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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/17253-8.txt b/17253-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0546521 --- /dev/null +++ b/17253-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7921 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Dewey and Other Naval Commanders, by Edward S. Ellis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Dewey and Other Naval Commanders + +Author: Edward S. Ellis + +Release Date: December 8, 2005 [EBook #17253] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEWEY AND OTHER NAVAL COMMANDERS *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Paul Ereaut and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +[Illustration: ADMIRAL GEORGE DEWEY, U.S.N.] + + +DEWEY + +AND OTHER + +NAVAL COMMANDERS. + + +BY + +EDWARD S. ELLIS, A.M. + +Author of "A History of the World," "The People's Standard History +of the United States," "A History of the State of New York," "Deerfoot +Series," "Log Cabin Series," Etc. + + +NEW YORK + +HURST & COMPANY + +PUBLISHERS + +Copyright, 1899, + +BY + +JOHN HOVENDON. + + + + +CONTENTS. Page. + +Introduction 5 + + CHAPTER I. + +Admiral George Dewey--The Birth and Boyhood of +George Dewey. 7 + + + CHAPTER II. + +Dewey in the War for the Union. 17 + + + CHAPTER III. + +Dewey in the War with Spain. 35 + + + CHAPTER IV. + +The Revolutionary Battles--Birth of the American +Navy--The Privateers--Capture of New Providence, in +the Bahamas--Paul Jones--A Clever Exploit--A +Skilful Escape--Fine Seamanship--An Audacious +Scheme. 52 + + + CHAPTER V. + +A Daring Attempt by Captain Paul Jones--Why It +Failed--A Bold Scheme--Why It Did Not Succeed--The +Fight Between the _Ranger_ and _Drake_. 63 + + + CHAPTER VI. + +One of the Most Memorable Sea Fights Ever Known--The +Wonderful Exploit of Captain Paul Jones. 71 + + + CHAPTER VII. + +Our Naval War with France--The Tribute Paid to the +Barbary States by Christian Nations--War Declared +Against the United States by Tripoli--Bainbridge, +Decatur, Stewart, Dale and Preble. 88 + + + CHAPTER VIII. + +The First Serious Engagement--Loss of +the _Philadelphia_--The Scheme of Captain +Bainbridge--Exploit of Lieutenant Decatur. 97 + + + CHAPTER IX. + +Bombardment of Tripoli--Treacherous Act of a Turkish +Captain--A Quick Retribution at the Hands of Captain +Decatur. 108 + + + CHAPTER X. + +The Bomb Ketch--A Terrible Missile--Frightful +Catastrophe--Diplomacy in Place of War--Peace. 114 + + + CHAPTER XI. + +The War of 1812--Cause of the War of 1812--Discreditable +Work of the Land Forces--Brilliant Record of the +Navy--The _Constitution_--Captain Isaac Hull--Battle +Between the _Constitution_ and _Guerriere_--Winning +a Wager. 122 + + + CHAPTER XII. + +Jacob Jones--The _Wasp_ and the _Frolic_--James +Biddle--The _Hornet_ and the _Penguin_--A +Narrow Escape. 133 + + + CHAPTER XIII. + +Captains Carden and Decatur--Cruise of the +_Macedonian_--Battle with the Frigate _United +States_--Decatur's Chivalry. 142 + + + CHAPTER XIV. + +Occasional American Defeats as Well as Victories--Captain +Decatur's Misfortune--The _Chesapeake_ and _Shannon_. 152 + + + CHAPTER XV. + +David Porter--A Clever Feat--Numerous Captures by +the _Essex_--Her Remarkable Cruise in the Pacific--Her +Final Capture. 167 + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +Oliver Hazard Perry--Prompt and Effective Work--"We Have +Met the Enemy and They Are Ours"--Death of Perry. 176 + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +A Hero of the Olden Days--Cruise of the +_Constitution_--Her Capture of the _Cyane_ and +_Levant_--Reminiscences +of Admiral Stewart--His Last Days. 185 + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +Captures Made After the Signing of the Treaty of +Peace--The Privateers--Exploit of the _General +Armstrong_--Its Far-Reaching Result. 197 + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +Lesser Wars--Resentment of the Barbary States--The +War with Algiers--Captain Decatur's Vigorous +Course--His Astonishing Success as a Diplomat. 206 + + +CHAPTER XX. + +Piracy in the West Indies--Its Cause--Means by Which +It Was Wiped Out--Piracy in the Mediterranean. 216 + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +The Qualla Battoo Incident. 226 + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +Wilkes's Exploring Expedition. 236 + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +The War for the Union--A New Era for the United +States Navy--Opening of the Great Civil War--John +Lorimer Worden--Battle Between the _Monitor_ +and _Merrimac_--Death of Worden. 246 + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +Two Worthy Sons--William D. Porter--The Career of +Admiral David Dixon Porter. 259 + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +Charles Stewart Boggs--His Coolness in the Presence +of Danger--His Desperate Fight Below New Orleans--His +Subsequent Services. 271 + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +John Ancrum Winslow--His Early Life and +Training--The Famous Battle Between the _Kearsarge_ +and _Alabama_. 279 + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +An Unexpected Preacher--Andrew Hull Foote--His +Character and Early Career--His Brilliant Services +in the War for the Union. 295 + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +A Man Devoid of Fear--William Barker Cushing--Some +of His Exploits--The Blowing Up of the +_Albemarle_--His Sad Death. 312 + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +The Greatest of Naval Heroes--David Glasgow Farragut. 327 + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +The Spanish-American War--The Movement Against +Cuba--The Destruction of Cervera's Fleet--Admiral +Sampson--Admiral Schley--"Fighting Bob" Evans--Commodore +John C. Watson--Commodore John +W. Philip--Lieutenant Commander Richard Wainwright. 343 + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +I purpose telling you in the following pages about the exploits of the +gallant men who composed the American Navy, beginning with the +Revolution and ending with the story of their wonderful deeds in our +late war with Spain. You can never read a more interesting story, nor +one that will make you feel prouder of your birthright. While our +patriot armies have done nobly, it is none the less true that we never +could have become one of the greatest nations in the world without the +help of our heroic navy. Our warships penetrated into all waters of the +globe, and made people, whether barbarous or civilized, respect and fear +the Stars and Stripes. + +This is due in a great measure to the bravery of our naval heroes, who +did not fear to meet Great Britain, the "mistress of the seas," when her +navy outnumbered ours one hundred to one. England is now our best +friend, and no doubt will always remain so. Never again can there be war +between her and us, and it will not be strange that one of these days, +if either gets into trouble, the American and English soldiers will +"drink from the same canteen," which is another way of saying they will +fight side by side, as they did a short time ago in Samoa. All the +same, our brethren across the ocean are very willing to own that we +fought them right well. Indeed, they think all the more of us for having +done so. You know that one brave man always likes another who is as +brave as himself, just as Northerners and Southerners love each other, +and are all united under one flag, which one side defended and the other +fought against, through long years, terrible years from 1861 to 1865. + +The decks of no ships have ever been trodden by braver men than our +American sailors. There are no more heroic deeds in all history than +those of Paul Jones, Porter, Hull, Decatur, Perry, Cushing, Farragut, +Worden, Dewey, Schley, Evans, Philip, Hobson and scores of others, who +have braved what seemed certain death for the glory of our flag. Many +gave up their lives in its defence, and their names form one of the +proudest and most cherished heritages that can descend to a grateful +country. + +So, I repeat, I am sure you will be interested and instructed in +learning the story of the heroes who have done so much for us; and their +example cannot fail to inspire you with loftier heroism, greater +devotion, and deeper resolve to do all you can for our favored land, +which is the fairest that ever sun shone upon. + +E.S.E. + + + + +ADMIRAL GEORGE DEWEY. + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE BIRTH AND BOYHOOD OF GEORGE DEWEY. + + +The name of Vermont recalls the gallant "Green Mountain Boys," who +proved their sturdy patriotism not only in the Revolution, but before +those stormy days broke over the land. In the colonial times the section +was known as the "New Hampshire Grants," and was claimed by both New +York and New Hampshire, but Vermont refused to acknowledge the authority +of either, even after New York, in 1764, secured a decision in her favor +from King George, and set vigorously to work to compel the settlers to +pay a second time for their lands. The doughty pioneers would have none +of it, and roughly handled the New York officers sent thither. In 1777 +Vermont formally declared her independence and adopted a State +constitution. Then, since the Revolution was on, Ethan Allen and the +rest of the "Green Mountain Boys" turned in and helped whip the +redcoats. That being done, Vermont again asserted her independence, +compelled New York to recognize it in 1789, and she was admitted to the +Union in 1791. + +It was away back in 1633 that the first Englishman bearing the name of +Dewey arrived in Massachusetts with a number of other emigrants. They +settled in Dorchester, and in 1636 Thomas Dewey, as he was named, +removed to Windsor, Connecticut, where he died in 1648, leaving a widow +and five children. Following down the family line, we come to the birth +of Julius Yemans Dewey, August 22, 1801, at Berlin, Vermont. He studied +medicine, practiced his profession at Montpelier, the capital, and +became one of the most respected and widely known citizens of the State. +He was married three times, and by his first wife had three sons and one +daughter. The latter was Mary, and the sons were Charles, Edward, and +George, the last of whom became the famous Admiral of the American navy +and the hero of the late war between our country and Spain. He was born +in the old colonial house of Dr. Dewey, December 26, 1837. + +George was a good specimen of the mischievous, high-spirited and +roystering youngster, who would go to any pains and run any risk for the +sake of the fun it afforded. This propensity was carried to such an +extent that the youth earned the name of being a "bad boy," and there is +no use of pretending he did not deserve the reputation. He gave his +parents and neighbors a good deal of anxiety, and Dr. Dewey, who knew +how to be stern as well as kind, was compelled more than once to +interpose his authority in a way that no lad is likely to forget. + +Dr. Dewey was a man of deep religious convictions. In middle life he +gave up the practice of medicine and founded the National Life Insurance +Company, to whose interests he devoted his time and ability, and met +with a good degree of success. George was gifted by nature with rugged +health, high spirits and indomitable pluck and fearlessness. None could +surpass him in running, leaping, swimming and in boyish sports. He was +fond of fishing and of rough games, and as a fighter few of his years +could stand in front of him. In numerous athletic trials he was +invariably the victor, and it must be admitted that he loved fighting as +well as he liked playing ball or fishing. He gave and received hard +knocks, and even at that early age showed evidence of the combative, +aggressive courage that became so marked a feature of his manhood. + +An incident is related by Z.K. Pangborn, the well known editor of New +Jersey, who took charge of the Montpelier school, in which George Dewey +was a pupil. The school was notorious for the roughness of a number of +its pupils, who had ousted more than one instructor and welcomed the +chance to tackle a new one. Master Dewey was the ringleader of these +young rebels, and chuckled with delight when the quiet-looking, +ordinary-sized teacher sauntered down the highway to begin his duties in +the schoolroom. + +At the time of the gentleman's appearance George was sitting astride of +a big limb in a tree at the side of the road, his pockets bulging with +stones, which he was hurling with unpleasant accuracy at every one who +came within range. Several youngsters were howling from having served as +targets to the urchin up the tree, and as soon as Mr. Pangborn saw how +things were going he shouted to Dewey to stop his sport. The boy replied +by advising the teacher to go to the hottest region named in works on +theology, and, descending the tree, led several young scamps in an +attack upon the instructor. There was a lively brush, in which it cannot +be said that either party was the victor. + +A drawn battle is always unsatisfactory to two armies, and George +determined to have it out in the schoolroom with the teacher, who, +expecting the struggle, had prepared for it and was as eager as the +boys for the fight. As before, Dewey was the leader in the attack on +the pedagogue, who was wiry, active, and strong. He swung his rawhide +with a vigor that made Dewey and the others dance, but they pluckily +kept up the assault, until the instructor seized a big stick, intended +to serve as fuel for the old-fashioned stove, and laid about him with an +energy that soon stretched the rebels on the floor. + +Then how he belabored them! As fast as one attempted to climb to his +feet he was thumped back again by the club that continually whizzed +through the air, and if a boy tried to stay the storm by remaining +prone, the instructor thumped him none the less viciously. Indeed, +matters had got to that point that he enjoyed the fun and was loath to +let up, as he felt obliged to do, when the howling rebels slunk to their +seats, thoroughly cowed and conquered. + +George Dewey was the most battered of the lot and made a sorry sight. In +fact, he was so bruised that his teacher thought it prudent to accompany +him to his home and explain to his father the particulars of the affray +in school. Mr. Pangborn gave a detailed history of the occurrence, to +which Dr. Dewey listened gravely. When he understood everything, he +showed his good sense by thanking the teacher for having administered +the punishment, asking him to repeat it whenever the conduct of his son +made it necessary. + +This chastisement marked a turning point in the boy's career. He did a +good deal of serious thinking throughout the day, and saw and felt his +wrongdoing. He became an attentive, obedient pupil, and years after, +when grown to manhood, he warmly thanked Mr. Pangborn for having +punished him with such severity, frankly adding: "I believe if you +hadn't done so I should have ended my career in the penitentiary." + +Dr. Dewey wished to give George a career in the army, and he sent him to +Norwich University, a military training school, in order to fit him for +the Military Academy at West Point. George's tastes, however, were for +the navy, and after much pleading with his father he brought him to his +way of thinking. The utmost that Dr. Dewey could do was to secure the +appointment of his son as alternate, who, as may be understood, secures +the appointment only in the event of the principal failing to pass the +entrance examination. In this case the principal would have passed +without trouble, and, to quote an ordinary expression, George Dewey +would have been "left," had not the mother of the other boy interposed +at the critical moment. Under no circumstances would she allow her son +to enter the navy. He was compelled to give up all ambition in that +direction and to take up the study of theology. At this writing he is a +popular preacher, who will always believe it was a most providential +thing for our country that turned him aside from blocking the entrance +of George Dewey to the Naval Academy at Annapolis. + +Our hero entered the institution September 23, 1854. It did not take him +long to discover that the institution, like that at West Point, is +controlled by the most rigid discipline possible. No stricter rules can +be devised than those that prevail at the two institutions. I have heard +it said by a West Point graduate that a cadet cannot sit down and +breathe for twenty-four hours without violating some rule. The fact that +a few men do escape being "skinned"--that is, punished for derelictions +of duty--does not prove that they have not committed any indiscretions, +but that they have escaped detection. + +Hard, however, as was the road for Dewey to travel, he never shrank or +turned aside, for he knew the same path had been traveled by all who had +gone before him, and he reasoned that what man had done man could do, +and he did it. + +It will be noted that the future Admiral entered the Naval Academy at a +stirring period in the history of our country, over which the coming +Civil War already cast its awful shadow, and, as the months and years +passed, the shadow darkened and grew more portentous until the red +lightning rent the clouds apart and they rained blood and fire and woe +and death. + +At the Annapolis Academy the lines between the cadets from the North and +the South were sharply drawn. They reflected the passions of their +sections, and, being young and impulsive, there were hot words and +fierce blows. As might be supposed, George Dewey was prominent in these +affrays, for it has been said of him that there was never a fight in his +neighborhood without his getting into the thickest of it. + +One day a fiery Southerner called him a dough-face, whereupon Dewey let +go straight from the shoulder and his insulter turned a backward +somersault. Leaping to his feet, his face aflame with rage, he went at +the Green Mountain Boy, who coolly awaited his attack, and they +proceeded instantly to mix it up for some fifteen minutes in the most +lively manner conceivable. At the end of that time the Southerner was so +thoroughly trounced that he was unable to continue the fight. + +It was not long before Dewey had a furious scrimmage with another +cadet, whom he soundly whipped. He challenged Dewey to a duel, and Dewey +instantly accepted the challenge. Seconds were chosen, weapons provided +and the ground paced off. By that time the friends of the two parties, +seeing that one of the young men, and possibly both, were certain to be +killed, interfered, and, appealing to the authorities of the +institution, the deadly meeting was prevented. These incidents attest +the personal daring of Admiral Dewey, of whom it has been said that he +never showed fear of any living man. Often during his stirring career +was the attempt made to frighten him, and few have been placed in so +many situations of peril and come out of them alive, but in none did he +ever display anything that could possibly be mistaken for timidity. He +was a brave man and a patriot in every fibre of his being. + +A youth can be combative, personally brave and aggressive, and still be +a good student, as was proven by the graduation of Dewey, fifth in a +class of fourteen. As was the custom, he was ordered to a cruise before +his final examination. He was a cadet on the steam frigate _Wabash_, +which cruised in the Mediterranean squadron until 1859, when he returned +to Annapolis and, upon examination, took rank as the leader of his +class, proof that he had spent his time wisely while on what may be +called his trial cruise. He went to his old home in Montpelier, where he +was spending the days with his friends, when the country was startled +and electrified by the news that Fort Sumter had been fired on in +Charleston harbor and that civil war had begun. Dewey's patriotic blood +was at the boiling point, and one week later, having been commissioned +as lieutenant and assigned to the sloop of war _Mississippi_, he hurried +thither to help in defence of the Union. + +The _Mississippi_ was a sidewheel steamer, carrying seventeen guns, and +was destined to a thrilling career in the stirring operations of the +West Gulf squadron, under the command of Captain David Glasgow Farragut, +the greatest naval hero produced by the Civil War, and without a +superior in all history. