OFFICERS OF GREEK DESCENT IN THE UNION NAVY, 1861-1865 By GEORGE P. PERROS mericans of Greek descent parti­ Turks during the massacre of Greeks on The boy was enrolled in a military cipated in the conflict of the Civil Chios in 1822. His captors removed him academy at Norwich, Connecticut, of A War on both the Union and Con­ to Smyrna. There, he was ransomed by which Captain Partriage was the federate sides. Accordingly, it is the some friends of his family, and was put founder and head; and his award, limited purpose of this article to present on board an American brig, then in receiving a good education, remained some salient facts on a handful of com­ port, named the Margarita, with nine or there until he procured, on February 21, patriots whose careers in the United ten others through the port of Balti­ 1832, an acting midshipman's warrant States Navy spanned the Civil War. more, and were received by the Greek in the United States Navy. Thomas Burgess, in his book Greeks in Relief Committee. With the consent of A summary account of the naval ser­ America (1913), mentions three natives that body, Captain Alden Partridge, a vice of Colvocoresses, based on a report of Greece who were officers in the Unit­ military educator, assumed the respon­ prepared by the Division of Naval His­ ed States Navy during the Civil War. Of sibility for the care of Colvocoresses. tory, Navy Department, shows the fol­ the three, George Musalas Colvoco­ lowing sea-going and land-based resses is best known among those assignments discharged by the officer: acquainted with the annals of Greeks in USS United States, USS John Adams, the United States. Little, however, is USS Delaware, and USS Potomac, known of the second officer, George (Mediterranean Sea, Coast of Africa, Sirian, who, at the start of the Civil Coast of Brazil), 1832-1837; Naval war, was a resident of the State of Vir­ School at Norfolk, 1837; warranted ginia. Photius Fisk (Kavasales), the Passed Midshipman, 1838; Wilkes third officer, is probably better known Exploring Expedition: USS POR­ than Sirian. POISE, USS PEACOCK, USS VIN­ CENNES, USS OREGON, 1838-1842; Ella Lonn, in her book Foreigners in USS OHIO, Receiving Ship at Boston, the Union Army and Navy (1951), p. 1843; USS WARREN, USS SHARK, 630, finds Colvocoresses, a native of and USS RELIEF, (Pacific Ocean), Chios, as probably the most interesting 1843-46; made lieutenant, 1844; USS of the foreign-born officers who held Receiving Ship at New York, 1847; USS the rank of commander in the Union ALLEG HANY (Coast of Brazil and Navy; she characterizes him "as Greek Mediterranean Sea), 1847-1849; USS as his name." The Dictionary ofAmeri­ GERMANTOWN and USS POR­ can Biography, Vol. IV, pp. 326-327 POISE, (Home Squadron and Coast of (1930), with a bibliographical note, The Africa), 1850-1852; USS Receiving National Cyclopedia of American Bio­ Ship at New York, 1854-1855; USS graphy, Vol. 23, p. 339 (1933), Applet­ LEVANT (East Indies), 1855-1858; on's Cyclopedia of American Portsmouth Navy Yard, 1858-1861; Biography, Vol. 1, pp. 699-700 (1888), Commissioned Commander, 1861; and the Washington Historical Quar­ USS SUPPLY 1861-1863, and USS terly, Vol. XXV, pp. 163-170 (July SARATOGA, 1863-1864 (For details 1934), print biographical sketches of the of his service while in command of the officer. The sources include some par­ Supply and the Saratoga, see the Offi­ ticulars on the antecedents of Colvoco­ cial Records of the Union and Confed­ resses. He was made a captive of the erate Navies in the War of the Rebellion); USS DACOTAH, 1864; USS WACHUSETT, 1864-1865; USS Mr. George Perros was an archivist at ST. MARY'S, in the Pacific (For the Bureau of Archives in Washington reports of his search for the CSS S HE­ D. C. He recently retired and lives in Rear Admiral NADOAH, see the Official Recorts, Washington. George Partridge Colvocoresses Series I, vol. 3), 1865-1866; placed on AUGUST, 1991 5 the Retired List, Jan. 11, 1867; and and ammunition and freeing slaves. sions referred to." (Official Records commissioned a captain on the Retired These achivements won two citations of the Union and Confederate Navies List, Apr. 4, 1867. in general orders by Adm. Dahlgren in the War of the Rebellion, Series I, One