Oliver S. Glisson

{{Infobox military person | name = Oliver Spencer Glisson | image = RearAdmiralOliverSGlisson.jpg | caption = Circa 1868–1870 by [[Frederick Gutekunst]] | birth_date = {{Birth date|1809|1|18}} | death_date = {{Death date and age|1890|11|20|1809|1|18}} | burial_label = Place of burial | burial_place =[[The Woodlands (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)|The Woodlands Cemetery]] | birth_place = [[Mount Healthy, Ohio|Mount Pleasant, Ohio]] | death_place = [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania | burial_coordinates =  | nickname = | allegiance = {{flag|United States of America|1822}} | branch = {{flag|United States Navy}} | service_years = 1826–1871 | rank = [[File:USN Rear Admiral rank insignia.jpg|35px]] [[Rear admiral (United States)|Rear admiral]] | unit = | commands = {{USS|Reefer|1846|6}} {{USS|Powhatan|1850|6}} {{USS|John P. Kennedy|1853|6}} {{USS|Ice Boat|1861|6}} {{USS|Mount Vernon|1859|6}} {{USS|Iroquois|1859|6}} {{USS|Mohican|1859|6}} {{USS|Santiago de Cuba|1861|6}} [[European Squadron]] | battles = [[Mexican–American War]] [[American Civil War]] | awards = | relations = | other_work = }}

'''Oliver Spencer Glisson''' (January 18, 1809 – November 20, 1890), was a [[Rear admiral (United States)|rear admiral]] of the [[United States Navy]]. After commanding a schooner in the Mexican–American War, he was posted to the [[East India Squadron]] and took part in the Japan Expedition when the first treaty with the Japanese was signed by [[Commodore Matthew Perry]] in 1853. Throughout the [[American Civil War]], Glisson served in the [[Union blockade#North Atlantic Blockading Squadron|North Atlantic Blockading Squadron]], intercepting illegal trade across the Potomac, and patrolling the mouth of the Rappahannock. Early in the war, Glisson rescued a group of slaves who were being used by the Confederates as a human shield. Although this rescue contravened the [[Fugitive Slave Act of 1850|Fugitive Slave Act]], it was authorised by Secretary of the Navy [[Gideon Welles]] on humanitarian grounds.

== Childhood == Glisson was born to Thomas Glisson [{{Birth date|1783|3|8}} – {{Death date and age|1849|10|17|1783|3|8|mf=yes}}] and Rebecca Runyan Glisson [{{Birth date|1785|4|24}} – {{Death date and age|1843|10|21|1785|4|24|mf=yes}}] near [[Mount Healthy, Ohio|Mount Pleasant, Ohio]], (Mount Healthy since 1850) in [[Hamilton County, Ohio|Hamilton County]], the second of ten children.<ref name=GlissonAmerica>{{cite web|last=Glisson|first=Phillip L.|title=References for Glisson's in Ohio|url=http://www.plglisson.net/GlissonFamiliesinAmerica/OHGlissons1.htm |work=Glisson Families in America|accessdate=11 March 2013}}</ref>

The family relocated to a farm east of [[Brookville, Indiana]], in neighboring [[Franklin County, Indiana|Franklin county]] around 1817. To attend school, Glisson lived at the Brookville home of Dr. David Oliver. After Glisson entered the [[U.S. Navy]], his family moved back to Hamilton County on a farm located in [[Colerain Township, Hamilton County, Ohio|Colerain Township]] around 1828.<ref name=Reifel>{{cite book|last=Reifel|first=August|title=History of Franklin County, Indiana|url=https://archive.org/details/historyoffrankli00reif_0|year=1915|publisher=B.F. Bowen & Company, Inc.|location=Indianapolis, Indiana}}</ref>{{RP|556}}

== Naval career (1826–1844) == [[File:Schooner Grampus.jpg|thumb|left|USS ''Grampus'']] Glisson was recruited from [[Indiana]] as a [[midshipman]] on November 1, 1826. Among his sponsors were [[James Noble (senator)|Senator James Noble]], [[James B. Ray|Governor James Ray]], [[John Test|Judge John Test]] and Indiana Supreme Court Judge John T. McKinney.<ref name=Reifel />{{RP|557}}<ref name=Cottman>{{cite book|last=Cottman|first=George S.|title=Centennial History and Handbook of Indiana|url=https://archive.org/details/centennialhistor00cott|year=1915|publisher=Max R. Hyman|location=Indianapolis, Indiana}}</ref>{{RP|250}}

