Henry H. Bell
Encyclopedia
Henry Haywood Bell was an admiral in the United States Navy
during the American Civil War
.
. Appointed a Midshipman
on 4 August 1823, during the next two decades he served afloat in U.S. Atlantic waters, the Mediterranean Sea and the West Indies as an officer of the frigate
s and ; the sloops of war , , and ; and the schooner
. In March 1831, while in Vincennes, Bell was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant
. He was assigned to special service on a vessel named Hunter (apparently not part of the U.S. Navy) during the mid-1840s, then was off Africa
and in the Mediterranean as an officer of the frigate United States and as commanding officer of the schooner
. Between early 1849 and mid-1855, Bell served ashore at the Philadelphia, Norfolk and New York Navy Yards.
Promoted to the rank of Commander
in August 1854, Bell went to the East Indies
in 1855-1858 as commanding officer of the steamer
. He spent the late 1850s and early 1860s as a member of the Board of Examiners at the U.S. Naval Academy and on ordnance duty at both Cold Spring
, New York and the Washington Navy Yard
.
During the Civil War
he served as Fleet Captain
of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron under Admiral David Farragut
. He served in the series of campaigns that captured New Orleans and gradually opened the Mississippi River
for exploitation by Federal forces. In July 1862, while so-engaged, he attained the rank of Commodore. After completing his Gulf assignment in 1864, he was assigned to the New York Navy Yard as Inspector of Ordnance.
With the Civil War at an end, in July 1865 Commodore Bell was sent to the Far East
to command the East India
(later Asiatic
) Squadron. He was advanced to Rear Admiral
a year later and placed on the Retired List in April 1867, but remained active as the Asiatic Squadron's commander.
In the summer of 1867 Rear Admiral Bell led the Formosan Expedition
, a punitive expedition in response to the Rover Incident. The expedition ended in a failure, but led to a second Chinese expedition the same year that established safety for shipwrecked sailors stranded on the island. However, the crew of a Japanese merchant ship was massacred
in 1871, and this resulted in a Japanese intervention
and occupation against the same Paiwanan enemy.
From late 1867 to early 1868, his squadron including screw sloops of war, (flag ship), and , with warships of other western countries, anchored in Osaka Bay
to increase pressure on the Japanese government (Bakufu) to open Hyogo
Port on 1 January 1868 as committed. On 11 January 1868, while en route to shore at Hyogo, his boat was overturned by heavy seas. Rear Admiral Bell and all but three of the craft's other occupants perished in this accident.
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
Bell was born in Orange County, North CarolinaOrange County, North Carolina
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 133,801. Its county seat is Hillsborough...
. Appointed a 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 4 August 1823, during the next two decades he served afloat in U.S. Atlantic waters, the Mediterranean Sea and the West Indies as an officer of the 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"...
s and ; the sloops of war , , and ; and the schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
. In March 1831, while in Vincennes, Bell was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. He was assigned to special service on a vessel named Hunter (apparently not part of the U.S. Navy) during the mid-1840s, then was off Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and in the Mediterranean as an officer of the frigate United States and as commanding officer of the schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
. Between early 1849 and mid-1855, Bell served ashore at the Philadelphia, Norfolk and New York Navy Yards.
Promoted to the rank of Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
in August 1854, Bell went to the East Indies
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...
in 1855-1858 as commanding officer of the steamer
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
. He spent the late 1850s and early 1860s as a member of the Board of Examiners at the U.S. Naval Academy and on ordnance duty at both Cold Spring
Cold Spring, New York
Cold Spring is a village located in the Town of Philipstown in Putnam County, New York. The population was 1,983 at the 2000 census. It borders the smaller village of Nelsonville...
, New York and 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...
.
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...
he served as Fleet Captain
Fleet captain
Fleet Captain is a rare military title that may be bestowed upon senior naval captains for a variety of reasons, the most common of which is to temporarily take command of more than one vessel. The rank can, therefore, be interpreted as a close equivalent to Commodore or to the 19th century rank...
of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron under Admiral 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...
. He served in the series of campaigns that captured New Orleans and gradually opened 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...
for exploitation by Federal forces. In July 1862, while so-engaged, he attained the rank of Commodore. After completing his Gulf assignment in 1864, he was assigned to the New York Navy Yard as Inspector of Ordnance.
With the Civil War at an end, in July 1865 Commodore Bell was sent to the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
to command the East India
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...
(later Asiatic
Asiatic 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...
) Squadron. He was advanced to Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
a year later and placed on the Retired List in April 1867, but remained active as the Asiatic Squadron's commander.
In the summer of 1867 Rear Admiral Bell led the Formosan Expedition
Formosan Expedition
The Formosa Expedition, or the Taiwan Expedition of 1867 was a punitive expedition launched by the United States against Formosa. The expedition was undertaken in retaliation for the destruction of the Rover, an American bark which had been wrecked and massacred by native warriors in March 1867...
, a punitive expedition in response to the Rover Incident. The expedition ended in a failure, but led to a second Chinese expedition the same year that established safety for shipwrecked sailors stranded on the island. However, the crew of a Japanese merchant ship was massacred
Mudan Incident of 1871
Mudan Incident of 1871 was the massacre of fifty-four Ryukyuan sailors in Taiwan who wandered into the central part of Taiwan after their ship was shipwrecked. 12 men were rescued by Han Chinese and were transferred to Miyako...
in 1871, and this resulted in a Japanese intervention
Taiwan Expedition of 1874
The , usually referred to in Taiwan and mainland China as the Mudan incident , was a punitive expedition launched by the Japanese in retaliation for the murder of 54 Ryukyuan sailors by Paiwan aborigines near the southwestern tip of Taiwan in December 1871...
and occupation against the same Paiwanan enemy.
From late 1867 to early 1868, his squadron including screw sloops of war, (flag ship), and , with warships of other western countries, anchored in Osaka Bay
Osaka Bay
Osaka Bay is a bay in western Japan. As an eastern part of the Inland Sea, it is separated from the Pacific Ocean by the Kii Channel and from the neighbor western part of the Inland Sea by the Akashi Strait...
to increase pressure on the Japanese government (Bakufu) to open Hyogo
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
Port on 1 January 1868 as committed. On 11 January 1868, while en route to shore at Hyogo, his boat was overturned by heavy seas. Rear Admiral Bell and all but three of the craft's other occupants perished in this accident.
External links
- http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-b/hh-bell.htm