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +DEWEY IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION. + + +No one needs to be reminded that the War for the Union was the greatest +struggle of modern times. The task of bringing back to their allegiance +those who had risen against the authority of the National Government was +a gigantic one, and taxed the courage and resources of the country to +the utmost. In order to make the war effective, it was necessary to +enforce a rigorous blockade over three thousand miles of seacoast, open +the Mississippi river, and overcome the large and well-officered armies +in the field. The last was committed to the land forces, and it proved +an exhausting and wearying struggle. + +Among the most important steps was the second--that of opening the +Mississippi, which being accomplished, the Southwest, from which the +Confederacy drew its immense supplies of cattle, would be cut off and a +serious blow struck against the armed rebellion. + +The river was sealed from Vicksburg to the Gulf of Mexico. At the former +place extensive batteries had been erected and were defended by an army, +while the river below bristled with batteries and guns in charge of +brave men and skilful officers. + +While General Grant undertook the task of reducing Vicksburg, Captain +Farragut assumed the herculean work of forcing his way up the +Mississippi and capturing New Orleans, the greatest commercial city in +the South. Knowing that such an attack was certain to be made, the +Confederates had neglected no precaution in the way of defence. Ninety +miles below the city, and twenty miles above its mouth, at the +Plaquemine Bend, were the forts of St. Philip and Jackson. The former, +on the left bank, had forty-two heavy guns, including two mortars and a +battery of four seacoast mortars, placed below the water battery. Fort +Jackson, besides its water battery, mounted sixty-two guns, while above +the forts were fourteen vessels, including the ironclad ram _Manassas_, +and a partially completed floating battery, armored with railroad iron +and called the _Louisiana_. New Orleans was defended by three thousand +volunteers, most of the troops formerly there having been sent to the +Confederate army in Tennessee. + +The expedition against New Orleans was prepared with great care, and so +many months were occupied that the enemy had all the notice they could +ask in which to complete their preparations for its defence. The Union +expedition consisted of six sloops of war, sixteen gunboats, twenty +mortar schooners and five other vessels. The _Mississippi_, upon which +young Dewey was serving as a lieutenant, was under the command of +Melanethon Smith. The land troops numbered 15,000, and were in charge of +General Benjamin F. Butler, of Massachusetts. + +Farragut arrived in February, 1862, nearly two months after the +beginning of preparations to force the river. When everything was in +readiness the fleet moved cautiously up stream, on April 18, and a +bombardment of Forts St. Philip and Jackson was opened, which lasted for +three days, without accomplishing anything decisive. Farragut had +carefully studied the situation, and, confident that the passage could +be made, determined it should be done, no matter at what cost. On the +night of the 23d his vessels were stripped of every rope and spar that +could be spared, the masts and rigging of the gunboats and mortar +vessels being trimmed with the limbs of trees, to conceal their identity +from the Confederate watchers. + +At two o'clock in the morning the signal was hoisted on the _Hartford_, +Captain Farragut's flagship, and the fleet started in single line to run +the fearful gauntlet. The _Cayuga_ led, the _Pensacola_ followed, and +the _Mississippi_ was third. The rebels had huge bonfires burning on +both shores, and as the _Pensacola_ came opposite the forts they opened +their furious fire upon her. + +A good deal of uneasiness prevailed in the Union fleet regarding the +rebel rams. It was known they were formidable monsters, which the +Confederates believed could smash and sink the whole Union squadron. +While it was known that much was to be feared from the forts, it was the +ironclads that formed the uncertain factor and magnified the real danger +in many men's minds. + +The _Mississippi_ was hardly abreast of Fort St. Philip when the dreaded +_Manassas_ came plunging down the river out of the gloom at full speed, +and headed directly for the _Mississippi._ She was not seen until so +close that it was impossible to dodge her, and the ironclad struck the +steamer on the port side, close to the mizzenmast, firing a gun at the +same time. Fortunately the blow was a glancing one, though it opened a +rent seven feet long and four inches deep in the steamer, which, being +caught by the swift current on her starboard bow, was swept across to +the Fort Jackson side of the river, so close indeed that her gunners and +those in the fort exchanged curses and imprecations. + +[Illustration: SHELLING FORTS PHILIP AND JACKSON.] + +The passage of the forts by the Union vessels forms one of the most +thrilling pictures in the history of the Civil War. The _Hartford_, like +all the vessels, was subjected to a terrible fire, was assailed by the +Confederate ironclads, and more than once was in imminent danger of +being sent to the bottom. Following with the second division, Captain +Farragut did not reply to the fire of the forts for a quarter of an +hour. He hurled a broadside into St. Philip and was pushing through the +dense smoke when a fire-raft, with a tug pushing her along, plunged out +of the gloom toward the _Hartford's_ port quarter. She swerved to elude +this peril and ran aground close to St. Philip, which, recognizing her +three ensigns and flag officer's flag, opened a savage fire, but luckily +most of the shot passed too high. + +There was no getting out of the way of the fire-raft, which, being +jammed against the flagship, sent the flames through the portholes and +up the oiled masts. The perfect discipline of the crew enabled them to +extinguish the fire before it could do much damage, and the _Hartford_ +succeeded in backing into deep water and kept pounding Fort St. Philip +so long as she was in range. + +Without attempting to describe the battle in detail, we will give our +attention to the _Mississippi_. Within an hour and a quarter of the +time the leading vessel passed the forts, all had reached a safe point +above, where they engaged in a furious fight with the Confederate +flotilla, the smaller members of which were soon disabled or sunk. + +[Illustration: THE "HARTFORD"--FARRAGUT'S FLAGSHIP.] + +Meanwhile the ironclad _Manassas_ had been prowling at the heels of the +Union squadron, but being discovered by the _Mississippi_, the steamer +opened on her with so destructive a fire that the ram ran ashore and the +crew scrambled over the bows and escaped. The _Mississippi_ continued +pounding her until she was completely wrecked. The loss of the Union +fleet was thirty-seven killed and one hundred and forty-seven wounded, +while the Confederate land forces had twelve killed and forty wounded. +The Confederate flotilla must have lost as many men as the Unionists. +Having safely passed all obstructions, Captain Farragut steamed up to +the river to New Orleans, and the city surrendered April 25, formal +possession being taken on May 1. + +It will be admitted that Lieutenant Dewey had received his "baptism of +fire." + +It is the testimony of every one who saw him during the turmoil of +battle that he conducted himself with the coolness and courage of a +veteran. At no time during the passage of the forts and the desperate +fighting with the Confederate flotilla above did he display the first +evidence of nervousness or lack of self-possession. + +[Illustration: IRONCLADS ON THE MISSISSIPPI.] + +The next engagement in which Lieutenant Dewey took part was the attempt +by Farragut to pass the battery of nineteen guns, mounted on the +hundred-foot high bluff of Port Hudson, on a bend of the Mississippi, +below Vicksburg. The position was the most difficult conceivable to +carry from the river, because of the plunging shots from the enormous +guns on the bluff above. + +Captain Farragut had no thought of reducing these batteries, which would +have been impossible with a fleet double the strength of his, but he +wished to get his vessels past in order to blockade the river above the +bend. The attempt was made on the night of March 14, 1863, with the +_Hartford_ in the lead, and followed by the _Richmond_, _Monongahela_ +and _Mississippi_, with the smaller boats. The first three boats had as +consorts the _Albatross_, _Kineo_ and _Genessee_. Captain Mahan, in "The +Gulf and Inland Waters," gives the following vivid description of this +historical incident: + +"As they drew near the batteries, the lowest of which the _Hartford_ had +already passed, the enemy threw up rockets and opened their fire. +Prudence, and the fact of the best water being on the starboard hand, +led the ships to hug the east shore of the river, passing so close under +the Confederate guns that the speech of the gunners and troops could be +distinguished. Along the shore, at the foot of the bluffs, powerful +reflecting lamps, like those used on locomotives, had been placed to +show the ships to the enemy as they passed, and for the same purpose +large fires, already stacked on the opposite point, were lit. The fire +of the fleet and from the shore soon raised a smoke which made these +precautions useless, while it involved the ships in a danger greater +than any from the enemy's guns. Settling down upon the water in a still, +damp atmosphere, it soon hid everything from the eyes of the pilots. The +flagship leading had the advantage of pushing often ahead of her own +smoke; but those who followed ran into it and incurred a perplexity +which increased from van to rear. At the bend of the river the current +caught the _Hartford_ on her port bow, sweeping her around with her head +toward the batteries, and nearly on shore, her stern touching the ground +slightly; but by her own efforts and the assistance of the _Albatross_ +she was backed clear. Then, the _Albatross_ backing and the _Hartford_ +going ahead strong with the engine, her head was fairly pointed up the +stream, and she passed by without serious injury. Deceived possibly by +the report of the howitzers in her top, which were nearly on their own +level, the Confederates did not depress their guns sufficiently to hit +her as often as they did the ships that followed her. One killed and two +wounded is her report; and one marine fell overboard, his cries for help +being heard on board the other ships as they passed by, unable to save +him." + +If the capture of the batteries was impossible, their passage was almost +equally so. The _Richmond_ was so badly injured that she was compelled +to turn down stream, having suffered a loss of three killed and fifteen +wounded, while the _Monongahela_ had six killed and twenty-one wounded +before she was able to wrench herself loose from where she had grounded +and drift out of range. + +Now came the _Mississippi_, whose tragic fate is graphically told by +Admiral Porter in his "Naval History of the Civil War": + +"The steamship _Mississippi_, Captain Melancthon Smith, followed in the +wake of the _Monongahela_, firing whenever her guns could be brought to +bear. At 11:30 o'clock she reached the turn which seemed to give our +vessels so much trouble, and Captain Smith was congratulating himself on +the prospect of soon catching up with the flag officer, when his ship +grounded and heeled over three streaks to port. + +"The engines were instantly reversed and the port guns run in in order +to bring her on an even keel, while the fire from her starboard battery +was reopened on the forts. The engines were backed with all the steam +that could be put upon them, and the backing was continued for thirty +minutes, but without avail. + +"It was now seen that it would be impossible to get the ship afloat. + +"Captain Smith gave orders to spike the port battery and throw the guns +overboard, but it was not done, for the enemy's fire was becoming so +rapid and severe that the Captain deemed it judicious to abandon the +ship at once in order to save the lives of the men. + +"While preparations were being made to destroy the ship, the sick and +wounded were lowered into boats and conveyed ashore, while the men at +the starboard battery continued to fight in splendid style, firing at +every flash of the enemy's guns. The small arms were thrown overboard, +and all possible damage was done to the engine and everything else that +might prove of use to the enemy. + +"The ship was first set on fire in the forward storeroom, but three +shots came through below her water-line and put out the flames. She was +then set afire in four places aft, and when the flames were well under +way, so as to make her destruction certain, Captain Smith and his first +lieutenant (George Dewey) left the ship, all the officers and crew +having been landed before. + +"The _Mississippi_ was soon ablaze fore and aft, and as she was now +relieved of a great deal of weight--by the removal of her crew and the +destruction of her upper works--she floated off the bank and drifted +down the river, much to the danger of the Union vessels below. But she +passed without doing them any injury, and at 5:30 o'clock blew up and +went to the bottom." + +When the time came for the crew to save themselves as best they could, +all sprang overboard and struck out for shore. A little way from the +blazing steamer a poor sailor was struggling hard to save himself, but +one arm was palsied from a wound, and he must have drowned but for +Dewey, who swam powerfully to him, helped him to a floating piece of +wreckage and towed him safely to land. + +The lieutenant was now transferred to one of the gunboats of Admiral +Farragut's squadron and engaged in patrol duty between Cairo and +Vicksburg. + +[Illustration: GUNBOATS PASSING BEFORE VICKSBURG.] + +The latter surrendered to General Grant July 4, 1863, and the river was +opened from its source to the Gulf. Early in 1864 the lieutenant was +made executive officer of the gunboat _Agawam_, and when attached to the +North Atlantic squadron, took part in the attack on Fort Fisher, one of +the strongest of forts, which, standing at the entrance of Cape Fear +river, was so efficient a protection to Wilmington that the city became +the chief port in the Confederacy for blockade runners. Indeed, its +blockade was a nullity, despite the most determined efforts of the Union +fleet to keep it closed. The Confederate cruisers advertised their +regular days for departure, and they ran upon schedule time, even women +and children taking passage upon the swift steamers with scarcely a fear +that they would not be able to steam in and out of the river whenever +the navigators of the craft chose to do so. + +The first attempt against Fort Fisher was in the latter part of +December, 1864, but, though the fleet was numerous and powerful, and the +greatest gallantry was displayed, the attack was unsuccessful. General +Butler, in command of the land troops, after a careful examination of +the Confederate works, pronounced capture impossible and refused to +sacrifice his men in a useless attack. Nevertheless the attempt was +renewed January 12, when General Alfred Terry had charge of the land +forces. The garrison made one of the bravest defences of the whole war, +and the hand-to-hand fight was of the most furious character. It lasted +for five hours, when the fort was obliged to surrender, the garrison of +2,300 men becoming prisoners of war. It was in this fearful struggle +that Ensign "Bob" Evans, who was with the naval force that charged up +the unprotected beach, was so frightfully wounded that it was believed +he could not live. When the surgeon made ready to amputate his shattered +leg, Bob, who had secured possession of a loaded revolver, swore he +would shoot any man who touched the limb with such purpose. Perforce he +was left alone, and in due time fully recovered, though lamed for life. + +Lieutenant Dewey was one of the most active of the young officers in the +attack on Fort Fisher, and conducted himself with so much bravery and +skill, executing one of the most difficult and dangerous movements in +the heat of the conflict, that he was highly complimented by his +superior officers. + +But peace soon came, and a generation was to pass before his name was +again associated with naval exploits. In March, 1865, he was promoted to +the rank of lieutenant-commander and assigned to duty on the +_Kearsarge_, the vessel that acquired undying glory for sinking the +_Alabama_, off Cherbourg, France, during the previous July. Early in +1867 he was ordered home from the European station and assigned to duty +at the Kittery Navy Yard, at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. + +While at this station he became acquainted with Miss Susan B. Goodwin, +daughter of the "war Governor" of New Hampshire. She was an accomplished +young woman, to whom the naval officer was married, October 24, 1867. +Their all too brief wedded life was ideally happy, but she died December +28, 1872, a few days after the birth of a son, named George Goodwin, in +honor of his grandfather. + +From 1873 to 1876 Dewey was engaged in making surveys on the Pacific +coast; he commanded the _Juniata_ on the Asiatic squadron in 1882-83, +and the following year was made captain and placed in charge of the +_Dolphin_, one of the original "white squadron." Next came service in +Washington as Chief of the Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting, as member +of the Lighthouse Board and president of the Board of Inspection and +Survey (he being made commodore February 28, 1896), until 1897, when he +was placed in command of the Asiatic squadron, much against his will. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +DEWEY IN THE WAR WITH SPAIN. + + +While engaged with his duties in Washington, Commodore Dewey found his +close confinement to work had affected his health. Naturally strong and +rugged, accustomed to the ozone of the ocean and toned up by the variety +of the service, even in times of peace, the monotony of a continual +round of the same duties told upon him, and his physician advised him to +apply for sea service. He knew the counsel was wise and he made +application, which was granted. + +Assistant Secretary of War Theodore Roosevelt, after a careful study of +the record of the different naval commanders, was convinced that George +Dewey deserved one of the most important commands at the disposal of the +Government. The impetuous official was certain that war with Spain was +at hand, and that one of the most effective blows against that tyrannous +power could be struck in the far East, where the group of islands known +as the Philippines constituted her most princely possessions. + +The assignment, as has been stated, was not pleasing to Dewey, because +he and others believed the real hard fighting must take place in +European or Atlantic waters. We all know the uneasiness that prevailed +for weeks over the destination of the Spanish fleet under Admiral +Cervera. Dewey wanted to meet him and do some fighting that would recall +his services when a lieutenant in the Civil War, and he saw no chance of +securing the chance on the other side of the world, but Roosevelt was +persistent, and, against the wishes of the Naval Board, he obtained his +assignment as flag officer of the Asiatic squadron. + +Commodore Dewey felt that the first duty of an officer is to obey, and +after a farewell dinner given by his friends at the Metropolitan Club in +Arlington, he hurriedly completed his preparations, and, starting for +Hong Kong, duly reached that port, where, on January 3, 1898, he hoisted +his flag on the _Olympia_. + +The official records show that the _Olympia_ was ordered home, but +Roosevelt, in a confidential dispatch of February 25, directed Commodore +Dewey to remain, to prepare his squadron for offensive operations, and, +as soon as war broke out with Spain, to steam to the Philippines and hit +the enemy as hard as he knew how. Meanwhile ammunition and supplies were +hurried across the continent to San Francisco as fast as express trains +could carry them, and were sent thence by steamer to Hong Kong, where +they were eagerly received by the waiting Commodore. + +Reverting to those stirring days, it will be recalled that the Queen +Regent of Spain declared war against the United States on April 24, +1898, to which we replied that war had begun three days earlier, when +the Madrid government dismissed our minister and handed him his +passports. Then followed, or rather were continued, the vigorous +preparations on the part of our authorities for the prosecution of the +war to a prompt and decisive end. + +Commodore Dewey's squadron lay at anchor in the harbor of Hong Kong, +awaiting the momentous news from Washington. When it reached the +commander it was accompanied by an order to capture or destroy the +enemy's fleet at Manila. Almost at the same time Great Britain issued +her proclamation of neutrality, the terms of which compelled Dewey to +leave the British port of Hong Kong within twenty-four hours. He did so, +steaming to Mirs Bay, a Chinese port near at hand, where he completed +his preparations for battle, and on the 27th of April steamed out of the +harbor on his way to Manila. + +The city of Manila, with a population numbering about a quarter of a +million, lies on the western side of Luzon, the principal island, with a +magnificent bay in front, extensive enough to permit all the navies of +the world to manoeuvre with plenty of elbow room. The entrance to the +immense bay is seven miles wide and contains two islands, Corregidor and +Caballo, both of which were powerfully fortified, the works containing a +number of modern guns. Torpedoes were stretched across the channel and +the bay abounded with enough mines and torpedoes, it would seem, to blow +any fleet of ironclads to atoms as soon as it dared to try to force an +entrance into the waters. Some twenty miles beyond lay the city of +Manila, and about ten miles to the south was Cavité, constituting the +strongly fortified part of the city proper. + +Of course the Spanish spies were on the watch in Hong Kong, and while +the American squadron was steaming out of the bay the news was +telegraphed to the authorities at Manila, who knew that the real +destination of the enemy was that city. Every effort was made to keep +the matter a secret, but it was impossible, and it soon became known to +everybody that the American "pigs" were coming, and that Manila must +fall, if the Spanish fleet were unable to beat off the enemy. + +The Spaniards proclaimed that they would send every one of the American +vessels to the bottom; but they had made similar boasts before, and +their bombast did not quiet the fears of the people, among whom a panic +quickly spread. Those who were able to do so gathered their valuables +and took refuge on the merchant ships in the harbor and thanked heaven +when they bore them away. Many others fled from the city, but the +majority stayed, grimly determined to be in at the death and accept +whatever fate was in store for them. + +The distance between Hong Kong and Manila is 630 miles, and it needed +only a little figuring on the part of the inhabitants to decide that the +dreaded squadron would be due on the following Saturday evening or early +the next morning, which would be the first of May. The self-confidence +of Admiral Montojo and his officers was almost sublime. All they asked +was a fair chance at the "American pigs." They hoped that nothing would +occur to prevent the coming of the fleet, for the Spaniards would never +cease to mourn if the golden opportunity were allowed to slip from their +grasp. They were not disappointed in that respect. + +It is proper to give at this point the respective strength of the +American and Spanish fleets. The squadron under the command of +Commodore Dewey was as follows: + +_Olympia_--Protected cruiser (flagship), 5,500 tons. Speed, 21.7 knots. +Complement, 450. Armor, protected deck, 2 inches to 4-3/4 inches. Guns, +main battery, four 8-inch, ten 5-inch, rapid-fire; secondary battery, +rapid-fire, fourteen 6-pound, seven 1-pound, four Gatlings, one field +gun and five torpedo tubes. Captain Charles V. Gridley. + +_Baltimore_--Protected cruiser, 4,400 tons. Speed, 20.1 knots. +Complement, 386. Armor, 2-1/2 inches to 4 inches. Guns, main battery, +four 8-inch, six 6-inch, slow-fire; secondary battery, rapid-fire, four +6-pound, two 3-pound, two 1-pound, four 37 MM. Hotchkiss, two Colts, one +field gun and five torpedo tubes. Captain N.M. Dyer. + +_Raleigh_--Protected cruiser, 3,213 tons. Speed, 19 knots. Armor, 1 inch +to 2-1/2 inches. Guns, one 6-inch, rapid-fire, ten 5-inch; secondary +battery, eight 6-pounders, four 1-pounders, and two machine guns. +Complement, 320. Captain J.B. Coghlan. + +_Boston_--Protected cruiser, 3,189 tons. Speed, 15.6 knots. Complement, +270. Armor, 1-1/2 inch deck. Guns, main battery, two 8-inch and six +6-inch rifles; secondary battery, rapid-fire, two 6-pounders and two +3-pounders. Captain F. Wildes. + +_Petrel_--Fourth-rate cruiser, 890 tons. Speed, 13.7 knots. Guns, four +6-inch, two 3-pounder rapid-fire, one 1-pounder, and four machine guns. +Commander E.P. Wood. + +_Concord_--Gunboat, 1,710 tons. Speed, 16.8 knots. Armor, 3/8-inch deck. +Guns, main battery, six 6-inch rifles. Commander Asa Walker. + +_Hugh McCulloch_--Revenue cutter, light battery of rapid-fire guns. + +_Zafiro_--Auxiliary cruiser: supply vessel. + +The vessels under command of Admiral Montojo were the following: + +_Reina Cristina_--Cruiser (flagship). Built in 1887, iron, 3,090 tons, +14 to 17.5 knots, according to draught, and a main battery of six +6.2-inch rifles. + +_Castilla_--Cruiser, built in 1881, wood, 3,342 tons, 14 knots, and four +5.9-inch Krupps and two 4.7-inch Krupps in her main battery. + +_Velasco_--Small cruiser, built in 1881, iron, 1,139 tons, and three +6-inch Armstrongs in her main battery. + +_Don Juan de Austria_--Small cruiser, completed in 1887, iron, 1,152 +tons, 13 to 14 knots, and four 4.7-inch rifles in her main battery. + +_Don Antonio de Ulloa_--Small cruiser, iron, 1,152 tons. Four 4.7-inch +Hontoria guns; two 2.7-inch, two quick-firing; two 1.5-inch; five muzzle +loaders. + +Gunboats _Paragua_, _Callao_, _Samar_, _Pampagna_, and _Arayat_, built +1881-6, steel, 137 tons, 10 knots, and each mounting two quick-firing +guns. + +Gunboats _Mariveles_ and _Mindoro_, built in 1886 and 1885, iron, 142 +tons, 10 knots, each mounting one 2.7-inch rifle and four machine guns. + +Gunboat _Manileno_, built in 1887, wood, 142 tons, 9 knots, and mounting +three 3.5-inch rifles. + +Gunboats _El Cano_ and _General Lezo_, built in 1885, iron, 528 tons, 10 +to nearly 12 knots, and each mounting three 3.5-inch rifles. + +Gunboat _Marquis Del Duero_, built in 1875, iron, 500 tons, 10 knots, +and mounting one 6.2-inch and two 4.7-inch rifles. + + * * * * * + +Through the bright sunshine and when the stars twinkled in the sky or +the full moon rode overhead, the American ships steamed to the southeast +across the heaving China Sea. The Stars and Stripes fluttered in the +breeze and there was a feeling of expectancy on board the grim engines +of war, that had laid aside every possible encumbrance, and like +prize-fighters were stripped to the buff and eager for battle. + +The run was a smooth one, and as the sun was sinking in the sky +Commodore Dewey, peering through his glass, caught the faint outlines of +Corregidor Island, and dimly beyond the flickering haze revealed the +Spanish fleet in the calm bay. The Commodore had been in that part of +the world before, and while waiting at Hong Kong had gathered all the +knowledge possible of the defences of Manila. He knew the fort was +powerfully fortified and the bay mined, and knowing all this, he +remembered the exclamation of his immortal instructor in the science of +war, the peerless Farragut, when he was driving his squadron into Mobile +Bay. Recalling that occurrence, Commodore Dewey joined in spirit in +repeating the words: + +"D---- the torpedoes!" + +It was still many miles to the entrance, and night closed in while the +squadron was ploughing through the sea that broke in tumbling foam at +the bows and spread far away in snowy wakes at the rear. All lights were +put out, the full moon again climbed the sky and the shadowy leviathans +plunged through the waters straight for the opening of the bay, guarded +by the fort and batteries, with the Spanish fleet beyond, defiantly +awaiting the coming of the American squadron. + +Suddenly from Corregidor Island the darkness was lit up by a vivid +flash, a thunderous boom traveled across the bay, and the heavy shot +tore its way screaming over the _Raleigh_, quickly followed by a second, +which fell astern of the _Olympia_ and _Raleigh_. The Spaniards had +discovered the approach of the squadron. The _Raleigh_, _Concord_, and +_Boston_ replied; all the shots being fired with remarkable accuracy. + +One may imagine the consternation in Manila when the boom of those guns +rolled in from the bay, for none could mistake its meaning. Women and +children ran to the churches and knelt in frenzied prayer; men dashed to +and fro, not knowing what to do, while the Spanish soldiers, who had not +believed the American ships could ever pass the harbor torpedoes and +mines, were in a wild panic when they learned that the seemingly +impossible had been done. To add to the terror, rumors spread that the +ferocious natives were gathering at the rear of the city to rush in and +plunder and kill. + +When at last the morning light appeared in the sky, the Americans saw +tens of thousands of people crowded along the shore, gazing in terror +out on the bay where rode the hostile fleets, soon to close in deadly +battle. Commodore Dewey coolly scanned the hostile vessels, and grasping +the whole situation, as may be said, at a glance, led in the attack on +the enemy. + +While approaching Cavité two mines exploded directly in front of the +_Olympia_. The roar was tremendous and the water was flung hundreds of +feet in the air. Without swerving an inch or halting, Dewey signalled to +the other vessels to pay no attention to the torpedoes, but to steam +straight ahead. It was virtually a repetition of the more emphatic +command of Farragut in Mobile Bay, uttered thirty-four years before. + +The batteries on shore let fly at the ships, and the first reply was +made by Captain Coghlan of the _Raleigh_. The _Olympia_ had led the way +into the harbor, and she now headed for the centre of the Spanish fleet. +Calmly watching everything in his field of vision, and knowing when the +exact moment arrived for the beginning of the appalling work, Commodore +Dewey, cool, alert, attired in white duck uniform and a golf cap, turned +to Captain Gridley and said in his ordinary conversational tone: + +"Gridley, you may fire when ready." + +A series of sharp, crackling sounds followed, like exploding Chinese +crackers, and then the thunderous roars and a vast volume of smoke +rolled over the bay and enveloped the warships that were pouring their +deadly fire into the Spanish vessels. The American ships, in order to +disconcert the aim of the batteries of the enemy, moved slowly in their +terrible ellipses or loops, their sides spouting crimson flame and +answered by the shots of the Spaniards, who fought with a courage +deserving of all praise. The manoeuvring of the American ships led the +breathless swarms on shore to believe they were suffering defeat, and an +exultant telegram to that effect was cabled to Madrid, nearly ten +thousand miles away, where it caused a wild but short-lived rejoicing. + +At half-past seven there was a lull. Commodore Dewey drew off to +replenish his magazines, of whose shortness of supply he had received +disturbing reports. Advantage was taken of the cessation to give the men +breakfast, for it is a well accepted principle that sailors as well as +soldiers fight best upon full stomachs. As the wind blew aside the dense +smoke, it was seen that the _Reina Cristina_, the Spanish flagship, was +in flames. Hardly two hours later the American squadron advanced again +to the attack, and Admiral Montojo was observed to transfer his flag +from the doomed _Reina Cristina_ to the _Isla de Cuba_, which soon after +was also ablaze. Amid the crash and roar of the ponderous guns sounded +the shrieks and cries of mortal agony from the Spanish crews, victims +to the matchless gunnery of the Americans. + +[Illustration: THE "OLYMPIA" IN MANILA BAY.] + +The latter pressed their advantage remorselessly. The _Don Juan de +Austria_ was the centre of the heaviest fire, and suddenly a part of the +deck flew upward in the air, carrying with it scores of dead and +wounded. A shot had exploded one of her magazines, and at the sight of +the awful results Admiral Montojo threw up his arms in despair. The crew +refused to leave the blazing ship, and cursing and praying they went +down with her. Then the _Castilla_ burst into one mass of roaring flame, +and the rest of the defeated fleet skurried down the long narrow isle +behind Cavité. Others dashed up a small creek, where they grounded, and +those that were left ran ashore. By half-past eleven the batteries of +Cavité were silenced, the Spanish fleet was destroyed, and the +victorious Americans broke into ringing cheers. The battle of Manila, +one of the most remarkable in naval annals, was won and Commodore Dewey +took rank among the greatest of all the heroes of the sea. + +What a marvellous record! Of the Spaniards, the dead and wounded +numbered nearly a thousand, while not a single life had been lost by the +American squadron. Several were wounded, but none seriously. No such +victory between ironclads has thus far taken place in the history of +the world. In