Glisson's first cruise was aboard the [[corvette]] {{USS|John Adams|1799|6}} in the [[West Indies Squadron (United States)|West Indies Squadron]] during 1827–28. He transferred within the squadron to the [[sloop-of-war]] {{USS|Falmouth|1827|6}} 1829–30 and then the [[schooner]] {{USS|Grampus|1821|6}} 1831–32.<ref name=Fulton>{{cite book|last=Fulton|first=C.C. and A.F.|title=To the Loving Memory of Rear Admiral Oliver S. Glisson|year=1891|publisher=The American Book and Job Printing Office|location=Baltimore, Maryland}}</ref>{{RP|3}}<ref name=Stewart>{{cite book|last=Stewart|first=Reverend O.S.|title=The Naval Magazine, Volume 1, Number 1|year=1836|publisher=John S. Taylor|location=New York, New York}}</ref>{{RP|56}}

Promoted to [[passed midshipman]] on June 4, 1832, Glisson was assigned to the [[Mediterranean Squadron (United States)|Mediterranean Squadron]] 1832–35 aboard the [[ship of the line]] {{USS|Delaware|1820|6}}. Launching from [[Hampton Roads]] on July 30, 1833, the first port of call was [[New York Harbor]] to pick up [[Edward Livingston]], minister plenipotentiary to France. After landing Livingston at [[Cherbourg Harbour]], the ship proceeded to the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. Two crew members published a book detailing the ports which the ship called until their arrival at [[Port Mahon]] on October 9, 1835.<ref name=Serra>{{cite book|last=Israel|first=John and Henry Lundt|title=Journal of a Cruize in the U.S. Ship Delaware 74, in the Mediterranean, in the years 1833 and 1834|year=1835|publisher=The Widow Serra and Son, Printers|location=Port Mahon, Spain}}</ref>{{RP|26}}<ref name=Homans>{{cite book|last=Homans|first=Benjamin|title=The Military and Naval Magazine of the United States, Volume II|year=1834|publisher=William Greer, Printer|location=Washington, District of Columbia}}</ref>{{RP|60–61}}

In 1836 while performing land duty in the [[Norfolk Navy Yard]], Glisson married Pamela Parker and took up residence. On February 9, 1837, he was promoted to [[Lieutenant (navy)|lieutenant]] and served as a recruiter during the Norfolk Rendezvous 1837–38.<ref name=Hamersly>{{cite book|last=Hamersly|first=Lewis R.|title=The Records of Living Officers of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps|year=1870|publisher=J.B. Lippincott & Company|location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania}}</ref>{{RP|30}}

Glisson was sent to the [[Brazil Squadron]] aboard the sloop-of-war {{USS|Fairfield|1828|6}} 1839–42. Returned to the West India Squadron, he sailed on the sloop-of-war {{USS|Marion|1839|6}} 1843–44.<ref name=Fulton />{{RP|3–4}}<ref name=Volxiii>{{cite book|title=The National Cyclopædia of American Biography, Volume XIII|year=1906|publisher=James T. White & Company|location=New York, New York}}</ref>{{RP|466}}

The sloop-of-war {{USS|Saratoga|1842|6}} carried him during patrol of the South American coast for another tour in the [[Brazil Squadron]] 1845–46.<ref name=Ohio>{{cite book|last=McKinley Jr.|first=William, Samuel Taylor and James C. Howe|title=Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, 1861–1866|year=1893 |publisher=The Werner Company|location=Akron, Ohio}}</ref>{{RP|(3)}}

== Naval career (1845–1860) == [[File:Kurofune 3.jpg|thumb|right|USS ''Powhatan'']] During the [[Mexican–American War]] he was given his first command, the [[Pilot boat|pilot]] [[schooner]] {{USS|Reefer|1846|6}} in the [[Home Squadron]]. For the duration of the war, Glisson sailed the Gulf of Mexico off Mexico's east coast. At the end of naval fighting in June 1847, Reefer and her sister ships settled down to blockade duty and maintained both water lines of supply and communication for the Army.<ref name=DANFS>{{cite book|last=Moody|first=James L.|title=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Volume VI|year=1976 |publisher=Defense Dept., Navy, Naval History Division}}</ref>{{RP|58}}<ref name=Conner>{{cite book|last=Conner|first=Philip Syng Physick|title=The Home Squadron under Commodore Conner in the War with Mexico|year=1896|publisher=Privately Published|location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (?)}}</ref>{{RP|7–}}

