NOAA's Office of Coast Survey - Civil War Collection


Coast Surveyors assumed important combat roles during the Civil War, serving as topographers, reconnaissance specialists, scouts, intelligence officers, and combat hydrographers. For a contemporary record of combat mapping during the Civil War, see the war record of Frederick Dorr and John Donn. Browse biographical vignettes of Coast Surveyors, listed below.
Bache, Alexander Dallas Boutelle, Charles Boyd, Charles Harrod Dahlgren, John Donn, John Dorr, Frederic Fendall, Clarence Hassler, Ferdinand Rudolph Key, John Ross Lindenkohl, Henry Maffitt, John Newland Mathiot, George Oltmanns, John Peirce, Charles Sanders Peirce, Benjamin Platt, Robert Porter, David Dixon Rockwell, Cleveland Schott, Charles Anton West, Preston Whiting, Henry Laurens Harris, Joseph Smith Wampler, John Morris Hinrichs, Oscar Pegram, R.P.	Donn, John Middle Initial: W Rank: Chief Topographical Engineer Branch: Army Theater: Eastern, Western Related: MD, VA, AL, TN Bio: John W. Donn was a U.S. Coast Survey Topographical Engineer sent by Superintendent Bache to assist Union field officers. Donn served with the Armies of the Potomac, Cumberland, and James, and also did work around the Virginia Peninsula, Washington D.C., Baltimore, and Harpers Ferry.

Office of Coast Survey Historical Map and Chart Collection

Web site owner: NOAA's Office of Coast Survey