F. A. Roe Scrapbook, 1862-1891: Finding Aid

Biographical Chronology of Francis Asbury Roe

1823

• Born on October 4 in Elmira, New York to Isaac and Hanna Roe.

1841

• On October 19, appointed Acting Midshipman in the United States Navy.
• In October, attached to the receiving ship U.S.S. North Carolina.

1842

• On February 3, warranted a Passed Midshipman.
• In February, attached to U.S.S. John Adams (Frigate) of the Brazil and Africa Squadrons.

1844

• In May, detached from U.S.S. John Adams.
• In September, attached to U.S.S. Yorktown (Sloop-of-war) of the Africa Squadron.

1846

• In June, granted a leave of absence.
• In October, attached to U.S.S. Boston (Sloop-of-war) of the Home Squadron blockading the Mexican coast.
• In November, shipwrecks in the Bahamas when U.S.S. Boston was lost in a storm.

1847

• In February, officially detached from U.S.S. Boston and ordered to U.S.S. Allegheny (Steamer).
• In October, reports to the United States Naval Academy.

1848

• On July 12, graduates from the United States Naval Academy as a member of the Class of 1847, with the rank of Passed Midshipman retroactive to August 10, 1847.
• In September, attached to U.S.S. Albany (Sloop-of-war) in the West Indies.

1849

• In September, marries Eliza J. Snyder.
• On October 23, dismissed from the United States Navy, along with three other Passed Midshipmen, for disobeying a direct order.

1850

• On September 27, reinstated in the United States Navy as a Passed Midshipman.
• In October, attached to the mail steamer Georgia.

1852

• In November, detached from the Georgia.
• In December, attached to U.S.S. Porpoise (Brig) as part of the North Pacific Exploring Expedition.

1854

• In August, appointed Executive Officer, and later Commanding Officer, of U.S.S. Vincennes.

1855

• On August 8, promoted to Master.
• On September 14, promoted to Lieutenant.
• In November, detached from U.S.S. Vincennes and the North Pacific Exploring Expedition.

1856

• In February, ordered to coast survey duty aboard the schooner Bowditch.

1858

• In April, ordered to the Mediterranean Squadron aboard U.S.S. Macedonian (Frigate).

1860

• In July, detached from U.S.S. Macedonian.
• In September, attached to the New York Navy Yard as Assistant Inspector of Ordnance.

1861

• In August, attached to U.S.S. Pensacola (Steamer) as Executive Officer, then serving with the West Gulf Blockading Squadron.
• While preparing for sea, temporarily ordered to occupy Fort Ellsworth.

1862

• On August 6, promoted to Lieutenant Commander.
• In August, assumes command of U.S.S. Katahdin (Gunboat) of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron.

1863

• In February, ordered home and granted leave of absence.
• In September, ordered to assume command of U.S.S. Neptune (Steamer) at the New York Navy Yard.
• In September, assumes command of U.S.S. Sassacus (Gunboat) on the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

1864

• On May 5, engages the Confederate ram C.S.S. Albemarle.
• In July, granted sick leave.
• In November, assumes command of U.S.S. Michigan (Side-wheel steamer) on the Great Lakes.

1866

• In April, detached from U.S.S. Michigan and waiting orders.
• On July 26, promoted to Commander.
• In July, attached to U.S.S. Madawaska (Screw steamer) as Executive Officer, and later Commanding Officer.

1867

• In January, assumes command of U.S.S. Tacony (Gunboat) and the Mexican Gulf Division of the North Atlantic Station. Later escorts the imprisoned Santa Anna to Mexico and acts as negotiator with the new Mexican government at Veracruz.
• In August, appointed Fleet Captain of the Asiatic Fleet aboard the screw steamer U.S.S. Piscataqua (later renamed U.S.S. Delaware).

1870

• In November, detached from U.S.S. Delaware and waiting orders.

1872

• On April 1, promoted to Captain.
• In August, assumes command of the Naval Rendezvous, San Francisco.

