James Funk

James Funk was a 19th-century New York City pilot boat built in 1862 for a company of New York Pilots. She was built for speed. She was assigned the "Number 22," which was displayed on her mainsail. The James Funk was captured and burned by the Confederate raiding steamer CSS Tallahassee during the American Civil War.

New York pilot boat James Funk No. 22.
History
US
Name: James Funk
Owner: Company of New York Pilots
Operator: A. C. Malcolm; Robert Yates, William Smith
Builder: Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Cost: $15,000
Launched: 1862
Out of service: 1864
Captured: 1864
Fate: Sank at sea
General characteristics
Class and type: schooner
Tonnage: 122-tons TM[1]
Length: 81 ft 0 in (24.69 m)
Draft: 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m)
Depth: 21 ft 5 in (6.53 m)
Propulsion: Sail

Construction and service

James Funk No. 22, was launched in 1862 from Greenpoint, Brooklyn. She was registered with the Record of American and Foreign Shipping from 1883–1984 as James Funk. Her master was Captain A. C. Malcolm; her owners were a company of New York Pilots, belonging to the port of New York. She was 81 feet in length, her draft was 9 feet, she weighed 122-tons, and built for speed.[1]

On October 16, 1863, when the weather was dark and thick, the pilot-boat James Funk collided with the United States supply steamer Union, near Sandy Hook. The pilot-boat was in tow and no ship light was on. She started to sink and her crew escaped in yawls. It was estimated that she was worth between $12,000 to $15,000. She was raised and then return to port.[2]

Civil War

On August 11, 1864, during the American Civil War, the pilot-boat James Funk, No. 22, was 60 miles southeast of Sandy Hook, when the Confederate raiding cruiser the Tallahassee approached disguised with an American ensign flying at the masthead. Pilot William Smith, of the pilot-boat took a yawl to board the Tallahassee thinking she was in need of a pilot. Instead, she was captured by the Confederate colonel, John Taylor Wood, who took control of the James Funk. His objective was to secure a pilot who could take the Tallahassee into Long Island Sound. Twenty of the Tallahassee's crew came onboard the pilot-boat and the crew of the James Funk were transferred to the Tallahassee.[3]

The James Funk was turned into a tender and a decoy for the Tallahassee. Captain Wood used the pilot-boat to capture and burn other schooners and brigs, including the A. M. Lee. He then burned the James Funk, which he later regretted.[4]

The same day, the Tallahassee captured and burned the pilot-boat William Bell, No. 24 and several other boats. The Confederates then sailed the Tallahassee to Fire Island, where the crew and passengers went ashore. Robert Yates, captain of the pilot-boat provided his account of the capture of the James Funk, after he arrived safely back to his home in New York City.[5][6]

In the book, "From Sandy Hook to 62", Charles Edward Russell, describes the chase of the Tallahassee cruiser against the James Funk and William Bell.[7]

Charlotte Webb

On May 25, 1865, the Brooklyn Union reported that a new pilot-boat, the Charlotte Webb, was on the stocks at the Webb and Bell shipyard in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, to take the place of the James Funk, that was destroyed by the rebel Tallahassee.[8]

On June 15, 1865, the Charlotte Webb, was launched from the Webb & Bell shipyard. She was named after the wife of Eckford Webb. She was 62-tons, 89 feet Length of deck; 22 1/2 feet breadth of beam; and 8 feet depth of hold.[9]

She was registered with the Record of American and Foreign Shipping from 1871–1985 as Charlotte Webb. Her owners were a company of New York Pilots, belonging to the port of New York.[10]

On March 17, 1888, the pilot-boat Charlotte Webb, No. 5, was caught up in the Great Blizzard of 1888, arrived safely back to port with minor damages.[11]

On May 19, 1889, the Charlotte Webb, No. 5, was run down by the French steamer La Normandie in a dense fog eight miles east of Sandy Hook. Two pilots on the Charlotte Webb, were lost in the accident.[12]

See also

References
  1. "Record of American and Foreign Shipping 1864". Mystic Seaport Museum. New York. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  2. "Sinking of One Pilot Boat and Serious Damage to Another". The Times-Democrat. New Orleans, Louisiana. 27 Oct 1863. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "The privateer Tallahassee. Capture of the Pilot Boat Jas. Funk". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, New York. 13 Aug 1864. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
  4. John, Bell (2002). Confederate Seadog John Taylor Wood in War and Exile. New York: McFarland, Incorporated. p. 35.
  5. Allen, Edward L. (1922). Pilot Lore From sail to Steam. New York: The United New York and New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots Benevolent Associations. pp. 12–25.
  6. Cunliffe, Tom (2001). Pilots, The World Of Pilotage Under Sail and Oar. Brooklin, Maine: WoodenBoat. p. 99. ISBN 9780937822692.
  7. Russell, Charles Edward (1929). From Sandy Hook to 62°. New York: Century Co. p. 137. OCLC 3804485.
  8. "Webb & Bell's Shipyard". Brooklyn Union. Brooklyn, New York. 25 May 1865. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-11-21 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Launch Of a Pilot Boat". New York Daily Herald. New York, New York. 14 Jun 1865. p. 8. Retrieved 2020-11-21 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Record of American and Foreign Shipping 1884". Mystic Seaport Museum. New York. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  11. "Launch Of a Pilot Boat". New York Daily Herald. New York, New York. 14 Jun 1865. p. 8. Retrieved 2020-11-21 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Tempest Tossed Pilots. Belief That The Lawrence and Bennett Are Safe". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. 17 Mar 1888. p. 5. Retrieved 8 Jan 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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