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Catesby ap Roger Jones


Catesby ap Roger Jones (April 15, 1821 – June 20, 1877) was an American naval officer who served in the United States Navy before resigning to become a in the during the , where he distinguished himself as an ordnance expert and acting of the ironclad in the . Born at Fairfield Plantation in , to Roger ap Catesby Jones and Mary Ann Mason Page—a cousin of —Jones entered the U.S. as a on June 18, 1836, aboard the USS Macedonian under his uncle, Thomas ap Catesby Jones, a War of 1812 hero. He served on multiple vessels, including the USS Columbia, and was promoted to in 1849, during which time he collaborated with John A. B. Dahlgren on developing the IX-inch shell gun, establishing his reputation in naval ordnance. Following 's , Jones resigned from the U.S. on April 17, 1861—a move noted as a significant loss to the Union due to his expertise—and was appointed a captain in the Virginia before joining the Confederate service as a . In the Confederacy, Jones contributed to fortifications on Jamestown Island and served as executive officer of the CSS Virginia, overseeing armor testing that influenced its design—such as rejecting insufficient three-layer plating—and accelerating its construction from a scuttled steam frigate. During the Battle of Hampton Roads on March 8–9, 1862, he assumed command after Captain was wounded, leading the Virginia to sink the USS Cumberland and USS Congress before engaging the in a drawn four-hour that demonstrated the of wooden navies. Later, he supervised the Selma Naval Ordnance Works, producing over 70 Brooke rifled guns critical to Confederate efforts in collaboration with John M. Brooke. Paroled in 1865, Jones attempted a supply that failed before working in in , until his death.

Early Life and Family Background

Birth and Ancestry

Catesby ap Roger Jones was born on April 15, 1821, at Fairfield Plantation, the estate of his maternal grandmother in (then part of Frederick County). He was the son of Roger Jones, a in the United States Army who served as from 1825 until his death in 1852 and had fought as a major in the , and Mary Ann Mason Page, a member of a prominent family. Jones's mother was a lineal descendant of , the influential 18th-century planter and author known for founding . The "" prefix in his name derives from Welsh tradition, signifying "son of " and highlighting the family's Welsh heritage on the paternal side. His father, Jones, descended from early colonists, including Catesby Jones, a officer after whom the son was partially named.

Education and Influences

Jones was appointed an acting in the United States on June 18, 1836, marking the start of his naval training through practical sea service rather than formal academic institutions prior to that date. His structured education followed in December 1841 at the Naval School, a precursor to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he passed the examination and received his warrant as a passed on December 19. Key influences stemmed from his family background in ; his father, Roger Jones, served as a major general in the U.S. Army and Adjutant General, instilling early exposure to disciplined command structures. His uncle, Commodore Thomas ap Catesby Jones—a War of 1812 veteran—directly shaped his initial career by commanding the USS Macedonian during Jones's first assignment in 1836, providing mentorship in naval operations. Further guidance came from Lieutenant at the Depot of Charts and Instruments in , starting December 19, 1841, where Jones engaged in hydrographic studies that honed his technical acumen. These familial and professional figures emphasized practical seamanship and scientific naval applications over theoretical academia.

United States Navy Career (1836–1861)

Entry as Midshipman and Initial Assignments

Catesby ap Roger Jones was appointed a midshipman in the United States Navy on June 18, 1836, at the age of 15. His entry into naval service followed the standard path for young officers of the era, involving rigorous examinations and family influence, as his uncle, Captain Thomas ap Catesby Jones, commanded ships that provided early opportunities. Jones's initial assignment placed him aboard the USS Macedonian, a 20-gun vessel under his uncle's command, where he gained foundational experience in seamanship and discipline during routine patrols and training cruises along the Atlantic coast. By 1837, he transferred to the Squadron as aide to George C. Read aboard the Raritan-class frigate USS Columbia, a 50-gun ship engaged in protecting American commerce in Asian waters. This posting exposed him to extended voyages, including the Second Sumatran Expedition in 1838, where U.S. forces suppressed piracy off the Indonesian coast, involving naval bombardment and landing operations against local forts; Jones participated in these actions, contributing to his early combat exposure. In December 1841, after returning stateside, Jones attended the Naval School (predecessor to the U.S. Naval Academy) and passed the examination to become a passed on July 29, 1841, advancing his warrant to full status with seniority. This period marked the transition from probationary training to more specialized duties, reflecting the Navy's emphasis on technical proficiency amid growing demands for scientific and gunnery.

