York, then on to Annapolis, Maryland, where he was honorably discharged from the Army at Camp Parole on 12 April 1865. When Kirby returned home after his tenmonth odyssey, he learned for the first time that his mother, Cecilia, had died during his absence. His father would pass away four years later, in 1869. He returned to work in the transportation business. In 1882, he was appointed agent of the Pennsylvania Railroads’ steam tugs at South Amboy, New Jersey, under the authority of Daniel C. Chase, superintendent of the Delaware and Raritan Canal Towing Line. He later became superintendent after Chase, had charge of all the steam tugs and served as harbor master at South Amboy until the time of his sudden death on 1 June 1913. He is buried in St. Peter’s Cemetery at New Brunswick, New Jersey, with his wife, Ann, and two of his children, Michael and Thomas, who died in adolescence. His last son, Francis, became a shipmaster and also had a career with the Pennsylvania Railroad. His only daughter, Cecilia, is the author’s great-grandmother. A coast survey map of Charleston Harbor prepared in 1865 shows, among other
wrecks, the wreck of the Celt on the east side of Bowman’s Jetty in the spot where a photo was taken of her that became fairly well-known. Weeks after the capture of Charleston, three naval officers were ordered to survey the condition of the Celt. Their official report on the condition of the vessel follows: USS Sonoma, Charleston, SC, March 9, 1865. Sir: In obedience to your order of the 18th instant, we have held a strict and careful survey upon the hull, boilers, and machinery of the prize steamer Celt and respectfully report: The Celt lies stranded on the beach at Sullivan’s Island, back broken, and full of water, and decks ripped up. The machinery is in irreparable condition; some few pieces might be removed and be of service. Boilers are mostly below water, but judging from the condition of those parts visible, we are of the opinion they are not worth the expense of removing. We therefore report the hull, boil-
ers, and machinery of the steamer Celt as unavailable for service or use to the Government of the United States. Very Respectfully, your obedient servants, Thomas Scott Fillebrown, LieutenantCommander, W. T. Gillespie, Acting Master, Robert Mulready, Acting First Assistant Engineer. According to underwater archaeologist Dr. Edward L. Spence, portions of the Celt could still be seen at low tide as late as the early 1970s. An archaeological survey of the South Carolina coastline conducted by the University of South Carolina-Columbia in 2012 could not locate the Celt. The coastline of Sullivan’s Island has extended farther out at Fort Moultrie over the years, and it is believed that any remains of the Celt lay buried under the shoreline today. William Cahill is an electrical designer for Fiat/Chrysler. He has had a life-long interest in naval history, specifically the Civil War and WWII. He served ten years in the USCG Auxiliary and was a division staff officer. He is a 2nd great-grandson of Michael Kirby.
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SEA HISTORY 166, SPRING 2019