July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
TATTNELL, Josiah (1795-1871) At the outbreak of the Civil War, Capt. Tattnall held command of the Sackett's Harbor Station. Though he opposed secession, Tattnall resigned his commission on February 21, 1861. A week later, Governor Joseph E. Brown commissioned Tattnall as the senior flag officer of the Navy of Georgia. On March 26, 1861, he received his commission as a captain in the Confederate Navy. Tattnall commanded Southern naval units during the defense of Port Royal until the harbor was captured by Union forces on November 7, 1861. From there, he moved to overall command of the defense of Virginia's waters early in March 1862. Tattnall, by then a flag officer in the Confederate Navy as well as the Navy of Georgia, directed CSS Jamestown and other warships in captures of Federal merchantmen off Sewell's Point in April 1862 On May 11, 1862, in the face of advancing Federal forces, Flag Officer Tattnall ordered the destruction of his flagship, CSS Virginia (ex-Merrimack). He was later acquitted by a court martial of all charges stemming from that action. He resumed command of the naval forces of Georgia on May 29, 1862, and retained it until March 31, 1863, when he turned over command of forces afloat to Comdr. Richard L. Page and concentrated upon the shore defenses of Savannah. When Savannah fell to General William Tecumseh Sherman's troops, Tattnall became a prisoner of war. War-date Confederate Naval Document Signed, "Josiah Tattnell, Flag Officer", 2pp., quarto, being "General Orders No. 1", in part: "From the 15th of June to the 20th of October all Com'dg. Officers will strictly observe the following 'Sanitary Order'. The men are to be protected as far as is compatible with the duties of the service 'from the power of the sun' 'night dews' and 'heavy rains.' 'Accommodation boats' must be judiciously restricted none later than 9 p. m.... whenever possible it is practicable 'Fresh Provisions' must be obtained for the crew...all boats must have awnings. Commanders will hoist pennants when coming alongside of the Flag-ship..." VG.
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