EDWARD J. MCDERMOTT, LT, CSN
Edward McDermott '63
Edward J. McDermott was admitted to the Naval Academy from Texas on September 22, 1858 at age 15 years 0 months.
Loss
From Find A Grave:
Lt. McDermott led a successful naval expedition of about 50 Confederate Navy men (coming overland from Mobile) against Union Navy boats protecting a contraband operation in southern Louisiana near Lake Maurepas. Edward McDermott was killed in the battle.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Edward was born in Arkansas, and in 1850, his father Joseph was a farmer in Dallas County, Texas. His mother was Lucinda “Lucy” who ran a boarding house after his father died. His brothers were William, a copper and tin smith, Samuel, a printer, and Porter. His sisters were Mary, Cora, and Henrietta. That year Dallas County had a log cabin courthouse, two churches, 278 farms, and ten one-teacher schools with 170 pupils.
Joining the Confederacy in April 1861, Edward was on the CSS Louisiana and the CSS Tennessee in 1862. He escaped the fall of New Orleans on April 28. In 1863-64, he was on the CSS Huntsville and was captured on August 5, 1864, at the Battle of Mobile Bay along with 500 others. In 1865 he was on the CSS Webb. Several of the crew came overland from Mobile to southern Louisiana to stop counterfeit sales to the Union. They boarded a ship that was full of Union soldiers in the hold, and Edward died during the ensuing fight. Fort McDermott was named after him right after his death. It was one of the final battles, along with Fort Blakely, that took place after General Lee’s surrender to General Grant.
Edward had resigned on April 18, 1861, and was appointed an acting midshipman in the Confederate States Navy on May 16.
He is listed on the killed in action panel in the front of Memorial Hall.
Confederates in Memorial Hall
This alumni is included on this site because he is listed in Memorial Hall. Pursuant to Section 377 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, the Naming Commission found, per Part II of their final report to Congress, that "Due to the limited factual nature of [Memorial Hall], the Commission believes it may remain as structured."
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