Navy Profiles
Knight Commander of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I
On December 24 and 25, 1864, the side-wheel gunboat Pontoosuc, commanded by Lieutenant Commander William Grenville Temple, participated in an assault under the command of Rear Admiral David Porter against Fort Fisher, N.C., on the Cape Fear River. Union forces expended 20,271 projectiles, weighing 1,275,299 pounds, Confederates fired 13,900 shots. Boatswain Robert M. Blair, of Peacham, received the Medal of Honor for his actions while onboard Pontoosuc, from 24 December to 22 January. On January 13-15, Pontoosuc, helped support the landing of 8,000 troops under command of General A. H. Terry on the first day, and 1,600 sailors and 400 marines on the third day. The sailors and marines diverted the enemy's attention, and allowed Gen. Terry's troops to carry the fort. On February 18, Pontoosuc helped support a ground attack under Gen. Schofield against Fort Anderson, N.C., on the Cape Fear River. On February 20-21, Pontoosuc, helped drive the garrison out of Fort Strong the first day. That evening, the "Confederates sent 200 floating torpedoes down the river, but these were either picked up by picket boats and torpedo nets, or sunk by musketry fire. The next day, after a short action, both works were occupied by Union troops under General Terry."1
Temple's post-war career was comparatively uneventful until 1884, when "he escorted King Kalakaua of the Hawaiian Islands on the occasion of his memorable visit to this country, for which service he subsequently received the decoration of knight commander of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I." Promoted to rear admiral February 22, 1884, he retired seven days later with forty years of honorable service.2
(to be continued ...)
Notes:
1. Neeser, ii:226-7, 232-3, 240-2, "Admiral Temple Dead," (Washington, D.C.) Evening Star, June 29, 1894.
2. Evening Starr, op. cit.
See Researching and writing about Vermont Blue-Jackets in the Civil War for explanations of references.
