DOB/DOD: 1837 * (Bloomfield, CT) – March 18, 1892 (Springfield, MA); 54 or 55 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married Margaret E. Colton (1835-1913) in Springfield, MA, on July 20, 1864.
CHILDREN: One daughter, Hattie M. (1873-1873).
ENLISTMENT: August 12, 1862, in Boston, Massachusetts
DISCHARGE: September 3, 1863, in Springfield, Massachusetts.
* The exact Date of Birth is unknown.
FAMILY: Born to Zophar (1800-1877) and Joanna R. (1800-?). Two sisters, Eunice J. Griswold Hayes (1826-1857) and Maria J. (1835-1835).
OTHER: In a sad footnote of a hero’s life, Seaman Griswold died, apparently penniless, in 1892. His wife, Margaret, later died in the Springfield poor house.
MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING: Civil War
BRANCH OF SERVICE: Navy
ASSIGNED TO: U.S.S. Rhode Island
GENERAL ORDERS: War Department, General Orders No. 59 (June 22, 1865)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Ordinary Seaman Luke M. Griswold, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving on board the U.S.S. Rhode Island, which was engaged in saving the lives of the officers and crew of the U.S.S. Monitor, 30 December 1862 near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Participating in the hazardous rescue of the officers and crew of the sinking Monitor, Ordinary Seaman Griswold, after rescuing several of the men, became separated in a heavy gale with other members of the cutter that had set out from the Rhode Island and spent many hours in the small boat at the mercy of the weather and high seas until finally picked up by a schooner 50 miles east of Cape Hatteras.
From the Wilmington Journal January 15, 1863
Official Report of Commander Trenchard of the Rhode Island
U.S. Steamer Rhode Island, Hampton Roads, January 3, 1863.
Sir: I have the honor to report, in conformity with your orders of the 24th, that the Rhode Island proceeded to sea with the iron-clad steamer Monitor in tow, and half-past two p.m., of the 29th, the being light from the southward and Westward with a smooth sea. The weather continued favorable during the night, and the Monitor towed easily, with speed ranging between five and six miles per hour. At one p.m. of the 30th, made Cape Hatteras lighthouse, bearing WSW fourteen miles distant. The weather during the day continued the same. At sunset, when seventeen miles Southeast of Cape Hatteras, made the steamer State of Georgia with the Passaic in tow to the Northward and Eastward of us, the wind being light at the time from Southward and Westward with indications of good weather. Between eight and nine p.m., the wind freshened, hauling more to the Southward, and attended with rainy and squally weather.
At nine p.m., the Monitor made signals to stop. We stopped the engines, starting them again soon after. During the interval, the Monitor appeared to be lying in the trough of the sea, laboring heavily, the sea making a complete breach over her. The steamer was then brought head to wind and sea under easy steam, and the Monitor rode much easier and made better weather. About two hours afterward (eleven p.m.), when about twenty miles South Southwest of Cape Hatteras, Commander Bankhead made signals for assistance, and upon hailing, we learned the Monitor was in a sinking condition. We lowered our launch and first cutter without delay and commenced getting her crew on board.
While so engaged, the Monitor ranged upon our port quarter, staving in the launch, and to prevent a serious collision, by which the Rhode Island would have been badly injured, it was necessary to force the steamer ahead a little. While under our quarter, ropes were thrown on board the Monitor, but so reluctant did the crew appear to leave their vessel that they did not take advantage of this opportunity to save themselves.
The vessels were now being separated, and a third boat was then lowered to assist the others in getting the crew on board. Acting Master’s Mate Brown, the officer in charge of the first cutter, deserves special credit for the skillful manner in which he managed his boat, having made two trips to the Monitor and rescuing a number of her men. Encouraged by the success attending them, Mr. Brown started on another trip and soon after was hailed and directed to lie on his oars or drop astern and be towed up as the Rhode Island would steam for the Monitor as soon as the men could be got on board from the boats alongside and the boats hoisted up. Mr. Brown, perhaps not understanding the order, proceeded on in the direction of the Monitor, whose red light from her turret was still visible, but by the time the steamer was ready to turn her wheels, the light had unfortunately disappeared.
1:30 p.m., on the 30th – The steam proceeded slowly in the direction which the Monitor bore when last seen and endeavored to keep her position as near as possible through the night, burning Coston’s night signals at intervals.
After daylight, not seeing anything of the missing boat, I decided to cruise between the position she had separated from us and Cape Hatteras and the extremity of its shoals, with the hope of falling in with her. This plan was carried out, and the day (31st), without success. It is possible, however, that the boat may have been picked up by one of the numerous vessels that were seen off the coast on that day. The boat was buoyant, had a good crew, and was no doubt well-managed, and I entertained hope that her daring crew had been saved by some passing vessel.
Acting Ensign Taylor, the officer who had charge of the launch, which had rendered good service, speaks the high praise of the gallant conduct of acting Master’s Mate Stevens, who, when the launch was manning, went quietly into the boat, took one of the oars, and while alongside the Monitor, in striving to save others, was himself washed from the boat, was rescued by the first cutter. Mr. Taylor also speaks in the highest terms of David T. Compton, cockswain of the launch, who, when the boat was stove and rendered unfit for service, oarlocks broken, declared he would not leave the boat, but would go to the Monitor even if he had to scull the boat.
I enclose herewith a list of the men in the missing boat belonging to the Rhode Island.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant.
Stephen D. Trenchard,
Commander.
Acting Rear Admiral S.P. Lee, commanding North Atlantic Blockading Squadron Hampton Roads.
From the Naval History and Heritage Command
Medal of Honor Luke M. Griswold, U.S.S. Rhode Island (1861)
Accession #: NHHC 1957-2-S
Circa: 1862
Size: 2 x 2.5
Medium: Bronze
Location: Headquarters Artifact Collection, Naval History, and Heritage Command
Obverse: Five-pointed bronze star tipped with trefoils containing a crown of laurel and oak. In the center is Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and warfare, standing with her left hand resting on fasces and her right hand holding a shield blazoned with the escutcheon of the United States. She repulses discord, represented by a male figure holding snakes. It is made of solid red brass, oxidized, and buffed.
Reverse: engraved “Personal Valor / Luke M. Griswold / O. Seaman / U.S.S. Rhode Island / Loss of the Monitor / Dec. 31, 1862.”
Note: Use of released U.S. Navy published material does not constitute product or organizational endorsement of any kind by the U.S. Navy.
NAMES OF THE MISSING FROM THE USS RHODE ISLAND
The following is a list of the men missing in the first cutter from the United States steamer Rhode Island:
Acting Master’s Mate J. Rodney Brown in charge,
Charles H. Smith, Coxswain
Maurice Wagg, Coxswain
Hugh Logan, Captain After Guard
Lewis A. Horton, Seaman
John Jones, Landsman
Luke M. Griswold, Ordinary Seaman
George Moore, Seaman.
Buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, 424 Bay Street, Springfield, Massachusetts; Section A, Grave 297. The Medal of Honor marker was installed in May 2013. It was paid for with private funds. The VA rejected his application as a Next Of Kin could not be found. Photo by Jeff DeWitt.
END