Image of the Congress burning for sale at www.oldgloryprints.com
Crew
Different numbers are stated for the number of prisoners taken. Parker[T17] states that there were 26 prisoners of which 5 were wounded. Manley reports that "Leroy", captain of gun #13 was killed by the first exchange of broadsides.
Baker, Joseph. F., Marine 2d. Lt., Commanding Marine Guard[T16] Picture in Sullivan. Just turned 21 on March 7.
Bangs, William, Ordinary Seaman
Slight wond on face, hand, and legs, March 8, 1862.[T7][T14] (in 1898 at Boston[T1]).
Barritts, John,
Fractured thigh, March 8, 1862.[T7][T14]
Brinnen, Stephen, 99th NY Regiment
Fractured leg, March 8, 1862.[T7][T14]
Brislin, John Amputation of thigh, March 8, 1862, died before March 14, 1862. In a listing of the wounded as "John Bushlin".[T7][T14]
Cahill, John, Marine Private [T16]
Slightly wounded, March 8, 1862. Woods and Radford report him as Seaman, but Sullivan lists him as Marine Private[T7][T14][T16]
Cannon, Thomas, Ordinary Seaman
Punctured wound, March 8, 1862. [T7]
Chapman, William, Seaman
Burns on face and hands, March 8, 1862.[T7][T14]
Clancy, Patrick, Marine Private Wound on neck and leg, March 8, 1862. Wood lists him as "Patrick Clancey". [T7][T14][T16]
Crowe, Patrick, Marine Private[T16]
Missing March 8, 1862 but later "recovered".
Curtis, Fredrick H., Gunner[T1]
An article (with his picture) was written from his words about the battle. From Hanover, Massachusetts. Captain of the No. 8 gun, he was wounded by the first broadside from the Virginia when a shell came in the No. 7 gun port. He reports only one ramming of the Cumberland and that the Virginia backed off from the Cumberland and ran aground. The after magazine was flooded to prevent an explosion from a fire in the wardroom. Says he fired the last shot after the command was given to cease firing.
Dean, George S., Ordinary Seaman Wound on face, shoulder, and leg, March 8, 1862. In one list, "George T. Dean". [T7][T14]
Denoviel, Emanuel, Ordinary Seaman
Badly burned on the face and hands, March 8, 1862.[T7][T14]
Donlan, Thomas, Marine Private[T16]
Missing March 8, 1862 but later "recovered"
Fish, Spencer, Ordinary Seaman
Slight wound in foot, March 8, 1862.[T7][T14]
Ferguson, David, Seaman Thigh bruised, March 8, 1862. Listed as Landsman in one listing. [T7][T14]
Furlong, Lawrence, 99th NY volunteers
Slightly burned on face, March 8, 1862.[T7][T14]
Furlong, Samuel, 99th NY Regiment Burns on head and face, March 8, 1862. Seriously wounded. [T7][T14]
Gannon, Thomas, Ordinary Seaman
Punctured wound, March 8, 1862. [T7][T14]
Goulding, James, 99th NY Regiment
Wound of scalp, March 8, 1862.[T7][T14]
Hargous, Peter J., Master's Mate[T17]
Missing March 8, 1862. Reported dead by Pendergrast.. Actually he was taken prisoner by the Beaufort..
James, John, Marine Private[T16]
Missing March 8, 1862 but later "recovered".
Jewett, Jesse H., (Jewell?) Marine
Badly burned on face, hands, arms, and legs, March 8, 1862. Died the next day. ("Jewett" per Curtis and one list of wounded, "Jewell" per official reports).[T7][T14][T1]
Johnson, Alexander
Severe wound, right thigh, March 8, 1862.[T7][T14]
Kearney, [T9] Possibly the reference was to a Congressman rather than a member of the crew.
Lawrence, John T. In 1898 living in Portsmouth, Virginia, and working at Portsmouth Navy Yard[T1]
Leroy, -, Ship's Quartermaster
Amputation of leg, March 8, 1862; died before March 14, 1862.[T7][T14]
McAbee, William, Boatswain's Mate
Badly burned on face and hands, March 8, 1862.[T7][T14]
McClusky, John
Amputation of thigh, March 8, 1862.[T7][T14] Sullivan indicates a Marine Private by this name was missing March 8, 1862 but was later "recovered"..[T16]
McDonough, John, III, Ordinary Seaman
Transferred to the Roanoke where he had a serious contused wound of scalp.[T5]
McFaden, James, Seaman
Bruised on right shoulder and left leg, March 8, 1862.[T7][T14]
Millenbrock, Harry, Ordinary Seaman, slight burn on the arm, March 8, 1862.
