Charles Steedman

Charles Steedman (24 September 1811 – 13 November 1890) (Some sources give his date of birth as 20 September 1811, His family moved to Charleston in 1824.) He joined the U.S. Navy as a midshipman on 1 April 1828.

Early military career After attending the naval school at the New York Navy Yard, Steedman served in the Caribbean aboard the sloops-of-war and and the schooner . He was promoted to passed midshipman on 14 January 1834.

Steedman served aboard the brig on the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean until 1842 and then participated in the coast survey from 1843 to 1844. From 1845 to 1847, he served aboard the sloop-of-war in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. In the Mexican–American War, Steedman commanded her eight-inch guns during the bombardment of Vera Cruz and her ship's launch during a surprise attack at Tampico. On 7 November 1861, his ship led the second column of Union vessels at the Battle of Port Royal in South Carolina. He then participated in the blockade and capture of Southern ports on the Georgia coast. As part of Rear Admiral Du Pont's gunboat squadron, he led an attack by four gunboats on Fort McAllister at Savannah, Georgia on 29 July 1862, but withdrew after exchanging fire with the Confederate batteries for about ninety minutes. On 17 September 1862, his ship's guns engaged with the shore batteries on St. Johns Bluff in Florida. Afterwards, he recommended to Rear Admiral Du Pont that the mouth of the St. Johns River would best be secured by landing Union soldiers near the bluff. This was accomplished at the beginning of October 1862 when troops led by Brigadier General John M. Brannan captured the heights from Confederate forces in the Battle of St. Johns Bluff with the support of Du Pont's gunboats. Steedman then helped to patrol the river up to Lake George.

On 17 October 1863, Steedman received orders to take command of the screw sloop-of-war . His ship was employed in detached service, including an unsuccessful hunt for the sloop-of-war CSS Florida off the coast of Brazil. In November 1864, she returned to Philadelphia for engine repair. After temporary repairs, she participated in the First and Second Battles of Fort Fisher at Wilmington, North Carolina in December 1864 and January 1865. Steedman then resumed blockade duty at Charleston until March 1865, when Ticonderoga returned to Philadelphia for more permanent engine repairs.

Later military career In November 1865, Ticonderoga joined Rear Admiral Louis M. Goldsborough's European Squadron in the Mediterranean. In September 1866, Steedman was notified of his promotion to commodore with seniority from 25 July 1866. He exchanged command of Ticonderoga and the steam screw frigate with Captain Robert H. Wyman in early 1867. Steedman returned to the United States aboard Colorado in September 1867.

From 1869 to 1872, Steedman served as commandant of the Boston Navy Yard. On 25 May 1871, he was promoted to rear admiral. His flagship was the screw steamer . On 22 September 1873, he was relieved of command at Panama by Rear Admiral John J. Almy. On 24 September 1873, Steedman retired from the U.S. Navy after forty-five years of military service, having reached the mandatory retirement age of sixty-two.

On 7 February 1843, Steedman married Sarah Bishop in Philadelphia at the home of her adoptive father Richard Ronaldson, the former owner of the Binny & Ronaldson type foundry. They had four daughters and two sons. Their second daughter died in childhood.

On 13 November 1890, Steedman died at his home in Washington, D.C. After a funeral service at St. John's Church in Washington on 17 November, his remains were sent by train to Boston for burial at Mount Auburn Cemetery. A memorial was also erected at Arlington National Cemetery.

On 27 February 1913, Steedman was reinterred under his memorial at Arlington after the rules regarding cenotaphs there were changed. and his wife Jessie were later interred beside him at Arlington.