Naval Hospital Ship, "Red Rover" - U. States' First Hospital Ship - Sisters of the Holy Cross Are First Female Nurses to Serve on a Navy Ship

The Red Rover began her military career with the rebels.  The 786-ton side-wheel steamer was built in 1859 at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and was being used by the Confederates as a floating barracks for troops at Island Number 10 on the upper reaches of the Mississippi River.  She was holed by Union mortar fire during the bombardment of the island and abandoned.  There she was captured by the Union gunboat, Mound City, on 7 April 1862 and was used first by the Army and then the Navy to care for and transport sick and wounded soldiers and sailors on the western rivers.  In December 1862, Red Rover was purchased by the U. States Navy and converted to a hospital ship with all the latest modern accommodations:  an operating room, an elevator, a convalescent ward, separate kitchen facilities for the patients, nine water closets, and an icebox with a maximum storage capacity for 300 tons of ice. The value of such large quantities of ice for convalescing patients in this pernicious and fever-inducing climate, particularly in summer on the lower Mississippi, was inestimable.  The quality of medical care that patients received on board the Red Rover is said to have far exceeded the standards of sanitation and hygiene of many of the land-based hospitals treating sick and wounded military personnel.    

Serving on board the Red Rover was Sister M. Veronica, who, along with her three fellow nuns, became the first females to serve on a naval vessel.  Sister Veronica is from the Catholic order of the Sisters of the Holy Cross.  She was transferred to the vessel from the Army hospital at Mound City, Illinois.  She and Sister Adela from her Order dutifully remained with the ship for the entire duration of the Red Rover's service.  Sister Veronica well remembers the ship following the movements of the Mississippi squadron in operations up and down the river from Cairo to New Orleans.  Evacuating and succoring the wounded after such major battles as the siege of Vicksburg, the attacks on Fort Pillow and Fort Hindman, and the Red River Expedition, often exposed the Red Rover to enemy fire despite her peaceful mission.  Following the Fort Hindman engagement, as the ship waited to receive the wounded at the mouth of the White River, for example, Sister Veronica vividly recalled the Red Rover sustaining two direct hits, both shots crashing through the hospital ward though, providentially, causing no casualties.    On another occasion, the Red Rover caught fire while steaming just off Helena, Arkansas.  With the assistance of the gunboat Benton, the flames were extinguished, and Red Rover was able to continue her work not being seriously damaged.  Under every adverse condition, Sister Veronica and the other nurses, doctors, and attendants continued to treat the wounded in a calm and dispassionate manner, despite the near misses.   

All in all, the hospital ship, USS Red Rover, has treated nearly 3,000 patients since the ship's commissioning.  While many of the illnesses suffered by the seamen were of the ordinary variety, usually attributed to the heat and malarial climate of the deep South, Sister Veronica also remembers treating some of the worst cases.  Typically, following an engagement with the enemy, the terrible suffering of sailors horribly mangled by shot and shell, or scalded by escaping steam from a boiler explosion, has been indelibly seared in her memory. She also points out that sick and wounded Confederate prisoners received the same compassionate treatment on board the Red Rover as did the Union men.

Sister Veronica looks with resigned sadness to the upcoming decommissioning of the Red Rover, which is scheduled for 17 November 1865.  Currently she says there are only eleven patients still on board, and those few remaining will soon be transferred off the vessel.  

Sister Veronica and all the nuns of the Order hope and pray that people in this reunited Country will look upon their service and recognize that charity for one's fellow man should not be restricted by the color of his uniform; nor should compassion fail to transcend ancient animosities existing between the Catholic and Protestant faiths. Indeed, even as Christ hath said:

"Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee?  or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

"When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in?  or naked, and clothed thee?

"Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (St. Matthew 25:37 - 40) 

-H. J. W. 

        

Sister Veronica (portrayed by Judi Buncher) at first declines to be interviewed by the brash, young reporter.

Sister Veronica displays a painting of the Red Rover.

[Both photos courtesy of William Myers]

                   

[Editor's note:  For more information, see The Scofield Reference Bible. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc.; 1945.]
   

A Celebration of the Life of Admiral Samuel Francis DuPont - Vice Admiral David G. Farragut Honors DuPont - Representatives of the DuPont Family Participate in the Ceremonies

Admiral Samuel F. Du Pont (1803 - 1865) had a long and distinguished career  of service in the U. S. Navy.  His contributions to winning the late war went far in establishing himself as one of the great naval commanders in our nation's history.  The services held recently near the Du Pont ancestral home adjacent to the Du Pont powder mills were conducted here to honor the Admiral's memory.

