★  USN Carter, Samuel Perry

Samuel Perry “Powhatan” Carter

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Born: August 6, 1819

Birthplace: Elizabethton, Tennessee

Father: Alfred Moore Carter 1784 – 1850
(Buried: Carter Cemetery, Elizabethton, Tennessee)​

Mother: Evalina Belmont Perry 1797 – 1877
(Buried: Carter Cemetery, Elizabethton, Tennessee)​

1st​ Wife: Caroline C. “Carrie” Potts 1821 – 1875
(Buried: Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

2nd​ Wife: Martha Custis “Markie” Williams 1827 – 1899
(Buried: Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

Children:

Alfred P. Carter 1852 – 1869​
(Buried: Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​
Samuel Parry Carter 1863 – 1925​
(Buried: Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

Education:

Attended Washington College in Limestone, Tennessee​
Attended Princeton University​
1846: Graduated from United States Naval Academy​

Occupation before War:

1840 – 1846: Midshipman in United States Navy​
1840 – 1846: Served in the Pacific and Great Lakes Region​
1846 – 1854: Passed Midshipman in United States Navy​
1847: Served on U.S.S. Ohio at the Battle of Veracruz, Mexico​
1847 – 1850: Stationed at United States Naval Observatory​
1850 – 1853: Assistant Math Professor at United States Naval Academy​
1853 – 1855: Served duty with Pacific and Brazil Squadrons
Carter 1.jpg
1854 – 1855: Master in United States Navy​
1855 – 1862: Lt. in United States Navy​
Served U.S.S. San Jacinto during bombardment of China fortification​
1857 – 1860: Staff Member at United States Naval Academy​

Civil War Career:

1855 – 1862: Lt. in United States Navy​
1861: Organizer of Unionists in Eastern Tennessee​
1862 – 1866: Brigadier General, Union Army Volunteers​
1862: Brigade Commander at Battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky​
1862: Served in the Occupation of the Cumberland Gap​
1862: Forced to retreat from Eastern Tennessee​
1862: Led a raid into Eastern Tennessee​
1862 – 1865: Lt. Commander in United States Navy​
1863: Cavalry Commander at the Battle of Blue Springs, Tennessee​
1865 – 1870: Commander in United States Navy​
1865: Commander of Left Wing at the Battle of Wyse Fork, North Carolina​
1865: Brevetted Major General in the Union Army​
1866: Mustered out of the Union Army on January 15th

Occupation after War:

1865 – 1870: Commander in United States Navy​
1865 – 1870: Commander of U.S.S. Monocacy
1870 – 1878: Captain in United States Navy​
1870 – 1873: Commandant of Midshipman at United States Naval Academy​
1873 – 1877: Served in Europe with the United States Navy​
1877 – 1878: Member of United States Lighthouse Board​
1878 – 1881: Commodore of the United States Navy​
1882 – 1891: Rear Admiral on United States Navy, Retired List​

Died:
May 26, 1891

Place of Death: Washington, D.C.

Cause of Death: Typhlitis

Age at time of Death: 71 years old

Burial Place: Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C.
 
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I wonder where the nickname "Powhattan" comes from. Was he ever stationed on the Powhatan?
I can find no evidence that he ever served on the Powhattan. He seems to have adopted this name as a code name when he was corresponding secretly with Unionists who remained behind Confederate lines. This would be in deeply divided Tennessee. You may notice also that he spelled Powhatan with only one "T".
 
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I can find no evidence that he ever served on the Powhattan. He seems to have adopted this name as a code name when he was corresponding secretly with Unionists who remained behind Confederate lines. This would be in deeply divided Tennessee. You may notice also that he spelled Powhatan with only one "T".
From my research and understanding it was a code name. I have actually been to his hometown.
 
His little brother, William B. Carter, was the planner and coordinator who led the bridge burnings in East Tennessee. This was a guerrilla operation which was sanctioned by Lincoln that called for the destruction of 9 strategic railroad bridges. Five of the nine were destroyed but the union army didnt enter this area for another 2 years.
 
I believe he was one of about 2 or 3 individuals who became a general in the US Army and an Admiral in the US Navy.
That very well could be true about the 2 or 3 who were both (brigadier) general and admiral. But Carter is the only man to ever have the specific rank of Brevet Major General and Rear Admiral.
 
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