George M. Bache
Encyclopedia
George Mifflin Bache was an officer in the United States Navy
, fighting on the Union side in the American Civil War
and continuing to serve for a decade after the war's end.
, the son of George Mifflin Bache and Elizabeth Catherine Patterson. He was the grandson of Richard Bache, Jr.
, who served in the Republic of Texas
Navy and was elected as a Representative to the Second Texas Legislature in 1847 and Sophia, the daughter of Arabella Maria Smith and Alexander J. Dallas
an American statesman who served as the U.S. Treasury Secretary under President James Madison
. He was also great-grandson of Sarah Franklin Bache
and Richard Bache
, and more notably he was the great-great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin
as well as a nephew of George Mifflin Dallas the 11th Vice President of the United States
, serving under James K. Polk
.
in 1857, graduating in 1861, a year after the outbreak of the Civil War. During the war, he served aboard the USS Jamestown
. Later, he served briefly in the steam sloop
Powhatan before transferring to the squadron on the Mississippi River
late in 1862. On 8 November 1862, he received orders to assume command of the stern wheel, casemate gunboat
Cincinnati
. Lt. Bache commanded the gunboat during operations leading up to the fall of Vicksburg, Mississippi
, early in July 1863. During those operations, however, his ship was sunk on 27 May 1863 while dueling Confederate batteries defending the river approaches to the city.
That summer, he took command of the sidewheel gunboat Lexington
and led her in a number of engagements with Confederate forces. In 1864, he returned to the Atlantic blockade as executive officer of Powhatan. While assigned to that ship, Lt. Bache participated in both the unsuccessful and successful assaults on Fort Fisher
, carried out in December 1864 and January 1865. In the latter attack, he was wounded but not severely.
Following the Civil War, he served in Sacramento
until she was destroyed on a reef at the mouth of the Godavary River, Madras, India
, on 19 June 1867. Between 1869 and 1872, Lt. Comdr. Bache was assigned to the steam sloop Juniata on the European Station. After that, he went ashore to ordnance duty at the Washington Navy Yard
until his retirement on 5 April 1875. Comdr. Bache died unmarried on February 11, 1896 at Washington, D.C.
USS Bache (DD-470)
was named for him.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, fighting on the Union side in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and continuing to serve for a decade after the war's end.
Early life and ancestors
He was born in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, the son of George Mifflin Bache and Elizabeth Catherine Patterson. He was the grandson of Richard Bache, Jr.
Richard Bache Jr. (Texas politician)
Richard Bache, Jr. , was a Representative to the Second Texas Legislature in 1847 and assisted in drawing up the Texas Constitution of 1845, the first of Texas' five state constitutions.-Early life and ancestors:...
, who served in the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
Navy and was elected as a Representative to the Second Texas Legislature in 1847 and Sophia, the daughter of Arabella Maria Smith and Alexander J. Dallas
Alexander J. Dallas (statesman)
Alexander James Dallas was an American statesman who served as the U.S. Treasury Secretary under President James Madison....
an American statesman who served as the U.S. Treasury Secretary under President James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
. He was also great-grandson of Sarah Franklin Bache
Sarah Franklin Bache
Sarah Franklin “Sally” Bache was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Deborah Read.Known as "Sally" throughout her life, she was an ardent American patriot during the Revolutionary War through relief work and as her father's political hostess...
and Richard Bache
Richard Bache
Richard Bache , born in Yorkshire, England, was the son-in-law of Benjamin Franklin. After arriving in Philadelphia from Yorkshire, England, in 1761, Bache prospered as a marine insurance underwriter and importer. In 1767, misfortune struck; debts contracted by him were repudiated by his London...
, and more notably he was the great-great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
as well as a nephew of George Mifflin Dallas the 11th Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
, serving under James K. Polk
James K. Polk
James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee...
.
Education and career
He entered the Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1857, graduating in 1861, a year after the outbreak of the Civil War. During the war, he served aboard the USS Jamestown
USS Jamestown (1844)
The first USS Jamestown was a sloop in the United States Navy during the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War.Jamestown was launched in 1844 by the Gosport Navy Yard, Virginia; and commissioned there on 12 December, with Commander Robert B...
. Later, he served briefly in the steam sloop
Sloop
A sloop is a sail boat with a fore-and-aft rig and a single mast farther forward than the mast of a cutter....
Powhatan before transferring to the squadron on the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
late in 1862. On 8 November 1862, he received orders to assume command of the stern wheel, casemate gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
Cincinnati
USS Cincinnati (1862)
The City class ironclad USS Cincinnati was a stern-wheel casemate gunboat in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She was named for Cincinnati, Ohio and was the first ship to bear that name in the United States Navy....
. Lt. Bache commanded the gunboat during operations leading up to the fall of Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...
, early in July 1863. During those operations, however, his ship was sunk on 27 May 1863 while dueling Confederate batteries defending the river approaches to the city.
That summer, he took command of the sidewheel gunboat Lexington
USS Lexington (1861)
The third USS Lexington was a timberclad gunboat in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.-Purchase and conversion:Lexington was built as a sidewheel steamer at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1861 and was purchased by the War Department and converted into a gunboat at Cincinnati, Ohio,...
and led her in a number of engagements with Confederate forces. In 1864, he returned to the Atlantic blockade as executive officer of Powhatan. While assigned to that ship, Lt. Bache participated in both the unsuccessful and successful assaults on Fort Fisher
Fort Fisher
Fort Fisher was a Confederate fort during the American Civil War. It protected the vital trading routes of the port at Wilmington, North Carolina, from 1861 until its capture by the Union in 1865....
, carried out in December 1864 and January 1865. In the latter attack, he was wounded but not severely.
Following the Civil War, he served in Sacramento
USS Sacramento (1862)
The first USS Sacramento was a sloop-of-war in the United States Navy.Sacramento was launched on 28 April 1862 at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, in Kittery, Maine; sponsored by a Mrs. Tilton of Boston; and commissioned on 7 January 1863, Commander Andrew E. K...
until she was destroyed on a reef at the mouth of the Godavary River, Madras, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, on 19 June 1867. Between 1869 and 1872, Lt. Comdr. Bache was assigned to the steam sloop Juniata on the European Station. After that, he went ashore to ordnance duty at the Washington Navy Yard
Washington Navy Yard
The Washington Navy Yard is the former shipyard and ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy...
until his retirement on 5 April 1875. Comdr. Bache died unmarried on February 11, 1896 at Washington, D.C.
USS Bache (DD-470)
USS Bache (DD-470)
USS Bache , a Fletcher-class destroyer, was second ship of the United States Navy of that name. DD-470 was named for Commander George M. Bache....
was named for him.