The order of the program was as follows:

A mixed Army-Navy Color Guard opened the ceremony with a presentation of the colors.  Opening remarks were given by Commander Don Fischer of the USS Lehigh, followed immediately by the Reverend John Holden, who led the Convocation of distinguished guests and visitors in solemn prayer.  A brief History of the Admiral was next presented to the assembly by none other than Vice Admiral David Glasgow Farragut [admirably portrayed by Bruce W. Tucker].  Farragut lauded DuPont's distinguished naval career, beginning with his appointment as Midshipman in 1815, his outstanding service in the Mexican War, and DuPont's notable achievements in subduing the Rebellion before his untimely demise last June.

At the commencement of the Rebellion, Admiral Du Pont, then a Captain, was President of the Board that convened in Washington in 1861 to plan the war's naval operations and was subsequently promoted to Flag Officer in September of that year.  This reporter had the honor of sailing with Flag Officer Du Pont's fleet to Port Royal, South Carolina, and was present for his singular victory over the rebel forts there and the establishment of an important coaling station for vessels of the Union blockade along the Atlantic Coast.  Given the Thanks of Congress for this remarkable exploit, Du Pont was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral to date from 16 July 1862.  When ordered to conquer and hold for the Union the City of Charleston in April 1863, the so-called "Cradle of Secession," Du Pont objected to the plan, insisting that the city could only fall with combined Army-Navy co-opertation.  Consequently when Du Pont was unable to take Charleston with naval power alone, he asked to be relieved, leaving his command 5 July 1863. Ultimately, Du Pont was proven correct:  the mighty monitors lacked the requisite firepower to reduce the formidable batteries that ringed Charleston harbor.  Though seriously ill, Admiral Du Pont continued on active duty, serving on boards and commissions for the duration of the war.  

After the conclusion of Admiral Farragut's speech, a floral wreath was presented by representatives of the family - Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Francis DuPont Bayard.  Mr. DuPont, great-grand nephew of the Admiral  then gave an interesting discourse recalling the life, childhood and upbringing of young Samuel F. Du Pont.

A rousing cannon salute, followed by the playing of "taps," preceded Final Remarks given by Commander Fischer.   A recession to the accompaniment of the Navy Hymn concluded the program. 

- H. J. W.     

Mr. Samuel Francis DuPont Bayard speaks at the 150th Anniversary Celebration of the Life of Admiral DuPont.
(Photo courtesy of William Myers.)

      

 [Editor's Note:  For more information regarding Admiral Du Pont, see Boatner, Mark M. III.  The Civil War Dictionary.  David McKay Company, Inc.; 1959:252.  "Henry" apologizes for neglecting his blog for so long.  With the end of the war, he hasn't had much to write about, and he his been  busy working on a biography of Brigadier General Charles G. Harker.]

The Gravesite of Elias P. Seeley, Civil War Veteran

On a recent blustery January day, two veteran sailors of the USS Lehigh, along with a good friend of a friend, and one shivering newspaper correspondent set out on a trek to find the grave of Elias P. Seeley, a direct ancestor of William Myers, one of the aforementioned tars.  The salty foursome met in Swedesboro, and, traveling south over winter's rutted roads, finally arrived at a windswept cemetery on top of a frozen hill in Bridgeton, New Jersey.  Upon looking about we discovered, almost immediately, the object of our search among the many cold, silent tombstones of the departed: the final resting place of the much lamented Elias Seeley, distinguished veteran of our late Civil War.

Mr. Seeley amassed an admirable record of service during the War of the Rebellion, serving first as a private soldier in Company F of the 5th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, 2nd Division, 3rd Corps, Army of the Potomac.  His unit was decimated in the swirling vortex of battle that came to be known as the Wheat Field, fought on the second day of July 1863, at the decisive Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.   Prior to that momentous contest, Private Seeley was present for every major engagement, march,  and minor skirmish of his regiment, including General McClellan's Peninsula Campaign, Second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville.  After Gettysburg, Seeley was transferred to the regulars of Battery H, 4th United States Artillery, on 8 July 1863.  Rendering much distinguished service during General Grant's famous Overland Campaign, Seeley was seriously injured from the explosion of a caisson near Totopotomy Creek, Virginia, on 30 May 1864.  After recovering from his wounds he was discharged at McDougal Hospital, Fort Schuyler, New York, on 15 September 1864.  Returning to civilian life, Seeley became a prominent citizen of the historic town of Bridgeton. 

A July 1862 edition of the Bridgeton Evening News reported that Mr. Seeley was installed as Chaplain of the Bridgeton Chapter, Encampment Number 113, of the Union Veteran Legion.  This veterans' organization was made up of soldiers, sailors and marines who had volunteered to serve three years during the war, served not less than two years consecutively, and were honorably discharged.

According to the inscription on his headstone, Elias P. Seeley, departed this life November 12, 1922.  His many descendants, including Mr. Myers, steam engineer aboard the Lehigh, have much to be proud of in their fond recollections of their brave, soldier-ancestor.

-HJW-

Dan Cashin, William Myers, and "Henry" at Overlook Cemetery, Bridgeton, N.J.

       
 

Jerry, Dan, and Henry stand behind impressive tombstone of E. P. Seeley