The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 21, July 1917 - April, 1918 Page: 377
434 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The United States Gunboat Harriet Lane
friends in California with a few words appropriate to the occa-
sion, presented the son (who was then an ensign in the United
States Navy, and named Jonah M. Wainright) with the sword
with which his father gallantly commanded the Harriet Lane in
one of the shortest and most decisive naval engagements during
the war, and which was in his hands when he fell."
I have in my possession at this date a clipping from a San
Francisco paper which was sent to my mother some years after
the war, the dates of which have been torn off, which says: "The
late Jonah M. Wainright, U. S. N., the gallant young ensign who
fell in the affair with, the pirate 'Forward' was a native of New
York, and entered the navy in July, 1863. He was one of the most
popular officers in the service, brave and efficient in the discharge
of duty, kind and gentle towards his friends. His death is
lamented not only by those who were his associates in the service,
but by every member of the society in which he moved. Ensign
Wainright had served three years on this coast. His master's
commission was awaiting him at Panama and he was on his way
to. that port to be relieved when the bullet found him foremost in
the attack. His brave father in 1862 was shot on the deck of the
Harriet Lane off Galveston, a vessel which he commanded during
a portion of the war. He died sword in hand, and Commodore
Leon Smith, into whose hands his effects fell, on meeting young
Wainright in California, presented him with the sword. Strangely
enough, when the son was mortally wounded by the Mexican fire,
the father's sword was in his hand. Truly the United States
Navy may well be proud of such hereditary gallantry, and the
memory of both father and son will be long preserved by those
who serve under the flag."
I have been approached on this subject by a great many of my
father's old friends, and no doubt, there are living today many
such men who were present personally in the engagement and
could corroborate these statements, besides the proof which I hold
in my possession.
After leaving C'alifornia, my father, mother and myself went
to Fort Wrangle, Alaska, where my father was killed by an In-
dian in ambush on Christmas Day, 1869. Shortly after this, my
father's remains, myself and mother, were transported on the
United States steamer, Newbern, thru the courtesy of the govern-
ment, to San Francisco, California, where my father now lies. I
have been induced to make this statement of facts in vindication
of a cherished hope on the part of my father, which was to deliver
this sword in person to Captain Wainright's son.
Very truly yours,
Leon B. Smith.30
SOGalveston News, January 20, 1895.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 21, July 1917 - April, 1918, periodical, 1918; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101073/m1/383/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.