Harry Eytinge

He received a good education before taking to the stage, joining a group of strolling players and getting his first serious role at the age of seventeen with C. A. Logan at the Albany Pearl Street Theatre.

On his return he continued his stage career and produced a play by Dion Boucicault's, called London Assurance, in Norfolk, Virginia, but it was not profitable.

The letter from a Mr William Fenwick, described Eytinge as a stage manager of the Laura Keene's Theatre and "has seen some but not very creditable Sea Service".

Lincoln asked George W. Blunt, head of New York City's Naval Examining Board, to investigate and he responded, defending the decision to appoint.

[3] As a result, Eytinge was given command of the eight-gun sailing ship USS Shepherd Knapp and ordered to cruise in the West Indies.

[Note 2] The Shepherd Knapp, being a sailing ship, had the advantage, over steam-powered vessels, of being able to remain at sea for several months at a time.

On the first voyage Eytinge became unhappy with the handling of the ship, and in contravention of his orders to remain at sea, called into St. Thomas to load 200 tons of additional ballast.

Eytinge never faced Captain Raphael Semmes or the Sumter, but had some success: on the 4 September 1862 he captured a British blockade runner named Fanny Laurie trying to enter South Edisto and she was taken as a prize.

During his time in prison he started writing about character development and advertising; his work made him famous and wealthy and he was eventually released on parole.