Melancton Smith

Melancton Smith (May 24, 1810 – July 19, 1893) was a United States Navy officer who served during the Seminole Wars and the American Civil War.

Early life Melancton Smith III was born in Jamaica, Long Island in New York, the son of Col. Melancton Smith, Jr., an army officer during the War of 1812, and grandson of Melancton Smith, a Continental Congressman. The third Melancton joined the U.S. Navy at a young age.

Civil War service At the outbreak of the American Civil War Smith commanded the and on June 9, 1861, he captured the British blockade runner Perthshire with a cargo of cotton near Pensacola, Florida. He also took part in the battles for Forts Jackson and St. Philip in April 1862. He was appointed captain and took part in the naval part of the Siege of Port Hudson from May to July, 1863. Smith was senior naval officer of a small fleet in Albemarle Sound, where he attacked the Confederate ram at the Battle of Albemarle Sound in May 1864.

He described the havoc caused by one well-placed shot with the Massachusetts rifled pivot gun, at the in October 1861 thusly:

He commanded the frigate during both attacks on Fort Fisher in December 1864 and January 1865. In Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter's Report to the U.S. Navy, dated January 28, 1865, from his flagship , on the Cape Fear River, in commendation of officers of his command the North Atlantic Squadron, the following was written about Melancton Smith:

Post-Civil War After the war, Smith was chief of the Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting in the Department of the Navy from September 17, 1866, to July 17, 1870. He then headed of the New York Naval Shipyard at Brooklyn, New York, until his retirement on May 24, 1871.

Smith died in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Green Bay.

Appointments and ranks Midshipman – March 1, 1826 Passed midshipman – April 28, 1832 Lieutenant – March 8, 1837 Commander – September 14, 1855 Captain – July 16, 1862 Commodore – July 25, 1866 Rear admiral – July 1, 1870 Added to retired list – May 24, 1871