Thoughts on the Confederate Naval Academy?

major bill

Brev. Brig. Gen'l
Forum Host
Joined
Aug 25, 2012
The Confederates set up their own Naval Academy. However, this is a subject we rarely here of. Lieutenant Benjamin Loyall was the commandant. The schoolship Patrick Henry was used as the academy.
 
So did the "students" on the Patrick Henry learn the same curriculum as at Annapolis?
What rank or ranks were admitted?
If there was a fixed curriculum were those who completed it (graduated?) promoted upon completion?
Were there any "short courses" taught to educate/train personnel in specific deficiencies?
Does a list of students (cadets?) exist?
 
It was a ship named Patrick Henry. I don't know its fate right off, but I doubt that it survives except perhaps a few a items from the ship in museums or in private hands.

Oh ok, I read that too quickly that it was a schoolship, thanks. Probably lost to time then. I wonder what kind of path you had to be on as a young man to land there. I'm assuming you went there via appointment. Seems like a way to get your son in honorable service but out of harm's way perhaps?
 
So did the "students" on the Patrick Henry learn the same curriculum as at Annapolis?
What rank or ranks were admitted?
If there was a fixed curriculum were those who completed it (graduated?) promoted upon completion?
Were there any "short courses" taiught to educate/train personnel in specific deficiencies?
Does a list of students (cadets?) exist?

I would have to do more research tp fond out the curriculum. I am not sure how much information is available about the Confederate Naval Academy.
 
It appears that the curriculum at the Confederate Naval Academy was very similar tp that of the US Naval Academy.
 
My reason for asking the question in the OP was I was thinking about the midshipmen of the Confederate Naval Academy serving as the guards on the train that evacuated the Confederate Archive and the half million dollar Confederate Pubic Treasure from Richmond. Also I wondered about them wearing their Confederate Naval Academy uniforms as they guarded the train.
 
It appears that the curriculum at the Confederate Naval Academy was very similar tp that of the US Naval Academy.
Indeed.

One could say almost identical.

One must also remember, the Senior Officers of the Confederate States Navy were graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy.
No different than the Senior Officers of the Confederate Army were products of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

But you do make an excellent point.

Most amateur students of the American Civil War aren't even aware that the Confederacy had a Navy . . . much less a Naval Academy.
 
Sirs, according to 'The Confederate Navy: A Study in Organization' by Tom Wells - https://www.amazon.com/Confederate-Navy-Organization-Tom-Wells/dp/0817351051/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=The+Confederate+Navy:+A+Study+in+Organization.&qid=1564255995&s=books&sr=1-1 ...

Superintendent: Lieutenant William H. Parker - May 1863 til the end of the war.
Commandant of Midshipmen: Lieutenant Benjamin P. Loyall - May 1863 till fall 1863 then Lieutenant James H. Rochelle - Fall 1863 till the end of the war.


So did the "students" on the Patrick Henry learn the same curriculum as at Annapolis?

...and the intent was to approach as near as practicable to the familiar system of instruction at Annapolis.

What rank or ranks were admitted?

...it received midshipmen in all stages of naval education...

If there was a fixed curriculum were those who completed it (graduated?) promoted upon completion?

The military rank of midshipmen continued whether they were on duty with the rest of the navy or were in an educational institution...When a midshipmen was graduated and considered ready for promotion, he would be ordered before a board of senior officers for examination of his academic and professional progress.

I'm assuming you went there via appointment.

Correct sir.

It appears that the curriculum at the Confederate Naval Academy was very similar tp that of the US Naval Academy.

Yes sir - as close as they could make it.

Also I wondered about them wearing their Confederate Naval Academy uniforms as they guarded the train.

Midshipmen wore officers' uniforms with three medium-size buttons on the cuff and a fouled anchor on the cap.

One could say almost identical.

Indeed sir.

Wells has a 7 page chapter on the CS Naval Academy to include a listing of courses and instructors. He also pays tribute and criticizes it's applicability in the war-time era.
70

HTHs,
USS ALASKA
 
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