2 HISTORY OF MARYLAND SAILORS AND MARINES.

In all of the naval histories of the American Navy the sons of Maryland, bore a
conspicuous part and in the War of 1812-5, the Baltimore privateers made a glorious record,
and it was an easy matter to particularize and plainly exhibit the distinguished services
rendered by the Maryland sailors, but in the Civil War. all were merged in the common cause
and it is a difficult matter to do justice to the gallantry of the Maryland sailor, suffice it to
say, that they proved themselves worthy of an heroic ancestry, from the beginning to the end.
of the struggle.

A draft of Baltimore sailors rendered efficient aid with Commodore A. H. Foote's
Mississippi River Flotilla in 1861-2, and aided in opening to navigation the Tennessee and
Cumberland Rivers, and the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson in February 1862; and again
in March 1862 at Island No. 10, the Maryland contingent aided in driving home the entering
wedge that caused the Mississippi to flow unvexed to the sea.

In the ill-fated engagement of the Cumberland and Congress with the Merrimac at
Hampton Roads, March 8, 1862, the Maryland sailor perished at the guns.

In the splendid naval attack and capture of Port Royal, S. C., in November 1861, the
Maryland sailor had a good representation throughout the victorious fleet.

In April 1862, the Maryland sailor, was found in the fleets of Admirals Porter and Far-
ragut in their splendid achievements on the lower Mississippi, that resulted in the capture of
New Orleans, and the final surrender of the last obstacles at Port Hudson and Vicksburg,
when the Mississippi was opened again to commerce.

In the operations in Charleston Harbor and the capture of Fort Fisher, the Maryland
sailors were in the van.

At the great naval battle and victory of Mobile Bay where Farragut immortalized
himself and the American Navy, the Maryland sailor was found doing his duty nobly.

In the famous naval battle off the coast of France between the U. S. S. "Kearsarge"
and the C. S. S. "Alabama," the Maryland sailor was found behind the guns.

The personnel of the Maryland officers in the U. S. Navy during the Civil War, who
have helped make the history of the U. S. Navy glorious embraced such names as Rear-
Admiral John Rodgers who in the early days of the War was ordered on special duty in the
Mississippi Valley to superintend the building of iron-clads on the Western River, thence back
to the Atlantic to lead his Squadron in its advance and battle upon the James River, Va.,
almost within sight of the Confederate Capitol, until sunken vessels in the channel and other
obstructions to navigation precluded further movements, and who again in the naval duel
at Warsaw Sound, Ga., June 17, 1863, whilst in command of the Monitor "Weihawken,"
compelled the surrender within fifteen minutes of the C. S. S. Atlanta.

Rear-Admiral Benjamin F. Sands was present in both attacks of the U. S. fleet on Fort
Fisher, N. C., most of the time Senior officer, commanding blockade off Wilmington and also
off coast of Texas.

Col. Arthur J. Pritchard, fell wounded at his post of duty on the U. S. naval fleet in
their desperate battle incident to the capture of New Orleans in 1862.

Rear-Admiral Augustus H. Kelty aided in the organization of the Naval flotilla on the
Mississippi River in 1861-2, and at Island No. 10 and Fort Pillow, did splendid service, com-
manded the expedition to White River, Arkansas, and on June 17, 1862, at the capture of Fort
St. Charles whilst over one hundred of his crew perished in the engagement, he came out of
the engagement minus an arm.