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The United States Navy Memorial

Navy Memorial Honoring the Men & Women of the Sea Services

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Essex

Ship Designation: 
-
Date Lost: 
Thursday, February 6, 1862
Assault on Fort Henry
Foote's Flotilla, as the group of ironclads under the command of Commodore Andrew H. Foote was called, shelled forts Henry and Donelson on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, in preparation for an assault from Union land forces. ... Fort Henry was taken on Feb. 6, 1862 before the ground forces had even arrived. However, the four ironclads, Essex, Cincinnati, Carondelet, and St. Louis. sustained heavy damage due to the shelling from Fort Donelson perched on a high cliff overlooking the river.

Lost At Sea Log

Number of sailors in this log: 11

Namesort descending Service Branch
Seaman James Bedford USN
Seaman J. Breas USN
Acting Master's S. Britton USN
Seaman James Coffey USN
Pilot M. Ford USN
Fireman Henry Gemfer USN
Fireman John Laritz USN
Pilot James Mcbride USN
Seaman H. Reynolds USN
Captain forecast A. Waterman USN
Seaman Dana Wilson USN
Various sources