1873

• In March, detached from the Naval Rendezvous and waiting orders.
• In June, attached to the Boston Navy Yard as Executive Officer, and later, Captain of the Yard.

1874

• In February, assumes command of the South Atlantic Squadron's flagship U.S.S. Lancaster (Screw sloop).

1875

• In July, detached from U.S.S. Lancaster.
• In August, attached to the New London Naval Station.

1876

• Beginning in July, on furlough.

1879

• In March, assigned to the Naval Academy Board of Examiners.
• In April, detached from the Naval Academy.
• In November, begins presiding over the Revisory Board at the Navy Department.

1882

• In July, detached from the Revisory Board and waiting orders.

1883

• In July, appointed President of the Board of Examiners at the Newport Torpedo Station.
• In August, detached from the Board of Examiners.
• In October, appointed Governor of the Naval Asylum in Philadelphia.

1884

• On November 3, promoted to Rear Admiral.

1885

• On October 4, transferred to the Retired List.

1901

• On December 28, dies in Washington, DC.

Description of Contents

The F. A. Roe Scrapbook, comprising 0.23 linear feet of documentation, spans from 1862 until 1891, and consists primarily of newspaper clippings, as well as several pieces of correspondence and ephemera pertaining to Roe's U.S. Navy career. The scrapbook opens with Roe's participation in the Civil War, including materials on U.S.S. Pensacola, West Gulf Blockading Squadron, the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, the capture of New Orleans, the Battle of Baton Rouge, and the battle between U.S.S. Sassacus and C.S.S. Albemarle. The scrapbook continues with materials pertaining to General Santa Anna, torpedo warfare, politics in the 1870's, the management and reorganization of the Navy, east coast Navy Yards, and the Philadelphia Naval Asylum.

Arrangement

The F. A. Roe Scrapbook comprises a single volume.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The F. A. Roe Scrapbook is the physical property of Nimitz Library. Copyright belongs to the authors or creators of the works, or their legal representatives. For further information, consult the Head, Special Collections & Archives.

It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure written permission to publish, reprint, or reproduce material from Special Collections & Archives. The researcher assumes responsibility for infringement of copyright or literary or publication rights. Please contact the Head, Special Collections & Archives for permission to publish and for further information.

Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

Gift of Enoch B. Garey in 1925. Accession No. 74901.

Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Additional material pertaining to and by Francis Asbury Roe in this repository include Roe's Alumni Jacket and his Sketch & plan of the rebel iron-clad Albemarle, from the U.S.S. Sassacus May 5, 1864 (MS VF 11). Any potential conduct offenses committed by Roe while a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy would be listed in Midshipman Conduct Rolls or Registers of Delinquencies, RG405.2.3 Entry 85.

The bulk of Roe's personal papers can be found in the Francis Asbury Roe Papers, 1842-1901 (bulk 1846-1869) at the Library of Congress (MSS54437), with several additional documents comprising the Francis Asbury Roe Papers, 1864; 1898 at the University of North Carolina.

Materials Cataloged Separately

No materials have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately.

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

F. A. Roe Scrapbook, MS 189

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

The following sources were consulted during preparation of the biographical note:

Cogar, William B. Dictionary of Admirals of the U.S. Navy. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1989.

Roe, Francis Asbury Alumni Jacket, RG 405, Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Mary Rose Catalfamo. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in March 2020.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Albemarle (Confederate ironclad)
• Navy-yards and naval stations
• New Orleans (La.) -- History -- Capture, 1862
• Pensacola (Screw steamer)
• Roe, Francis Asbury, 1823-1901
• Santa Anna, Antonio López de, 1794-1876
• Sassacus (Side-wheel steamer)
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Naval operations
• United States Naval Home, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pa.)
• United States. Navy -- Administration
• United States. Navy. West Gulf Squadron

Genre Terms

• Clippings (information artifacts)
• Manuscripts
• Scrapbooks