Sea Service and Professional Development

Jones entered the as a on June 18, 1836, with his initial assignment aboard the sloop USS Macedonian, commanded by his uncle, Captain Charles Wirgman Hunter. In 1837, he served as aide to George C. Read in the East India Squadron, participating in the Second Sumatran Expedition of 1838 aboard the sloop USS Columbia, where U.S. forces engaged local forces to protect American trade interests. Following attendance at the Philadelphia Naval School, Jones was promoted to passed in 1841. His subsequent sea duties included service in 1842 at the Depot of Charts and Instruments under Lieutenant , followed by assignment to the schooner USS Flirt for coastal surveying operations. In 1843, he transferred to the schooner USS Perry and then to the frigate USS Brandywine, undertaking a global circumnavigation that returned to Navy Yard in late 1845. From 1846 to 1848, Jones served as acting master aboard the ship-of-the-line in the , coinciding with the final phases of the Mexican-American War, during which he was warranted as master in October 1848. He received promotion to on May 12, 1849, reflecting his accumulated sea experience across multiple vessels and squadrons. In February 1853, Jones was assigned to the U.S. Navy Bureau at the , where he collaborated with John A. B. Dahlgren on experimental development, including contributions to the IX-inch Dahlgren shell gun. This period marked a shift toward specialized technical expertise, as he later served as ordnance officer on the Merrimack from 1856 to 1857, overseeing testing during its initial active service. Additional assignments included the Plymouth and Pawnee, focused on evaluating , supplemented by a two-year leave in for further professional study. These roles honed his proficiency in naval gunnery and , distinguishing him amid the Navy's mid-19th-century transition to steam and advanced weaponry.

Expertise in Ordnance and Technical Contributions

In February 1853, Jones was assigned to the U.S. Navy's and Hydrography, where he collaborated with Commander on experimental artillery projects aimed at improving naval gunnery. This assignment leveraged his prior sea service experience, following his promotion to on May 12, 1849, after extensive duty including the during the Mexican-American War. Jones's technical contributions included significant involvement in the development of the 9-inch Dahlgren shell gun, a weapon designed for enhanced range, accuracy, and shell-firing capability compared to earlier models. This innovation, tested through rigorous ordnance experiments, led to the gun's adoption as the standard broadside armament for Merrimack-class steam frigates and Hartford-class sloops-of-war, reflecting Jones's practical input on casting, , and naval integration. From 1856 to 1857, Jones served as ordnance officer aboard the newly commissioned steam frigate USS Merrimack, overseeing the installation and testing of prototype artillery systems, including Dahlgren-pattern guns. During her shakedown cruise, he documented performance data, noting challenges such as gun stability in heavy seas, which informed subsequent refinements in mounting and recoil mechanisms for steam-powered vessels. Throughout the 1850s, these efforts positioned Jones as a key figure in advancing U.S. naval weaponry toward more reliable, high-velocity ordnance suited to emerging steam propulsion technologies. ![Portrait of Catesby ap Roger Jones][float-right]

Transition to Confederate Service

Resignation from U.S. Navy and Motivations

Jones, then a in the United States , tendered his on April 17, 1861, the precise date of Virginia's from the . This action aligned with a broader pattern of Southern officers departing federal service for sectional allegiance, as resignations accelerated following state secessions starting in late 1860. The primary motivation for Jones's resignation stemmed from his loyalty to Virginia, his native state, amid the irreconcilable divide over states' rights and Union preservation that precipitated the Civil War. As a career naval officer with deep familial ties to Virginia—descended from prominent state figures—Jones exemplified the prioritization of local sovereignty over national duty, a causal factor in the defection of approximately one-fifth of the U.S. Navy's officer corps to the Confederacy. No evidence indicates personal grievances or professional dissatisfaction as drivers; rather, the timing underscores a direct response to Virginia's exit from the federal compact. Following his resignation, Jones received immediate appointment as a captain in the State Navy by John Letcher on April 17, 1861, enabling seamless continuity in his service to the Southern cause before the state forces integrated into the in June 1861. This rapid transition highlights the structured secessionist preparations that facilitated such shifts, underscoring Jones's alignment with Confederate naval priorities from the outset.

