Photographic History of the United States Navy
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NavSource Naval History Photographic History of the United States Navy |
DESTROYER ARCHIVE |
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Size | Image Description | Contributed By |
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73k | Charles Stuart Boggs, a nephew of Capt. James Lawrence of the ill-fated frigate Chesapeake, was born on 28 January 1811 in New Brunswick, N.J., and was appointed a midshipman on 1 November 1826. He sailed for European waters in Warren on 22 February 1827 and, in that sloop of war and in the ship of the line Delaware, helped to protect American shipping from Greek pirates. Next assigned to Porpoise, Midshipman Boggs served in that schooner as she fought piracy and the slave trade in the West Indies. On 28 April 1832, he came ashore as a passed midshipman and spent nearly four years in duty on shore. Appointed an acting lieutenant, he returned to sea in 1836 as executive officer of Enterprise. Newly commissioned Lt. Boggs spent the years 1838 to 1842 training naval apprentices. In 1842, he took to sea again in Saratoga to police the West African slave ports. Before the outbreak of war with Mexico, Boggs moved to the steamer Princeton; and, in her, he participated in the bombardment of the castle San Juan de Ulloa and in the capture of Veracruz. When the brig Truxtun ran aground on a bar near Veracruz, he led the boat expedition that recaptured the ship and destroyed her. Boggs left Mexican waters late in March 1847 when Princeton took the ailing Commodore Conner home and then sailed in her for the Mediterranean to protect American shipping from Mexican privateers. He returned home on 24 June 1849, but found himself back in European waters early in 1851 when St. Lawrence carried exhibits from the United States to England for the International Exposition at London. Following duty at the New York Navy Yard, Comdr. Boggs went on a three-year furlough. During that period, he commanded the civilian mail steamer Illinois in the service of the California Steamship Co. A bit later, he became inspector of Lights along the California coast. While holding this post, he commanded Shubrick and, in that steamer, each year made two voyages from Vancouver's Island to lower California to check on coastal navigational aids. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Boggs requested active duty and he was placed in command of Varuna, a small steamer which was attached to Flag Officer Farragut's West Gulf Blockading Squadron during the campaign to capture New Orleans. When that force ran the gauntlet on the lower Mississippi River between Forts Jackson and St. Philip on 24 April 1862, Boggs' Varuna was in the forefront of the action. She shot forward and was first to pass the fortifications and to engage the Confederate flotilla above them. For a time, she suffered the combined fire of the Southern ships. Though Varuna was shelled and rammed by two Confederate ironclad rams, Comdr. Boggs fought his ship until his gunports sank beneath the water. After service in Juniata, Boggs was promoted to captain on 16 July 1862 and took command of Sacramento. He also served concurrently as senior officer of the force blockading Wilmington, N.C., until the constant drain on his health forced him ashore to recruiting duty late in the summer of 1863. In 1864 and 1865, Capt. Boggs was at the New York Navy Yard as superintendent of shipbuilding. There, he watched over the building and outfitting of a fleet of steam picket boats of his own design. It is interesting to note that Lt. William B. Cushing fitted out one of Capt. Boggs' steam launches as a torpedo boat to score his spectacular success in sinking the Confederate ironclad ram Albemarle. On 17 February 1865, Capt. Boggs assumed command of the sidewheel gunboat Connecticut and cruised the West Indies from late February to the beginning of August. From that duty, he moved to command of De Soto, a steamer assigned to the North Atlantic Squadron. Promoted to flag rank on 1 July 1870, Rear Admiral Boggs was appointed lighthouse inspector for the 3d District, his last assignment before he retired to New Brunswick on 29 January 1872. Rear Admiral Boggs died there on 22 April 1888. Photo #: NH 56205. Rear Admiral Charles S. Boggs, USN portrait photograph taken circa 1870. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. | Tony Cowart/Bill Gonyo | ||
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37k | Undated, location unknown. | - | ||
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128k | The keel layers of the USS Boggs (DD 136) are pictured at Mare Island Navy Yard on 15 Nov 1917. Identifications are: CDR Henry M. Gleason, Navy Constructor (officer in the middle of photo with foot on the keel) and the officer with four strips is Captain Henry George, Shipyard Commandant (2nd officer to the right of CDR Gleason). | Darryl Baker | ||
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105k | Mare Island Channel on 8 Jan 1919. | Darryl Baker | ||
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104k | Mare Island Channel on 8 Jan 1919. | Darryl Baker | ||
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81k | USS Boggs (DD-136) at anchor, circa 1919-1921. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph | Joe Radigan | ||
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103k | During the Pacific Fleet's passage through the Upper Chambers, Gatun Locks, Panama Canal, 24 July 1919. Those present are: USS Wickes (Destroyer # 75) and USS Yarnall (Destroyer # 143), both at left; USS Philip (Destroyer # 76), USS Buchanan (Destroyer # 131) and USS Elliot (Destroyer # 146), left to right in the center group; USS Boggs (Destroyer # 136), USS Dent (Destroyer # 116) and USS Waters (Destroyer # 115), left to right in the right center group. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. | Fred Weiss | ||
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202k | Boggs and the rest of her squadron transit the Gatun Locks, July 24 1919. | Randy Kimes | ||
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107k | Undated, location unknown. | Paul Rebold | ||
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171k | USS Boggs (AG-19, formerly DD-136) Operating at sea as a radio controlled target, 26 March 1936. Note that she still wears her destroyer hull number, despite having been redesignated AG-19 nearly five years earlier. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. | Fred Weiss | ||
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84k | Undated, good overhead showing Boggs in her Mine sweeper configuration. | - | ||
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127k | Navy Photo 2844-41 of USS Boggs (DMS-3) off Mare Island Navy Yard on 22 Oct 1941. | Darryl Baker | ||
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120k | USS Boggs (DMS-3) Photographed circa early 1942, probably off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. | Fred Weiss | ||
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34k | Undated, location unknown. | Hyperwar US Navy in WWII web site | ||
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204k | USS Boggs (AG-19) Photographed in June 1945. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1974. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. | Fred Weiss | ||
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125k | June 30 1945, location unknown. | Robert Hurst | ||
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81k | June 30 1945, location unknown. | Robert Hurst | ||
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