Charles Edwin Milliken

Charles Edwin Milliken was born 3 January 1848 in Malden, Massachusetts^[1],[2]. He enlisted aboard the USS Sabine at New London, CT as a Second Class Boy on 16 August 1862 for a two year term^[3] - a few weeks after his oldest brother was killed at the Battle of Gaines Mill.

Milliken was then sent to the USS North Carolina and then to the USS Seminole. At some point prior to 16 March 1864, he was promoted from 2nd Class Boy to Landsman ^[4] per the Seminole's log that day noting that he and three other young sailors were put into the brig on bread and water for a week for disobedience of orders. Some sources give his rate as ordinary seaman or midshipman, both which are incorrect per the Seminole's muster rolls, which shows his rate was landsman at the time of his death.

On 25 August 1865, Milliken was a member of a working party that was tasked with minesweeping the line of "torpedoes" that was laid by the confederates across the mouth of Mobile Bay from Fort Morgan to Fort Gaines when one that was hauled ashore exploded from mishandling. From the report that Farragut sent to SECNAV Welles over the incident:

Flagship Hartford, August 29, 1864
Sir, I regret to report to the Department the following casualties resulting from the accidental explosion of a torpedo on the 25th instant:

Killed - Charles E. Milliken, ordinary seaman, of the U.S.S. Seminole.

Mortally wounded and since dead - John Miller, seaman, Seminole; Robert G. White, seaman, Seminole; George Thompson, seaman, Seminole; Issac Young, ordinary seaman, Seminole.

Wounded seriously - Pilot Martin Freeman, of the Hartford; Acting Ensign John White, of the Metacomet, face badly cut and his body bruised; H. J. O'Brien, quartermaster of the Metacomet, lost his right arm; William Howard, landsman, of the Metacomet, lost his right arm; James McDonald, seaman, lost an eye, also of the Metacomet; Charles White, boatswain, of Seminole, leg fractured.

Slightly wounded - Henry Chester, seaman, Seminole; Edward Mann, ordinary seaman, Seminole; Thomas Webster, landsman, Seminole.

In all, 14, to wit: killed and mortally wounded, 5; wounded seriously, 6; wounded slightly, 3.

As the Department has been advised, the rebels have planted a great number of torpedoes to guard the channel into Mobile Bay, leaving only that portion clear which is immediately adjacent to Fort Morgan.

After the surrender, I ordered the gradual removal of these obstructions. On the first day five of them were taken up and safely removed to shore; and of these, four were found to be so injured by immersion as to be perfectly harmless, one only being dry. On the second occasion five more were taken up and towed on shore, but becoming entangled with the ropes, the men having grown careless, collected around, and in pulling and hauling them different ways, caused the explosion which resulted in the killing and wounding of the men above named.

As it is absolutely necessary to free the channel of these torpedoes, I shall continue to remove them, but as every precaution will be used, I do not apprehend any further incident.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant
D. G. Farragut,
Rear-Admiral

Milliken was buried the next day ashore at Fort Morgan. From the abstract log of the Seminole:

August 26 - At 6 a.m. sent first cutter ashore with an officer in charge to dig a grave for the body of Charles Milliken. At 10:30 sent the body ashore for interment and sent the ensign at half-mast.

Charles Milliken was 16 years old years old and had been in the Navy for just over two years.

Interment

Mobile National Cemetery, Section 3, Grave 576-A

Charles Milliken was originally buried on shore at Fort Morgan. His remains were later removed at some point to Mobile National Cemetery.

Dependents

Awards and Memorials

Cenotaph on family plot marker at Oak Grove Cemetery in New Bedford, MA.

References

^[1] Ridlon, G. T., "Saco Valley Settlements and Families" Ridlon, Portland, Maine, 1895.

^[1] "Representative men and old families of southeastern Massachusetts" J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1912.

^[2] Return of the United States Naval Rendezvous, New London, CT aboard USS Sabine for the week ending August 16 1862

^[3] Muster Logs of USS Seminole

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