By Koltin Massie
William Dumont was Born May 16, 1840 in New York, William was apart of a rich American Military History Fighting for Freedom all the way since the American Revolution. At the start of American Civil War William and his brother Robert enlisted their services. William enlisting as a revenue cutter and his brother Robert into the 5th New York Infantry Co. B serving a Captain Before Resigning to serve as the Aid to Admiral Bell on the USS Lancaster. By 1863 He was serving as the Naval Judge Advocate General of the squadron working to Capture Confederate ships moving in the pacific. In 1864 he returned home to New York to continue practicing law.
William Dumont after enlisting with the Revenue Cutters was placed on the USS Kensington. The Kensington departed Boston 24 February, 1862 for the Gulf of Mexico stopping at Charleston for repairs before taking up her assignment with the West Gulf Blockading Squadron at New Orleans on 4 May, 1862
The supply and water vessel resumed her voyage in April and joined the West Gulf Blockading Squadron at New Orleans 4 May. After bringing water and supplies to Flag Officer Farragut's ships blockading the Gulf Coast, the Kensington was ordered to ascend the Mississippi towing Horace Seals and Sarah Bruen, both of Comdr. David D. Porter's Mortar Flotilla. While passing Ellis Cliffs, Miss., the three ships came under fire of Confederate batteries. Their answering salvos silenced the Southern guns enabling the Union force to continue passage too Vicksburg. After placing her charges in position to bombard the cliffside batteries which defended Vicksburg, Kensington remained with Porter's flotilla issuing water and supplies and from time to time assisting sailing ships to change positions. The Kennsington was armed with two 32 Pounder Guns and one 30-pounder Parrott rifle.
After dropping down the river in mid-July, the water and supply ship visited blockaders stationed along the Louisiana and Texas coast. She joined Rachel Seaman and Henry James in bombarding Confederate batteries at Sabine Pass, Tex., 24 and 25 September. The action was broken off when defending troops spiked their guns and evacuated the fort. Though Sabine Pass surrendered the next day, a shortage of troops prevented the Navy from occupying the area. Nevertheless, this operation and similar attacks were a constant drain on Southern strength, and compelled the Confederacy to disperse its forces widely.
During operations along western Gulf coast in September and October, Kensington captured British blockade running schooners Velocity. Adventure, Dart, and West Florida. She also took Confederate schooners Conchita, Dart, and Mary Ann; sloop Eliza; and steamer Dan.
Kensington began her voyage too Pensacola with her prizes 13 October, delivering water en route to blockading ships stationed along the coast of Texas. Arriving Pensacola 24 October, the fighting supply ship began operating from that base, capturing Confederate schooner Course 11 November and British schooner Maria the next day.
Kensington moved to New Orleans 26 January 1863 (March of 1863 is when the photo is dated of William Dumont and the contraband boy. Meaning the photo was taken in New Orleans while he was stationed there. In the photo you see Dumont pouring a drink while wearing striped pants, knee high boots, and a vest with a Navy Round jacket. Most notably he is holding an extremely rare Navy Sharps Model 1859 Carbine only 900 were ordered of this model they were sent to New York and Boston. Dumont left from Boston where he would have received the firearm he is holding. Soon as the Union Navy and Army captured New Orleans there was a massive influx of runaway slaves heading to New Orleans to be of any assistance to Union Forces. Apart of the Unions plans to was educate people of color in the gulf. They raised money by selling CDVs of Isaac and Rosa as apart of the Slave Children of New Orleans.
The group of emancipated slaves whose portraits were brought by Colonel Hanks and Mr. Phillip Bacon from New Orleans, where they were set free by General Butler. Mr. Bacon went to New Orleans with army, and was for eighteen months employed as Assistant-Superintendent of Freedmen, under the care of Colonel Hanks. He established the first school in Louisiana for emancipated slaves, and these children were among his pupils. He will soon return to Louisiana to resume his labor.
Isaac was after his time in school was described as follows “Isaac White is a black boy of eight years; but none the less intelligent than his whiter companions. He has been in school about seven months, and I venture to say that not one boy in fifty would have made as much improvement in that space of time.”
Ironically Isaac found his way into another photo with William Dumont posing with a duck in his hand holding a game basket for holding their hunting prize. This amazing Cdv shows an inside view into the relationship between slaves/former slaves and Union soldiers.
5 months later the USS Kensington set sailfrom New Orleans for New York for longneeded repairs. Back in fighting trim 1August 1864, Kensington functioned as asupply vessel for ships off the NorthAtlantic Blockading Squadron until 30 November. She sailed from Boston as a transport vessel 7 December visiting Port Royal, Key West, Mobile, Pensacola, and New Orleans. After returning to New York 11 January 1865, Kensington made two similar voyages to Southern ports before decommissioning 5 May 1865. She was sold at public auction at New York to Brown & Co. 12 July 1865 and re-documented 31 July.
Kensington sank after colliding with an unknown sailing vessel at sea 27 January 1871.
Surviving the war William Dumont went home to New York and worked as a custom home stock broker until his death in 1914. His Brother Robert went home in 1864 and only lived a few years until his tragic death in 1873. Isaac White continued his education and later would work as a Teamster driver in New Orleans Marrying Lola Mcdonald.
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