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Telephone: 717-260-1861, Ext. 1201


Commando Raid on the USS WaterWitch
Dr. Maurice Melton Dinner and Program 
at The National Civil War Museum

Harrisburg, PA (October 15, 2004) - Dr. Maurice Melton will be visiting The National Civil War Museum on Friday, October 29.  Melton, Professor of History at Georgia’s Albany State University and editor of the South Georgia History and The Confederate Ironclads, will provide guests with insight into the capture of the U.S.S. WaterWitch, a daring commando-style raid, which occurred on June 3, 1864.  The program, entitled Old Tactics, New Adaptations: The Confederate Attack of the U.S.S. WaterWitch, will be accompanied by dinner in the Museum ballroom.

The U.S.S. WaterWitch, a 378-ton side-wheel steamer, was used by the Union at the beginning of the War to help blockade the mouth of the Mississippi River. By 1864 the WaterWitch, with a crew of sixty-eight officers and men commanded by Lt. Austin Pendergrast, was serving off the coast of Georgia and assisting with the blockade of Savannah.

On May 31, seven small boats manned by 130 armed Confederate seamen were towed down the Savannah River by the small steamer CSS Firefly to the Isle of Hope. The seamen, commanded by Lt. Thomas P. Pelot, began a daring commando-style raid to capture the WaterWitch, which was frequently stationed near Savannah.  The Confederate commanders searched for two nights, all in vain.

Then, on the night of June 2, the Rebel raiders ventured into the sound once more. There they spotted the silhouette of the WaterWitch against flashes of lightning, and rowed silently toward her. At approximately 2:00 a.m., five of the small boats converged upon the Union ship and the Rebels quickly scrambled up the sides. Lieutenant Pelot, reported to be the first aboard the Union ship, was immediately shot through the heart. Within fifteen minutes the Rebels had subdued the Union crew and captured the ship. Five other raiders were killed during the short, vicious fight, including the pilot who had been brought along to navigate the ship back to the Georgia mainland. Due to the loss of the pilot, the captured ship was grounded in the shallow sound three times, and many of the provisions that were captured with the ship had to be jettisoned to lighten the vessel.

Dr. Melton will present the fascinating story of the June 1864 Confederate commando raid on the U.S.S. WaterWitch, beginning with a hors d’ouerves reception at 6:30 p.m.  Dinner will be served at 7:15 p.m., with the lecture following.  All events will take place in the ballroom of The National Civil War Museum.  The cost for the event is $20 for Museum members and $25 for non-members.  Please note, reservations are required in advance.     

The National Civil War Museum, which has an on-site, full-service café and museum shop, is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5:00 p.m.  For more information about this unique attraction, please call 717.260.1861, or visit the Museum’s website at www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org.

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2004