William Edgar Le Roy (March 24, 1818 – December 10, 1888) was an officer in the United States Navy who served in the Mexican War, on the African Slave Trade Patrol, and in the American Civil War. He rose to the rank of rear admiral and late in his career was consecutively commander-in-chief of the South Atlantic Squadron, the North Atlantic Squadron, and the European Squadron.
Early life
Le Roy was born in New York City on March 24, 1818.
Naval career
Early career
Le Roy was appointed as a midshipman on January 11, 1832. His first tour of duty was aboard the ship-of-the-line in the Mediterranean Squadron from 1833 to 1836. He next served aboard the new brig in the Brazil Squadron from 1837 to 1838. Promoted to passed midshipman on June 23, 1838, he was aboard the frigate in the Pacific Squadron from 1839 to 1840 and the store ship from 1842 to 1843. He was promoted to lieutenant on July 13, 1843.
Mexican War
In 1846, Le Roy reported aboard the paddle frigate in the Home Squadron. Aboard her, he took part in the opening stages of the Mexican War. Before the end of 1846, Mississippi participated in expeditions against Alvarado, Tampico, Pánuco, and Laguna de los Términos, Mexico, all successful in tightening American control of the Mexican coastline and interrupting Mexico's coastwise commerce and military supply operations. In 1847 he served aboard the Home Squadron steamer off Mexico, and took part in an engagement with Mexican troops at Rio Aribiqua while ashore to collect drinking water for Princeton.
Between the wars
After the conclusion of the Mexican War, Le Roy served aboard the frigate in the Pacific Squadron from 1849 to 1851. He spent 1852 awaiting orders, but from 1853 to 1855 he was again aboard Savannah, this time operating in the Brazil Squadron. He had duty at Naval Station Sackets Harbor in Sackets Harbor, New York, from 1857 to 1858, then returned to sea for a tour aboard the frigate in the Brazil Squadron in 1859. He took part in the African Slave Trade Patrol as commanding officer of the steamer in the Africa Squadron in 1861.
American Civil War
The American Civil War broke out in April 1861. Promoted to commander on July 1, 1861, Le Roy took command of the sidewheel steamer on November 12, 1861. Under his command, Keystone State joined the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron off Charleston, South Carolina, on January 13, 1862, for service in the Union blockade of the Confederate States of America. She soon was in action, exchanging fire with Confederate artillery on Amelia Island on January 18, 1862, and capturing the schooner Mars on February 5, 1862. Keystone State took part in the occupation of Fernandina, Florida, on 3 March 1862 and, although two blockade runners that she sighted escaped her on April 3, 1862, she forced the schooner Liverpool to beach herself and burned her to the waterline on April 10, 1862. During 1862, she went on to capture the schooner Dixie on April 15, the steamer Elizabeth on May 29, the schooner Cora on May 31, and the blockade runner Sarah off Charleston on June 20. She chased a steamer all day on June 24 without being able to capture her, but on August 22, 1862, she took the schooner Fanny and her cargo of salt off Charleston.
On January 31, 1863, Keystone State opened fire on a ship off Charleston. It returned fire, scoring hits on Keystone State, one of which struck her steam drum, rupturing it and scalding 20 men to death and injuring 20 others. After repairs, Keystone State took up a blockading station off St. Simons Sound, Georgia.
After Keystone State decommissioned for an overhaul in the summer of 1863, Le Roy took command of the screw sloop-of-war in the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, then moved on to command of the screw sloop-of-war in the same squadron. Aboard Ossipee, he took part in the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864. Struck by Confederate gunfire many times, Ossipee remained underway and in action and played a large role in forcing the Confederate States Navy ironclad CSS Tennessee to surrender; as Ossipee was about to ram Tennessee, Tennessee displayed a surrender flag, and Le Roy personally accepted the surrender of her commanding officer. Le Roy remained in command of Ossipee on blockade duty through the end of the war in April 1865.