the face of mines, torpedoes and shore batteries, +Commodore Dewey had won an overwhelming and crushing victory. The power +of Spain in the Philippines was forever destroyed, and another glorious +victory had been added to the long list that illumines the story of the +American navy. + +It was easy for Dewey to compel the surrender of Manila, but with the +prudence that always guides him, he decided that since his force was not +strong enough to occupy and hold the city, to await the arrival of +reinforcements from the United States. They reached Manila the following +August, and, under command of General Wesley Merritt and aided by the +fleet, Manila surrendered, almost at the same hour that the +representatives of Spain and our own officials in Washington signed the +protocol that marked the cessation of war between the two countries. + +Now came long and trying weeks and months to Rear Admiral Dewey, he +having been promoted upon receipt of news of his great victory. Peerless +as was his conduct during offensive operations, it was surpassed in many +respects by his course throughout the exasperating period named. Germany +and France were unfriendly and Aguinaldo treacherous, though Great +Britain and Japan were ardent in their sympathy for the United States. +Germany especially was a constant cause of irritation to Admiral Dewey, +whose patience was often tried to the utmost verge. To his tact, +prudence, self-control, firmness, diplomacy and masterful wisdom were +due the fact that no complication with foreign powers occurred and that +the United States escaped a tremendous war, whose consequences no one +could foresee or calculate. + +Everybody instinctively felt that Admiral Dewey was the real hero of our +war with Spain. The wish was general that he should return home in order +that his countrymen might have opportunity to show their appreciation of +him and to give him fitting honors. + +And nothing could be more repugnant than all this to the naval hero, who +is as modest as he is brave. Besides, he felt that his work was by no +means finished in the far East, for, as has been shown, there was need +of delicate diplomacy, prudence and statesmanship. He asked to be +allowed to stay, and he did so, until, the main difficulty being passed, +and his health feeling the result of the tremendous strain that was +never relaxed, he finally set sail in the _Olympia_ for home, leaving +Hong Kong in May, and, one year after his great victory, proceeding at a +leisurely rate that did not bring him to his native shores until the +cool breezes of autumn. On the long voyage hither he was shown the +highest honors everywhere, and Washington or Lincoln could not have +received more grateful homage than was paid to him by his countrymen, +whom he had served so long, so faithfully and so well. + +Meanwhile, it should be added, that the rank of full Admiral of the +navy, hitherto borne only by David Glasgow Farragut and David Dixon +Porter, was revived and bestowed, in February, 1899, upon George Dewey, +and of the three none has worn the exalted honor more worthily than the +Green Mountain Boy, who has proven himself the born gentleman and +fighter, the thorough patriot and statesman and the Chevalier Bayard of +the American navy. + + + + +THE REVOLUTIONARY BATTLES. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +Birth of the American Navy--The Privateers--Capture of New Providence, +in the Bahamas--Paul Jones--A Clever Exploit--A Skilful Escape--Fine +Seamanship--An Audacious Scheme. + + + +When, on April 19, 1775, the battle of Lexington opened the Revolution +the Colonies did not possess a single ship with which to form the +beginning of a navy. They had for many years been actively engaged in +the coasting trade and some of their vessels did valiant service on the +side of England in the wars against France and Spain. We had a good many +hardy, skilled seamen, who formed the best material from which to man a +navy, and before long Congress undertook the work of building one. That +body ordered the construction of thirteen frigates--one for each +State--and some of these did noble work, but by the close of the war few +of them were left; nearly all had been captured or destroyed. + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES.] + +It was far different with the privateers, which were vessels fitted out +by private parties, under the authority of Congress, to cruise the seas +wherever they chose and capture English vessels wherever they could. +When a prize was taken the lucky officers and crews divided the plunder. +It was a very tempting field for the brave and enterprising Americans +and when, in March, 1776, Congress gave them permission to fit out and +sail privateers, they were quick to use the chance of securing prize +money as it was called. Those swift sailing vessels and their daring +crews sailed out of Salem, Cape Ann, Newburyport, Bristol and other +seacoast towns, and they did not have to hunt long before they found the +richest sort of prizes. In the single year 1776 these privateers +captured 342 British vessels and wrought great havoc among the English +shipping. + +In January, 1778, one of these privateers entered the harbor of New +Providence, in the Bahamas, and captured the fort and a sixteen-gun +man-of-war. Many other valiant exploits were performed and before long +some of the more daring privateers boldly crossed the Atlantic and by +their deeds threw the coast of Great Britain into consternation. + +Among the most remarkable of these naval heroes was a young Scotchman, +not quite thirty years old. + +[Illustration] + +He had been trained in the merchant service and had become a skilful +sailor before he removed to Virginia, where he made his home. He +devotedly loved his adopted country, and, when the war broke out between +the colonies and Great Britain, and the long, hard struggle for +independence began, he was among the very first to offer his services on +the side of liberty. His character was so well known and appreciated +that he was appointed a first lieutenant. I am sure you have all heard +of him, for his name was John Paul Jones, though since, for some reason +or other, he dropped his first name and is generally referred to simply +as Paul Jones. + +His first service was on the _Alfred_, which helped in the capture of +the fort at New Providence, already spoken of. Jones with his own hands +hoisted the first flag displayed on an American man-of-war. It was of +yellow silk, with the device of a rattlesnake, and bore the motto, +"Don't tread on me." + +Jones attracted such favorable attention during this enterprise that on +his return he was made commander of the twelve-ton brig _Providence_ and +was employed for a time in carrying troops from Rhode Island to New +York. Since he was by birth a citizen of Great Britain, which then +insisted that "once a British subject always a British subject," the +English cruisers made determined efforts to capture him. Many of the +officers declared that if they could lay hands on the audacious +freebooter, as they called him, they would hang him at the yard arm. +But, before doing so, they had to catch him, and that proved a harder +task than they suspected. He was chased many times and often fired into, +but the _Providence_ was always swift enough to show a clean pair of +heels to her pursuers and Jones himself was such a fine sailor that he +laughed at their efforts to take him prisoner. + +One of the cleverest exploits of Jones was performed in the autumn of +1776. He saw an American brig returning from the West Indies, heavily +laden with supplies for Washington's army, which was badly in need of +them. A British frigate was in hot pursuit of the American, which was +straining every nerve to escape, but would not have been able to do so +except for Jones, who ran in between the two, and, firing into the +frigate, induced her to let the American go and chase him. Taking +advantage of the chance thus offered, the brig got safely away and then +Jones himself dodged away from the frigate, which thus lost both. + +In the month of October, 1776, Jones was promoted to the rank of captain +and ordered to cruise between Boston and the Delaware. I must tell you +an anecdote which illustrates his wonderful seamanship. + +Some weeks before he was made a captain, and while cruising off Bermuda, +he saw five sail far to the windward and he beat up, doing so carefully +and with the purpose of finding out whether there was a chance for him +to strike an effective blow. He picked out what looked like a large +merchant ship and gave chase. He gained fast, but to his dismay, when he +was quite close, he discovered that instead of a merchant ship he had +almost run into a twenty-eight gun frigate of the enemy. + +Finding he had caught a Tartar, Jones did the only thing left to him. He +hauled off and put on every stitch of sail and the frigate did the same. +She proved the better sailer, and, though she gained slowly, it was +surely, and in the course of a few hours she had approached within +musket shot of the brig's lee quarter. There seemed no possible escape +for Jones, knowing which, he did a remarkable thing. He veered off until +the frigate was almost astern, when he put about dead before the wind, +with every yard of canvas set. + +The Englishman was dumfounded by the daring manoeuvre, which brought +the American within pistol shot, for he did not fire a gun until Jones +was beyond reach of his grape. The pursuit was continued hour after +hour, but the brig was now at her best and finally left her pursuer +hopelessly astern. When the _Providence_ ran into Newport in October she +had captured or destroyed fifteen prizes. + +Jones's bold and skilful seamanship drew attention to him and he was now +given command of the 24-gun ship _Alfred_, while Captain Hacker took +charge of the _Providence_. The two vessels started on a cruise in +company and some days later the _Alfred_ fell in with three British +vessels, and, after a brisk action, captured them all. One proved to be +a transport with 150 men and a large amount of supplies for Burgoyne's +army, which was at that time organizing in Montreal for its notable +campaign through New York, where it was captured by General Gates, at +Saratoga. + +This transport was so valuable that Jones, instead of putting a prize +crew on board, determined to take her into port, and, if in danger of +capture from pursuit, he meant to sink her. It began snowing the +following night and the _Providence_ and _Alfred_ were obliged to +separate. + +Jones was making for Boston when he was discovered by the frigate that +he had outwitted two months before, when the _Providence_ narrowly +escaped capture. Night was closing in and the frigate being to windward, +her outlines were indistinct. Captain Jones ordered his prizes to steer +southward and to pay no attention to the signals displayed on his own +vessel. At midnight he hoisted a toplight and tacked to the west, +knowing the others would continue to the southward as he had directed. +The strategem was successful, for at daylight the frigate was pressing +hard after the _Alfred_, while the prizes had disappeared. The _Alfred_ +eluded her enemy as before, and, upon reaching Boston, Jones found his +captives awaiting him. + +An idea of the effectiveness of the privateers may be gained by the +statement that during the year 1777 nearly 500 vessels were captured by +them. By that time Paul Jones had proven himself to be the finest +officer in the American Navy. He had every quality to make him such. No +one could surpass him in seamanship. He was cool and daring and was +animated by the highest patriotism for his adopted country. Such a man +was sure to be heard of again, as Great Britain learned to her cost. + +France had shown a strong liking for the American colonies from the +first. No doubt this liking was influenced by her hatred of England, for +the nations had been bitter rivals for years. We had sent several +commissioners to Paris, and they did a good deal for our country. The +commissioners had a heavy, single-decked frigate built in Holland, which +was named the _South Carolinian_ and was intended for Paul Jones, but +some difficulties occurred and he was sent to sea in the 18-gun ship +_Ranger_, which left Portsmouth, N.H., at the beginning of November. She +was so poorly equipped that Jones complained, though he did not hesitate +on that account. + +On the way to Nantes, in France, the _Ranger_ captured two prizes, +refitted at Brest, and in April, 1778, sailed for the British coast. +Having made several captures, Captain Jones headed for the Isle of Man, +his intention being to make a descent upon Whitehaven. A violent wind +that night baffled him, and, hoping to prevent his presence in the +section from being discovered, he kept his vessel disguised as a +merchantman. Sailing hither and thither, generally capturing all vessels +that he sighted, he finally turned across to the Irish coast and in the +latter part of the month was off Carrickfergus, where he learned from +some fishermen that the British sloop-of-war _Drake_ was at anchor in +the roads. Jones was exceedingly anxious to attack her, and planned a +night surprise, but again the violent wind interfered and he was forced +to give up the scheme, so well suited to his daring nature. + +This brave man now set out to execute one of the most startling schemes +that can be imagined. Whitehaven at that time was a city of 50,000 +inhabitants and the harbor was filled with shipping. His plan was to +sail in among the craft and burn them all. It seemed like the idea of a +man bereft of his senses, but there was not the slightest hesitation on +his part. Such enterprises often succeed through their very boldness, +and his belief was that by acting quickly he could accomplish his +purpose and strike a blow at England that would carry consternation to +the people and the government. + +Captain Jones had in mind the many outrages committed by British vessels +along our seacoast, for, describing his purpose in a memorial to +Congress, he said his intention was, by one good fire in England of +British shipping, "to put an end to all burnings in America." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +A Daring Attempt by Captain Paul Jones--Why It Failed--A Bold +Scheme--Why It Did Not Succeed--The Fight Between the _Ranger_ and +_Drake_. + + + +Paul Jones waited until midnight. Then, when no one was dreaming of +danger, his men silently pulled away from the _Ranger_ in two boats, one +commanded by himself and the other by Lieutenant Wallingford. It was a +long pull, and when they reached the outer pier of the harbor it was +beginning to grow light in the east. They now parted company, and Jones +directed his men to row for the south side of the harbor, while the +Lieutenant was to make for the north shore. The object of the two was +the same: the burning of the shipping. + +Wallingford reached the north side, and then, strangely enough, gave up +the attempt, his reason being that the candle on which he counted to +start the fire was blown out. The reader must remember that in those +days matches were unknown and the task of relighting had to be done with +the steel, flint and tinder. Though the contrivance is an awkward one, +we cannot help thinking the excuse of the Lieutenant was weak, but the +result was a failure on his part to carry out the important work +assigned to him. + +Captain Jones was a different kind of man. Although day had fully +dawned, he kept his men rowing rapidly. Reaching the south side of the +harbor, he came upon a small fort garrisoned by a few soldiers. Leaping +out of the boat, the American dashed forward, bounded over the walls and +captured the sentinels before they knew their danger. The guns were +spiked and the garrison made prisoners. + +"Set fire to the shipping!" he commanded to his men, while he, with only +a single companion, ran for a second fort some distance away and spiked +the guns in that. Then he hurried back to the first fort and found to +his surprise that the fire had not been started. + +"The candles have given out," was the reply to his angry inquiry. + +It being broad daylight, his men expected him to jump into the boat and +order them to return with all haste to the ship; but, instead of doing +so, he darted into one of the nearest houses, procured some tinder and +candles and began himself the work of destruction. Fixing his attention +upon a large vessel, he climbed quickly aboard and started a fire in her +steerage. To help matters, he flung a barrel of tar over the flames and +in a few minutes they were roaring fiercely. It meant prodigious damage, +for the vessel was surrounded by more than a hundred others, none of +which could move, since they were aground and the tide was out. + +As may be supposed, there was great excitement by that time. The alarm +had been given. Men were running to and fro, and a number hurried toward +the burning ship with the purpose of extinguishing the flames. All the +Americans had entered the small boat and were impatiently awaiting their +commander. Instead of joining them, Jones drew his pistol, and, standing +alone in front of the crowd, kept them back until the fire burst out of +the steerage and began running up the rigging. Backing slowly with drawn +pistol, he stepped into the boat and told his men to row with might and +main for the vessel. + +The instant this was done the crowd rushed forward and by desperate +efforts succeeded in putting out the blaze before it had done much +damage. Then the forts attempted to fire on the Americans, but their +guns were spiked. Some cannon on the ships were discharged at the boats, +but their shots went wild. When the _Ranger_ was reached Captain Jones +made the discovery that one of his men was missing. The reason was +clear. He was a deserter and had been seen by his former comrades +running from house to house and giving the alarm. Such was the narrow +chance by which one of the most destructive conflagrations of British +shipping was averted. + +As may be supposed, this daring act caused alarm throughout England. +Jones was denounced