can cite an excerpt from The and commendation by Secretary vol. 15, p. 643.) Gideon Welles." National Cyclopedia of American Bio­ I t should be noted that Colvocoresses graphy for a concise statement of Col­ The commendatory letter from the recounted his experiences as a member vocoresses' role in the Civil War: Secretary of the Navy, dated September of the Wilkes Exploring Expedition to 15, 1864, reads as follows: the South Seas and the Antarctic (1838- "At the outbreak of the Civil War he 1842) in a book titled Four Years in the was commissioned commander and "Sir: I have received from Rear­ Government Exploring Expedition with the U.S. Ship Supply captured Admiral Dahlgren the reports of the (1852), a work so popular that it was the blockade runner STEPHEN several expeditions recently dis­ issued in five editions. In his later years, HAR T, which was carrying supplies patched from the U.S.S. SARAT­ Colvocoresses, endowed with a quick to the Confederacy. In 1863 he was OGA into the waters and counties of mind and with a pleasing personality, transferred to the SARATOGA Georgia, which were originated and often gave lectures on his voyages and under Rear Adm. Dahlgren, and conducted by you with commenda­ on topics of natural history. Ironically, assigned to duty off the South Carol­ ble discretion, and zeal and crowned the retired officer met a violent end in ina and Georgia Coasts. He trained with success. civilian life; on June 3, 1872, he has shot his crew for landing expeditions and "The Department desires to return to and killed by footpads on a street in made several sorties in August, 1864, you and those under you command Bridgeport, Connecticut, while on a destroying bridges and encamp­ its thanks for your zealous and good business trip from his home in Litch­ ments, capturing enemy troops, guns services to the country on the occa- field, Connecticut. -TheKey CostaMarina togreei( she brings her European • sophistication to Ei\ATE hospitality! the Caribbean. MAZY MAl: For any reason you come to Greece for business or vacations the ELECTRA GROUP OF HOTELS are ideal for your stay. Two ELECTRA hotels in the heart of Athens and one in the center of Thessaloniki are designed to meet the demands of every business­ man making on the other hand a business trip a relaxing pleasure. 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(212) 9864373 100.000 "En'lvE<;. electra group of hotels rPA" ATE H THAE4)ONHI:ATE ATHENS ELECTRA HOTEL: 5, Hermou SIr. Syntagma Sq. Tel.: 322-3223 Telex: 216896 FAX 322 0310 (01) 200 RENAISSANCE SUITE 511, DETROIT, MI. 48243 Central Reservations for all our Hotels TELEX: 21~96 Phone: (313) 259-4010 ATHENS ELECTRA PALACE HOTEL: 18, Nicodimou Str., Tel.: 324-1401-7 Telex: 216896 FAX 324 1875 (01) THESSALONIKI ELECTRA PALACE HOTEL: AristotelolU Sq. Tel.: 23 .2221 COST AS KARACOST AS Telex: 412590 FAX 23 5947 (031) CRETE CRETA BEACH: HERACLlON, CRETE, Tel.: 28.6301 FAX 251777 (081) RHODES ELECTRA PALACE TRIANTA Tel.: 92521 FAX 92038 (0241) 6 GREEK-AMERICAN REVIEW Burgess furnishes no details on the Dewey's Squadron,- at the Battle of Norfolk, 1865; Naval Magazine at Nor­ naval service of George Sirian, apart Manila Bay. For "eminent and conspic­ folk, 1865-66; Norfolk Navy Yard, from reporting that the Greek Seafarer, uous conduct" in that engagement, he 1866-67; USS PISCATAQUA (Flag­ becoming a gunner, attained the rank of was advanced by five numbers in grade. ship of the Asiatic Fleet), 1869-70; N or­ warrant officer. The same source adds The record of the naval service of folk Navy Yard, 1870-71; Naval the interesting sidelight that Sirian mar­ George Sirian, compiled from the Navy Magazine at Norfolk, 1871-72; USS ried the daughter of George Marshall, a Registers and from other sources, YANTIC and USS IDAHO (Ordnance Greek, who "puplishes probably the shows that he was appointed an Acting Storeship at Yokohama, Japan), 1872- first manual of naval gunnery in our Gunner in the United States Navy on 74; Norfolk Navy Yard, 1878-8; Retired service." Rear Admiral George Par­ April 20, 1837, after having served as a list, December 15, 1880. tridge Colvocoresses, the son of Cap­ seaman; that he received his warrant as The highlight in the service of Sirian tain George M.