Life span: 11/13/1809 to 07/12/1870TabsLife SummaryFull name: John Adolphus DahlgrenPlace of Birth: Philadelphia, PABurial Place: Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, PABirth Date Certainty: ExactDeath Date Certainty: ExactGender: MaleRace: WhiteSectional choice: NorthOrigins: Free StateNo. of Spouses: 2No. of Children: 10Family: Bernard Ulric Dahlgren (father), Martha Rowan (mother), Mary C. Bunker (first wife, 1839), Madeleine Vinton Goddard (second wife, 1865)Occupation: MilitaryMilitary: US military (Pre-Civil War)Union NavyUS military (Post-Civil War) Note Cards John Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren (American National Biography) ScholarshipDahlgren was at the Washington Navy Yard in April 1861 at the outbreak of the Civil War. The yard's commander Franklin Buchanan resigned to "go South," and Dahlgren was appointed to replace him. On 16 July 1862 he was promoted to captain, and two days later he took command of the Bureau of Ordnance. Dahlgren's reputation and his proximity to the White House often brought him in contact with President Abraham Lincoln, outside of the normal chain of command, which was looked upon with some suspicion by Dahlgren's peers. On 7 February 1863 he was promoted to rear admiral. Four months later, 24 June, Dahlgren was ordered to take command of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. As commander of the Blockading Squadron, Dahlgren's chief goal was the capture of the port of Charleston. His predecessor, S. Francis Du Pont, had tried and failed in this attempt and was recalled as a result. During Dahlgren's command Charleston was kept under siege for almost two years. Pressed at sea by Dahlgren's forces and from the land side by William Tecumseh Sherman's advancing army, the Confederates evacuated Charleston 17-18 February 1865. Dahlgren was ordered to transfer his command of the squadron 9 June, when the force was integrated with the Northern Blockading Squadron and returned to its prewar status as the Atlantic Squadron. William M. Fowler, "Dahlgren, John Adolphus Bernard," American National Biography Online, February 2000, http://www.anb.org/articles/04/04-00291.html. Events Date span begin Life span End Event 04/26/1862 04/26/1862 President Lincoln, with great ceremony, visits aboard a French frigate at the Washington Navy Yard 05/14/1862 05/14/1862 President Lincoln visits General McClellan's headquarters at Fredericksburg, Virginia 06/25/1863 06/25/1863 Admiral Dahlgren appointed to replace the ailing Admiral Foote as South Atlantic Squadron commander 07/10/1863 07/11/1863 Union troops land on Morris Island and fail in a dawn attack on Fort Wagner 07/18/1863 07/18/1863 On Morris Island, South Carolina, Confederate defenders of Fort Wagner beat back a second heavy attack 07/18/1863 07/18/1863 The African-American 54th Massachusetts earns fame across the North with its brave attempt to storm Fort Wagner 08/17/1863 08/21/1863 Union gunners carry out a heavy five day bombardment of the Confederate forts defending Charleston 09/05/1863 09/05/1863 In Charleston Harbor, a night attack by Union small boats on Battery Gregg is easily repulsed 12/13/1864 12/13/1864 Near Savannah, Georgia, Fort McAllister falls to Union troops and Sherman makes contact with the U.S. Navy 04/14/1865 04/14/1865 In Charleston Harbor, General Robert Anderson re-hoists the United States flag over Fort Sumter Major TopicsCivil War at Sea Documents Subject Docs Date Title 11/05/1858 New York Times, "A Recognition of President Juarez," November 5, 1858 04/14/1865 Reverend Henry Ward Beecher's remarks at the ceremony restoring the flag to Fort Sumter, South Carolina, April 14, 1865 Images John Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren John Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren, detail Bibliography
John Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren (American National Biography) ScholarshipDahlgren was at the Washington Navy Yard in April 1861 at the outbreak of the Civil War. The yard's commander Franklin Buchanan resigned to "go South," and Dahlgren was appointed to replace him. On 16 July 1862 he was promoted to captain, and two days later he took command of the Bureau of Ordnance. Dahlgren's reputation and his proximity to the White House often brought him in contact with President Abraham Lincoln, outside of the normal chain of command, which was looked upon with some suspicion by Dahlgren's peers. On 7 February 1863 he was promoted to rear admiral. Four months later, 24 June, Dahlgren was ordered to take command of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. As commander of the Blockading Squadron, Dahlgren's chief goal was the capture of the port of Charleston. His predecessor, S. Francis Du Pont, had tried and failed in this attempt and was recalled as a result. During Dahlgren's command Charleston was kept under siege for almost two years. Pressed at sea by Dahlgren's forces and from the land side by William Tecumseh Sherman's advancing army, the Confederates evacuated Charleston 17-18 February 1865. Dahlgren was ordered to transfer his command of the squadron 9 June, when the force was integrated with the Northern Blockading Squadron and returned to its prewar status as the Atlantic Squadron. William M. Fowler, "Dahlgren, John Adolphus Bernard," American National Biography Online, February 2000, http://www.anb.org/articles/04/04-00291.html.