CSN Glassell, William Thornton

William Thornton Glassell​

Born: January 15, 1831

Birthplace: Culpeper County, Virginia

Father: Andrew Glassell 1793 – 1873

(Buried: Angelus Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles, California)​

Mother: Susan T. Thornton

Wife: Never Married

Occupation before War:

1848 – 1855: Midshipman in United States Navy​

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1851: Part of The Great Expedition aboard the U.S.S. St. Laurence​

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1855 – 1861: Lt. in the United States Navy​

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1855 – 1861: Aboard the U.S.S. Hartford off China​

Civil War Career:

1861: Declined to swear an additional oath of allegiance​

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1861: Imprisoned at Fort Warren for refusal to swear allegiance​

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1861: Dropped from United States Navy on December 6th​​

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1861 – 1865: Lt. in the Confederate States Navy​

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1861: His Exchange was arranged by the Confederate Government​

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Assigned to the C.S.S. Chicora in the Charleston Naval Squadron​

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1863: Commanded the C.S.S. Chicora during the attack on blockade​

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He requested and received assignment to a special assignment​

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1863: Part of three-man crew of the torpedo boat David​

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1863: The Torpedo boat tried an attack on the New Ironsides​

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1863: Captured and returned to Fort Warren as Prisoner of War​

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1863 – 1864: Prisoner of War held at Fort Warren​

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1864–1865: Commander C.S.S. Fredericksburg James River Squadron​

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1865: After Richmond's evacuation his command was reorganized​

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1865: Commander of reorganized Artillery and Infantry Regiment​

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1865: Paroled on April 28th​ at Greensboro, North Carolina​

Occupation after War:

Suffered from bad health due to his time he had spent in prison​

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Surveyor for developing the Richland Tract in Los Angeles, California​

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1871: Surveyor of 600 Acres of land in Los Angeles, California​

Died: January 28, 1876

Place of Death: Los Angeles, California

Age at time of Death: 45 years old

Burial Place: Angelus Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles, California

 

[Sheltowee]

Declined to swear an additional oath of allegiance- and promptly imprisoned.
Interesting. Wonder if there's more to the story.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Declined to swear an additional oath of allegiance- and promptly imprisoned.
Interesting. Wonder if there's more to the story.

I think we can all learn many things from the Navy officers I have just started writing on the Navy and I find it interesting hopefully I can visit some Navy museums and pick up some more names to write profiles on.

 

[Pollaco]

That 600 were tract of land became Orange, California. It was originally called Richland ( the name of the Glassell Virginia plantation)but there already had a town by that name in California. The name was to changed Orange probably because the Glassell Plantation was in Orange county, Virginia.This was while Glassell was visiting his brother out west in California. The brother, Andrew,was a attorney and with Alfred Chapman were the ones laying out the town. William Glassell was just doing the surveying for them.

 

[Sheltowee]

That 600 were tract of land became Orange, California. It was originally called Richland ( the name of the Glassell Virginia plantation)but there already had a town by that name in California. The name was to changed Orange probably because the Glassell Plantation was in Orange county, Virginia.This was while Glassell was visiting his brother out west in California. The brother, Andrew,was a attorney and with Alfred Chapman were the ones laying out the town. William Glassell was just doing the surveying for them.

Bio seems to indicate father Andrew was with them in California, also.

 

[Pollaco]

His attack on the New Ironsides (Oct.5, 1863) with the David resulted in his capture and some damage to the New Ironsides. Originally thought to be undamaged by the David's spar torpedo the ship was found to be leaking and kept out of action until the final few months of 1864.Keeping a enemy ship out of action for a year is almost as useful as sinking her.This was one of or possibly the most powerful ship in the U.S, Navy at the time.

 

[Pollaco]

His attack on the New Ironsides (Oct.5, 1863) with the David resulted in his capture and some damage to the New Ironsides. Originally thought to be undamaged by the David's spar torpedo the ship was found to be leaking and kept out of action until the final few months of 1864.Keeping a enemy ship out of action for a year is almost as useful as sinking her.This was one of or possibly the most powerful ship in the U.S, Navy at the time.

This action against the New Ironsides got Glassell promoted to commander.It happened while he was imprisoned.

 

[Pollaco]

A great uncle to George Patton

 

[Sheltowee]

A great uncle to George Patton

Had no idea- thanks

 

[Pollaco]

A great uncle to George Patton

Patton's middle name was Smith. Glassell's sister, Susan Thornton Glassell, was married a Col. George Smith Patton Sr.and then later to a Col.George Hugh Smith.