Marines in Gray: the Birth, Life and Death of the Confederate States Marine Corps
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MARINES IN GRAY: THE BIRTH, LIFE AND DEATH OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES MARINE CORPS A Thesis by MICHAEL E. KRIVDO Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS December 2006 Major Subject: History MARINES IN GRAY: THE BIRTH, LIFE AND DEATH OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES MARINE CORPS A Thesis by MICHAEL E. KRIVDO Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS Approved by: Chair of Committee, Joseph G. Dawson, III Committee Members, Roger R. Reese Cemal Pulak Head of Department, Walter R. Buenger December 2006 Major Subject: History iii ABSTRACT Marines in Gray: The Birth, Life and Death of the Confederate States Marine Corps. (December 2006) Michael E. Krivdo, B.A., Texas A&M University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Joseph G. Dawson, III This thesis explores and provides analysis on several areas of study related to the history of the Confederate States Marine Corps that have long been neglected. It examines the military and political processes that were instrumental in both creating and employing a Southern Marine Corps. It also investigates relationships between the U.S. and Confederate Marine Corps, particularly in light of how the experiences of former U.S. Marines shaped the growth of the Southern Corps. In particular, the thesis asserts that, despite shared origins, the CSMC seized on opportunities presented by the Civil War and became expert in new mission areas through the efforts of a core group of determined and experienced leaders. In the process, the CSMC came to eclipse its Northern cousin, becoming a valued and vital element of the Confederate Navy. The CSMC is examined in light of its national service, thereby affording fresh perspectives on the patterns formed by its actions as part of the Southern war effort. This new research framework supports a better understanding of the roles and missions expected by Southern leaders from their Corps, and more clearly illuminates the iv CSMC’s differences. In particular, this approach highlights the inherent strengths of the CSMC’s unique structure that lent itself to a more efficient concept of employment. Finally, this thesis asserts that the CSMC became, for its abbreviated history, the agile, innovative, and versatile fighting unit that, man-for-man, the U.S. Marine Corps would not achieve until some time late in the nineteenth century. However, the lessons of its service were not realized, in part because of its relative historical obscurity. v This manuscript is dedicated to my son, Michael Edward Krivdo, II, and daughter, Kaitlan Mary Krivdo. Their understanding and patience with my research have helped make this a qualitatively better product. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Acknowledgement is given to the invaluable assistance of my committee chair and mentor, Professor Joseph G. Dawson, III, who has contributed innumerable hours to this manuscript. The countless hours he has spent reading through my drafts and providing recommendations have helped me in many ways. His efforts have helped me become a better researcher and writer, and his hard work and dedication are truly appreciated. I am also grateful to the skilled guidance and advice of Professor Roger Reese, who consistently challenged me to focus on the impact of individuals and to attempt to ascertain their underlying motivations. He has also taught me the value of being specific and precise in my writing, forcing me in many instances to come directly to the point that I was striving to make. In addition, Professor Cemal Pulak, has always provided me with encouragement throughout this long academic process. Despite his full schedule both on campus and abroad, he always made time for me and my research, and his keen eye for detail helped refine this manuscript in its final stages. His comments and recommendations always added a new perspective to my arguments. Finally, I wish to acknowledge the assistance and advice of my wife, Dianne Krivdo, whose support made this project possible. Not only did she provide steadfast and unconditional encouragement throughout the long process, she contributed in several direct ways to the completion of this manuscript. Dianne’s artistic and vii administrative expertise may be found throughout this work. More importantly, she helped to “take up the slack” at home when Dad was otherwise occupied with research, reading or writing. Dianne, my heartfelt thanks go out to you for allowing me this opportunity to pursue my academic goals. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………………….iii DEDICATION…………………………………………………………………………..v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS…………………………………………………………….vi TABLE OF CONTENTS………………………………………………………..