JAMES WALLACE, ENS, USN
James Wallace '63
James Wallace was admitted to the Naval Academy from Iowa on November 1, 1859 at age 15 years 4 months.
Loss
James "died of disease" on February 25, 1864 at Nyack, New York.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
James’ mother Isabella married Hamilton Vance Wallace on June 15, 1847, in Davenport, Iowa. She died on June 28, 1871, in Philadelphia and was buried in Davenport next to him.
Isabella’s father John Macklot, born 1767 in France, died in Scott County, Iowa, on April, 16, 1849. Her mother, Amelia or Emily (Mathieu) was born in 1791 in Santo Domingo, West Indies, and died in 1872.
Her brother Louis, a wealthy Davenport banker, was born in Brazil in 1822. He died before Isabella and is buried in the cemetery in West Davenport. Her sister Louisa born in 1820 Philadelphia married Colonel Charles Weston, a judge, on December 14, 1842, in Davenport. Louisa’s wedding was at the Macklott residence; the grounds took up 5th and 6th and Rock Island and LeClaire streets. In 1847 Charles took over Louis’ stand and opened a dry goods and grocery store. In 1871 the Westons lived in Philadelphia but visited Davenport. She died in 1885, and he died in 1889.
James was born in New York but later moved to Davenport, Iowa, with his mother Isabella. Beginning in 1856, his mother loaned money for land in connection with his Uncle Louis Macklot's bank -- the Banking House of Macklot and Corbin. James entered the Naval Academy in November 1859, and on May 10, 1861, he was ordered to Boston from the Academy now at Newport, Rhode Island. He was on the *Sabine* from August 22 until October. In 1862, he received commendation for commanding a boat howitzer with two others provided by Captain Steedman to aid in the return of soldiers to Hilton Head. Brigadier General J. M. Brannan wrote: the three and the Rhode Island volunteers "deserve great credit for their coolness, skill and gallantry."
In 1863 James was on the steam frigate *Wabash.* On July 8, James' boat with three others were towed up from Port Royal. Lieutenant Mackenzie then sent James and acting master's mate Louis Boun to the Light-house Inlet to fire on Morris Island, South Carolina, in conjunction with the Union forces on Folly Island.
James then participated in the ill-planned attempt to capture Fort Sumter in September. Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren ordered the attack believing there were only a few Confederates holding the fort. A few of the 400 Union sailors and Marines who did land could not scale the wall. The Confederates fired upon them as well as throwing hand grenades and loose bricks. The retreat was ordered with the loss of eight killed, 19 wounded, and 105 captured (including 15 of the wounded).
James was in New York City on Sept 29, 1863, waiting to take his next exam. He listed his address as: no 38, Warren St., Newark, New Jersey. He went to Philadelphia and passed his exam in November. He then wrote that he would like to be on an iron clad at Charleston Harbor. He was ordered in December to go to New York City for service on the sloop *Brooklyn.* Her repairs were finished, but he died before she went to sea on May 10.
Here is James' account to Rear-Admiral Dahlgren of his participation of the attack on Fort Sumter. Naval Battery, Morris Island, S. C. September 9, 1863.
Sir: I have the honor to report that on the evening of the 8th of September, in obedience to orders from Lieutenant G. C. Remey, commanding naval battalion, I took charge of one boat and 19 men, armed and commanded four boats, forming the second division, of which mine was the right boat. About 10 p.m. the *Daffodil* took the boats in tow and stood up for Charleston Harbor. About midnight we cast off from the *Daffodil,* and directly after Captain Stevens hailed and ordered me to pull for Fort Sumter. I did so, and while pulling Captain Stevens ordered me to follow the boat on my starboard bow, telling me she was going behind the fort. I followed the boat as directed and passed the side of Fort Sumter which faces Fort Moultrie. Discovering a steamer coming from behind the fort, the leading boat went close in under the walls; we followed her and pulled back toward the sea face, examining the foot of the fort to see if any of our boats had landed. Upon coming to the right bastion of the sea face, I found the marines in boats firing at the fort. I could find no officer to report to regarding the steamer, and no one could tell me whether our men had landed or where they were. Seeing a boat sinking, I pulled toward it, but found that all of its men had been taken out or drowned. Upon returning to the fort to examine the sea face and gorge wall, I observed all the boats retreating, and upon pulling up to one of them the officer in charge informed me that Captain Stevens had given the order to retreat. I could not find out if any of our boats had landed, and seeing no boats between me and the fort I pulled back to the flagship, where I first learned that Lieutenant Remey, with his boat's crew, had landed on Fort Sumter. The firing from the fort commenced about five minutes after I had received order to follow behind the fort. The interval from the time the first gun was fired until the order to retreat was given was about twenty minutes, the enemy using small arms and hand grenades. Almost all the marine boats and a great many boats with sailors in them replied to the enemy's fire with their muskets and revolvers. When Fort Sumter opened on the boats Forts Moultrie and Johnson also opened. Lieutenant Remey, with his boat's crew of 10 men, were left on the fort when the retreat commenced, and were captured by the enemy. Our losses from the naval battery were Lieutenant Remey and 5 men captured. I enclose the reports of Acting Ensign William Knapp and of Acting Master's Mate Hollins, who were in the other boats of the second division. Respectfully submitted, James Wallace, Ensign, Commanding Naval Battery.
Career
From the Naval History and Heritage Command:
Acting Midshipman, 1 November, 1859. Ensign, 16 September, 1862. Died 25 February, 1864.
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