Samuel Greene

Samuel Dana Greene, Sr. (February 11, 1839 – December 11, 1884) was an officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War, mostly noted for his service aboard the USS Monitor during the Battle of Hampton Roads.

For the American Baptist pastor, see Samuel Harrison Greene.

Samuel Dana Greene, Sr.
Born	(1839-02-11)February 11, 1839 Cumberland, Maryland
Died	December 11, 1884(1884-12-11) (aged 45) Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1855–1884
Rank	Lieutenant Commander
Commands held	USS Monitor USS Juniata USS Monongahela USS Despatch
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Biography

Early life and career

Greene was born in Cumberland, Maryland, the son of future U.S. Army General George S. Greene. He entered the United States Naval Academy on September 21, 1855, and graduated on June 9, 1859, with the rank of midshipman.[1] He was stationed on the steam sloop Hartford, which transported John Elliott Ward, the American ambassador to various cities in China to settle American claims.

Civil War

When the Civil War broke out, the Hartford was ordered to return home. Greene, having been promoted to lieutenant on August 31, 1861,[1] arrived in Philadelphia on December 2, 1861. After a short leave, he volunteered for duty on the Monitor. Greene was appointed executive officer, serving under Commander Lieutenant John L. Worden during its historic four-hour battle at Hampton Roads, Virginia, with the Confederate ironclad warship CSS Virginia on March 9, 1862. During the battle he assumed full command of Monitor when Worden was temporarily blinded by shell fragments from an explosion from one of Virginia's broadsides. After the subsequent retreat and assessment of all damage Greene ordered the return to battle and continued engaging the Virginia to a standoff.[2][3] Greene continued to command the Monitor until Thomas O. Selfridge, Jr. took command on March 10, 1862.

From April to May 1862 Greene continued to serve as executive officer on Monitor during the Battle of Drewry's Bluff on the James River, Virginia, and later provided naval support for General McClellan's forces on land along that river. Greene was aboard the ship when it foundered in a gale 20 miles off Cape Hatteras on December 31 – January 1, 1863, which Greene survived after being pulled into a lifeboat by the ship's surgeon, Dr. Grenville M. Weeks.[4]

In 1863 Greene served aboard the gunboat Florida on the blockade of North Carolina, then in 1864–1865 aboard the sloop Iroquois, under the command of Christopher R. P. Rodgers, sailing around South America and across the Pacific to Singapore in search of the Confederate raider CSS Shenandoah.[5]

Post-war career

Greene was promoted to Lieutenant Commander on August 11, 1865,[1] and served as instructor of mathematics at the Naval Academy from 1866 to 1868.[6] From 1868 to 1871 he served in the Pacific Squadron, aboard the sloops Ossipee and Saranac, and the screw steamer Pensacola.[5] He served as the head of the department of astronomy, navigation and surveying at the Naval Academy from 1871 to 1875,[6] receiving promotion to Commander on December 12, 1872.[1] Greene commanded the Juniata and Monongahela between 1875 and 1878,[5] was assistant superintendent of the Academy from 1878 to 1882,[6] then commanded the Despatch in 1883-1884.[5]

Greene was serving as the executive officer of the Portsmouth Navy Yard[6] when on December 11, 1884 at the age of 45, he committed suicide at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and was buried in Bristol, Rhode Island.[7]

Namesake

The destroyer USS Greene (DD-266) (1919–1945) was named for him.

See also

• Union Navy

References

1. "US Navy Officers: 1778-1900 (G)". Naval Historical Center. 2006. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
2. Davis, 1981, p.132-133
3. Baxter, 1933, p.294
4. Davis, 1981, p.160-164
5. "Eyewitness Accounts - Samuel Dana Greene". Mariners' Museum. 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
6. Niermeyer, Douglas (2010). "Commander Samuel Dana Greene, USN". Military Order Of The Loyal Legion Of The United States. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
7. Davis, 1981, p. 168

Bibliography

• Baxter, James Phinney, 3rd (1968). The Introduction of the Ironclad Warship (reprint of the 1933 ed.). Hamden, Connecticut: Archon Books. p. 398. OCLC 695838727.
• Davis, William C. (1981). Duel Between the First Ironclads. University Press, Baton Rouge: Louisiana State (First Published New York: Doubleday & Co., Inc., 1975). ISBN 0-8071-0868-5.
• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "Ship". New International Encyclopedia. XXI (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead. pp. 5–6.

External links

• Worden, John Lorimer; Greene, Dana S.; Ramsay, H. Ashton (1912). The Monitor and the Merrimac; both sides of the story, told by Lieut. J. L. Worden, U.S.N., Lieut. Greene, U.S.N., of the Monitor, and H. Ashton Ramsay, C.S.N., chief engineer of the Merrimac. Compiled by Lucius E. Chittenden. New York: Harper & Brothers.
• Works by Samuel Dana Greene at Project Gutenberg
• Works by or about Samuel Greene at Internet Archive