Percival Drayton
Percival Drayton | |
|---|---|
Captain Drayton, circa 1864–65 | |
| Born | August 25, 1812 |
| Died | August 4, 1865 (aged 52) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Service years | 1827–1865 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands | |
| Conflicts | Paraguay expedition |
Percival Drayton (August 25, 1812 – August 4, 1865) was a career United States Navy officer. He served in the Brazil Squadron, the Mediterranean Squadron and as a staff officer during the Paraguay Expedition.
During the American Civil War, he commanded naval forces against Confederate forts defended by his brother Thomas F. Drayton in the Battle of Port Royal. He served as Fleet Captain in the West Gulf Blockading Squadron and commanded the sloop-of-war USS Hartford during the Battle of Mobile Bay under Rear Admiral David Farragut. It was to Drayton that Farragut issued his famous command, "Damn the torpedoes! Full steam ahead!"