Lt. Forrest, Douglas French, C.S.A. (later, CSN)[T15]
Son of Commodore French Forrest (commanding Norfolk Naval Yard), he was aboard as a volunteer "Naval Aide de Camp," in Buchanan's quarters on March 8. He did not return to the Virginia after taking the Congress flag to Richmond so was not present on March 9. (From the Introduction to Douglas French Forrest: Odyssey in Gray, A Diary of Confederate Service 1863-1865, William N. Still, Jr., Editor)
Signal Corps:
Sergeant Tabb, George E. (Norris lists him as Lt.)[T15] By March 12, 1862, he was apparently off the Virginia and assisting Magruder by reconnoitering Newport News, according to ORN I, 7, p774.
Civilian Pilots: (Acting Master William Parrish was listed with the Navy.)
Clark, William[T13][T14]
Possibly "Clarke" as in Curtis's article (a cousin) but listed in the Tattnall transcript as "Clark". Not mentioned by Phillips[T15], perhaps he came aboard after March 9.
Cunningham, Thomas[T15] Not mentioned in the Tattnall court martial,[T13 or by Curtis.[T14]
Brady, James Thomas, Ordinary Seaman[T12] Wrote a letter about the battle which was published in 1907 (although the article and birth date would indicate he wrote it in 1905 or 1906 but perhaps his math was wrong). See his gravestone. May 5, 1839 - Nov 20, 1908, buried near Marlin, TX. A small Brady collection exists at the Hill Memorial Library at Louisiana State University. He mentions a reunion May 30 (1907) at Richmond. Says he was one of the ones who set the Virginia on fire. South Carolina Troops in Confederate Service Volume II lists him as enlisting May 9, 1861, in Charleston, South Carolina
Cline, William R., Corporal, CSA(?) (Aboard when the Virginia was launched, described in a SHSP article) Not listed in muster role or as a member of the United Artillery.
Gansmere?[T14]
Not on Muster Roll. Curtis describes the second man killed on May 8, 1862, as Gansmere. This is the only reference to this name. Other sources, including the Surgeon's report indicates the second killed was Waldeck.
Smithwick, James Fort
His gravestone at Brown's Baptist Church, Warrenton County, North Carolina, indicates he was a member of the "Merrimack crew in Civil War." "Son of Jimmie and Frances Smithwick March 25, 1822 May 30, 1872" (email of Grover Grissom, Oct. 1999)
Tattnall, John Roger Fenwick, Captain CS Marine Corps
According to private communications by David Sullivan, John R. F. Tattnall was in command of the Marines on the Virginia after Thom, but before Meiere. J.R.F. Tattnall was appointed Colonel of the 29th Alabama Regiment as of April 17, 1862.
Possibles -- There has been some evidence for these individuals but little documentation. If any one has any additional information, please .
Gardner, Joseph M., Midshipman
Library of Virginia card indicates he was a midshipman on the "Merrimack" in Virginia waters in 1862.
Johnston, T. B.
Library of Virginia card indicates he was the paymaster on the Virginia, later living in N.C. Written name on card appears to be "Mrs. Louise F. Walter"
Mabey, James
British citizen and "wanderer" who claimed to be on board the Virginia in a personal letter [Boswell].
Smith, Daniel
Library of Virginia card indicates he was a mechanic on the "Meramac" and killed in the battle of the "Meramac and Monitor". From Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Womble, Meredith.
Mabry Tyson has a notation on an artifact that Meredith Womble (?spelling) of the Isle of Wight County was a sailor on the Virginia.
Sources
[T2]135th Anniversary Brochure: It
appears that this information came from the 125th Anniversary
Brochure and was created by Irwin Berent.
Boswell, Larry, of Ottawa, Canada (personal
communication re letter from James Mabey).
[T12] Email from Joseph C. Ford, October 1999. His relative James T. Brady attended or planned to attend a reunion circa 1907 and had a five page listing of the crew of the Virginiawhere the first four pages were the muster roll from the ORN while the fifth page had 19 additional names in the same format and type as the previous four pages, while a twentieth name (Rance) was added (in a different font) at the bottom of the second page.
[T13]Tattnall, Josiah. Proceedings of a Naval General Court Martial, in the Case of Captain Josiah Tattnall.
Richmond: Macfarlane & Fergusson, 1862. (Microform 1974)
[T14]Curtis, Richard. History of the Famous Battle Between the Iron-Clad Merrimac, C.S.S., and the Iron-Clad Monitor and the Cumberland and Congress of the U.S. Navy, March the 8th and 9th, 1862, as Seen by a Man at the Gun
Norfolk, Va.: S. S. Turner and Sons, 1907.
[T15]Phillips, Dinwiddie B. "The Career of the Merrimac" in Southern Bivouac. Louisville Kentucky, March 1887, pp 598-608.
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