Appointment in Confederate States Navy

Jones resigned his commission in the United States Navy on April 17, 1861, the day adopted its , and immediately aligned with the Confederate effort by entering service in the Virginia State Navy as a on May 2, 1861. This interim role facilitated his transition amid the rapid organization of southern naval forces following the Confederate Congress's authorization of the (CSN) on March 16, 1861, which aimed to build a fleet from transferred state navies and experienced southern officers. On June 10, 1861, Jones received his formal appointment as a in the CSN, a rank commensurate with his prior U.S. Navy lieutenant status and reflecting the provisional navy's emphasis on retaining skilled personnel for , gunnery, and ship duties. The appointment process prioritized officers from seceding states like , where Jones was born and commissioned, ensuring continuity in technical expertise amid the CSN's nascent structure, which initially comprised fewer than 300 officers drawn largely from U.S. Navy defectors. This positioned Jones for immediate contributions at key facilities, leveraging his pre-war specialization in naval and hydrostatic testing, though specific details followed shortly thereafter under Secretary of the Stephen R. Mallory's directives to bolster ironclad and capabilities.

Key Roles in Confederate (1861–1865)

Service at Navy Yard and CSS Construction

Upon resigning from the on April 17, 1861, Jones was immediately appointed a captain in the state navy by John Letcher and dispatched to to support Confederate operations at the Gosport Navy Yard, where Union forces had abandoned the facility days earlier following the scuttling of several vessels, including the USS Merrimack on April 20. In the ensuing months, Jones contributed to securing naval resources in the area, including participation in the capture of Fort , which yielded approximately 300,000 pounds of essential for Confederate defenses. Jones played a pivotal role in the conversion of the salvaged Merrimack into the ironclad ram at the Navy Yard, a project initiated in mid-1861 under Confederate naval leadership to counter Union blockading squadrons. Assigned as of the vessel in November 1861, he oversaw critical aspects of the refit, including the construction of a sloped armored with two layers of 2-inch iron plating—totaling 4 inches—after conducting tests in October 1861 that demonstrated the inadequacy of thinner armor against naval gunfire. He directed the mounting of the ship's , comprising ten guns such as 7-inch Brooke rifles and 9-inch Dahlgren smoothbores, while mustering a crew of around 320 men amid labor shortages that reduced effective personnel to approximately 250 by early 1862. The construction process, spanning roughly six months, faced significant delays due to scarce skilled labor, inadequate tools, and supply constraints at the yard, resulting in a Jones later described as poorly ventilated and unseaworthy in aspects like hull integrity. Despite these challenges, Jones expedited preparations for sea trials, contributing to the Virginia's launch in 1862 and her commissioning in early March, transforming the razéed frigate's hull and engines into the Confederacy's first operational ironclad. His expertise in , honed from prior U.S. Navy service, ensured the integration of innovative rifled cannons that enhanced the ship's firepower, marking a shift toward .

Command During Battle of Hampton Roads

On March 8, 1862, during the initial phase of the , Confederate Captain , commanding the ironclad CSS Virginia, sustained a leg wound while personally directing fire against the USS . Buchanan relinquished command to his executive officer, Catesby ap Roger Jones, who assumed tactical control of the vessel amid ongoing engagements. Under Jones's leadership, the Virginia continued its assault on the Congress, which struck its colors but refused to ; Jones ordered the ship set ablaze with hot shot and incendiary projectiles, resulting in its eventual destruction by fire later that evening. Jones then shifted focus to the grounded frigate USS Minnesota, a primary Union blockader, but the Virginia's deep draft and falling tide prevented close approach, limiting actions to long-range fire before withdrawing to Gosport Navy Yard for repairs due to minor damage and low ammunition. This first day's operations under Buchanan and Jones saw the Virginia ram and sink the frigate USS Cumberland—the only Union sailing warship lost to ramming in the Civil War—and neutralize the Congress, demonstrating the ironclad's superiority over wooden vessels despite the command transition. Resuming operations on March 9, Jones commanded the Virginia against the newly arrived ironclad USS Monitor, initiating a four-hour marked by close-range exchanges from the Virginia's nine-inch and Brooke rifles against the Monitor's eleven-inch Dahlgrens. The engagement proved inconclusive, with neither vessel sustaining decisive damage; Jones maneuvered to exploit the Monitor's vulnerabilities, such as attempting to ram and target its pilothouse, but the 's armored design and the Virginia's low freeboard hindered effective hits. Low ammunition and concerns over potential reinforcements prompted Jones to disengage and return to base, preserving the Virginia for future operations while stalling further blockade efforts in . Historians note Jones's prudent decision to avoid prolonged risk, prioritizing the ironclad's survival amid operational constraints like pilot shortages and mechanical issues.

