USS Monitor Legacy Program: Capt. Charles Wilkes Civil War Service

Presenter:

John V. Quarstein
Director emeritus of the USS Monitor Center

About the lecture:

Charles Wilkes was one of the most controversial officers in the US Navy during the 19th century. After entering the navy as a midshipmen in 1818, he was promoted lieutenant, named commander of the Department of Charts and Instruments, and inducted into the American Philosophical Society. When commanding the United States Exploring Expedition from 1838 to 1842, he discovered and mapped Antarctica, then was court martialed for mistreatment of officers and crew upon returning.

Wilkes commanded USS San Jacinto when the war erupted, with his first duty to track down the commerce raider CSS Sumter. He became very aggressive against British ports used by blockade runners and illegally blockaded the Bermuda port of St. George’s. He then sent San Jacinto to stop RMS Trent to remove Confederate commissioners Slidell and Mason in a breach of the British Neutrality Act, almost causing the US to go to war with Great Britain. He returned to Virginia as commander of the James River Squadron. Eventually, he was reassigned to the Caribbean to track down CSS Alabama. His failure to do so resulted in his court martial and suspension from the navy. Nevertheless, he eventually was reinstated, promoted rear admiral, and retired in 1866.