After the war from 1848 through 1850, he served in the [[Norfolk Navy Yard]] again and then was granted permission to take special duty between 1851 and 1852.<ref name=Fulton />{{RP|4}}

Glisson was attached to the [[steam frigate]] {{USS|Powhatan|1850|6}} in 1853 for a tour with the [[East India Squadron]]. Until 1855, he participated in the [[Bakumatsu|Japan Expedition]] and was in Japan when the [[Convention of Kanagawa|first treaty]] was signed by [[Commodore (United States)|Commodore]] [[Matthew C. Perry|Matthew Perry]]. Promoted to [[Commander (United States)|commander]] on September 14, 1855, he remained with the East India Squadron commanding the [[combat stores ship|store ship]] {{USS|John P. Kennedy|1853|6}} through 1856.<ref name=Johnson>{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Rossiter|title=The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Volume IV|year=1904 |publisher=The Biographical Society|location=Boston, Massachusetts}}</ref>

Returning to the United States for land assignment, Glisson spent 1857–60 based at the [[Philadelphia Naval Asylum]].<ref name=Hamersly />{{RP|30}}

== Naval Career (1861–1865) == [[File:USS Mount Vernon (1859) at Brooklyn Navy Yard 1861.jpg|thumb|left|USS ''Mount Vernon'']] At the commencement of the [[American Civil War]], Glisson was assigned to the Coast Blockading Squadron which was then renamed the Atlantic Blockading Squadron before ending up with then split [[North Atlantic Blockading Squadron]] in which he remained until the close of the war. On April 23, 1861, he took charge of the borrowed {{USS|Ice Boat|1861|6}}, monitoring the [[Aquia Creek]] vicinity to intercept trade across the [[Potomac River]] between [[Virginia]] and [[Maryland]]. Next, Glisson received command of the [[steamboat|steamer]] {{USS|Mount Vernon|1859|6}} to patrol the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] coast in and off the [[Rappahannock River]].<ref name=Eicher>{{cite book|last=Eicher|first=John and David|title=Civil War High Commands|year=2001|publisher=Stanford University Press|location=Stanford, California}}</ref>{{RP|257}}

On July 15, 1861, Glisson rescued six refugee slaves found hiding on [[Stingray Point Light]]. The slaves had escaped the [[Confederate States Army|Confederate Army]] which was forcing them to the front as human shields during battles. Glisson requested authorization from [[Silas Stringham]], the commander of the Atlantic Blocking Squadron, who in turn relayed the request to [[United States Secretary of the Navy|Secretary of the Navy]] [[Gideon Welles]]. Even before Stringham wrote Welles, Glisson reported on July 17 he had picked up three more slaves, claiming they would be killed if they were returned. Welles responded July 22 "It is not the policy of the Government to invite or encourage this class of desertions, and yet, under the circumstances, no other course than that pursued by Commander Glisson could be adopted without violating every principle of humanity."<ref name=NABS>{{cite book|last=United States Naval War Records Office|title=Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series I – Volume 6: North Atlantic Blockading Squadron|year=1897|publisher=Government Printing Office|location=Washington, District of Columbia}}</ref>{{RP|7-10}}<ref name=Bluejackets>{{cite book|last=Tomblin |first=Barbara Brooks|title=Bluejackets and Contrabands: African Americans and the Union Navy|year=2009|publisher=The University Press of Kentucky|location=Lexington, Kentucky|isbn=978-0-8131-2554-1}}</ref>{{RP|7-8}}

Under the cover of night on December 31, 1861, Glisson approached an unmanned [[Lightvessel|light-boat]], which had previously been stationed as a beacon off of [[Frying Pan Shoals]]. It was anchored under the guns of [[Fort Caswell]] to be outfitted with armaments for its new function to defend the fort. A detachment of volunteers from the crew set the light-boat afire and suffered no casualties despite heavy gunfire from the fort during their withdrawal.<ref name=Maclay>{{cite book|last=Maclay|first=Edgar Stanton|title=A History of the United States Navy from 1775 to 1894, Volume II|year=1894|publisher=D. Appleton and Company|location=New York, New York}}</ref>{{RP|249–250}}<ref name=Ammen>{{cite book|last=Ammen |first=Daniel|title=The Navy in The Civil War, Volume II – The Atlantic Coast|year=1883|publisher=Charles Scribner's Sons|location=New York, New York}}</ref>{{RP|175}}