Subsequent Duties and Ordnance Innovations

Following the scuttling of CSS Virginia on May 11, 1862, Jones reassembled his crew and assumed command of a shore battery at Drewry's Bluff (Fort Darling) on the , where Confederate defenses repelled a flotilla's attempt to advance on during the on May 15, 1862. In this engagement, Jones's battery contributed to the Confederate victory by targeting ironclads and , preventing their passage despite intense bombardment that inflicted significant damage on the attackers. His leadership at Drewry's Bluff, combined with actions at , earned him promotion to commander on April 29, 1863. Later in 1862, Jones briefly oversaw the construction of the CSS Chattahoochee at , ensuring its armaments and before its launch in early 1863. By June 1, 1863, he was appointed superintendent of the Selma Ordnance and Naval Foundry in , tasked with producing heavy for Confederate coastal defenses and naval use amid severe shortages of imported ordnance. At Selma, Jones directed the foundry's expansion into advanced cannon production, including the Brooke rifle—a rifled muzzle-loader designed by Lieutenant John M. Brooke, reinforced with wrought-iron bands at the breech to withstand higher powder charges for improved range and accuracy over smoothbore predecessors. Under his oversight, Selma became the Confederacy's primary facility in the Lower South for manufacturing these guns, yielding approximately 100 heavy pieces by war's end, including 7- and 8-inch rifles that armed ironclads and fortifications. Jones's expertise in ordnance metallurgy and testing protocols enhanced production efficiency, incorporating innovations like banded construction to mitigate casting flaws common in cast-iron guns, thereby reducing premature bursts and enabling sustained firing rates in combat. This work sustained Confederate naval capabilities despite Union blockades, though output was limited by raw material scarcities and Federal raids culminating in Selma's capture in April 1865.

Post-War Life and Death

Reconstruction-Era Activities

Following the surrender of Confederate forces in April 1865, Catesby ap Roger Jones relocated permanently to , where he had supervised ordnance production during the war's final years. There, on an unspecified date in 1865, he married Gertrude T. Tartt, with whom he started a family including sons Roger ap Catesby Jones (born 1867) and Tartt ap Catesby Jones (born 1870). Jones pursued civilian employment selling insurance, maintaining a low-profile existence amid the economic dislocations and federal military oversight characteristic of in Alabama. No records indicate Jones engaged in political activism, paramilitary organizations, or public opposition to policies during this period; his activities centered on private family life in Selma, a city grappling with debt from wartime foundries and shifting demographics under Union occupation. This relative seclusion contrasted with the era's turbulence, including governance and violence elsewhere in the South, though Selma experienced its own tensions over disenfranchisement and labor shifts. On June 20, 1877—near the close of with the —Jones intervened in a street quarrel between his seven-year-old son and a ten-year-old boy from another local family, escalating into a shooting. Jones sustained a fatal to the hip, succumbing the next day at age 56. Contemporary accounts described the incident as stemming from a personal feud rather than broader political strife, with the shooter identified variably as J.A. Harrell or the boy himself in trial coverage. He was buried in , Selma.

Final Years and Passing

Following the , Jones settled in , where he worked selling insurance and resided with his family. In 1865, he married Gertrude Thomas Tartt (1842–1926). On June 19, 1877, a altercation arose from a fight between Jones's son and the daughter of local resident J.A. Harral, escalating when Jones confronted Harral over the matter. Harral shot Jones during the exchange, and Jones succumbed to the wound within 24 hours, dying in Selma on June 20 or 21 at age 56. Harral was arrested, granted $15,000 bail, and tried for murder; on May 29, 1878, a Selma court found him not guilty. Jones was interred at Live Oak Cemetery in Selma.

