Charles S. Kendrick
Encyclopedia
Charles S. Kendrick was an officer in the United States Navy
during the American Civil War
.
. Early in the Civil War, as Third Master in Army
gunboat
St. Louis
of the Western Flotilla
, he took part in the captures of Fort Henry
, Fort Donelson
, Island No. 10, Memphis
, and Fort St. Charles. On 1 October 1862, when the Western Flotilla was transferred to the Navy Department
, he was commissioned Acting Master in the U.S. Navy. On April 30, 1863, while commanding a landing party which drove Confederate
sharpshooters from the river banks at Haines Bluff, he personally captured a Southern officer in hand-to-hand combat. In July he commanded Petrel
when she and Forest Rose
ascended the Tensas River
and captured Confederate steamers Louisville and Elmira.
The following month Acting Master Kendrick was stricken with fever and died at the Naval Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
, August 13, 1863.
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 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...
.
Biography
Kendrick was born in KentuckyKentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. Early in the Civil War, as Third Master in Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
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:...
St. Louis
USS Baron DeKalb (1861)
USS Baron DeKalb was a City class ironclad gunboat constructed for the Union Navy by James B. Eads during the American Civil War....
of the Western Flotilla
Mississippi River Squadron
The Mississippi River Squadron was the Union naval squadron that operated on the western rivers during the American Civil War. It was initially created as a part of the Union Army, although it was commanded by naval officers, and was then known as the Western Gunboat Flotilla and sometimes as the...
, he took part in the captures of Fort Henry
Fort Henry
Fort Henry is the name of:*Fort Henry , a 1646 fort near present-day Petersburg, Virginia*Fort Henry , a 1774 fort near present–day Wheeling, West Virginia...
, Fort Donelson
Fort Donelson
Fort Donelson was a fortress built by the Confederacy during the American Civil War to control the Cumberland River leading to the heart of Tennessee, and the heart of the Confederacy.-History:...
, Island No. 10, Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, and Fort St. Charles. On 1 October 1862, when the Western Flotilla was transferred to the Navy Department
United States Department of the Navy
The Department of the Navy of the United States of America was established by an Act of Congress on 30 April 1798, to provide a government organizational structure to the United States Navy and, from 1834 onwards, for the United States Marine Corps, and when directed by the President, of the...
, he was commissioned Acting Master in the U.S. Navy. On April 30, 1863, while commanding a landing party which drove Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
sharpshooters from the river banks at Haines Bluff, he personally captured a Southern officer in hand-to-hand combat. In July he commanded Petrel
USS Petrel (1862)
The second USS Petrel was a tinclad wooden steamer in the United States Navy. Petrel was purchased as Duchess at Cincinnati, Ohio, 22 December 1862, renamed Petrel, and commissioned with Volunteer Lt...
when she and Forest Rose
USS Forest Rose (1862)
USS Forest Rose was a stern wheel steamer in the United States Navy.Forest Rose was built in 1862 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; purchased 15 November 1862; and commissioned 3 December 1862, Acting Master G. W...
ascended the Tensas River
Tensas River
The Tensas River is a river in Louisiana in the United States. The river, known as Tensas Bayou in its upper reaches, begins in East Carroll Parish in the northeast corner of the state and runs roughly southwest for more or less in parallel with the Mississippi River...
and captured Confederate steamers Louisville and Elmira.
The following month Acting Master Kendrick was stricken with fever and died at the Naval Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, August 13, 1863.