Lincoln's Tragic Admiral: Samuel Francis DuPont

By Kevin J. Weddle

Presentation to CCWRT on 16 April 2009, Summarized by Dan Bauer

©Cincinnati CWRT, 2009

Col. Weddle drew upon his background as a professor of military theory and strategy to give a superb assessment of Samuel Francis DuPont and his naval career. Hearing one career military officer talk about another career military officer proved most interesting. Judging from DuPont's prewar experiences, one would have expected DuPont to have the greatest impact of a naval officer. Yet his name remains obscure to many current students of the Civil War. Col. Weddle gave his reasons to explain why this is the case. His talk included a slide show of approximately 25 images.

Samuel DuPont, born in 1803, was first of the famed DuPont family born in the United States. His uncle was the founder of the DuPont gunpowder and chemical company. Samuel's family lived on a property across the Brandywine Creek from his uncle's home in Delaware. Although his grandfather's connections enabled Francis to gain acceptance to West Point, he instead chose to join the navy at only 12 years old. He quickly learned the ropes, making quite a name for himself. DuPont went on to serve 50 years on active duty, half of which were spent at sea. (Image from Battles & Leaders, Volume I, page 675.)

After serving in the Navy for 30 years, Francis is given his first big command in 1845 as commodore of the USS Congress, the flagship of the Pacific. Why would it take so long for such a competent officer to get his first big command? Promotions were based on the seniority system, a system which DuPont resented. While sailing the Congress around Cape Horn to take the ship to the Pacific, the Mexican War breaks out. DuPont is given the mission to blockade the entire west coast of Mexico. During this three year assignment, he learns the logistical and operational aspects of how to and how not to conduct a successful blockade. He also learns how to conduct joint operations with the Army.

DuPont served the next nine years ashore. In 1850 he wrote a 50 page pamphlet on what he thinks should be the naval strategy of the United States. The report is widely disseminated among lawmakers and served as the basis for a new ship building program the Navy undertakes in the 1850s. In 1855 DuPont heads up the Efficiency Board. This was intended to reform the promotion system in the Navy. He writes the legislation and then finds congressional sponsors. Of the 710 officers in the Navy, 200 get kicked out. This weeding out of deadweight officers creates resentment against DuPont. DuPont is also instrumental in getting the Naval Academy founded.

In 1857, DuPont is given command of the USS Minnesota and takes it out on its maiden voyage to China. This is the first time he ever served on a steam ship. He learns about coal, and the efficiency and supply needed for operating a steam ship. After he returns, DuPont is given command of the Philadelphia Naval Yard. When the Civil War breaks out, Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, taps DuPont based on his experiences during the Mexican War to assist in the planning of a blockade of the South.

To kick off the blockade effort in November of 1861, DuPont is given command of a joint Navy and Army force with the objective of seizing Port Royal Sound which is located just north of Hilton Head, SC. Even though much of the fighting capacity of this task force was diminished when many of the ships were disabled in a tropical storm, DuPont went on to attack the forts with a half dozen battleships. The attack is successful. Port Royal would stay in Union hands for the remainder of the war and would serve as a base of Union operations. The port was a source of fresh water, supplies and shelter.

After Gustavus Fox , the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, witnesses the battle between the Monitor and the Merrimac, Fox becomes convinced that the North needs to build more Monitor type boats. Fox along with Welles wants to give DuPont some Monitor type ships so he can take control of Charleston harbor. Knowing about Charleston's extensive fortifications, DuPont is apprehensive about Welles' and Fox's plan. Charleston would be a tough nut to crack. There was an exchange of letters between Fox, Welles, and DuPont over the next six months regarding the plan to attack Charleston. What do you do when your civilian boss tells you to do something you do not agree with? This is a great study in civil/military relations. Despite the controversy, later that summer, DuPont is named only the third Admiral in US Naval history.

Over the next several months, DuPont is given 7 newly built monitor class ships. These are the most technologically advanced machines in the world. However, in the haste to attack, the crews were not trained, the ships were not tested, and the guns were not fired. The Monitors were designed to take 11 inch Dahlgren smoothbores. For the battle of Charleston, each turret was also supplied with a 15 inch smoothbore. The 15 inch smoothbores did not fit out of the gun port because the ships were not designed to accommodate the 15 inch smoothbores. Inclusion of the 15 inch smoothbores made for a very inefficient operation of the firings. This slowed down the rate of fire from 3 to 4 shots per minute to 1 shot every 4 to 5 minutes.

After being goaded by Welles and Fox to attack, DuPont reluctantly agrees to do so. Even though there was no plan as to what would happen once DuPont got into the harbor, the attack occurs on April 7, 1863. Weddle compared DuPont's attack on Charleston to Longstreet's ill fated attack during the battle of Gettysburg. 150 Confederate guns were able to fire onto the Union ships. Each ship was hit over a hundred times. The battle ends after two hours with DuPont retreating. Although considered a Union defeat, a dozen Confederates die while only one Union sailor losses his life. The low loss of Union life was testament to the sturdiness of the Union ironclads.

Welles wants DuPont to attack again. DuPont refuses and offers to resign. DuPont, in turn, is relieved of command. The Welles/DuPont feud will continue throughout the remainder of the war. DuPont receives some measure of vindication when DuPont's replacement, Dahlgren, is not able to take Charleston either. DuPont dies June 23, 1865. The Navy does not give DuPont an official Navy funeral.

DuPont Circle in Washington DC, complete with fountain, commemorates the life of Samuel Francis DuPont. Weddle told us DuPont should be remembered for bringing professionalization to the Navy officer corps, promotion by merit, and a qualitatively better US Navy.