Roswell Lamson was an outstanding midshipman at the Naval Academy, graduating second in his Class of 1862, and rose rapidly through the ranks of the wartime Navy to the command of the USS Mount Washington. In action in the James River in 1863, the ship's boiler was destroyed and the ship drifted aground where they had to repel boarders before being towed away, suffering 5 killed and 14 wounded,
Oregon newspapers extensively covered his exploits.
Lieutenant Lamson went on to command more ships and flotillas than anyone his age ever did before.
The USS Gettysburg was one of the fastest Union ships at 15 knots and was 950 tons, 221 feet long with a crew of 96 and mounting seven guns. It captured seven blockade-runners and received big prize money.
Poor Alaric Chapin earned $13 a month while the crew of a blockader could earn $500 to $1000 when adding additional money for prize money from captured blockade-runners. I have even heard stories of Union ships chasing blockade-runners farther away so other federal ships would be out of sight and couldn't claim the capture money. During the Civil War, $25 million in prize money was paid out by the government.
A Sailor's Life for Me. Give Me the Money. --Old B-Runner
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