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[[Image:454px-Melancthon_Brooks_Woolsey.jpg|thumbnail|right|Commodore Melancthon B. Woolsey]]'''Melancthon Brooks Woolsey ''' ([[August 11 August ]], [[1817 ]] – [[October 2 October ]], [[1874]]) was an officer in the [[United States Navy ]] during the American [[Civil War]]. Woolsey, the son of Commodore [[Wikipedia:Melancthon Taylor Woolsey|Melancthon Taylor Woolsey]], was born at Sackett's Harbor, New York. He entered the Navy as a midshipman on September 24, 1832. After duty at sea and a tour at the Naval School, Woolsey became a passed midshipman on July 16, 1840. He progressed through the rank of master to that of lieutenant by 1847. It was in that rank that he was placed on the reserve list by the retiring board in September 1855. Lt. Woolsey returned to active duty in 1861 as a result of the Civil War. Assigned initially to the receiving ship at New York, Woolsey had assumed command of the steamer ''Ellen'' by late 1861 and began patrol duty with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. During that tour, his ship fought Confederate forces on three separate occasions. In May 1862, he engaged Fort Pemberton at Wapper Creek, South Carolina. On June 1, his ship repelled a Confederate cavalry attack at Secessionville. Three days later, he commanded ''Ellen'' during the attack on James Island.
Following the Civil War, Capt. Woolsey commanded the sloop-of-war ''Pawnee'' on the South Atlantic Station in 1867 and 1868. In July 18621869, he took command of the South Atlantic Station flagship Guerriere. In 1871, Woolsey was promoted to commander and placed commodore, probably as flag officer in command charge of the sloop VandaliaSouth Atlantic Station. That His last tour of duty lasted until early 1863came in March [[1873]], at which time when he was transferred to command took over as commandant of the steamer Princess RoyalPensacola [[Navy Yard]]. That ship was assigned to Commodore Woolsey received orders detaching him from command of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron and patrolled navy yard in the coasts summer of Louisiana and Texas1874. On 28 June 1863At the time, Princess Royal helped to defend the town an epidemic of Donaldsville, Louisiana, against a determined Southern attack[[yellow fever]] raged at Pensacola, and Comdr. Woolsey received high commendation from deemed it necessary to remain at his superiors for his ship's contribution post to the successful defense of the townprevent panic. He remained with the blockade through the end As a result of his devotion to duty, Commodore Woolsey contracted the war disease and, by July 1866, saw died at his name returned to the active list home in the rank of captain[[Quarters A]].