……viii LIST OF FIGURES……………………………………………………………………..x LIST OF TABLES……………………………………………………………….……xii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………….1 II CREATING A CONFEDERATE CORPS OF MARINES…………………….16 III CHANGING ROLES AND MISSIONS……………………………………….75 IV OPERATING AS A BATTALION…………………………………………..139 V EMPLOYING COMPANIES AND DETACHMENTS……………...………167 VI CONCLUSIONS………………………………………………….…………..251 REFERENCES……………………………………………………………….……….271 APPENDIX A……………………………………………………………...…………291 ix Page APPENDIX B……………………………………………………………...…………293 VITA………..……………………………………………………………...…………295 x LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE Page 2-1 Initial Organizational Model of the Confederate States Marine Corps, 16 March 1861………………………………………………………...17 2-2 Organization of the Confederate States Navy Department……………....…...41 2-3 Expanded CSMC Structure, 21 May 1861...………………...……….……....54 2-4 Further Expansion of the CSMC Structure, 24 September 1862….….……....56 3-1 Drewry’s Bluff and the James River South of Richmond…………………….76 3-2 Contemporary Drawing Depicting “Balloon View” of the Drewry’s Bluff Engagement……………………………………………....….78 3-3 Sketch of the Obstacle Belt at Drewry’s Bluff, Virginia ……..……………...87 3-4 Visible Wrecks Outlining the Obstacle Belt………….……………….……...90 3-5 View of Drewry’s Bluff from across the James River………………………..91 3-6 Contemporary Drawing of the USS Water Witch ..……...………………….106 4-1 Marine Battalion Deployments During the War……….…………...……….157 5-1 Contemporary Sketch of Fort Fisher, North Carolina……………..…….…..168 5-2 Location of the Two Navy Yards in Richmond………..……………………177 xi FIGURE Page 5-3 Map Showing the Deployments of Company A.……………………..……..180 5-4 The Commerce Raider CSS Sumter………………………………………...184 5-5 Contemporary Photograph of a Water Battery at Warrington…….………...186 5-6 Sketch of the Plan for the Second Attack on Fort Fisher….……………..…198 5-7 Map Showing the Deployments of Company B, CSMC…….……………...203 5-8 Hampton Roads Area on 8-9 March 1862………………………..………....210 5-9 Map Showing the Deployments of Company C…………………………….217 xii LIST OF TABLES TABLE Page 2-1 Listing of U.S. Marine Officers Who Resigned or Were Dismissed Between December 1860 and December 1863………………………………..28 2-2 Confederate Marine Officers with Prior U.S. Military Service ..…………….46 1 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The American Civil War has been scrutinized to the point that it may seem to pose no new questions for historians to research; that all substantive matters regarding the war and its participants already have been answered. While much research has been done on the Civil War, some unexplored issues remain to be analyzed. This thesis investigates a neglected subject, the Confederate States Marine Corps (CSMC), and analyzes the military and political relationships that influenced that unit’s creation and employment. It examines how Confederate leaders allocated scarce Marine Corps assets in response to the enemy’s activities and looks at the patterns formed by such use to discern the concept for employing this unique military organization. In doing so, analysis will reveal a more complete and nuanced understanding of the Confederate Armed Forces. This thesis also explores the various roles and missions assigned to Confederate Marines, evaluates their performance at accomplishing those tasks, and looks at how they moved into new and more challenging assignments as the war progressed. It asserts that the Confederacy knowingly created the CSMC with a different structure than that of its Northern cousin, the USMC, and that the differences made the CSMC a more flexible and adaptable organization. The structural differences This thesis follows the style and format of the Journal of Military History. 2 allowed leaders to employ the CSMC on a national level, despite its small size, and also to rapidly concentrate units to meet more significant threats. In its short life, the CSMC acted upon ideas already in gestation prior to the conflict and performed essential, yet historically unappreciated, roles in support of the Confederate cause. The CSMC implemented certain operational concepts originally conceived in the pre-war U.S. Marine Corps, such as the deployment of battalion-sized expeditionary units integrated with modern rifled artillery, features that allowed it to better allocate its finite resources to meet stronger Union challenges with increased capability.1 Yet despite its successes, the CSMC’s military contributions have been generally unrecognized, overshadowed, or co-opted by other, larger unit operations or events. This work argues that the Confederacy, in creating and employing its Marine Corps, reaped benefits and rewards on a scale greater than the sum of its investment. The Civil War provided an opportunity