Stiles/Akin
Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2016
- Location
- Atlanta, Georgia
Laurel Grove Heroes
from the book Civil War Savannah by Derek Smith
Lieutenant Thomas Postell Pelot
In May of 1864, the citizens of Savannah watched the developments in North Georgia and cheered a rare Naval victory. In June 1864, a plan to seize a Federal vessel by a surprise boarding had been hatched that spring by Confederate Lieutenant Thomas Pelot, the former executive officer of the CSS Georgia. a former US Navy Lieutenant resigned his Commission in 1861. He also served as Skipper of the flagship CSS Savannah and the CSS Resolute. receiving permission to proceed with the mission in late May he assembled a force of 102 officers and crewmen from the CSS Georgia, CSS Samson, and CSS Savannah.
The raiders gathered at Fort Jackson on the morning of May 31st and the steamer Firefly towed their boats through Augustine Creek to the Isle of Hope. Their first hunt was unsuccessful but on June 3rd they would try again. In spite of continued stormy weather, after resting, the rebels again climbed into their boats at Battery Beaulieu and rode into the darkness. Lieutenant Pelot knew that finding a Federal ship was a long shot but an enemy vessel had been seen from the battery earlier that day.
Just after midnight on Friday, June 4th, 1864 the drenched Confederates in the rowboat found the USS Water Witch, a 378-ton side-wheel gunboat armed with four cannons that had been on blockade duty off Savannah for several months.
About 2 a.m. a Yankee sailor on the deck watch squinted to see some of Lieutenant Pelot's crafts about 40 yards away. calling for the Phantom boat to identify itself. The guard received the reply "runaway Negroes" from Moses Dallas, a black pilot in Lieutenant Pelot's party. The barges had closed alongside the Water Witch.
"We are Rebels! Give away boys! Three cheers and board her." Lieutenant Pelot cried. A quick burst of fire from the deck wounded several Confederates in one of the boats and its crew rowed away. In seconds, however, other yelling gray pirates struggled up the sides of the Water Witch and were quickly on deck brandishing revolver, cutlasses, and sabers. A Federal officer seeing a silhouette in a lightning flash killed the rebel Lieutenant with a shot to the chest.
Within 20 minutes the fighting was over and the Water Witch was a Confederate prize. Shot through the heart, Lieutenant Pelot was among the first to fall. Moses Dallas was also among the 19 Confederate casualties. Federal losses were 2 dead, 15 wounded and 77 captured.
With Lieutenant Pelot down, the command went to Lieutenant Joseph Price who was wounded by several Cutlass wounds to his head. Without Dallas to guide them, the victorious Rebels had some difficulty in escaping with their conquest. The gunboat ran aground three times before reaching the safety of Beaulieu battery that night.
Lieutenant Pelot was hailed as a hero in Savannah and buried in Laurel Grove Cemetery. At his funeral at Christ Church, his cap, uniform jacket, and sword, and the Water Witch's signal book were placed on the lid of his coffin.
According to some, Lieutenant Pelot was trying to shield John Devereux, another black man in the attack force, when he was shot on the Water Witch's deck. Devereux who evidently saw service for the Confederacy aboard the CSS Georgia survived the war. He later was editor and business manager for the Savannah Tribune and the United States Customs official appointed by President McKinley.
The Water Witch now commanded by the Confederates moved up the Vernon River to White Bluff to avoid anticipated attempts to recapture her. Trapped in the river, the Water Witch would be of no use to the Confederates. She was burned on June 19th to keep her out of Union hands.
Devereux was eternally grateful to Lieutenant Pelot for saving his life and tended the officers grave until his own death. He was buried in Laurel Grove not far from Lieutenant Pelot's resting place.
At the time of his death at age 27, Lieutenant Pelot left a wife, Clara Theresa Freeman Pelot and four children
Lieutenant Pelot is buried in Laurel Grove Cemetery in section 778.
DEO VINDICE
from the book Civil War Savannah by Derek Smith
Lieutenant Thomas Postell Pelot
In May of 1864, the citizens of Savannah watched the developments in North Georgia and cheered a rare Naval victory. In June 1864, a plan to seize a Federal vessel by a surprise boarding had been hatched that spring by Confederate Lieutenant Thomas Pelot, the former executive officer of the CSS Georgia. a former US Navy Lieutenant resigned his Commission in 1861. He also served as Skipper of the flagship CSS Savannah and the CSS Resolute. receiving permission to proceed with the mission in late May he assembled a force of 102 officers and crewmen from the CSS Georgia, CSS Samson, and CSS Savannah.
The raiders gathered at Fort Jackson on the morning of May 31st and the steamer Firefly towed their boats through Augustine Creek to the Isle of Hope. Their first hunt was unsuccessful but on June 3rd they would try again. In spite of continued stormy weather, after resting, the rebels again climbed into their boats at Battery Beaulieu and rode into the darkness. Lieutenant Pelot knew that finding a Federal ship was a long shot but an enemy vessel had been seen from the battery earlier that day.
Just after midnight on Friday, June 4th, 1864 the drenched Confederates in the rowboat found the USS Water Witch, a 378-ton side-wheel gunboat armed with four cannons that had been on blockade duty off Savannah for several months.
About 2 a.m. a Yankee sailor on the deck watch squinted to see some of Lieutenant Pelot's crafts about 40 yards away. calling for the Phantom boat to identify itself. The guard received the reply "runaway Negroes" from Moses Dallas, a black pilot in Lieutenant Pelot's party. The barges had closed alongside the Water Witch.
"We are Rebels! Give away boys! Three cheers and board her." Lieutenant Pelot cried. A quick burst of fire from the deck wounded several Confederates in one of the boats and its crew rowed away. In seconds, however, other yelling gray pirates struggled up the sides of the Water Witch and were quickly on deck brandishing revolver, cutlasses, and sabers. A Federal officer seeing a silhouette in a lightning flash killed the rebel Lieutenant with a shot to the chest.
Within 20 minutes the fighting was over and the Water Witch was a Confederate prize. Shot through the heart, Lieutenant Pelot was among the first to fall. Moses Dallas was also among the 19 Confederate casualties. Federal losses were 2 dead, 15 wounded and 77 captured.
With Lieutenant Pelot down, the command went to Lieutenant Joseph Price who was wounded by several Cutlass wounds to his head. Without Dallas to guide them, the victorious Rebels had some difficulty in escaping with their conquest. The gunboat ran aground three times before reaching the safety of Beaulieu battery that night.
Lieutenant Pelot was hailed as a hero in Savannah and buried in Laurel Grove Cemetery. At his funeral at Christ Church, his cap, uniform jacket, and sword, and the Water Witch's signal book were placed on the lid of his coffin.
According to some, Lieutenant Pelot was trying to shield John Devereux, another black man in the attack force, when he was shot on the Water Witch's deck. Devereux who evidently saw service for the Confederacy aboard the CSS Georgia survived the war. He later was editor and business manager for the Savannah Tribune and the United States Customs official appointed by President McKinley.
The Water Witch now commanded by the Confederates moved up the Vernon River to White Bluff to avoid anticipated attempts to recapture her. Trapped in the river, the Water Witch would be of no use to the Confederates. She was burned on June 19th to keep her out of Union hands.
Devereux was eternally grateful to Lieutenant Pelot for saving his life and tended the officers grave until his own death. He was buried in Laurel Grove not far from Lieutenant Pelot's resting place.
At the time of his death at age 27, Lieutenant Pelot left a wife, Clara Theresa Freeman Pelot and four children
Lieutenant Pelot is buried in Laurel Grove Cemetery in section 778.
DEO VINDICE
Bringing the