Confederate Batteries at Grand Gulf, his flagship, USS Benton, became unmanageable and was caught under heavy fire in a position where she could neither steer nor reply to the enemy guns. On seeing Porter's predicament, Hoel slipped the Pittsburg in between Benton and the flaming Rebel batteries to protect her by taking the fire himself. In the next 10 minutes his heroism cost the Pittsburg 6 men killed and 8 wounded, but the sacrifice allowed Benton to extricate herself from the deadly trap. The bombardment was so successful that the next day General Ulysses Grant safely moved his troops across the Mississippi to begin the operations which at long last isolated and captured Vicksburg. Hoel was promoted to Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Commander on 10 November 1864. In command of USS Vindicator Detached from Pittsburg, he then took command of USS Vindicator 1 March 1865 on which he served until 7 July 1865. He was honorably discharged on 30 December 1865. Postwar career and death Hoel returned to piloting, was active in the Grand Army of the Republic, and eventually served as master of the lighthouse tender Lily. He married a second time but became suspicious of his wife Elizabeth's relationship with a local doctor. He confronted them with a pistol in May 1879 but was shot and killed in the struggle. After an inquest, the doctor was not charged with any crime. References External links Find A Grave Memorial for Mary Elizabeth (Riley) Hoel Find A Grave Memorial for Elizabeth (Hunt) Hoel 1824 births 1879 deaths Union Navy officers People from Butler County, Ohio United States Navy officers People of Ohio in the American Civil War