as a freebooter and pirate, and every effort was +made to capture him. Had his enemies succeeded, little mercy would have +been shown the dauntless hero. + +England was very cruel to many of her American prisoners, and Captain +Jones fixed upon a bold and novel plan for compelling her to show more +mercy toward those unfortunate enough to fall into her power. It was to +capture some prominent nobleman and hold him as a hostage for the better +treatment of our countrymen. It must be remembered that Jones was +cruising near his birthplace and when a sailor boy had become familiar +with the Scottish and the English coasts. The _Ranger_ was a fast +vessel, and, as I have shown, Jones himself was a master of seamanship. +It would seem, therefore, that all he had to do was to be alert, and it +need not be said that he and his crew were vigilant at all times. + +The Earl of Selkirk was a Scottish nobleman who had his country seat at +the mouth of the Dee, and Jones made up his mind that he was just the +man to serve for a hostage. At any rate, he could not be put to a +better use and certainly would not suspect the purpose of the American +vessel which, as night was closing in, anchored offshore. Indeed, no one +dreamed that the vessel was the terrible American "pirate," which had +thrown the whole country into terror. + +Fortunately the night was dark and the men rowed to land without being +noticed. The task was an easy one, for there was no one to resist them. +They walked silently through the darkness to the fine grounds, and, +having surrounded the handsome building, the officer in charge of the +party presented himself at the door and made known his startling errand. +He was informed that the Earl was absent. A careful search revealed that +such was the fact, and all the trouble of the Americans went for naught. + +It was a keen disappointment and the party decided to compensate +themselves so far as they could. The Earl was wealthy and the house +contained a great deal of valuable silver plate. A quantity of this was +carried to the _Ranger_. + +Captain Jones was angered when he learned what had been done. He knew +the Earl and Lady Selkirk well and personally liked them both. The +singular scheme he had in mind was solely for the benefit of his adopted +countrymen. + +"I am accused of being a pirate, robber and thief," he exclaimed, "and +you are doing all you can to justify the charges. Every ounce of plate +shall be returned." + +He kept his word. The messengers who took back the silver carried a note +from Captain Jones apologizing to Lady Selkirk for the misconduct of his +men. + +Now, if there was anything which Paul Jones loved it was to fight. It +was simply diversion for him to capture merchantmen or vessels that +could make only a weak resistance, and he longed to give the enemy a +taste of his mettle. It may be said that his situation grew more +dangerous with every hour. His presence was known and a score of +cruisers were hunting for him. + +The British sloop of war _Drake_, which the gale prevented him from +attacking, was still at Carrickfergus, and Jones sailed thither in the +hope of inducing her to come out and fight him. Being uncertain of his +identity, the captain of the _Drake_ sent an officer in a boat to learn +the truth. Captain Jones suspected the errand and skilfully kept his +broadsides turned away until the officer, determined to know his +identity, went aboard. As soon as he stepped on deck he was made a +prisoner and sent below. + +Captain Jones reasoned that the captain of the _Drake_ would miss his +officer after awhile and come out to learn what had become of him. He, +therefore, headed toward the North Channel, the _Drake_ following, with +the tide against her and the wind unfavorable until the mid-channel was +reached, when, to quote Maclay, Paul Jones "in plain view of three +kingdoms, hove to, ran up the flag of the new Republic and awaited the +enemy." + +In reply to the demand of the _Drake's_ captain, Jones gave the name of +his vessel and expressed the pleasure it would give him to engage him in +battle. The American was astern of the _Drake_, and, to show his +earnestness, Captain Jones ordered his helm put up and let fly with a +broadside. The _Drake_ replied and then the battle was on. There was +little manoeuvring, the contest being what is known as a square +yardarm and yardarm fight. + +The comparative strength of the two vessels was as follows: The _Ranger_ +carried 18 guns and 123 men, the _Drake_ 20 guns and 160 men, a number +of the latter being volunteers for the fight, which lasted one hour and +four minutes, at the end of which time the _Ranger_ had lost two killed +and six wounded and the _Drake_ forty-two killed. The latter was so +badly damaged by the well directed fire of the American that the captain +called for quarter. Ceasing her firing, Captain Jones lowered a boat +and sent it to the _Drake_ to take possession. + +As an evidence of the effect of the fire of the _Ranger_, the following +words may be quoted from Jones's official report: "Her fore and +maintopsail yards being cut away and down on the caps, the topgallant +yard and mizzen gaff both hanging up and down along the mast, the second +ensign which they had hoisted shot away and hanging on the quarter +gallery in the water, the jib shot away and hanging in the water, her +sails and rigging cut entirely to pieces, her masts and yards all +wounded and her hull very much galled." + +The damages to the _Ranger_ were so slight they were repaired by the +close of the following day, when she got under sail with her prize. +Despite the swarm of cruisers that were hunting for him, Jones passed +unscathed through North Channel, along the western coast of Ireland and +arrived at Brest, in France, within a month of the day he left the port, +his cruise having been one of the most remarkable in naval history. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +One of the Most Memorable Sea Fights Ever Known--The Wonderful Exploit +of Captain Paul Jones. + + + +I have taken Paul Jones as the highest type of the infant American navy. +There were others who fought with great bravery and did much to aid in +the struggle for American independence, but none combined in such +perfection the qualities of perfect seamanship, cool but dauntless +courage and skill in fighting. + +Of course, no matter how daring our cruisers, they did not always escape +disaster. At the close of the Revolution there had been twenty-four +vessels lost, carrying 470 guns. Several of these met their fate through +shipwreck. Contrast with this the loss of Great Britain, which was 102 +war vessels, carrying in all 2,624 guns. The total vessels of all kinds +captured from the English by our cruisers and privateers was about 800. + +Captain Jones had made so successful a cruise with the _Ranger_ that he +felt, upon returning to Brest, in France, he was entitled to a better +ship. He wrote to Benjamin Franklin, expressing himself plainly on that +point, and the American commissioner, after several months' delay, had a +ship of 40 guns placed under the command of Jones. Her original name was +the _Duras_, but at Jones's request it was changed to the _Bonhomme +Richard_. This was in compliment to Franklin, who was often called "Poor +Richard" by his admiring countrymen, because for many years he had +published "Poor Richard's Almanac," filled with wise and witty sayings. + +This ship was an old Indiaman, in which 42 guns were placed, and the +final number of her crew was 304. The 32-gun frigate _Alliance_, Captain +Landais, was put under the orders of Captain Jones and a third, the +_Pallas_, was bought and armed with thirty guns. A merchant brig and a +cutter were also added to the squadron. It was found very hard to man +these vessels and any other captain than Jones would have given up the +task as an impossible one. It seemed as if about every known nation in +the world was represented and some of the men of the most desperate +character. Maclay says in his "History of the American Navy" that the +muster roll of the _Bonhomme Richard_ showed that the men hailed from +America, France, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, +England, Spain, India, Norway, Portugal, Fayal and Malasia, while there +were seven Maltese and the knight of the ship's galley was from Africa. +The majority of the officers, however, were American. + +[Illustration: BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.] + +This squadron sailed from L'Orient on June 19, 1779. Almost immediately +trouble occurred. Captain Landais, without any show of reason, claimed +that the command, by right of seniority of commission, belonged to him. +On the first night out the _Alliance_ and _Bonhomme Richard_ collided +and were obliged to return to port for repairs. Vexatious delays +prevented the sailing of the squadron until August 14. + +One of the consorts captured an English war vessel in the latter part of +June, but was compelled to abandon her on the appearance of a superior +force of the enemy, and the squadron put into L'Orient for repairs. A +piece of good fortune came to the _Bonhomme Richard_ while in this port. +About a hundred exchanged American prisoners volunteered and did a great +deal to improve the discipline and strengthen the crew of Jones's ship. + +The valiant American, however, met with difficulties that were of the +most exasperating nature. A boat's crew deserted and spread the news of +the arrival of the squadron off the English coast. Captain Landais, +commander of the _Alliance_, refused to obey the signals of the +flagship, and conducted himself so outrageously that Jones more than +suspected his brain was askew. The _Bonhomme Richard_ was old and in bad +condition, but Jones told Benjamin Franklin in a letter that he meant to +do something with her that would induce his Government to provide him +with a better ship. He sailed almost completely around Great Britain, +during which he captured seventeen vessels, most of which were +destroyed though the more valuable were sent into port in charge of +prize crews. + +This depletion of his crew so weakened it that Captain Jones wisely +refrained from remaining long in one place. Doubling Flamborough Head, +he came up with his companions, the _Pallas_ and the _Alliance_, the +latter having been out of his company for a fortnight. + +This was on September 23, 1779. It was near noon, while the American +squadron was chasing a British brigantine and was approaching +Flamborough Head from the south, that a large sail was discovered, +rounding that promontory from the south. Another and another followed, +the astonished Americans counting them until the number had mounted up +to forty-two. + +It was a startling sight, for if these vessels were ships of war nothing +could save the American squadron, or, if most of them were merchantmen, +under a strong escort, the peril of Captain Jones and his crews would be +almost as great. The commander studied the fleet through his glass, +allowing it to come closer and closer and holding himself ready to flee, +should it be necessary to do so. Finally, after a long scrutiny, Jones's +face lit up with exultation. There were only two vessels of war in the +fleet, and he immediately gave the signal for pursuit. + +The _Serapis_, commanded by Captain Pearson, knew that he was confronted +by the redoubtable Paul Jones, and he welcomed a fight with him, for the +British captain was one of the bravest of men. He signalled for the +merchantmen to scatter, and they did so with the utmost haste, while the +frigate with her consort, the _Countess of Scarborough_, boldly advanced +to engage the American squadron. + +It was at this critical moment that the captain of the _Alliance_ once +more showed his insubordination. He refused to obey Jones's signal to +fall to the rear of the _Bonhomme Richard_ and the _Pallas_ for a time +was equally disobedient. Soon, however, she changed her conduct and +gallantly advanced to engage the _Countess of Scarborough_. Captain +Landais, however, sullenly kept out of the battle, and, as we shall +presently learn, did even worse than that. + +Captain Pearson, of the _Serapis_, waited until his convoy was beyond +danger, when he tacked inshore. Fearing he would get away, Jones ran in +between him and the land. It was now growing dark, and it was hard for +the American commander to follow the movements of his enemy. But the +latter was not fleeing, and, although dimly visible to each other, the +two antagonists began cautiously approaching, both on the alert for any +advantage that might present itself. Nothing but the rippling of water +made by the vessels broke the profound, expectant hush that rested upon +both. + +Suddenly from the gloom came the voice of the captain of the _Serapis_: + +"What ship is that?" + +Jones wished to get nearer before opening fire and replied: + +"I do not understand you; speak louder." + +"What ship is that?" repeated the other in a louder voice through his +trumpet. "Answer or I shall fire into you." + +Jones made no reply, knowing that it was useless, but continued to edge +near his antagonist. A minute later both ships discharged a broadside at +the same moment, the gloom being lit up by spouts of crimson flame, +while the thunder "shook the mighty deep" and the sulphurous smoke +rolled slowly upward and drifted through the rigging. Then again came a +minute or so of impressive stillness, while the crews of both looked +around to learn the results of the awful tempest of round shot, grape +and canister of which they had been the targets. + +Sad work, indeed, had been done, for from each vessel rose the cries of +the wounded and dying--cries that inspired their companions to revenge +and caused them to hasten the reloading and firing of the cannon. But +unfortunately the _Bonhomme Richard_ suffered from her own guns as well +as from those of the enemy. On the lower gun deck was an improvised +battery of six 18-pounders, two of which burst, killing most of the men +at work there and tearing away the deck above them. The remainder of the +men refused to serve the other guns, and thus the _Bonhomme Richard_ was +deprived of the services of her heaviest battery, in addition to the +serious loss in dead and wounded. + +Captain Jones forged ahead, crossing his enemy's bow, while the latter +came up on his port quarter. They were within a biscuit's toss of each +other, wrapped in dense smoke, lit up by the jets of flame which were +continuous. Mingled with the terrific booming was the spiteful rattle of +musketry from the tops and yells and cries of the wounded. The decks of +the _Bonhomme Richard_ were slippery with blood, which increased until +the men, as they ran to and fro, splashed in it, like children playing +in a mud puddle, and it was the same on the _Serapis_. It found its +outlet through the scuppers and crimsoned the deep blue of the ocean. + +[Illustration: FIGHT BETWEEN "BONHOMME RICHARD" AND "SERAPIS."] + +Some of the shots from the _Serapis_ pierced the _Bonhomme Richard_ +under the water line, causing her to leak badly. Deprived of his +18-pound guns by reason of the accident mentioned, Jones was forced to +rely upon his 12-pounders. They were worked for all that was in them, +but the whole fourteen were silenced in little more than half an hour +and seven of the quarter deck and forecastle guns were dismounted. She +was left with three 9-pounders, which, being loaded and aimed under the +eye of Jones himself, did frightful execution on the deck of the enemy. + +An hour had passed and the men were fighting furiously, when the full +moon appeared above the horizon and lit up the fearful scene. The +_Serapis_ attempted to cross the bow of the _Bonhomme Richard_, but +miscalculated and the _Bonhomme Richard_ shoved her bowsprit over the +other's stern. In the lull that followed, when each expected his +antagonist to board, Captain Pearson called out: + +"Have you struck?" + +"Struck!" shouted back Jones; "I am just beginning to fight!" + +The _Serapis_ made another effort to get into position to rake the +American, but in the blinding smoke she ran her jibboom afoul of the +starboard mizzen shrouds of the _Bonhomme Richard_. Captain Jones +himself lashed the spar to the rigging, knowing that his only chance was +in fighting at close quarters, but the swaying of the ships broke them +apart. At that instant, however, the spare anchor of the _Serapis_ +caught on the American's quarter and held the two vessels, as may be +said, locked in each other's arms. + +They were so close, indeed, that the English gunners could not raise the +lower port lids, and they blew them off by firing their cannon through +them. The men on each ship in loading were forced to push their rammers +into the ports of the other vessel. The _Bonhomme Richard_ was set on +fire by burning wads, but the flames were speedily extinguished. + +The explosion of the American's lower guns at the opening of the battle +had made her helpless against the corresponding battery of the enemy, +which pounded away until a huge, yawning gap was opened. Some of the +shots went clean through the battered hull and splashed into the water, +hundreds of feet distant. The disadvantage was more than offset by the +concentration of the Americans on the upper deck and in the rigging. The +fire of the _Bonhomme Richard_ became so terrible that every officer and +man of the enemy kept out of sight, observing which an American seaman +crawled out on the main yard, carrying a bucket of hand grenades which +he threw wherever he saw a man. He did this with such excellent aim that +he dropped one through the main hatchway and into the gunroom. It fell +into a heap of powder and produced an explosion that was awful beyond +description, for it killed and wounded thirty-eight men and really +decided the battle. + +At that moment, when it all seemed over, Captain Landais fired a +broadside from the _Alliance_ into the _Bonhomme Richard_. Captain Jones +called to him in God's name to desist, but he circled about the two +ships and fired again and again into his ally, killing and wounding a +number of men and officers. It was