Two CSN Paroles

[Biscoitos]

Please read these two paroles, written and signed by the same C S N officer.
The second one brings up some interesting questions.


I, the undersigned, a prisoner of war, belonging to the Confederate Naval Forces, serving under the command of Commodore Ebenezer Farrand in the waters of the state of Alabama, this day surrendered by Commodore Ebenezer Farrand, to Acting Rear-Admiral Henry K. Thatcher, United States Navy, commanding the West Gulf Squadron, do hereby give my solemn parole of honor that I will not hereafter serve in the Navy of the Confederate states, or in any military capacity whatever against the United States of America, or render aid to the enemies of the latter, until properly exchanged, in such manner as shall be mutually approved by the respective authorities.

Done on board the United States flagship, Stockdale, off Mobile this 11th of May, 1865.


W. C. Jones
Assistant Surgeon, C.S. Navy




I, the undersigned, a prisoner of war, belonging to the Confederate Naval Forces, serving under the command of Commodore Ebenezer Farrand, in the waters of the State of Alabama, this day surrendered by Commodore Ebenezer Farrand, to Acting Rear-Admiral Henry K. Thatcher, United States Navy, commanding the West Gulf Squadron, do give my solemn parole of honor, that my servant, Randall Polk (colored) will not hereafter serve in the Navy of the Confederate States, or in any military capacity, whatever against the United States of America, or render aid to the enemies of the latter, until properly exchanged in such manner as shall be mutually approved by the respective authorities.

Done on board the United States flagship Stockdale, off Mobile, Ala., this 11th day of May 1865.

W.C. Jones
Assistant Surgeon,
C.S. Navy

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Below is some more information on the above undersigned, W. C. Jones, Assist. Surg., CSN:-

Jones, William C.
Born in Tennessee. Appointed from Arkansas. Assistant surgeon, March
26, 1863. Assistant surgeon Provisional Navy, June 2, 1864.
Served at Fort Pemberton, Mississippi River defenses, 1863. 0. S. S.
Chattahoochee, June, 1863. C. 8. steamers Savannah, Sampson, IsonUga,
and Georgia, Savannah Squadron, 1868-64; participated in expedition for
the capture of the U. S. S. Water Witch, June 3, 1864. Mobile station,
1864-65; C. S. S. Morgan, 1865; surrendered May 4, 1865; paroled May 11,
1865, Memphis, Tenn.
(Source: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth204523/m1/106/ @ page 104)

 

[Nathan Stuart]

It seems in these particular circumstances that Jones's colored servant, Randall Polk, was perceived by Union authorities at the time as some type of military threat to seek parole from his master. (Refer to second parole in OP).

Did Polk serve as an active crew member on board a Confederate warship or gunboat?

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

It seems in these particular circumstances that Jones's colored servant, Randall Polk, was perceived by Union authorities at the time as some type of military threat to seek parole from his master. (Refer to second parole in OP).

Did Polk serve as an active crew member on board a Confederate warship or gunboat?

It definitely appears so. Yes.

 

[Missouri Swampfox]

Randall Polk (colored), enlisted in the Confederate States Navy, March 28, 1864, and served as landsman aboard the CSS Sampson, and also aboard the ironclad floating battery CSS Georgia (also known as the State of Georgia and Ladies' Ram), Savannah, Georgia, 1864; discharged, at the order of flag officer W.W. Hunter, at Savannah, on November 14, 1864; Polk was paroled aboard the USS Stockdale, off Mobile, Alabama, on May 11, 1865, and was, at that time, declared to be the colored servant of Confederate Navy assistant surgeon W.C. Jones. [ORN 2, 1, 287; DANFS; Confederate Navy subject file, R - Prisoners and Prisons, RL - Paroles, A-W, page 143; Confederate Navy subject file N - Personnel; NA - Complements, rolls, lists of persons, etc.; CSS Alabama - CSS Neuse, page 671; Confederate Navy subject file N - Personnel; NA - Complements, rolls, lists of persons, etc.; CSS New Orleans - Yorktown, page 582; Confederate Navy subject file N - Personnel; NN- Acceptances......Revoked commissions; Acceptances - Appointments of officers (L - Z) - Revoked commissions, page 936.]

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Randall Polk (colored), enlisted in the Confederate States Navy, March 28, 1864,

Does the shown naval service record of Jones's personal colored servant, Polk, coincide with that shown for Polk? (From the naval service for Jones displayed in a previous post above, it appears that his last active service was on board the CSS Morgan, 1865. But this does not seem to be showing as the same for his servant, Polk.)

 

[Missouri Swampfox]

Does the shown naval service record of Jones's personal colored servant, Polk, coincide with that shown for Polk? (From the naval service for Jones displayed in a previous post above, it appears that his last active service was on board the CSS Morgan, 1865. But this does not seem to be showing as the same for his servant, Polk.)

The above record on Jones is from the US Govt Publication on CSN officers. I've found in the past that not all the info in this publication is correct. Here's the info on Jone from the Terry Foenander file:

William C. Jones, born Tennessee; appointed from Arkansas as assistant surgeon for the war,
Confederate States Navy, March 26, 1863; served aboard the side wheeled steamer CSS Savannah,
Savannah station, Georgia, 1863 - 1864; appointed assistant surgeon, Provisional Navy, June 2, 1864;
served aboard the CSS Sampson; involved in the taking out of the USS Water Witch, June 3, 1864;
reported for duty aboard the ironclad floating battery, CSS Georgia, Savannah squadron, on
November 1, 1864; transferred to the Mobile station on November 14, 1864; paroled, at the close of
the war, on board the USS Stockdale, off Mobile, Alabama, May 11, 1865. [ORN 1, 15, 491 & 499 and 2,
1, 286 & 304; Register1864; JCC 4, 123; Confederate Navy subject file, R - Prisoners and Prisons, RL -
Paroles, A-W, page 102; Confederate Navy subject file N - Personnel; NA - Complements, rolls, lists of
persons, etc.; CSS Alabama - CSS Neuse, page 498; Confederate Navy subject file N - Personnel; NN-
Acceptances......Revoked commissions; Acceptances - Appointments of officers (A - K), page 669.]