Return to Naval Historical
Center home page.
Return to Online
Library listing
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --
William Tilghman, Civilian Ship's Cook, (in service, 1861).
Name also spelled William Tillman.
William Tilghman was serving as cook on board the American
schooner S.J.
Waring when she was captured by the Confederate Privateer
Jefferson
Davis at sea off the U.S. east coast on 7 July 1861. While
she was en route to a Confederate port on 16 July, Tilghman, who
as an African-American had every reason to fear for his future
in Southern hands, used an axe to kill the prize crew and recapture
the vessel. He then took S.J. Waring to New York City,
where he received a hero's welcome. Reportedly, he later was given
a six-thousand dollar award for his actions.
This page features the only views we have related to William
Tilghman.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 59404
"The Attack on the Second Mate."
Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", 1861,
depicting the recapture of the schooner S.J. Waring on
16 July 1861.
S.J. Waring had been captured by the Confederate privateer
Jefferson Davis in the Atlantic on 6 July 1861. Ten days
later, her African-American cook, William Tilghman, overwhelmed
and killed her Confederate prize crew with an ax. He brought
her into New York on 22 July 1861.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 166KB; 740 x 585 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 58895
"Schooner 'S.J. Waring', Recaptured from the Pirates by
the Negro Wm. Tillman."
Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", 3 August
1861.
The civilian schooner S.J. Waring was captured by the
Confederate privateer Jefferson Davis in the Atlantic
off Sandy Hook, New Jersey, on 6 July 1861. On 16 July, William
Tilghman, the cook in her original crew, overwhelmed and killed
her Confederate prize crew with an ax, recapturing the vessel.
He brought her into New York on 22 July 1861.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 130KB; 580 x 675 pixels |
 |
Return to Naval
Historical Center home page.
Page made 19 January 2002