ENS (Acting) J. E. Jones, US Navy, quartermaster of the USS ONEIDA, received the Medal of Honor for bravery during the Civil War.
From the book "Report of the Secretary of the Navy, Containing Reports of Officers, December 1864, a free e-book available here (
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[page 212] "RECONNAISSANCE OF WILMINGTON NC HARBOR
Report of Lieut. Cmdr. WB Cushing
United States Steamer Monticello,
off Wilmington North Carolina July 2, 1864
Sir: in consequence of permission received from you to attempt the distraction of the ironclad ram Raleigh I proceeded to the blockade at that point with the intention [rest of line illegible]
[page 213] I left the ship on the night of the 23rd in the first cutter, with two officers (acting Ensign JE Jones and acting master's mate William Howorth) and 15 men, and started in for the west bar. I succeeded in passing the forts, and also the town and batteries of Smithville, and pulled swiftly up the river. As we neared the Zeke Island batteries, we narrowly escaped being run down by steamer, and soon after came near detection from the guard boat; evading them all we continued our course. As a came abreast of the old Brunswick batteries, some 15 miles from the starting point, the moon came out brightly and discovered us to the sentinels on the banks, who hailed us at once, and soon commenced firing muskets and raising an alarm by noises and signal lights. We pulled at once for the other sure, obliquing so as to give them to understand that we were going down; but as soon as I found that we were out of the moon's raise, we continued our course straight up, thereby baffling the enemy and gaining safety. When within 7 miles from Wilmington, a good place was selected on the shore; the boat hauled up, and into a marsh, and the men stowed along the bank. It was now nearly day, and I determined to watch the river, and if possible capture someone from whom information could be gained. Steamers soon began to apply up and down, the flagship of Commodore Lynch, the Gadkin, passing within 200 yards. She is a wooden propeller steamer of about 300 times, no masts, one smokestack, clear deck English build, with awning spread fore and aft, and mounting only two guns; did not seem to have many men. Nine steamers passed in all, three of them being fine, large blockade runners. Just after dark, as we were preparing to move, to boats rounded the point; and the men thinking it an attack, behaved in the coolest manner. Both boats were captured, but proved to contain a fishing party returning to Wilmington. From them I obtained all of the information that I desired, and made them act as my guides in my further explorations of the river.
3 miles below the city I found a row of obstructions, consisting of iron pointed spiles driven in an angle, and only to be passed by going into the channel left open, about 200 yards from a heavy battery that is on the left bank.
A short distance near the city is a 10 gun navy battery, and another line of obstructions, consisting of diamond shaped crates, filled and supported in positions by two rows of spiles; the channel in this instance being within 50 yards of the guns. A third row of obstructions and another battery complete the upper defenses of the city. The river is also obstructed by spiles at old Brunswick, and there is a very heavy earthwork there discovering a creek in the cypress swamp, we pulled or rather pulled up that for some time, and at length came to a road which, upon being explored, proved to connect with the main road from Fort Fisher and the sounds to Wilmington. Dividing my party, I left have to hold across road and Creek, while I marched the remainder some 2 miles to the main road and stone away. About 11:30 AM and mounted soldier appeared with the mailbag, and seemed much astonished when he was invited to dismount, but as I assured him that I would be responsible for any delay that might take place, he kindly consented to shorten his journey. About 200 letters were captured, and I gained such information as I desired of the fortifications and enemies force. As an expedition was contemplated against Fisher by our Army about this time, the information was of much value. There are 1300 men in the Fort; and the unprotected rear that our troops were to storm is commanded by four light batteries. I enclose rebel requisitions and report of provisions on hand. I now waited for the courier from the other direction in order that we might get the papers that were issued at 1 PM in Wilmington, but just as he hove in sight, a blue jacket exposed himself, and the fellow took to instant flight. My pursuit on the captured horse was rendered useless from the lack of speed, and the fellow escaped after a race of some 2 miles.
In the meantime we captured more prisoners, and discovered that a store was located about 2 miles distant, and being sadly in need of some grub, Mr. Howarth, dressed in the courier's coat and hat, and mounted upon his horse, proceeded to market. He returned with milk, chickens, and tags, having passed everyone in and out of service, without suspicion, though conversing with many. At 6 PM, after destroying a portion of the telegraph wire, we rejoin the party at the Creek, and proceeded down, reaching the river at dark. In trying to land our prisoners upon an island, a steamer passed so close that we had to jump overboard, and hold our heads below the boat to prevent being seen. As we had more prisoners than we could look out for, I determined to put a portion of them in small boats, and set them adrift without orders or sales, so that they could not get ashore in time to injure us. This was done, and we proceeded down the river, keeping a bright lookout for vessels in order to burn them, if possible none were found, but I found the pilot to take me to where the ram Raleigh was said to be wrecked. She is indeed destroyed, and nothing now remains of her above water. The ironclad North Carolina, Capt. Muse commanding, is in commission, and at anchor off the city. She is but little relied upon, and would not stand long against the monitor. Both torpedo boats were destroyed in the great cotton fire sometimes sends. One was very near completion. As I neared the forts at the East bar, a boat was detected making its way rapidly to the ashore, and captured after a short chase. It contained six persons, four of whom were soldiers. Taking them all into one boat, I cut there's adrift, but soon found that 26 persons were more than a load. By questions I discovered that at least one guard boat was afloat, containing 75 musketeers, and situated in the narrow passage between Federal Point and Zeke Island. As I had to pass them, I determined to engage the enemy at once, and capture the boat if possible.
The moon was now bright, and as we came near the entrance, I saw what was supposed to be one large boat just off the battery; but as we prepared to sail into her, and while about 20 yards distant, three more boat suddenly shot out from that side, and five more from the other, completely blocking up the sole avenue of escape Erie it I immediately put the helm down, but found a large sailboat filled with soldiers to Windward, and keeping us right in the glimmer of the moon's raise. In this trying position both officers and men acted with true coolness and bravery.
Not the stroke of an oar was out of time; there was no thought of surrender, but we were determined to out wit the enemy or fight it out. Suddenly turning the boats head, we dashed off as if for the west bar, and by throwing the dark side of the boat towards them, were soon lost to view. Debate was eagerly seized, and their whole line dashed off it wants to intercept us. Then again turning, by the extraordinary pulling of my sailors I gained the passage of the island, and before the enemy could prevent, put the boat into the breakers on Caroline shoals. The rebels dared not follow, and we were lost of you before the guns of the forts, trained on the channel, could be brought to bear upon our unexpected position. Deeply loaded as we were, the boat carried us through in fine style and we reached the Cherokee just as day was breaking, and after an absence from the squadron of two days and three nights.
I am now posted in regard to the city, land, and water defenses, and everything that it will interest the department to know.
I beg leave to call your attention, sir, to the fact that acting Ensign J. E. Jones and acting master's mate William Howarth are the same officers who have been recommended to be awarded [page 214] the medal of honor for marked bravery in every critical moment. I would also mention ordinary Seaman John Sullivan and Yeoman William Wright, the latter having volunteered upon every expedition of danger since the ship has been in commission -- in this instance procuring his discharge from the sick list in order to do service.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
William B Cushing
Lieutenant Commander"
ENS Jones' Medal of Honor citation reads as follows: (
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"Served as quartermaster on board the U.S.S. Oneida in the engagement at Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Stationed at the wheel during the fierce action, Jones, though wounded, carried out his duties gallantly by going to the poop deck to assist at the signals after the wheel ropes were shot away and remained there until ordered to reeve new wheel ropes."