Edward Terry
Encyclopedia
Edward A. Terry was an officer in the United States Navy
during the American Civil War
. Following the war, he served several tours of duty at the United States Naval Academy
, including a tour in the 1870s as Commandant of Cadets
.
, Terry was appointed midshipman at the United States Naval Academy
on September 21, 1853 and graduated on June 10, 1857. He served in the sloop
Germantown
, attached to the East India Squadron
, from 1857 to 1859.
and served in her with the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron throughout the Civil War. He participated in the engagement with the Confederate ram Manassas
on October 12, 1861, the artillery duel with Fort McRee
and other shore batteries on 22 November, the passage of Forts Jackson and St. Philip
, and the capture of New Orleans
in late April 1862.
After New Orleans, David Farragut
's force moved up the Mississippi
, and Terry was present when the salt water fleet ran the gauntlet at Vicksburg
and joined Flag Officer Charles Henry Davis
' riverine fleet above the Southern stronghold. In January 1863, Terry was promoted to lieutenant commander. On March 14, his ship joined others of the fleet in bombarding the batteries surrounding Port Hudson so that Farragut could dash past them and establish a blockade cutting the Confederacy's Red River supply line. In his last major engagement, the Battle of Mobile Bay
on August 5, 1864, Terry helped to close the last major Conferederate port on the Gulf of Mexico
.
in the steam frigate
Powhatan.
His first tour of duty at the Naval Academy followed in 1868 and 1869. He assumed his first command, Saco
, in 1870 and cruised with the Asiatic Fleet until 1872. During that assignment, on October 30, 1871, he was promoted to commander.
He returned to the Naval Academy in 1873 and, by 1875, was appointed commandant
, a post he held until 1878.
Commander Terry was then ordered to the Pacific Squadron as Flag Captain in Pensacola, Florida
; first to Rear Admiral C. R. Perry Rodgers and in 1880 and 1881, to Rear Admiral Thomas H. Stevens.
In 1881, he went on leave due to illness. On June 1, 1882, Commander Terry died at Manitou Springs, Colorado
.
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...
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...
. Following the war, he served several tours of duty at the United States 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...
, including a tour in the 1870s as Commandant of Cadets
Commandant of Midshipmen
The Commandant of Midshipmen is the second-in-command at the United States Naval Academy. According to the Naval Academy, the Commandant of Midshipmen is "responsible for the professional development and day-to-day activities of all 4,000 Midshipmen in the Brigade" and equates to a dean of students...
.
Early life and career
Born at Hartford, ConnecticutHartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, Terry was appointed midshipman at the United States 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 September 21, 1853 and graduated on June 10, 1857. He served in the 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...
Germantown
USS Germantown (1846)
USS Germantown was a sloop-of-war in the United States Navy.Germantown was launched at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 22 August 1846; sponsored by Miss Lavinia Fanning Watson; because of damaging ice, transferred 18 December to Norfolk Navy Yard for fitting out; and commissioned 9 March 1847,...
, attached to the East India Squadron
East India Squadron
The East India Squadron, or East Indies Squadron, was a squadron of American ships which existed in the nineteenth century, it focused on protecting American interests in the Far East while the Pacific Squadron concentrated on the western coasts of the Americas and in the South Pacific Ocean...
, from 1857 to 1859.
Civil War
By 1861, he was assigned to the steam sloop RichmondUSS Richmond (1860)
The USS Richmond was a wooden steam sloop in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.-Service in the Caribbean :Richmond was launched on 26 January 1860 by the Norfolk Navy Yard; sponsored by a Miss Robb. Richmond, commanded by Captain D. N. Ingraham, departed Norfolk, Virginia 13...
and served in her with the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron throughout the Civil War. He participated in the engagement with the Confederate ram Manassas
CSS Manassas
CSS Manassas, formerly the steam icebreaker Enoch Train, was built as a twin-screw towboat at Medford, Massachusetts, by James O. Curtis in 1855. A New Orleans commission merchant, Captain John A...
on October 12, 1861, the artillery duel with Fort McRee
Fort McRee
Fort McRee, was a historic military fort constructed by the United States, on the eastern tip of Perdido Key, to defend Pensacola and its important natural harbor...
and other shore batteries on 22 November, the passage of Forts Jackson and St. Philip
Fort St. Philip
Fort St. Philip is a decommissioned masonry fort located on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River, about up river from its mouth in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana...
