A Follow Up on Gilbert Elliott, Builder of the CSS Albemarle

From Green-Wood Cemetery "The Confederate Ironclad Ram Albemarle."

Although a Confederate, Gilbert Elliott (1843-1895) is buried at Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery.  I wrote about him on April 10th. 

He was trained as a young man in boat building and had some experience as a law clerk.  In 1862, he enlisted in the 17 NC Infantry and became a first-lieutenant and adjutant in the regiment.  In 1863, he was detailed to build the CSS Albemarle in a cornfield on the Roanoke River in North Carolina.

He accomplished this despite horrendous supply problems while following the design of Confederate Chief Engineer John L. Porter.  The ship only drew nine feet of water so was able to operate in the shallow river.

On April 19, 1864, the Albemarle engaged Union ships at the Battle of Plymouth, NC.  In may, the Union fleet attacked the ship, but it survived the battle only to be sunk by a daring attack by Union commando William Cushing.

Elliott was originally interned in lot 8839, but was later moved to Section 137, Lot 29238 on November 10, 1895.

Of interest, his grave is now located just a few feet from that of Louis Napoleon Stodder, the last surviving officer of the USS Monitor when it engaged the CSS Virginia.

A Confederate Soldier Building a Confederate Ironclad and Buried in the North.  --Old B-Runner