The transport {{USS|Mississippi|1841|6}}, which was bound for the offensive to capture [[New Orleans]] with General [[Benjamin Butler (politician)|Benjamin Butler]]'s expedition of 1,500 men, was run up onto the Frying Pan Shoals the morning of February 26, 1862. Dropping achor confirmed the ''Mississippi'', with a draft of {{convert|18|ft|m}}, was in {{convert|14|ft|m}} of water. Meanwhile, the ship forged onto a fluke of the anchor punching a hole through the hull about {{convert|5|in|m}} square. Although the sea was calm and the fore compartment was sealed, danger of break up or capsize was imminent. It would have taken days to land the troops using the ship's boats and the shore was hostile territory. Glisson, in the ''Mount Vernon'', happened upon the ship and began rescue operations by tying off a hawser to pull the ship free. 300 troops were offloaded onto the ''Mount Vernon'', munitions and food were thrown overboard, pumps were manned, the engines worked at full speed and troops ran back and forth between stern and bow to rock the boat free. But the ''Mississippi'' remained fast until just after sundown as the [[tide|high tide]] finally lifted the ship enough to pull free, preventing a catastrophe and allowing the ''Mississippi'' to resume its course after repairs to the hull.<ref name=Fulton />{{RP|4–5}}<ref name=Butler>{{cite book|last=Butler|first=Benjamin F.|title=Butler's Book|url=https://archive.org/details/butlersbookrevie00butl|year=1892|publisher=A.M. Thayer and Company|location=Boston, Massachusetts}}</ref>{{RP|337-351}}

Glisson took command of steam sloops of war, the {{USS|Iroquois|1859|6}} in the [[Union blockade#West Gulf Blockading Squadron|West Gulf Blockading Squadron]] and then the {{USS|Mohican|1859|6}} from the latter part of 1862 through 1864. He was promoted to [[Captain (naval)|captain]] December 26, 1862. The ''Mohican'', stationed at the [[Cape Verde|Cape de Verde Islands]] for six months, took part in the chase of the [[CSS Alabama|CSS ''Alabama'']]. Relocating to [[Bahia]], Glisson learned they had just missed the ''Alabama'' by twenty–four hours. While at the island of [[Fernando de Noronha]] Glisson saved the crew of a French vessel, for which he received the thanks of the French government.<ref name=Fulton />{{RP|6}}

Glisson helmed the steamer {{USS|Santiago de Cuba|1861|6}} from 1864 through 1865.<ref>{{cite book|last=Barnes|first=James|title=The Photographic History of the Civil War, Volume 6: The Navies|year=1911|publisher=The Review of Reviews|location=New York, New York}}</ref> His actions in the [[First Battle of Fort Fisher|first]] and [[Second Battle of Fort Fisher|second]] attacks on [[Fort Fisher]] earned him a promotion recommendation from [[Admiral]] [[David Dixon Porter|David Porter]].<ref name=Porter>{{cite book|last=Porter|first=Admiral David D.|title=The Naval History of the Civil War|url=https://archive.org/details/navalhistcivilwar00portrich|year=1886|publisher=The Sherman Publishing Company|location=New York, New York}}</ref>{{RP|697–698}}

== Naval career (1866–1871) == [[File:USS Franklin (1864).jpg|thumb|right|USS ''Franklin'' circa 1880]] On July 25, 1866, Glisson was commissioned as commodore and oversaw the station at [[League Island, Pennsylvania|League Island, Philadelphia]] from 1867 to 1869. He was appointed [[rear admiral]] June 10, 1870 and ordered to the command of the [[European Squadron]] just as the [[Franco-Prussian War]] had commenced.<ref name=Eicher />{{RP|80}}<ref name=Still>{{cite book|last=Still|first=William N.|title=American Sea Power in the Old World|year=1980|publisher=Greenwood Press|location=Westport, Connecticut}}</ref>{{RP|58–60}}

Arriving at [[Vlissingen|Flushing, Netherlands]] with his wife, Glisson relieved his predecessor, [[William Radford|Rear Admiral William Radford]] and hoisted his pennant above his flagship, the steam frigate {{USS|Franklin|1864|6}}. From Flushing, the ''Franklin'' was compelled to sail to [[Portsmouth, England]], for repairs upon her propeller.<ref name=Fulton />{{RP|142}}

After repairs were completed, the ''Franklin'' set course to [[Lisbon]], Portugal for coal. While there, Glisson was asked to participate in the wedding of Charles Allen Perkins, attaché for the American Legation. The bride was the Princess Dona Maria Isabella Francoise de Bourbon, granddaughter of [[Charles IV of Spain|King Charles IV of Spain]] and exiled in Portugal. Glisson escorted the bride and gave her away instead of her father, diplomat Ignacio Gurowski, who was unable to attend. The wedding was performed twice: once in the Church of St. Louis of the French and again on board the ''Franklin''.<ref name=Reifel />{{RP|144–45}}

