ST. INIGOES, Md. – Families and members from Naval Air Station Patuxent River gathered solemnly at the USS Tulip Monument in St. Inigoes, Maryland, to honor the 160th anniversary of the tragic explosion that claimed the lives of 49 Union sailors aboard the Civil War gunboat USS Tulip. The service, held on November 7, 2024, just days before the anniversary of the explosion, featured Captain James Burfield as the guest speaker, who underscored the importance of remembering those lost in service.
The USS Tulip, commissioned by the U.S. Navy in 1863, was a wooden steam-powered gunboat tasked with patrol and combat operations in Chesapeake Bay during the Civil War. On November 11, 1864, as the Tulip sailed towards Washington, D.C., for critical boiler repairs, disaster struck. The ship’s boiler—a known liability that officials had warned needed urgent replacement—exploded just off the coast of what is now Webster Outlying Field. The explosion destroyed the ship, and only eight of the 57 sailors on board survived. The monument at St. Inigoes serves as a memorial to the 49 lost, including many who were never recovered from the waters of the Potomac River.
The Tulip’s fatal voyage began when Captain William H. Smith ignored warnings to reduce steam pressure on the aging boiler, which had been ordered to Washington for repair. In an effort to avoid being an easy target for Confederate forces, Capt. Smith pushed the vessel full steam ahead—leading to a catastrophic blast that was heard miles away. Survivors reported the engine room in chaos, with shouts from engineer William Gordon calling for the safety valve to be opened just moments before the explosion. Witnesses described the explosion as “a terrific crash,” hurling men and equipment in every direction and plunging the ship’s remains into the Potomac within minutes.
Among the fallen were sailors William McGovern, Charles Halpin, and James B. Day, whose names have since become part of local lore. Many believe the restless spirits of these men linger near the monument and the nearby coast. Stories have circulated over generations, with locals and naval personnel occasionally reporting unexplained sounds of voices or sightings of ghostly figures near the monument site, often described as men in 19th-century naval garb.
The story of the USS Tulip lives on not only in history books but through local legends and the devotion of descendants like Wallace Jackson, whose great-grandfather, James R. Jackson, served as the ship’s pilot. Jackson and other family members have attended the annual service for over a decade, many traveling from Virginia to honor the family’s Civil War connection.
Captain Burfield acknowledged the enduring connection between the Navy and the local community: “The memory of those lost on the USS Tulip reminds us of the sacrifices made by those who served. This tragedy underscores the unpredictable dangers of naval service, and today, we honor their courage and dedication.”
This tragic event, marking 160 years since the explosion, remains a poignant chapter in Maryland’s Civil War history. The incident has since been a subject of maritime study, with historians noting the Tulip as an example of the inherent risks of steam-powered vessels. Naval historians have documented that the boiler defect on the Tulip was flagged prior to its fateful journey, but wartime demands led to deferred repairs—ultimately leading to the vessel’s tragic end.
The USS Tulip Monument, erected near the grounds where it sank, stands as a historical reminder and a tribute to those who lost their lives in one of the Navy’s worst non-combat accidents of the Civil War era. The annual memorial has become a cherished tradition in St. Mary’s County, with the local community and naval personnel alike paying respects to the fallen. The tales of the Tulip‘s ill-fated voyage continue to captivate visitors, drawing attention to both the bravery and the vulnerability of naval service members during the Civil War.
As the years pass, the legacy of the USS Tulip remains woven into the fabric of Southern Maryland’s history, honoring those who served and sacrificed under the Union banner.
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