Clarence "Claude" Fendall (1836-1868), member of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey during Civil War. Clarence was the son of Philip Richard Fendall II (1734-1805) and Elizabeth Mary Young (1804-1859).

Clarence entered Georgetown University October 20, 1851. He was enrolled in the College of Arts and Science. However he did not graduate. He was connected with the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, located at Louisiana Ave, 4 ½ West in Washington D.C., renamed the John Marshall Place, where he rendered "efficient and intelligent service".

In 1858 Clarence was listed as a Sub-Assistant in the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey and was assigned to trace the shorelines, topography, and hydrography along the west bank of the Hudson Bay. He also was sent to Georgia to do the same along the Sapelo Sound and River. In addition he mapped the Brunswick Harbor and Turtle River. Their means of transportation was the schooner "Meredith". The Meredith was a 63 foot schooner built in 1851, which was in service with the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1851-1872. They included streets, railroad, canal, cleared ground and woods, and other surface features, not previously included on other maps. He also was employed in 1858 to observe the tides in the waters of San Francisco Bay, California. In 1859, he was working on charts at Cape Elizabeth, Kennebunkport, Maine; Salem, Mass.; and Florida.

Civil War

On Nov. 27, 1862 Clarence reported for duty at Cairo, Illinois, and was assigned to quarters on the flagship "Black Hawk", under Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter (1813-1891). He and draughtsman, Alexander Strausz provided maps of the Yazoo River to Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-1891). This information was the preliminary means for the attack on Vicksburg. Many historians believe that the fall of Vicksburg broke the back of the Confederacy in the Mississippi Valley and ultimately led to the total breaking of the Confederacy. While conducting this survey, the Gunboat "Tyler" which accompanied them was shot at by Confederates. According to Clarence's report, he was fired at often by the enemy. At one time Clarence was about 3 miles beyond the pickets of his own forces. He was accompanied by a guard who made prisoner a rebel officer who had taken means to capture Mr. Fendall and his plane (table used for surveying). By July Fendall was found to be unfit for duty because of illness.

In a letter to Department - Admiral Porter states: "<small>I take this opportunity to give to Mr. Fendall and Mr. Strausz, Assistants in the Coast Survey, the full credit they deserve for their indefatigable industry. Since they have been attached to the squadron they have been connected with almost every addition that has been undertaken; They have kept both Army and Navy supplied with charts when they could not otherwise be obtained; They were found ready by all times to go anywhere or do anything required of them. Whether it was on a gunboat expedition, or in the trenches before Vicksburg, engineering, when the General commanding called for volunteers from the Navy. They have added to our collection of maps many geographical corrections which are valuable, and they have proved to me that no squadron can operate effectively without a good corps. of surveyors.</small>" ("The Coast and Geodetic Survey- Its History, Activities and Organization").



Clarence was a field man and very competent technically. He took great pride in exerting himself to accomplish his work with the utmost accuracy. It appears that dissension rose between Fendall and Strausz, and their were indications that Fendall and Admiral Porter did not get along well early in their relationship. Fendall referred to Porter as “rude”, although “not so rude at present, as when I first saw him...”. Clarence was transferred to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s headquarters in 1863. In December of 1863 he proceeded up the Ohio River aboard the "Alexandria" to Cairo, Illinois. His assignment was to map the Ohio River in the Mound City, Illinois. Although away from the frontlines, and living in splendor, it was far from comfortable due to the unbearably cold weather. Clarence became sick, and left for the Washington office on May 31, 1863. He arrived in Chattanooga, Tennessee on October 29, 1863 and was involved in mapping prior to the Third Battle of Chattanooga in December of 1863. He returned to Vicksburg, Mississippi on November 24, 1863. In 1864 he mapped the Wassaw Sound, Wilmington, and the Tybee Rivers in Georgia.

After the war he was a Sub Assistant on board the "Hassler", a 61 foot schooner, named for Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler (1770-1843), the first superintendent of the U.S. Coast Survey. It was while with the Coast Survey Ship at Norfolk, Virginia that "Claude", as he was known, died of Uremia, a disease he contracted during the Civil War.

In the 1868 Superintendent's report on the U.S. Coast Survey, a notice of Clarence Fendall's death appeared as follows:

Clarence Fendall

"<small>Sub-Assistant Clarence Fendall died in active service at Norfolk, Virginia, on the 18th of September, being at the time of his last illness in command of the schooner "Hassler", and of a hydrographic party. He was favorably known among his associates in the work by his amiable disposition, and, to those with whom he was assigned to cooperate, by constitutional activity, industry, and commendable zeal in the progress of any work given into his charge. Among the assistants whose services were recognized as useful in furthering military and naval operations during the late war, none was more conspicuous than Mr. Fendall. His services as topographer, during the siege of Vicksburg, were repeatedly recognized by Admiral Porter. While in that service Mr. Fendall contracted a form of disease that afterward became chronic, and thus his death was hastened."</small>