, and the capture of New Orleans
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans took place on January 8, 1815 and was the final major battle of the War of 1812. American forces, commanded by Major General Andrew Jackson, defeated an invading British Army intent on seizing New Orleans and the vast territory the United States had acquired with the...
in late April 1862.
After New Orleans, 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 force moved up the Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, and Terry was present when the salt water fleet ran the gauntlet at Vicksburg
Vicksburg
Vicksburg is the name of some places in the United States of America:* Vicksburg, Florida* Vicksburg, Indiana* Vicksburg, Michigan* Vicksburg, Mississippi** The Vicksburg Campaign, an American Civil War campaign...
and joined Flag Officer Charles Henry Davis
Charles Henry Davis
Charles Henry Davis was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, serving primarily during the American Civil War, and with the United States Coast Survey.-Early life and career:...
' riverine fleet above the Southern stronghold. In January 1863, Terry was promoted to lieutenant commander. On March 14, his ship joined others of the fleet in bombarding the batteries surrounding Port Hudson so that Farragut could dash past them and establish a blockade cutting the Confederacy's Red River supply line. In his last major engagement, the Battle of Mobile Bay
Battle of Mobile Bay
The Battle of Mobile Bay of August 5, 1864, was an engagement of the American Civil War in which a Federal fleet commanded by Rear Adm. David G. Farragut, assisted by a contingent of soldiers, attacked a smaller Confederate fleet led by Adm...
on August 5, 1864, Terry helped to close the last major Conferederate port on the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf 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...
.
Post-war assignments
Following the Civil War, Terry alternated between sea duty and a series of shore assignments at the Naval Academy. In 1866 and 1867, he served in the Pacific SquadronPacific Squadron
The Pacific Squadron was part of the United States Navy squadron stationed in the Pacific Ocean in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Initially with no United States ports in the Pacific, they operated out of storeships which provided naval supplies and purchased food and obtained water from local...
in the steam frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
Powhatan.
His first tour of duty at the Naval Academy followed in 1868 and 1869. He assumed his first command, Saco
USS Saco (1863)
The first USS Saco was a gunboat in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.Saco was launched on 28 August 1863 by the Boston Navy Yard, Boston, Massachusetts, and commissioned there on 11 July 1864, Lieutenant Commander John G...
, in 1870 and cruised with the Asiatic Fleet until 1872. During that assignment, on October 30, 1871, he was promoted to commander.
He returned to the Naval Academy in 1873 and, by 1875, was appointed commandant
Commandant of Midshipmen
The Commandant of Midshipmen is the second-in-command at the United States Naval Academy. According to the Naval Academy, the Commandant of Midshipmen is "responsible for the professional development and day-to-day activities of all 4,000 Midshipmen in the Brigade" and equates to a dean of students...
, a post he held until 1878.
Commander Terry was then ordered to the Pacific Squadron as Flag Captain in Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
; first to Rear Admiral C. R. Perry Rodgers and in 1880 and 1881, to Rear Admiral Thomas H. Stevens.
In 1881, he went on leave due to illness. On June 1, 1882, Commander Terry died at Manitou Springs, Colorado
Manitou Springs, Colorado
The city of Manitou Springs is a Home Rule Municipality located in El Paso County, Colorado, United States. The population was 4,980 at the 2000 census.Students are served by Manitou Springs School District 14 and Manitou Springs High School....
.
Namesake
Two ships in the United States Navy have been named USS TerryUSS Terry
Two ships in the United States Navy have been named USS Terry for Edward Terry.* The first USS Terry was a modified Paulding-class destroyer launched in 1909 and served in World War I. She served in the United States Coast Guard from 1924 to 1930...
for him.