USN Greene, Samuel Dana

Samuel Dana Greene​

Born: February 11, 1839

Birthplace: Cumberland, Maryland

Father: Brig. General George Sears Greene 1801 – 1899

(Buried: Major General George Sears Greene Lot, Warwick, Rhode Island)​

Mother: Martha Dana 1809 – 1883

(Buried: Major General George Sears Greene Lot, Warwick, Rhode Island)​

Brother: Major Charles Thruston Greene 1842 – 1923

(Buried: Laurel Hill Cemetery, Brookfield, Connecticut)​

Brother: Major General Francis Vinton Greene 1850 – 1921

(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia)​

1st​ Wife: Mary Willis Dearth 1839 – 1874

(Buried: Juniper Hill Cemetery, Bristol, Rhode Island)​

2nd​ Wife: Mary Abby Babbitt 1839 – 1926

(Buried: Juniper Hill Cemetery, Bristol, Rhode Island)​

Children:

Samuel Dana Greene Jr. 1864 – 1900​

(Buried: Juniper Hill Cemetery, Bristol, Rhode Island)​

Education:

1859: Graduated from United States Naval Academy​

Occupation before War:

1859 – 1861: Midshipman in United States Navy​

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Served on the U.S. Navy Sloop U.S.S. Hartford​

Civil War Career:

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

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Volunteered for duty on the U.S.S. Monitor​

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1861 – 1862: Executive Officer of U.S.S. Monitor ​

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1862: Served in the Battle of Hampton Roads, Virginia​

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1862: Assumed command of the U.S.S. Monitor temporarily​

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1862: Executive Officer of U.S.S. Monitor during the Battle of Drewry's Bluff, Virginia​

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1863: Aboard the U.S.S. Monitor when it foundered​

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1863: Aboard the U.S.S. Florida on the blockade of North Carolina​

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1864 – 1865: Aboard the U.S. Navy Sloop U.S.S. Iroquois​

Occupation after War:

1865 – 1872: Lt. Commander in the United States Navy​

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1866 – 1868: Math Instructor at United States Naval Academy​

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1868 – 1871: Served in the United States Navy, Pacific Squadron​

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1871 – 1875: Head of Astronomy, navigation, and Survey U.S. Navy Academy​

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1872 – 1884: Commander in the United States Navy​

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1875 – 1878: Commander of U.S.S. Juniata and U.S.S. Monongahela​

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1878 – 1882: Assistant Superintendent, United States Naval Academy​

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1883 – 1884: Commander of U.S.S. Despatch

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1884: Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Navy, Portsmouth Navy Yard​

Died: December 11, 1884

Place of Death: Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Cause of Death: Suicide

Age at time of Death: 44 years old

Burial Place: Juniper Hill Cemetery, Bristol, Rhode Island

 

[nc native]

Samuel D. Greene was one of the sons of George S. Greene the Union general who may have done more to win the battle of Gettysburg than anyone else with his defensive preparations and stand at Culp's Hill on July 2nd. Samuel Greene seems to have been a very intelligent individual who taught several subjects at the Naval Academy. I have not found any information on what drove him to commit suicide at the relatively young age of forty four years old.

 

[ErnieMac]

Greene served as the executive officer of the USS Monitor from the time of its commissioning on February 25, 1862, until it sank off Cape Hatteras on December 31, 1862. He was the only officer to hold the position.

 

[Pollaco]

When it's captain was wounded, Greene took over acommander of the Monitor on March 9,1862.As commander of the Monitor Greene was somewhat criticzed for allowing the C.S.S Virginia to escape but his assignment was to protect the wooden fleet and this he accomplished.

 

[USS ALASKA]

Parts written - or told by - Lt. Greene...

The Monitor and the Merrimac; both sides of the story, told by Lieut. J. L. Worden, U.S.N., Lieut. Greene, U.S.N., of the Monitor, and H. Ashton Ramsay, C.S.N., chief engineer of the Merrimac. Compiled by Lucius E. Chittenden. New York: Harper & Brothers.

For free here - https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24612/24612-h/24612-h.htm

Amazon here - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1475256825/?tag=civilwartalkc-20

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[USS ALASKA]

As commander of the Monitor Greene was somewhat criticzed for allowing the C.S.S Virginia to escape but his assignment was to protect the wooden fleet and this he accomplished.

Sounds similar to the accusations leveled at Admiral Raymond Ames Spruance...

Cheers,
USS ALASKA