believed that the _Alliance_ had been +captured by the enemy and had joined in the attack on the _Bonhomme +Richard_, which was so injured that she began slowly to sink. Having +wrought this irreparable damage, the _Alliance_ drew off and ceased her +murderous work. + +Jones incited his prisoners to desperate pumping by the report that the +_Serapis_ must soon go down and that the only way to save themselves +from drowning was to keep the _Bonhomme_ afloat. An officer ran to the +quarter deck to haul down the colors, but they had been shot away. He +then hurried to the taffrail and shouted for quarter. Jones, being in +another part of the ship, did not hear him. The British commander +mustered his men to board the American, but they were driven back by the +firing from the rigging of the _Bonhomme Richard_. The condition of the +latter could not have been more desperate. She was so mangled that she +began to settle, most of her guns had been disabled, a fire that could +not be checked was already close to her magazine and several hundred +prisoners were stealing here and there, waiting for a chance to strike +from behind. + +[Illustration: OLD-TIME BATTLESHIPS.] + +A deserter had slipped on board of the _Serapis_ in the confusion and +acquainted the commander with the frightful plight of the American. +After firing with renewed ardor for several minutes Captain Pearson +again called to know whether Jones had surrendered. He shouted back a +defiant negative, and, pistol in hand, ordered his men to the guns, +threatening to kill the first one who refused. All knew his temper too +well to hesitate, and the battle was renewed with greater fury than +before. Captain Pearson could not believe the condition of the _Bonhomme +Richard_ as bad as was represented by the deserter. He had lost a great +many men, all his guns were silenced, and, being utterly unable to make +any further defence, he hauled down his flag with his own hands. + +The surrender was just in time to save the _Bonhomme Richard_, which +was in danger of going down and blowing up. The united efforts of both +crews were necessary to extinguish the flames before they reached the +magazine. She was kept afloat through the night, while the wounded and +prisoners were transferred to the _Serapis_. Then the battered and +riddled old hulk plunged downward bow foremost into the depths of the +German Ocean. + +[Illustration: MEDAL PRESENTED BY CONGRESS TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES.] + +This battle has never been surpassed in heroism. Both sides fought with +a bravery that has given the conflict a place by itself in naval +annals, and it will always stand as a proof of the dauntless courage of +the Anglo-Saxon beyond the reach of those of the Latin race. The +_Bonhomme Richard_ had 42 guns and the _Serapis_ 50; the American crew +numbered 304 and the English 320. The killed on each side was 49; the +wounded on the _Bonhomme Richard_ was 116 and on the _Serapis_ 117, +there being a difference of only one in the total of killed and wounded. +The battle lasted three hours and a half. + +The _Countess of Scarborough_ made a gallant resistance for two hours, +when she was so crippled that she was compelled to surrender to the +Frenchman. An investigation into the treacherous conduct of Captain +Landais caused many to believe him insane, though others were convinced +that he was inspired by intense jealousy of Captain Jones. He was +discharged from both the French and American navy. Benjamin Franklin was +among those who believed he deserved punishment for his perfidy. + +The _Serapis_ and _Countess of Scarborough_ were refitted and given to +France, while Captain Jones was placed in command of the _Alliance_. He +was loaded with honors in France, the king presenting him with a gold +sword, and when he sailed for the United States he gave another +exhibition of his superb seamanship by eluding the blockaders that were +waiting for him outside of Texel, running through the Straits of Dover +and then defiantly standing down the English Channel in full view of +more than one of the largest British fleets. He reached the United +States in June, 1780, without mishap. + +Congress gave Captain Jones a vote of thanks, and, had the war +continued, no doubt he would have rendered more brilliant service for +the country he loved so well, but before he could be given a fitting +command hostilities ceased. He had won a world-wide reputation and +accepted the appointment of rear-admiral in the Russian navy, but gained +no opportunity to display his marvelous prowess. He died in Paris in +1792. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +Our Naval War with France--The Tribute Paid to the Barbary States by +Christian Nations--War Declared Against the United States by +Tripoli--Bainbridge, Decatur, Stewart, Dale and Preble. + + + +Now I suspect that if my young readers were asked to name the nations +with which, at one time or another we have been at war, they would not +be likely to include France in the list. All the same, we have had a war +with her, though it was confined to the ocean and there was no formal +declaration on either side. + +A few years after the close of our Revolution one of the most appalling +uprisings in the history of the world took place in France. The kings +and nobility ground the people into the very dust until they were goaded +into revolt, which overturned the throne and was marked by atrocities +that shocked the world. Incredible as it may seem, there were a million +people put to death during the awful days of the Reign of Terror. + +The mad rulers, not satisfied with deluging their own country with +blood, were at war with most of the neighboring nations. They seemed to +wish to array themselves against all mankind and began a system of +action toward us which soon became unbearable. + +They seemed to think we could be scared into paying the rulers immense +sums of money for the privilege of being left alone. They encouraged +their naval officers to capture American vessels, and when we sent +commissioners to France to protest they were coolly told that outrages +upon our commerce would not be stopped until we paid the leaders several +hundred thousand dollars in the way of bribes. Then it was that one of +our commissioners made the memorable reply: "Millions for defence, but +not one cent for tribute." + +Our representatives were driven out of France and the capture of our +vessels by French cruisers continued. So Congress met, cancelled all +treaties with France, formed an army, placed Washington, then an old +man, at the head, formed a new navy and told the men-of-war to go out +and give the insolent nation a lesson she very much needed. + +And France got the lesson. The fighting on the ocean, beginning in 1798, +continued for two years and a half. The French cruisers succeeded in +capturing only one vessel from the American navy, while 84 armed French +ships, mostly privateers, mounting more than 500 guns, were captured by +our vessels. In February, 1801, a treaty of peace was signed with +France, which brought our troubles with her to an end. + +Now, if you will examine your map of Africa, you will notice a group of +countries along the southern coast of the Mediterranean that are known +as the Barbary States. Their names are Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, and +Tripoli. I remember when I was a boy how easy it was to learn the names +of the capitals of those countries, for each one was the same as the +country itself. + +The people of the Barbary States are only half civilized or barbarous, +but they have always had a mighty high opinion of themselves, though it +can hardly be as high to-day as it was a hundred years ago. They looked +upon the "dogs of Christians" as heathen nations, only fitted to be +their slaves, and it must be admitted that it was quite natural they +should hold the leading maritime nations of Europe as well as ourselves +in contempt, for all deserved it. + +The favorite business of those barbarians was playing pirate. Their +corsairs roamed up and down the Mediterranean, eagerly hunting for +Christian merchant vessels, that they might kill the crews and divide +the plunder among themselves. Sometimes, by way of variety, they would +throw their captives into dungeons and then notify the governments to +which they belonged that they would be set free upon the payment of a +large sum of money to their captors. If the government did not choose to +pay the ransom, why their captors would give themselves the pleasure of +putting the prisoners to death. + +Now, it would have been an easy thing for any one of the Christian +nations interested to send a fleet into the Mediterranean, which, +speaking figuratively, would have wiped those miscreants off the face of +the earth; but such an enterprise would have cost a good deal of money, +so, instead of punishing the wretches as they deserved, the countries +paid them a yearly sum of money on their promise not to disturb vessels +when they ran across them. + +So it was that, year after year, we sent a good round gift to those +barbarians. You know our Government is often slow in meeting its +obligations, and it happened now and then we were late in sending our +tribute to the swarthy rulers. When that occurred, the Dey, or Bashaw, +imposed a heavy fine to remind us of the expense of trifling with him. +We meekly bowed our heads, paid it, and tried to be more prompt +afterward. Then, too, the mighty ruler sometimes expressed a wish to +receive naval stores instead of money, and we were happy to oblige him. +Of course, he set his own valuation on what he received, which was +generally about one-half of what they cost our Government, but we made +no complaint. + +It came about that the Dey of Tripoli got the idea into his head that we +were not paying him as much as we did his neighbors. In his impatience, +he decided to give us a lesson as badly needed as it was in the case of +France, to which I have alluded. So he declared war against the United +States. It would be interesting to know what ideas the Dey had of the +Republic on the other side of the Atlantic. + +One good thing resulted from our flurry with France. A number of good +ships had been added to our navy. Better still, many young officers, +brave, skilful and glowing with patriotic ardor, were serving on those +ships. They eagerly welcomed the chance of winning glory. To them the +war with Tripoli offered the very opportunity for which they longed. + +Among these was William Bainbridge, who was born in 1774 and died in +1833. He began life as a sailor at the age of fifteen, and was in +several engagements before he was appointed to the navy in 1798, during +our war with France. + +Another was Stephen Decatur, born in Maryland in 1779 and killed in a +duel with Commodore Barron in 1820. His father was a gallant officer in +the Revolution, and his two sons were among the bravest officers who +ever trod the quarter deck. Both entered the service in 1798, and +Stephen is generally regarded as the best type of the young American +naval officer during the early years of the present century. + +Still another was Charles Stewart, born in Philadelphia in 1778, and, +like those whom I have named, he entered the navy as lieutenant in 1798. +It will always be one of my pleasantest recollections that I was well +acquainted with Stewart, and spent many hours talking with him about the +stirring scenes in which he took part. He lived to be more than ninety +years of age, dying in 1869, and for a good many years occupied a modest +little home, just below Bordentown, New Jersey. When eighty-eight years +old he was as active as a man of half his years. I came upon him one +wintry day, when he was of that age, and found him in the barn, +shoveling corn into a hopper, of which a sturdy Irishman was turning the +crank. The old admiral kept his hired man busy and enjoyed his own work. +He was of small figure, always wore an old-fashioned blue swallow-tail +with brass buttons, took snuff, and would laugh and shake until his +weatherbeaten face was purple over some of his reminiscences of the +early days of the Republic. + +Think of it! He remembered seeing Benedict Arnold burned in effigy in +Philadelphia in 1781; he recalled Paul Jones, and had drunk wine and +talked with Washington. + +Stewart and Decatur were of about the same age, and attended the old +Academy in Philadelphia. They were bosom friends from boyhood. Stewart +told me that Decatur was a good student, but there was hardly a boy in +the school, anywhere near his own age, with whom he did not have a +fight. He would "rather fight than eat," but he was not a bully, and +never imposed upon any one younger or weaker than himself. + +A great many of my talks with old Admiral Stewart related to the war +with Tripoli, which began in 1801 and lasted nearly four years. As you +will learn, Stewart had a great deal to do with that war, and most of +the incidents that follow were told to me by him, a fact which insures +their truthfulness and interest. + +Among others to whom I shall refer was Commodore Richard Dale, who was +born in 1756, and died in 1826. He was older, as you will notice, than +the three whom I have mentioned. As to his bravery, it is enough to say +that he was first lieutenant on the _Bonhomme Richard_ during her +terrible fight under Paul Jones with the _Serapis_, and served with +that wonderful naval hero on the _Alliance_ and the _Ariel_. Had he not +been made of the right stuff he never could have held such a position +when a very young man. + +[Illustration: COMMODORE EDWARD PREBLE.] + +Another hero was Commodore Edward Preble, born in 1761 and died in 1807. +When only sixteen years old he joined a privateer, and at eighteen was +active in the attacks of the _Protector_ on the British privateer +_Admiral Duff_. He was on the _Winthrop_, and fought bravely in the +battle which resulted in the capture of a British armed brig. He was +commissioned lieutenant in 1798, and the year following commanded the +_Essex_. + +From what I have told you, it will be seen that it was a gallant band +that our Government sent into the Mediterranean in 1801 to chastise the +barbarians and compel them to respect the Stars and Stripes. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +The First Serious Engagement--Loss of the Philadelphia--The Scheme of +Captain Bainbridge--Exploit of Lieutenant Decatur. + + +Andrew Sterrett was executive officer of the _Constellation_, which +captured the French frigate _L'Insurgente_, in 1799, and _La Vengeance_, +in 1800. It fell to his lot, while in command of the _Enterprise_, a +vessel of 12 guns, to have the first serious fight in the war with +Tripoli. When off Malta, he met a Tripolitan vessel of 14 guns, and they +fought furiously for two hours, at the end of which time the enemy +hauled down his flag. The Americans left their guns and broke into +cheers, whereupon the Tripolitan fired a broadside. Nothing loath, +Lieutenant Sterrett resumed the battle. The Tripolitans ran in close and +attempted to board, but were repulsed, and, under the fierce fire of the +_Enterprise_, they again hauled down their flag. + +"I guess they mean it this time," remarked Lieutenant Sterrett, but the +words were hardly spoken when the enemy let fly with another broadside. + +As may be supposed, this exhausted the patience of the American +commander. He ordered his men to their guns, and mentally resolved to +finish the job without fail. Circling round his antagonist, he raked her +from stem to stern, shot away the mizzen mast, made a sieve of the hull +and killed and wounded fifty men. He was still at it, when, through the +smoke, he caught sight of the swarthy captain, leaping up and down on +the deck, swinging his arms and shrieking in broken English that he had +surrendered. To show he was in earnest, he flung his colors overboard. + +"Now throw your guns and powder after your flag," shouted Sterrett. + +He was promptly obeyed; and, resolved to take no chances, Sterrett then +compelled him to cut away his masts, after which he was permitted to rig +a jury mast and a single sail. + +"Now go home to your Dey," said his conqueror, "and give him my +compliments." + +Not a man was killed on board the _Enterprise_, though, as has been +shown, the loss of the enemy was severe. + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE.] + +The American squadron in that part of the world was increased, and a +number of engagements took place, with the advantage invariably on the +side of our countrymen. By the opening of 1803 there were nine of our +ships, carrying two hundred and fourteen guns, in the Mediterranean +waters. The fine frigate _Philadelphia_ captured a Moorish cruiser upon +which were found papers signed by the Governor of Tangier authorizing +the commander to destroy American commerce. Commodore Preble sailed into +the harbor and demanded an explanation of the emperor. He denied having +given any such authority to his subordinate, and in making his denial +undoubtedly told a falsehood. Nevertheless, he was so scared that he +signed anew the treaty of 1786, deprived the governor of his commission +and confiscated his estates. + +Captain William Bainbridge was in command of the _Philadelphia_, and was +detailed to help in blockading Tripoli. His companion vessel was sent in +pursuit of a corsair, so that the _Philadelphia_ was left alone to +perform blockade duty. On the last day of October, 1803, Captain +Bainbridge observed a Tripolitan vessel trying to make port. He gave +chase, but the coast was dangerous, abounding with shoals and reefs, +with which the fugitive vessel was familiar, while Captain Bainbridge +had to keep sounding and regulating his speed in accordance with the +degree of danger. + +In the midst of the pursuit, and while every precaution was taken, the +crew, to their dismay, heard a dull, grating sound, whose meaning they +well knew; the bow of the frigate rose six feet out of the water, and +the stoppage was so sudden that nearly every one was thrown off his +feet. + +A hurried examination showed that the _Philadelphia_ was inextricably +fast, and