Alexander Rhind

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for others with the same name see Rhind

Alexander Colden Rhind (31 October 1821 – 8 November 1897) was an officer in the United States Navy.

Born in New York City, Rhind was appointed midshipman, 3 September 1838. He served with the Home Squadron off the coast of Mexico and with both the South and North Atlantic Blockading Squadrons during the American Civil War.

He was ordered to command Crusader, 14 December 1861; and, while commanding her, earned the thanks of Congress for the capture and destruction of Confederate works commanding the South Edisto, Dawho, and Pon-Pon Rivers, in April 1862. A year later, he participated in the attacks on Charleston's defenses as commanding officer of Keokuk. During the attack on 7 April 1863, Keokuk was struck 90 times, suffering 19 holes at or near her waterline. Retiring, she was kept afloat until the following morning, by which time the crew had been taken off.

Later, after commanding Paul Jones and Wabash, he assumed command of Agawam, North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, 23 October 1863, and earned praise from Rear Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee for the "gallantry and endurance displayed" by himself and his crew during an engagement with three batteries at Deep Bottom, 13 August 1864. In December 1864 he was detailed to command the powder boat Louisiana, which was towed by Wilderness to a point 250 yards off Fort Fisher. There Commander Rhind and his crew set the fuzes and started a fire before escaping to Wilderness. The blast from the explosion, although loud, did little damage and 2 days later Rhind returned to close proximity to the fort to plant a marker buoy as near to the fort as possible to allow the fleet to bombard Fort Fisher at close range. For his feats he was commended by Admiral Porter and recommended for promotion.

Rear Admiral Rhind died at New York, 8 November 1897.

The destroyer USS Rhind (DD-404) was named for him.

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.