Leon De Wolf

Acting Master's Mate, USS Cincinnati

Leon De Wolf was born c1841 in Hudson, New York and enlisted in New York City as an ordinary seaman on 31 May 1864 for a three year term.[1] Per his rendezvous index card [2], he was attached to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron on 11 June 1864. At some point he was ordered to the USS Arizona.

De Wolf was promoted to Acting Master's Mate on 3 February 1865[3]. After the Arizona was lost due to a fire on 27 February 1865, he was sent to the USS Cincinnati.

On 13 April 1865, De Wolf was in command of a three-man working party that was tasked with minesweeping the Mobile River in front of the city when one of the mines they retrieved accidentally exploded, killing all three. From the CO of the Cincinnati, LCDR George Brown, report to Acting RADM Henry K. Thatcher of the incident:

United States Iron-Clad Cincinnati
Sir, I deeply regret to have to report the blowing up of the launch of this vessel by a torpedo yesterday afternoon.

By this sad accident three lives were lost. Their names are as follows: Acting Master's Mate Leon De Wolf, Captain of Forecastle C. H. Howard, Ordinary Seaman John Dreon. The launch had caught a torpedo, and had weighed it to within about two feet of the surface of the water, when the mooring parted, and the strain on the drag-rope brought the torpedo against the stern of the boat, exploding it.

I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant
George Brown
Lieutenant Commander [4]

Leon De Wolf was about 23-24 years old and had been in the Navy for just over ten months.

Interment

Mobile National Cemetery. Section 2, grave 286.

Dependents

 

Awards and Memorials

 

References

[1] Return of the United States Naval Rendezvous, New York, NY for the week ending June 4 1864

[2] NARA T1099. An index to rendezvous reports during the Civil War, 1861-1865.

[3] Letter from James Palmer to Gideon Welles. NARA M89. Letters Received by the Secretary of the Navy from Commanding Officers of Squadrons("Squadron Letters"), 1841-1886

[4] Letter from George Brown to H. K. Thatcher. NARA M89. Letters Received by the Secretary of the Navy from Commanding Officers of Squadrons("Squadron Letters"), 1841-1886