[T7][T14]
Moore, Thomas, Marine Private [T16]
Killed March 8, 1862. Manley[T18] had him as "Acting Master" It is possible there were two distinct Thomas Moore's that both died.
O'Mealy, John, Marine Private[T16]
Missing March 8, 1862, taken prisoner by the Confederates.
Payne, E. D., Assistant Surgeon Wrote report of killed and wounded. More info on him in History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania with Biographical Sketches by H. C. Bradsby, 1891.
Pendergrast, Austin, Lieutenant Wrote the report of the battle. He was in command of the Congress after Lt. Smith was killed.
Pepper, Edwin G.
Wound on the scalp, face, and hands, March 8, 1862.[T7][T14]
Pierce, John In 1898 at Hingham, Massachusetts[T1].
Shippen, Edward, Surgeon
Suffered a concussion during the battle with the Virginia.[T7][T14] A short biography is in this page on alumni of Princeton. Wrote a letter in the Century Magazine about the battle.
Smith, Joesph B., Lt. Commanding
In command of the Congress until he was killed on March 8, 1862. His father was a Union Admiral. See his picture at the Naval Historical Center.
Tracy, Martin, Marine Private[T16]
Wounded March 8, 1862[T16]
Trask, Charles, Seaman
Slight burn on the face and head, March 8, 1862.[T7][T14]
Tyman, Charles, Corporal, 99th NY Volunteers Amputation at hip joint, March 8, 1862; died before March 14, 1862. "Charles Tisman" according to one listing.[T7][T14]
Webster, George, Seaman
Amputation of arm; severe wound of thorax, March 8, 1862.[T7][T14]
Willard, -.
Gave a short speech on April 10, 1862, in NY. He was 40 years old (born 1822 or 1823) and joined the Navy at 13.
[T9]
Wilson, Charles, Seaman
Slight wound, March 8, 1862.[T7][T14]
"Total number of officers and men on board 434
Total number of officers and men on board accounted for 298
Total number of killed, wounded, and missing 136
Total number of wounded taken on shore 26
Total number killed and missing 110
Total number of wounded (since dead) 10
Total number of killed, missing, and died on shore 120"
Unfortunately, I have not yet collected the names of the other crew. Any help would be appreciated.
References:
[T1] Curtis, Frederick H. "The 'Congress' and the 'Merrimack'", retold by Frank Stedmon Alger in The New England Magazine. Vol. 25, Issue 6, February 1899, pp. 687-693.
[T2] Personal communications from Darl Stephenson 5/5/2001
[T5] Wood, Wm. Maxwell, Fleet Surgeon, Report transmitting list of killed and wounded, March 12, 1862. ORN I, v7, p15-17
[T6] Wood, Wm. Maxwell, Fleet Surgeon, Report of killed and wounded on and alongside the Minnesota in the action of the 8th and 9th March, 1862, March 10, 1862. ORN I, v7, p12-13
[T7] Wood, Wm. Maxwell, Fleet Surgeon, Additional report of Fleet Surgeon Wood, U. S. Navy, transmitting list of killed and wounded, March 14, 1862. ORN I, v7, p17-18
[T11]History and Traditions of Marblehead, Mass by Samuel Roads Jr, Houghton, Osgood and Co, 1880, pp 294-295. (Reference supplied by Maureen Graves Anderson.)
[T14] United States Government. Message of the President of the United States to the Two Houses of Congress at the Commencement of the Third Session of the Thirty-Seventh Congress. Vol. 3. 1862. House of Representatives, 37th Congress, 3rd session. Ex. Doc. 1. Washington, DC. 1862. 931pp
Report on the Killed and Wounded p96-97.
[T16] Sullivan, David M. The United States Marine Corps in the Civil War -- The Second Year. White Mane Publishing Company, Inc. Shippenburg, PA. 1997.
[T17] Parker, William Harwar. Recollections of a Naval Officer 1841-1865. See bibliography
[T18] Manley, H. DeHaven. Letter to J. M. Broomall, March 24, 1862. Printed years later. From the archives of the Media Library, Media, Pennsylvania.
