Peirce Crosby
Encyclopedia
Peirce Crosby was an rear admiral
in the United States Navy
, whose active duty career included service in the Mexican-American War and the Civil War
.
, Crosby was appointed midshipman in June 1838. He reached the rank of Lieutenant in September 1853 after a decade and a half in ships of the Home
and Mediterranean Squadrons, plus coast survey duty. He served in the sloop-of-war
and the schooner in the Mexican-American War, and had shore assignments in and around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
From late 1853 until the outbreak of the Civil War in the spring of 1861, Lieutenant Crosby served in the sloop
s of war , of the Brazil Squadron
, and , and on board the receiving ship at Philadelphia.
as Commanding Officer of the gunboat at the beginning of 1862. In Pinola, assisted by , he broke the chain barrier across the Mississippi
to make possible the passage upriver of Flag Officer David Farragut
's squadron, and the capture of New Orleans.
For two years beginning in November 1862, Crosby helped enforce the blockade of the Confederacy's East Coast as Commanding Officer of the steamers , and , and as Fleet Captain of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
He finished the war in the Gulf, commanding the gunboat , and took part in clearing mines from Mobile Bay
.
later in 1883. In October of the latter year he was placed on the Retired List.
Rear Admiral Peirce Crosby died at Washington, D.C.
, on 15 June 1899 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
.
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 :...
in the United States Navy
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...
, whose active duty career included service in the Mexican-American War and 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...
.
Early life and career
Born in Delaware County, PennsylvaniaDelaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....
, Crosby was appointed midshipman in June 1838. He reached the rank of Lieutenant in September 1853 after a decade and a half in ships of the Home
Home Squadron
The Home Squadron was part of the United States Navy in the mid-19th century. Organized as early as 1838, ships were assigned to protect coastal commerce, aid ships in distress, suppress piracy and the slave trade, make coastal surveys, and train ships to relieve others on distant stations...
and Mediterranean Squadrons, plus coast survey duty. He served in the sloop-of-war
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...
and the schooner in the Mexican-American War, and had shore assignments in and around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
From late 1853 until the outbreak of the Civil War in the spring of 1861, Lieutenant Crosby served in the 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....
s of war , of the Brazil Squadron
Brazil Squadron
The Brazil Squadron, the Brazil Station, or the South Atlantic Squadron was an overseas military station established by the United States in 1826 to protect American commerce in the South Atlantic during a war between Brazil and Argentina...
, and , and on board the receiving ship at Philadelphia.
Civil War
During April–October 1861, as the Civil War ran through its first half year, Crosby served in the sloop of war and briefly commanded the new gunboat . He went to the Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
as Commanding Officer of the gunboat at the beginning of 1862. In Pinola, assisted by , he broke the chain barrier across the Mississippi
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...
to make possible the passage upriver of Flag Officer David Farragut
David Farragut
David Glasgow Farragut was a flag officer of the United States Navy during the American Civil War. He was the first rear admiral, vice admiral, and admiral in the United States Navy. He is remembered in popular culture for his order at the Battle of Mobile Bay, usually paraphrased: "Damn the...
's squadron, and the capture of New Orleans.
For two years beginning in November 1862, Crosby helped enforce the blockade of the Confederacy's East Coast as Commanding Officer of the steamers , and , and as Fleet Captain of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
He finished the war in the Gulf, commanding the gunboat , and took part in clearing mines from Mobile Bay
Mobile Bay
Mobile Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, lying within the state of Alabama in the United States. Its mouth is formed by the Fort Morgan Peninsula on the eastern side and Dauphin Island, a barrier island on the western side. The Mobile River and Tensaw River empty into the northern end of the...
.
Post-Civil War activities
Commander Crosby spent the first three years of the post-Civil War era in the south Atlantic as Commanding Officer of the gunboat . Following promotion to Captain in May 1868, he had a variety of shore assignments and, in 1872-1873, commanded the steamer . In 1877-1881, in the rank of Commodore, Crosby was commandant of the League Island (Philadelphia) Navy Yard.Flag assignments and retirement
He finished his active career as a Rear Admiral, commanding the South Atlantic Squadron in 1882-1883 and the Asiatic SquadronAsiatic Squadron
The Asiatic Squadron was a squadron of United States Navy warships stationed in East Asia during the latter half of the 19th century, it was created in 1868 when the East India Squadron was disbanded...
later in 1883. In October of the latter year he was placed on the Retired List.
Rear Admiral Peirce Crosby died at 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....
, on 15 June 1899 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.