Leaving Lisbon, the ''Franklin'' next dropped anchor in [[Naples]], Italy and then at [[Nice]], France. After slightly over seven months in Europe, Glisson was placed on the retired list January 18, 1871 as he approached the mandatory age of 62. He relinquished squadron command to Rear Admiral [[Charles S. Boggs]] and returned with his wife to the United States.<ref name=Appleton>{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=James Grant and Fiske, John|title=Appletons' Clopædia of American Biography|year=1887|publisher=D. Appleton and Company |location=New York, New York}}</ref>{{RP|692}}

== Marriage and family == Glisson married Pamela A. Parker [{{circa}} 1816 – {{Death date and age|1890|6|5|1816|7|1|mf=yes}}] in [[Norfolk, Virginia]] April 24, 1835. She was the daughter of Copeland Parker [1777 – 1830 (aged 50)] and his second wife Diana Robinson Hall [1780 – 1856 (aged 75)]. The Glissons had four sons.

After the Civil War, Glisson moved his family to 1630 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He spent the rest of his life there with a vacation home in Long Branch, New Jersey.<ref>{{cite book|title=Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the Navy of the United States|year=1891|publisher=Government Printing Office|location=Washington, District of Columbia}}</ref>{{RP|136}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Boyd|first=Sibbald Fred|title=Boyd's Philadelphia Blue Book|year=1890|publisher=C.E. Howe Company|location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania}}</ref>{{RP|77}}

== Legacy == The biography ''To the Loving Memory of Rear Admiral Oliver S. Glisson, U.S.N.'' was published by Glisson's sons, Oliver Jr. and Jacob, in 1891. Most of the 146 page book is devoted to Glisson's Civil War engagements via contemporary first-hand newspaper accounts written by A.F. and C.C. Fulton, editors and proprietors of the ''[[Baltimore News-American|Baltimore American]]''.

Glisson House at 405 Duke Street, Norfolk, Virginia is a [[Greek Revival architecture|Greek Revival]] home that Glisson had built circa 1840. The three-story home is located in the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Norfolk, Virginia|West Freemason Street Historic District]] and [[Hunter House Victorian Museum]] includes the house in its walking and guided tours.<ref name=Freemason>{{cite web|title=Hunter House Victorian Museum Tours|url=http://www.hunterhousemuseum.org/programs/walkTours.htm|work=Hunter House Victorian Museum|accessdate=16 January 2013|archive-date=6 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506201417/http://www.hunterhousemuseum.org/programs/walkTours.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=Wilson>{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=Richard Guy|title=Buildings of Virginia|year=2001 |publisher=Oxford University Press|location=New York, New York|url=http://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/VA-01-NK52|isbn=0-19-515206-9}}</ref>

In 1850, Glisson retained attorney Thomas S. Yeatman to map [[plat]]s on the farm of his recently deceased father, Thomas Glisson. Glisson Subdivision is situated south of the village of [[Dunlap, Ohio]] which had formed in 1849.<ref>{{cite book|title=History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofcincinn00nels|year=1894|publisher=S. B. Nelson & Company, Publishers |location=Cincinnati, Ohio}}</ref>{{RP|384}}

A storm near [[Smithfield, Virginia]], in 1884 caused the roof of the [[St. Luke's Church (Smithfield, Virginia)|Old Brick Church]] to fall, collapsing a portion of the eastern wall also. Glisson contributed to the restoration effort, sponsoring the [[pulpit]] and [[sounding board]]. The relatives of Glisson's wife Pamela dwelt in the Smithfield area and the donation was made in her name.<ref name=Thomas>{{cite book|last=Thomas|first=R.S.|title=Colonial Churches: A Series of Sketches of Churches in the Original Colony of Virginia|year=1907 |publisher=Southern Churchman Company|location=Richmond, Virginia|display-authors=etal}}</ref>{{RP|50–53}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Glisson, Oliver S.}} [[Category:1809 births]] [[Category:1890 deaths]] [[Category:Union navy officers]] [[Category:United States Navy rear admirals]] [[Category:People from Mount Healthy, Ohio]] [[Category:United States Navy personnel of the Mexican–American War]] [[Category:People of Ohio in the American Civil War]] [[Category:People from Franklin County, Indiana]] [[Category:Burials at The Woodlands Cemetery]]