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George H Abbott

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George H Abbott Veteran

Birth
Waller County, Texas, USA
Death
31 Jul 1863
Waller County, Texas, USA
Burial
Hempstead, Waller County, Texas, USA GPS-Latitude: 30.0881082, Longitude: -96.0407823
Memorial ID
View Source
George H. Abbott, Yeoman, USN died December 12, 1863, at Camp Groce, Texas, as a prisoner of war.

Pension Records show service on board USS Morning Light

U.S. Navy Pensions Index, 1861-1910about George H Abbott
Name: George H Abbott
Publication: M1279
Pension Approval: Approved
File Number: 11587
Certification Number: 949

USS Morning Light (1853) was a sailing ship acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries.

Morning Light, an 8 gun ship, was built in 1853 by William Cramp and Sons at Kensington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; launched 15 August 1853; purchased by the Navy 2 September 1861 at New York City; and commissioned 21 November 1861 at New York Navy Yard, Acting Volunteer Lt. Henry T. Moore in command.

After fitting out for combat, Morning Light sailed from New York to cruise the lower U.S. East Coast in search of Confederate privateers and blockade runners. Morning Light returned to New York, arriving 28 February 1862.

Assigned to the West Gulf Blockade

Assigned to Flag Officer David G. Farragut's West Gulf Blockading Squadron, Morning Light departed New York in March with provisions for ships in the Mississippi Sound area. On 15 April Farragut ordered her to remain with bark Kuhn off Ship Island, Mississippi, as protection for the Army command of Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler which provided occupation troops for New Orleans, Louisiana, after Farragut's fleet captured the city 25 April.

By 27 May Morning Light was off Pensacola, Florida, performing blockade duties with sloop Vincennes. On 19 June sloop Florida, temporary tender for Morning Light, intercepted sloop Ventura, loaded with foodstuff for New Orleans, off Grant's Pass, Mobile Bay, Alabama.

Destroying Confederate salt works at Cedar Lake

Returning to Ship Island, Mississippi, in August, Morning Light left in November for Velasco, Texas. On 27 and 28 November, she sent several boat expeditions ashore to destroy the Confederate salt works at Cedar Lake.

Morning Light is captured and burned

On 18 January 1863, Morning Light, Acting Master John Dillingham now in command, was ordered to blockade off Sabine Pass. Three days later two Confederate "cotton clad" steamers, Uncle Ben and Bell, with artillery and Texas infantry, attacked Morning Light and schooner Velocity in a successful effort to destroy the blockade at Galveston, Texas. Due to the calm weather, neither Union sailing ship could evade the Confederate fire, and both were forced to strike their colors. Morning Light, left a riddled wreck, was taken by the Confederates 21 January and burned 2 days later.

He died at Camp Groce CSA 2 miles east of Hempstead, Texas and was buried east of camp in the Camp Groce POW Cemetery there.Yeoman, USS Morning Light. Died of Bilious Congestive Fever from exposure to climatic influences while a prisoner of war at Camp Groce, Texas 2 miles East of Hempstead, Texas.
George H. Abbott, Yeoman, USN died December 12, 1863, at Camp Groce, Texas, as a prisoner of war.

Pension Records show service on board USS Morning Light

U.S. Navy Pensions Index, 1861-1910about George H Abbott
Name: George H Abbott
Publication: M1279
Pension Approval: Approved
File Number: 11587
Certification Number: 949

USS Morning Light (1853) was a sailing ship acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries.

Morning Light, an 8 gun ship, was built in 1853 by William Cramp and Sons at Kensington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; launched 15 August 1853; purchased by the Navy 2 September 1861 at New York City; and commissioned 21 November 1861 at New York Navy Yard, Acting Volunteer Lt. Henry T. Moore in command.

After fitting out for combat, Morning Light sailed from New York to cruise the lower U.S. East Coast in search of Confederate privateers and blockade runners. Morning Light returned to New York, arriving 28 February 1862.

Assigned to the West Gulf Blockade

Assigned to Flag Officer David G. Farragut's West Gulf Blockading Squadron, Morning Light departed New York in March with provisions for ships in the Mississippi Sound area. On 15 April Farragut ordered her to remain with bark Kuhn off Ship Island, Mississippi, as protection for the Army command of Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler which provided occupation troops for New Orleans, Louisiana, after Farragut's fleet captured the city 25 April.

By 27 May Morning Light was off Pensacola, Florida, performing blockade duties with sloop Vincennes. On 19 June sloop Florida, temporary tender for Morning Light, intercepted sloop Ventura, loaded with foodstuff for New Orleans, off Grant's Pass, Mobile Bay, Alabama.

Destroying Confederate salt works at Cedar Lake

Returning to Ship Island, Mississippi, in August, Morning Light left in November for Velasco, Texas. On 27 and 28 November, she sent several boat expeditions ashore to destroy the Confederate salt works at Cedar Lake.

Morning Light is captured and burned

On 18 January 1863, Morning Light, Acting Master John Dillingham now in command, was ordered to blockade off Sabine Pass. Three days later two Confederate "cotton clad" steamers, Uncle Ben and Bell, with artillery and Texas infantry, attacked Morning Light and schooner Velocity in a successful effort to destroy the blockade at Galveston, Texas. Due to the calm weather, neither Union sailing ship could evade the Confederate fire, and both were forced to strike their colors. Morning Light, left a riddled wreck, was taken by the Confederates 21 January and burned 2 days later.

He died at Camp Groce CSA 2 miles east of Hempstead, Texas and was buried east of camp in the Camp Groce POW Cemetery there.Yeoman, USS Morning Light. Died of Bilious Congestive Fever from exposure to climatic influences while a prisoner of war at Camp Groce, Texas 2 miles East of Hempstead, Texas.

Bio by: Rubbings

Gravesite Details

Yeoman / USS Morning Light


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