John Woodward Philip
Encyclopedia
John Woodward Philip was an officer in the United States Navy
during the Civil War
and Spanish–American War.
, New York
, Philip was appointed midshipman
on 20 September 1856 and graduated from the Naval Academy
on 1 June 1861.
, he served in , and until September 1862 when he was ordered to
, attached to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. While serving in Chippewa, he was wounded during operations against Charleston
, South Carolina
, in July 1863. Philip served as executive officer of the steam sloop
under Commander Robert Townsend
and assumed command upon Townsend's death from heat stroke in China on 15 August 1866. Later he commanded the battleship from 18 October 1897 to 29 August 1898.
, in which Pascual Cervera y Topete
's Spanish Fleet was destroyed off Santiago de Cuba
. During the battle, upon watching the burning of the , he famously told his men "Don't cheer, boys. The poor devils are dying." He was advanced five numbers in grade on 10 August 1898 for eminent and conspicuous service in battle. From 3 September 1898 until 28 December 1898, he served as Commander of the 2nd Squadron, North Atlantic Fleet, flying his broad pennant
in the armored cruiser
.
, and was promoted to rear admiral
on 3 March 1899. While serving in this duty, Admiral Philip died suddenly on 30 June 1900.
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...
during the 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 Spanish–American War.
Biography
Born in Kinderhook, Columbia CountyColumbia County, New York
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,096. The county seat is Hudson. The name comes from the Latin feminine form of the name of Christopher Columbus, which was at the time of the formation of the county a popular proposal...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Philip was appointed midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
on 20 September 1856 and graduated from the Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
on 1 June 1861.
Civil war
During the Civil WarAmerican 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...
, he served in , and until September 1862 when he was ordered to
, attached to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. While serving in Chippewa, he was wounded during operations against Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, in July 1863. Philip served as executive officer of the steam sloop
Sloop-of-war
In the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. As the rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above, this meant that the term sloop-of-war actually encompassed all the unrated combat vessels including the...
under Commander Robert Townsend
Robert Townsend (Captain)
Captain Robert Townsend was a Civil War era ship Captain in the United States Navy. He served twice, once before the war then again during the war. He saw active combat while serving aboard three ships, most notably as commander of the USS Essex from 1863–1864, an ironclad gunship on the...
and assumed command upon Townsend's death from heat stroke in China on 15 August 1866. Later he commanded the battleship from 18 October 1897 to 29 August 1898.
Spanish-American war
During the Spanish–American War, his ship, with the cruiser , led the attack and silenced the fort on Cayo del Toro, Guantanamo Bay, on 15 June 1898. On 3 July 1898, in command of Texas, he participated in the Battle of Santiago de CubaBattle of Santiago de Cuba
The Battle of Santiago de Cuba, fought between Spain and the United States on 3 July 1898, was the largest naval engagement of the Spanish-American War and resulted in the destruction of the Spanish Navy's Caribbean Squadron.-Spanish Fleet:...
, in which Pascual Cervera y Topete
Pascual Cervera y Topete
Pascual Cervera y Topete served as an admiral of the Spanish Caribbean Squadron during the Spanish-American War, and prior to this served his country in a variety of military and political roles....
's Spanish Fleet was destroyed off Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some south-east of the Cuban capital of Havana....
. During the battle, upon watching the burning of the , he famously told his men "Don't cheer, boys. The poor devils are dying." He was advanced five numbers in grade on 10 August 1898 for eminent and conspicuous service in battle. From 3 September 1898 until 28 December 1898, he served as Commander of the 2nd Squadron, North Atlantic Fleet, flying his broad pennant
Broad pennant
A broad pennant is a swallow-tailed tapering flag flown from the masthead of a ship to indicate the presence of a commodore on board. It is so called because its dimensions are roughly 2:3....
in the armored cruiser
Armored cruiser
The armored cruiser was a type of warship of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Like other types of cruiser, the armored cruiser was a long-range, independent warship, capable of defeating any ship apart from a battleship, and fast enough to outrun any battleships it encountered.The first...
.
End and legacy
Commencing 14 January 1899, he was in command of the New York Navy Yard and Naval StationBrooklyn Navy Yard
The United States Navy Yard, New York–better known as the Brooklyn Navy Yard or the New York Naval Shipyard –was an American shipyard located in Brooklyn, northeast of the Battery on the East River in Wallabout Basin, a semicircular bend of the river across from Corlear's Hook in Manhattan...
, and was promoted to rear admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
on 3 March 1899. While serving in this duty, Admiral Philip died suddenly on 30 June 1900.
See also
- American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe 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...
- Spanish–American War