James Funk

	New York pilot boat James Funk No. 22.
History
United States
Name	James Funk
Owner	New York Pilots
Operator	A. C. Malcolm; Robert Yates, William Smith
Builder	Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Cost	$15,000
Launched	1862
Out of service	1864
Captured	1864
Fate	Sank at sea
General characteristics
Class and type	schooner
Tonnage	122-tons TM
Length	81 ft 0 in (24.69 m)
Draft	9 ft 0 in (2.74 m)
Depth	21 ft 5 in (6.53 m)
Propulsion	Sail

James Funk was a 19th-century New York City pilot boat built in 1862 at Greenpoint, Brooklyn for a company of New York Pilots. She was built for speed. She was assigned the "Number 22," which was displayed on her mainsail. The James Funk was captured and burned by the Confederate raiding steamer CSS Tallahassee during the American Civil War. The Charlotte Webb was built in 1865 to take the place of the James Funk that was destroyed.

Construction and service

The James Funk No. 22, was launched in 1862 from Greenpoint, Brooklyn. She was registered with the Record of American and Foreign Shipping from 1883–1984 as James Funk. Her master was Captain A. C. Malcolm; her owners were a company of New York Pilots, belonging to the port of New York. She was 81 feet in length, her draft was 9 feet, she weighed 122-tons, and built for speed.^[1]

On October 16, 1863, when the weather was dark and thick, the pilot-boat James Funk collided with the United States supply steamer Union, near Sandy Hook. The pilot-boat was in tow and no ship light was on. She started to sink and her crew escaped in yawls. It was estimated that she was worth between $12,000 and $15,000. She was raised and then return to port.^[2]

Civil War

End of service

On August 11, 1864, during the American Civil War, the pilot-boat James Funk, No. 22, was 60 miles southeast of Sandy Hook, when the Confederate raiding cruiser the Tallahassee approached disguised with an American ensign flying at the masthead. Pilot William Smith, of the pilot-boat took a yawl to board the Tallahassee thinking she was in need of a pilot. Instead, she was captured by the Confederate colonel, John Taylor Wood, who took control of the James Funk. His objective was to secure a pilot who could take the Tallahassee into Long Island Sound. Twenty of the Tallahassee's crew came onboard the pilot-boat and the crew of the James Funk were transferred to the Tallahassee.^[3]

The James Funk was turned into a tender and a decoy for the Tallahassee. Captain Wood used the pilot-boat to capture and burn other schooners and brigs, including the A. M. Lee. He then burned the James Funk, which he later regretted.^[4]

The same day, the Tallahassee captured and burned the pilot-boat William Bell, No. 24, Adriatic and several other boats. The Confederates then sailed the Tallahassee to Fire Island, where the crew and passengers went ashore. Robert Yates, captain of the pilot-boat provided his account of the capture of the James Funk, after he arrived safely back to his home in New York City.^[5]^[6]

In the book, "From Sandy Hook to 62", Charles Edward Russell, describes the chase of the Tallahassee cruiser against the James Funk and William Bell.^[7]

The pilot boat Charlotte Webb was built by Eckford Webb in May 1865 at the Webb & Bell shipyard in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, to take the place of the James Funk, No. 22, that was captured and burned by the Confederate raiding steamer Tallahassee.^[8]

References

^ ^a ^b "Record of American and Foreign Shipping 1864". Mystic Seaport Museum. New York. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
^ "Sinking of One Pilot Boat and Serious Damage to Another". The Times-Democrat. New Orleans, Louisiana. 27 Oct 1863. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "The privateer Tallahassee. Capture of the Pilot Boat Jas. Funk". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, New York. 13 Aug 1864. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
^ John, Bell (2002). Confederate Seadog John Taylor Wood in War and Exile. New York: McFarland, Incorporated. p. 35.
^ Allen, Edward L. (1922). Pilot Lore From sail to Steam. New York: The United New York and New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots Benevolent Associations. pp. 12–25.
^ Cunliffe, Tom (2001). Pilots, The World Of Pilotage Under Sail and Oar. Brooklin, Maine: WoodenBoat. p. 99. ISBN 9780937822692.
^ Russell, Charles Edward (1929). From Sandy Hook to 62°. New York: Century Co. p. 137. OCLC 3804485.
^ "Webb & Bell's Yard". Brooklyn Union. Brooklyn, New York. 25 May 1865. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-11-21.