could not be freed until the tide rose. Meanwhile the corsairs +would issue from the harbor near at hand, and, choosing their own +position, batter the frigate to pieces and kill or make prisoners of the +crew. + +Every possible effort was made to release the ship, but she was too +firmly spiked on the jagged reef to be budged, and the dreaded peril +speedily appeared. The Tripolitans soon discovered the plight of the +American, and nine gunboats hurried out from the harbor. Fire was opened +on both sides, but neither was effective, the position of the frigate +preventing an effective aim. The sea drove her higher upon the rocks, +and she careened so much that all the guns became useless. The +Tripolitans, seeing her helplessness, now came closer and increased +their fire. + +There was no help for Captain Bainbridge. Unable to deliver an effective +shot, the enemy could kill every one of his men. He therefore flooded +his magazine, blocked the pumps, bored holes through the bottom of the +ship in order to sink her if his enemies succeeded in releasing her, +and then struck his flag. Distrustful at first, though they ceased +firing, the Tripolitans finally came aboard, plundered the officers and +men of their personal property, and then took them--three hundred and +fifteen in all--to the city, where they were lodged in prison. + +Some days later a powerful northerly wind partly lifted the +_Philadelphia_ off the rocks, and by united efforts her captors +succeeded in getting her into deep water. The holes in the bottom were +plugged, and the guns and anchors that had been thrown overboard in the +shallow water were easily recovered and replaced on the ship. Thus the +Bashaw secured a most valuable prize. + +The disaster gave a serious aspect to the war, for it not only added +material strength to the enemy, but increased their courage and insured +a more determined resistance on their part. While the loss was a severe +one to the American navy, it was not difficult to replace it. + +One day a letter reached Commodore Preble. Apparently it was nothing but +a blank sheet of paper, but knowing that lemon juice had been employed +for ink, the Commodore held it before a flame and brought out the +following, in the handwriting of Bainbridge: + +"Charter a small merchant schooner, fill her with men and have her +commanded by fearless and determined officers. Let the vessel enter the +harbor at night with her men secreted below deck; steer her directly on +board the frigate, and then let the men and officers board, sword in +hand, and there is no doubt of their success. It will be necessary to +take several good rowboats in order to facilitate the retreat after the +enterprise has been accomplished. The frigate in her present condition +is a powerful auxiliary battery for the defence of the harbor. Though it +will be impossible to remove her from her anchorage and thus restore +this beautiful vessel to our navy, yet, as she may and no doubt will be +repaired, an important end will be gained by her destruction." + +Captain Bainbridge had sent several similar letters to Preble, his good +friend, the Swedish consul, being the man who secured their delivery. +The plan suggested by Bainbridge was a good one, for, since it was +impossible to add the _Philadelphia_ to our navy, the next best thing +was to prevent her remaining with that of Tripoli. It may as well be +stated here that the court martial which investigated the particulars of +the loss of the _Philadelphia_ acquitted Captain Bainbridge of all blame +and declared that he had done everything possible under the +circumstances. + +Fortunately, the American squadron succeeded about this time in +capturing a Tripolitan gunboat, which would serve admirably to disguise +the purpose of the Americans. Preble then told Lieutenant Decatur of the +suggestion made by Bainbridge. No sooner was the young lieutenant +acquainted with the plan than he volunteered to lead in the perilous +enterprise. Nothing could have suited the daring fellow better. + +Lieutenant Charles Stewart, who arrived a short time before in the +_Siren_, not knowing of the scheme that had been formed, proposed with +the _Siren's_ men to cut out the _Philadelphia_. Preble informed him the +honor had been given to Decatur. Stewart was disappointed, but expressed +his honest pleasure that the management of the affair was entrusted to +such worthy hands. + +"He is the best man that could have been selected," he said heartily, +"and there isn't a shadow of doubt that he will succeed." + +Every one in the fleet was eager to volunteer, but Decatur selected +sixty-two men, to which were added six officers from the _Enterprise_ +and six from the _Constitution_, with a native pilot. Knowing the daring +nature of Decatur, he was given strict orders not to attempt to cut out +the _Philadelphia_, but to destroy her. + +Late in the day, February 9, 1804, the ketch left Syracuse for Tripoli, +accompanied by the _Siren_, Lieutenant Stewart, to cover the retreat. +The weather became so bad that the attempt had to be postponed, since +the ketch was sure to be dashed to pieces on the rocks. The impatient +crew was compelled to withdraw and wait for a week before the weather +moderated. On the 15th, everything being favorable, the crew of the +ketch bade good-by to their friends and set out on their perilous +mission. + +The night was clear and starlit, and at nine o'clock the ketch was in +full view of the city and its twinkling lights, with the dark shores +crowded with batteries, while far ahead, under the guns of the Bashaw's +castle, lay the _Philadelphia_. The wind fell and the little craft crept +slowly through the water, seemingly into the very jaws of death, until +the outlines of the silent frigate loomed to sight through the gloom. +Following Decatur's guarded orders, the men lay flat on the deck, all +concealing themselves as best they could, while five or six, dressed as +Maltese sailors, lounged about in plain sight. + +The quartermaster at the wheel, obeying the directions of Decatur, +steered so as to foul the _Philadelphia_, from which there suddenly came +a hail. Lieutenant Decatur whispered to the pilot to say they had just +arrived from Malta, and, having lost their anchor, wished to make fast +to the _Philadelphia's_ cables until another could be got from shore. A +brief conversation followed, during which the ketch edged closer, but +the Tripolitans soon discovered the men in the stargleam, and the alarm +was sounded; but with great coolness and haste the ketch was worked into +position and Decatur gave the order to board. + +The eager Americans, with cutlass and boarding pike in hand, dashed +through the gun ports and over the bulwarks. In a twinkling the quarter +deck was cleared and all the Tripolitans on the forecastle were rushed +overboard. The noise brought up a number of Turks from below, but the +moment they saw what was going on they either leaped into the sea or hid +themselves in the hold. They were pursued, and within ten minutes the +frigate was captured, without a shot having been fired or an outcry +made. + +An abundance of combustibles had been brought, and they were now +distributed and fired so effectively that nothing could save the fine +vessel. Then the Americans scrambled back to the ketch, Lieutenant +Decatur being the last to leave the doomed frigate, from which the +dazzling glare lit up the harbor and revealed the smaller boat straining +to get away. The batteries on shore opened fire, but, in their +excitement, they aimed wildly, and no harm was done. Every American +safely reached the _Siren_, waiting anxiously outside. The two made sail +for Syracuse, where Captain Preble was vastly relieved to hear the news. +The ketch was renamed the _Intrepid_, and Decatur, for his daring +exploit, was promoted to the rank of captain and presented with a sword +by Congress. + +The _Philadelphia_ was totally destroyed, and its remains still lie at +the bottom of the harbor of Tripoli. In referring to this exploit, the +great English naval commander, Lord Nelson, said it was "the most bold +and daring act of the age." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +Bombardment of Tripoli--Treacherous Act of a Turkish Captain--A Quick +Retribution at the Hands of Captain Decatur. + + +The Bashaw of Tripoli was not yet subdued. He treated his American +prisoners with greater harshness and refused to believe their nation was +strong enough to bring him to terms. + +On August 3, Commodore (as the senior officer of every squadron was then +called) Preble sailed into the harbor of Tripoli with his fleet and +opened the bombardment of the city. At the same time, several of his +gunboats engaged those of the enemy. Lieutenant James Decatur, brother +of Stephen, made chase of a Tripolitan vessel, reserving his fire until +the two almost touched, when he poured in such a destructive discharge +of musketry and grape that the terrified enemy surrendered. Lieutenant +Decatur sprang aboard of his prize, when, at that instant, the Turkish +commander, a man of massive strength and build, fired his pistol in the +American officer's face and killed him. In the confusion caused by this +treacherous act the enemy's boat got away and started for the city. + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN STEPHEN DECATUR.] + +Meanwhile, Captain Decatur had been doing characteristic work. With +three gunboats he attacked a force three times as numerous as his own. +Impetuously boarding the first craft, after a discharge from his long +boat, he engaged the numerous crew in a furious hand-to-hand struggle, +in which all were made prisoners or forced to leap into the sea to save +themselves. Then Decatur began towing away his prize, when he was told +of the murder of his brother. + +The grief-stricken and enraged captain instantly cast his prize adrift +and started after the "unspeakable Turk." The boat was easily +recognized, and, delivering a destructive fire, the pursuer ran +alongside and the Americans rushed aboard, with Decatur in the lead. The +enormous size and gorgeous uniform of the Turkish captain made him so +conspicuous that Decatur knew him at once, and, rushing forward, lunged +at him with his boarding pike. The Turk must have felt contempt for the +American who dared thus to assail him, for his assailant was but a boy +in size compared to him. He speedily proved his physical superiority +over Decatur, for he not only parried the lunge of the pike, but +wrenched it from his hand. He in turn drove his pike at Decatur's +breast, but his blow was also parried, though its violence broke off the +American's sword at the hilt. The active Turk came again, and his +second blow was only partly turned aside, the point of the pike tearing +through Decatur's coat and inflicting a bad wound in his chest. + +Before the Turk could strike a third time, Decatur ran in, and the two +instantly engaged in a fierce wrestling bout. The American was the most +skilful, but by sheer strength his enormous antagonist threw him to the +deck, and, gripping him by the throat with one hand, he reached down to +draw a small curved knife, known as a yataghan. It was behind the sash +in his waist and directly in front. Decatur threw both legs over the +back of the Turk and pressed him so close that he could not force his +hand between their bodies to reach his weapon. Decatur's pistol was at +his hip. He was able to withdraw it, and he then did the only thing that +could possibly save his life, though the chances were that the act would +hasten his death. + +Reaching over the back of the Turk, he pointed the weapon downward +toward his own breast and pulled the trigger. In most cases the bullet +would have passed through both bodies, but, fortunately, the ball +encountered some obstruction and did not reach the imperiled American. +He shoved off the bulky form, which rolled over on its back, dead. + +It must not be supposed that while this furious hand-to-hand encounter +was under way the respective crews were idle. They, too, were fighting +fiercely, and, closing about the struggling commanders, each side +endeavored to help its own. The crowd surged back and forth and became +mixed in inextricable confusion. One of the Turks saw a chance to help +his captain and made a vicious blow at his opponent with his scimiter. +Reuben James, a sailor, who was so wounded in his arms that he could not +use them, thrust his head forward and received the stroke upon his +skull. The wound was a frightful one, but, beyond dispute, it saved the +life of Decatur, who never forgot the man that had done him this +inestimable service. + +Reuben James was one of the volunteers who helped Decatur destroy the +_Philadelphia_. He recovered from his terrible wound and did excellent +service in the war of 1812. In one battle he was three times wounded +before he would allow his comrades to carry him below. He lived fully +twenty years after the death of his beloved commander, dying at a good +old age, though he was scarred with sabre cuts, wounded times +innumerable by bullets, and compelled to suffer the amputation of a leg. + +The bombardment of Tripoli was less successful than expected. The +shells were of such poor quality that no impression was made on the +defences. All naval operations have proven that, as a rule, ships are +comparatively powerless for aggressive work against forts and batteries +on shore. + +An investigation into the cause of the failure of so many shells sent +into Tripoli brought out several interesting facts. Captain Bainbridge, +who carefully noted the results of the bombardment while a prisoner in +the city, stated that out of forty-eight thrown on one day only one +exploded. It was found that the fuses in many of the bombs had been +choked by lead that was poured into them. This was probably done by +French agents in Sicily. + +At the beginning of hostilities, the Tripolitans placed great reliance +upon their ability to fight at close quarters. Undeniably, they did +better in such position than in handling their ships. They had all the +viciousness of wild cats, and it has been shown how fiercely they fought +in hand-to-hand encounters; but their experience with the Americans +taught them that they were to be dreaded in any situation where their +anger was aroused, and, as a consequence, the Turks became less eager +for tests of individual strength, skill and bravery. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +The Bomb Ketch--A Terrible Missile--Frightful Catastrophe--Diplomacy in +Place of War--Peace. + + +Whenever a war is under way a number of persons on each side are certain +to come forward with ingenious schemes for injuring their opponents, +through improvements upon the accepted methods of conducting +hostilities. So it came about, after the slight success attained in +bombarding Tripoli, that a plan was formulated for creating +consternation in the blockaded city and bringing the defiant Bashaw to +his senses. + +The new scheme was to fix up the _Intrepid_ as a bomb ketch, send her +into the harbor at night and there explode her. While a few had no faith +in the plan, others believed it would cause great destruction and spread +dismay among the Tripolitans. + +In the forward hold were stowed one hundred barrels of gunpowder, and on +the deck above were piled one hundred and fifty shells and a lot of shot +and scrap iron. The plan was to give this floating volcano the +appearance of a blockade-runner. Two small boats were taken along, to be +used by the crews after setting off the fuse that was to blow the ketch +into a million atoms. It will be seen that the task was of the most +dangerous nature conceivable, and yet when Captain Preble called for +volunteers it seemed as if every one was eager to go. + +The command was given to Master-Commandant Richard Somers, who was of +the same age as Decatur and Stewart, and had established a reputation +for coolness and intrepidity in the operations of the fleet. Midshipman +Henry Wadsworth, an uncle of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the poet, was +the second in command. They were accompanied by another midshipman named +Israel, who begged so hard to be allowed to go that he could not be +refused, and ten of the best seamen. + +After waiting for several days, the night of September 4 was found to be +just what was desired. A fog lay like a blanket on the sea, but it was +so clear overhead that the stars shone with brilliant splendor. Before +the start was made, Decatur, Stewart and Somers, all the most intimate +of friends, had a long talk in the cabin of the ketch, no one else being +present. Each felt the gravity of the situation. Somers, though cool and +composed, seemed to feel a presentiment that he would not return. He +took a ring off his finger, and breaking it apart, gave one portion to +Decatur, one to Stewart, and kept the other for himself. He told his +friends what he wished done in case of his death, and they assured him +that every wish should be respected. + +During that last impressive interview Stewart asked Somers what he would +do if discovered and attacked by the enemy. + +"Blow us all up together!" was the instant response; "I shall never be +taken prisoner." + +I may remark here that no writer has recorded this expression of the +gallant Somers, and I give it because Admiral Stewart assured me of its +truth. His recollection of the incident, more than sixty years +afterward, was as vivid as on the succeeding day. Indeed, Stewart, as is +often the case with aged persons, remarked that his memory of +occurrences a half century old was unerring, while of quite recent +incidents it was unreliable. + +It was comparatively early in the evening when the ketch got under way +with a favoring breeze. Stewart, with the _Siren_, by order of Preble, +stood toward the northern passage, through which the ketch was to pass. +His purpose was to remain in as close as was safe, and hold himself +ready to pick up the men as they returned in their boats. Stewart turned +his night glass toward the _Intrepid_ and watched her slowly fading +from sight, until she melted into the gloom and not the slightest