Military Assessments and Legacy

Tactical Achievements and Criticisms

Jones served as executive officer of the CSS Virginia during the initial phase of the Battle of Hampton Roads on March 8, 1862, overseeing gunnery and ordnance operations that enabled the ironclad to ram and sink the USS Cumberland—the first major warship lost to ramming—and destroy the USS Congress by fire, while grounding the USS Minnesota. His expertise as an ordnance officer contributed to the effective arming of the Virginia with six 9-inch Dahlgren smoothbores and four 7-inch Brooke rifles, utilizing increased powder charges—up to 30 pounds in the Brookes—to achieve greater range and impact against wooden hulls. Assuming command after Captain Franklin Buchanan's wounding, Jones directed the Virginia's engagement with the USS Monitor on March 9, maneuvering the larger ironclad in repeated broadsides and ramming attempts over four hours, firing more than 150 shots while sustaining damage to the pilothouse and armor but preventing the Monitor from relieving the stranded Minnesota. The resulting tactical draw halted the Virginia's momentum from the previous day but preserved the ship for further operations, demonstrating the defensive superiority of ironclads over traditional naval forces and influencing global warship design. Criticisms of Jones's tactics centered on the Virginia's inherent design flaws, including low freeboard, sluggish speed of 5-6 knots, and poor maneuverability, which limited aggressive pursuits and allowed the Monitor to dictate positioning despite the Confederate ship's superior firepower. Some accounts faulted his reluctance to commit fully to ramming the Monitor after initial misses, prioritizing the Virginia's structural integrity over riskier maneuvers that could have exposed vulnerabilities like the ram's weakness or the exposed screw and rudder. These constraints, rather than command errors, contributed to the failure to destroy the Minnesota before Union reinforcements arrived, though Jones's decisions avoided catastrophic loss amid mechanical issues and rising tide pressures.

Historical Recognition and Debates

Catesby ap Roger Jones is recognized by naval historians for his pivotal role in the conversion of the USS Merrimack into the CSS Virginia, where as chief ordnance officer he oversaw the installation of heavy Brooke rifles and innovative armor-piercing projectiles, contributing to the ironclad's effectiveness in the Battle of Hampton Roads on March 8–9, 1862. His interim command of the Virginia on March 9, following Franklin Buchanan's wounding, is credited with preventing a Union breakthrough in Hampton Roads despite the inconclusive duel with USS Monitor, as Jones maneuvered the vessel amid low tide and structural vulnerabilities to avoid grounding or excessive damage. Postwar assessments, including his own 1883 account in the Southern Historical Society Papers, highlight his ordnance expertise, later applied at the Selma Naval Foundry where he produced over 100 Brooke guns, bolstering Confederate artillery capabilities. Recognition of Jones extends to his burial in Richmond's Hollywood Cemetery as a Confederate , with memorials emphasizing his technical innovations amid the South's resource constraints, though he remains less celebrated than figures like Buchanan or due to the Confederacy's naval limitations and the war's terrestrial focus. Modern institutions like the Mariners' Museum portray him as an "outstanding ordnance officer" whose work presaged , influencing global ironclad adoption. Debates center on Confederate command decisions, notably Jones's exclusion from Virginia's captaincy despite his conversion leadership, with contemporaries noting his disappointment as Buchanan, a senior but less technically involved officer, received the post on February 24, 1862, potentially prioritizing experience over expertise. During the Monitor engagement, Jones's choice to disengage—citing the Virginia's 22-foot against falling and pilothouse damage—has drawn scrutiny for forgoing a decisive fleet assault, though defenders argue it reflected pragmatic assessment of the vessel's vulnerabilities rather than timidity, as corroborated by crew accounts and tide data. Later, his oversight of the Virginia's May 11, 1862, to evade capture sparked minimal controversy, viewed as inevitable given Norfolk's evacuation, but underscores broader historiographic questions on Confederate naval strategy's .

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