allison struck her, and being a light, frail vessel, with one gun, she broke in two, and as the parts went down all on board sprang into the water. Lieutenant Armstrong grasped one of the crew and was supporting himself, when the seaman exclaimed, "Lieutenant let go; you'll drown us both." The self sacrificing lieutenant replied, "Man, I'll not drown you," and let go his hold. The seaman was rescued and Lieutenant Armstrong floated off a short distance. They shouted to him from the Allison to hold on, and the reply faintly came, "Make haste; I'm benumbed." The boat was within fifteen feet of him when he went down the first time, but coming up again, he said, "It is no use; I'm gone," and disappeared. Source; from the Richmond Examiner (Virginia), of Saturday, January 28, 1865.
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