Samuel Francis Du Pont
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Died :1865
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American naval officer, born at Bergen Point, N.J. Appointed a midshipman
in 1815, he saw his first active duty in the Mediterranean (1817) and
served in the Mexican War. As commander of the South Atlantic
Blockading Squadron in the Civil War, Du Pont directed (Nov., 1861)
the successful naval attack against Port Royal, S.C., for which he won
a rear admiral's commission. He secured further footholds for the Union
on the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The blockade Du
Pont organized was generally successful, except at Charleston. Against
Du Pont's advice the Dept. of the Navy ordered him to attack Charleston
with ironclad monitors. When the attack failed (Apr. 7, 1863), Secretary
of the Navy Gideon Welles blamed Du Pont and, at Du Pont's request,
relieved him of his command (July, 1863). A congressional investigation
followed, but its findings were inconclusive. Note : grandson of Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours. |
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