trace +of her outlines was discernible. + +Nothing could be more trying than the waiting of the craft outside, for +Somers' own vessel and two small ones were near at hand. The stillness +was so profound that men heard the suppressed breathing of their +comrades. If one moved, he did so on tiptoe. Few words were spoken, and +all in guarded undertones. The rippling of the water against the prows +and cables was an annoyance, and on more than one forehead great drops +of cold perspiration gathered. + +Slowly and painfully the long minutes wore away, until it seemed as if +several hours had passed, when in reality the interval was but a small +part of that period. Every nerve was in this tense state, when suddenly +the boom of a cannon came rolling through the fog from the direction of +the city, followed soon by the rapid firing of artillery. The approach +of the _Intrepid_ had been discovered, and it seemed as if all the +enemy's batteries were blazing away at her. But what of the ketch +itself? + +Stewart, like all the rest, was peering into the black mist, when he saw +a star-like point of light, moving with an up and down motion, in a +horizontal line, showing that it was a lantern carried by a man running +along the deck of a ship. Then it dropped out of sight, as if the bearer +had leaped down a hatchway. For a moment all was profound darkness, and +then an immense fan-like expanse of flame shot far up into the sky, as +if from the crater of a volcano, and was crossed by the curving streaks +of fire made by shells in their eccentric flight. Across the water came +the crashing roar of the prodigious explosion, followed a few moments +later by the sounds of wreckage and bodies as they dropped into the sea. +Then again impenetrable gloom and profound stillness succeeded. The +batteries on shore were awed into silence by the awful sight, and the +waiting friends on the ships held their breath. + +The hope was that Lieutenant Somers and his companions had fired the +fuse and then rowed away in their boats, but as minute followed minute +without the sound of muffled oars from the hollow night reaching the +straining ears, suspense gave way to sickening dread. The vessels moved +to and fro about the entrance, as if the inanimate things shared in the +anxiety that would not allow them to remain still. At intervals a gun +was fired or a rocket sent up to guide the missing ones, but none +appeared. Every man had been killed by the explosion of the ketch. + +Investigations made afterward seemed to establish that Somers was +attacked by three gunboats, and, finding escape impossible, it was he +who ran along the deck, lighted lantern in hand, and deliberately blew +up the _Intrepid_, destroying not only himself and companions, but many +of the enemy. The mangled remains of several bodies were found some days +later and given burial on shore, but not one could be recognized. +Captain Bainbridge and some of his brother officers, who were prisoners +in Tripoli, were allowed to view them. He said: "From the whole of them +being so disfigured, it was impossible to recognize any feature known to +us, or even to distinguish an officer from a seaman." + +In November, Commodore Samuel Barron arrived, and succeeded Captain +Preble in command of the American squadron. He brought with him the +_President_ and _Constellation_, thereby increasing the force to ten +vessels, carrying two hundred and sixty-four guns. + +Having failed to bring the Bashaw to terms by force of arms, the +Americans now resorted to what may be termed diplomacy. The reigning +Bashaw of Tripoli was a usurper, having displaced his elder brother, who +had fled to Upper Egypt. He had a good many friends, who, if they dared, +would have been glad to replace him on his throne. The American consul, +who understood all the particulars, proposed to our government to use +the deposed ruler as an instrument to compel the usurper to make terms. +The Government authorized the consul to go ahead. + +Accordingly, he made his way to Alexandria, sought out the banished +ruler, proposed his plan, and it was eagerly accepted. He furnished the +consul with a cavalry escort, enlisted a number of Greek soldiers, the +party marched a thousand miles across the flaming Barcan desert, and in +April appeared before Derne, one of the seaports of the reigning +monarch, who was also advancing upon the place. With the help of the +American fleet, the town was captured, and, for the first time in its +history, the Stars and Stripes were given to the breeze above a +fortification on the eastern side of the Atlantic. + +By the enlistment of the mongrel population of the neighborhood, the +American consul gathered a formidable force, with which the enemy were +again defeated. Then they boldly set out for Tripoli. + +Meanwhile the usurper was shivering with fear, and was more than ready +to make a treaty of peace with the terrible barbarians from the other +side of the ocean. The treaty was signed on June 2, 1805. The Bashaw, +who had demanded a princely sum for the release of his American +prisoners, was now glad to set them free for $60,000. It was agreed, +furthermore, that no more tribute should be paid, and thus ended all our +troubles with Tripoli. + +These proceedings left the rightful ruler in the lurch. He had been +promised that he should be restored to his throne on condition of +helping the Americans, and he had given the most valuable sort of aid, +but the treaty declared that no assistance should be given him. It was a +gross injustice on the part of our Government, which did no special +credit to itself, when, after the deposed ruler had made a pitiful +appeal to Congress, that body presented him with a beggarly pittance of +$2,400. + + + + +THE WAR OF 1812. + + +CHAPTER XI. + +Cause of the War of 1812--Discreditable Work of the Land +Forces--Brilliant Record of the Navy--The _Constitution_--Captain Isaac +Hull--Battle Between the _Constitution_ and _Guerriere_--Winning a +Wager. + + +Probably no hostilities in which the United States was ever engaged so +abound with stirring, romantic and remarkable exploits as those upon the +ocean in the War of 1812. + +Now, as to the cause of the war between England and our country: Great +Britain was engaged in a tremendous conflict with France, at the head of +which was the greatest military leader of the world, Napoleon Bonaparte. +England needed every soldier and sailor she could get. Some of them +deserted to our ships, so her officers began the practice of stopping +such vessels on the ocean, searching them for deserters, and if found +they were taken away. Sometimes she took Americans, because she knew +they were good seamen, and, to excuse her action, she declared they were +deserters from the British navy. + +[Illustration: IMPRESSING AMERICAN SAILORS.] + +This action was against the law of nations. She had no more right to +molest an American vessel than she had to land a force on our coast, +march inland and search the house of a private family. We protested, but +she paid no attention. It happened more than once that when our vessels +refused to be searched the English fired into them and killed and +wounded some of the American crews. If any nation acted that way toward +England to-day she would declare war at once, and so would any other +nation. + +Finding there was no peaceable way of stopping the unbearable conduct of +Great Britain, our country, in the month of June, 1812, declared war +against her, and it lasted until the early part of 1815. + +There was one feature of that war which it is not pleasant for Americans +to recall. It opened with a cowardly surrender by General William Hull +of Detroit to the English army, and for two years our land forces did +very little to their credit. They set out to invade Canada several +times, but in every instance were beaten. The leading generals were +"poor sticks," quarreled among themselves, and for a time failed to gain +any advantage. The trouble was not with the soldiers. They were among +the best in the world, but their leaders were of no account. By and by, +however, the poor officers were weeded out and good ones took their +places. Then something was accomplished in which we all could feel +pride. + +It was just the other way on the ocean. From the very start our naval +vessels and privateers won the most brilliant of victories. This was the +more remarkable when several facts are kept in mind. Great Britain had +been at war so long that she had the most powerful navy by far in the +world. It numbered one thousand and thirty-six vessels, of which two +hundred and fifty-four were ships-of-the-line, not one of which carried +less than seventy guns of large calibre. This prodigious navy was manned +by one hundred and forty-four thousand sailors, and eighty-five of her +war vessels were on the American coast, equipped and ready for action. + +In amazing contrast to all this, we had only twenty large war vessels +and a number of gunboats that were of little account. The disparity was +so great that our Government, after looking at the situation and +discussing the matter, decided that it would be folly to fight England +on the ocean, and it was decided not to do so. When Captains Stewart and +Bainbridge learned of this decision, they went to President Madison and +his advisers and insisted that the American navy, weak as it was, should +be given a chance of showing what it could do. Consent was finally +given, and then opened the wonderful career of our cruisers and +privateers. + +Among the frigates that had been built during our war with France was +the _Constitution_, which carried 44 guns. She earned the name of being +one of the luckiest ships in the navy, and because of her astonishing +record was named "Old Ironsides." The old hulk of this historical ship +is still carefully preserved in remembrance of her brilliant record, +which in some respects has never been equalled. + +Sailors are superstitious, and the good name which the _Constitution_ +gained made it easy to get all the seamen needed. When you come to look +into the matter you will find that the _Constitution_ was a lucky ship, +because it was always officered by the best men we had, and they were +wise enough to choose the finest crews. + +The captain of the _Constitution_, when the war broke out, was Isaac +Hull, a nephew of General William Hull, who made the cowardly surrender +of Detroit. He was born in Connecticut in 1773, and died in 1843. He was +one of the brilliant young officers who received his commission in 1798, +and was commander of the _Argus_ during the war with Tripoli. He was +made a captain in 1806, and the following year was given command of the +_Constitution_. + +Upon learning that the war had broken out, Captain Hull left the +Chesapeake, with orders to join the squadron under the command of +Captain Rodgers at New York. When off Barnegat, New Jersey, he was +sighted by the blockading squadron of Captain Philip Bowes Vere Broke, +which gave chase. The ingenuity and skill displayed by Captain Hull in +escaping from the enemy, when all escape seemed hopeless, is still +referred to as one of the most remarkable exploits in the history of the +American navy. The chase lasted for more than two days and three nights, +and it is safe to say that very few commanders placed in the situation +of Captain Hull would have been able to save themselves from capture. + +Captain Hull sailed on a cruise from Boston on August 21, just in time +to dodge an order from Washington to remain in port until further +orders. On the afternoon of August 19, when several hundred miles to the +eastward of Halifax, he sighted the British frigate _Guerriere_. Her +commander, Captain James E. Dacres, was an old acquaintance of Hull, and +the two had made a wager of a hat during peace that if they ever met in +battle the other would run. + +The British officer was as anxious as Hull for a fight, and they drew +near each other, both confident of winning the wager made half in jest +a brief time before. + +Great interest attaches to this naval battle, for it was the first of +its kind and a fair test of the respective prowess of ships of and crews +of that nature. The _Constitution_ was somewhat the superior, carrying +55 guns and four hundred and sixty-eight men, while the _Guerriere_ had +49 guns and two hundred and sixty-three men, but all of the latter were +under fine discipline, while most of the Americans were green hands. +Captain Dacres was confident of his superiority, and had no doubt that +when the two frigates met the _Constitution_ would be compelled speedily +to strike her colors. He waited for the American to come up, each having +cleared for action. + +A little after four o'clock the two exchanged broadsides, but they were +so far apart that no damage was done. Dacres manoeuvred for a raking +position, but Hull would not permit it, nor could he obtain one for +himself. There was much wearing and manoeuvring, which prevented the +firing on either side from being effective. Each was wary of the other +and took the utmost pains to prevent his securing any advantage. + +When it became certain that the battle was to be one at close range, +Hull ordered the firing to cease, in order that the fullest preparation +could be made for the next broadside. He knew the skill of his men in +marksmanship, and determined to hold his fire until the most +advantageous position was reached. As he drew near his enemy, the latter +continued firing, and some of her shots were so effective that the crews +cheered. The Americans, most of them barefooted and stripped to the +waist, were standing beside their guns eager and impatient for the order +to fire, but Hull, when appealed to, shook his head. It was a proof of +the fine discipline of the American crew that when they saw two of their +comrades killed by the fire of the enemy, they silently waited without +murmur for the order whose delay they could not comprehend. + +Not until about a hundred feet distant and in the exact position desired +did Captain Hull give the order to fire as the guns bore. To quote +Maclay: "In an instant the frigate belched forth a storm of iron hail +that carried death and destruction into the opposing ship. The effect of +this carefully aimed broadside at short range was terrific. The +splinters were seen to fly over the British frigate like a cloud, some +of them reaching as high as the mizzen top, while the cheers of her men +abruptly ceased and the shrieks and groans of the wounded were heard. +The Americans had struck their first earnest blow, and it was a +staggering one. The Englishman felt its full weight, and perhaps for the +first time realized that this was no child's play." + +The Americans displayed remarkable skill in their gunnery, as it may be +said they have always done. The main yard of the enemy was shot away in +the slings, and hull, rigging and sails were badly mangled. A shot +passing through the mizzenmast close to the deck, added to the stress +from the sails, caused it to break in two and fall over the quarter. One +curious effect of this dragging in the water was to make the wreckage +act like a rudder, bringing her up to the wind in spite of the +opposition of the helm. While the damage on the _Constitution_ was less, +it clogged her action, but she secured a position from which she +delivered two raking broadsides. Then as the vessel see-sawed, the +jibboom of the _Guerriere_ crossed the _Constitution's_ quarter deck. +Both crews made ready to board, but each found the other so fully +prepared that neither attempted it. Meanwhile the riflemen in the +rigging were working with destructive energy. In each of the +_Constitution's_ tops were seven marines, six loading for the seventh, +who was the best marksman. A good many officers were wounded and killed +on both sides. + +[Illustration: THE "CONSTITUTION" AND THE "GUERRIERE."] + +Although the vessels had been lashed together, their lurching broke +them apart, and the Englishman gained a chance to use his broadsides. A +fire broke out on the _Constitution_, but it was quickly extinguished, +and the shot of the American soon made a complete wreck of the enemy. +When it became clear that the _Guerriere_ could make no further +resistance, Captain Hull drew off to repair the damages to his own ship. +Another English frigate was likely to appear at any moment, and she +would make short work of the _Constitution_ in her crippled condition. +It took but a short time to complete the work, when she returned to her +former position beside the wallowing _Guerriere_. A lieutenant was sent +on board to receive the surrender, which Dacres gave with painful +reluctance. When brought to the side of the _Constitution_, Hull +assisted him up the rope ladder. Dacres extended his sword. + +"No" replied Hull, "I will not take it from one who knows so well how to +use it, but I must trouble you to pay me that hat I have won." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +Jacob Jones--The _Wasp_ and the _Frolic_--James Biddle--The _Hornet_ and +the _Penguin_--A Narrow Escape. + + + +I must now tell you something about another gallant young officer who +entered the American navy at the close of the century, when he was +hardly thirty years old. He was Jacob Jones, who lived until 1850. He +was a lieutenant on the _Philadelphia_ for two years, and was with that +frigate when she ran on the rocks in the harbor of Tripoli. He was given +command of the 18-gun sloop of war _Wasp_, which sailed from the +Delaware in October, 1812, and headed eastward, with the intention of +intercepting some of the enemy's merchantmen plying between Great +Britain and the West Indies. + +About a week after sailing he sighted five merchantmen, several of which +were well armed, while all were convoyed by a brig of war. Jones stood +toward them, when the brig signalled to her companions to make all sail +before the wind, while she dropped back to attend to the stranger. The +American came up quite close, and hailing, demanded the name of the +other. For a reply, the brig lowered the Spanish colors, ran up the +British flag, and let fly with a broadside and volley of musketry. + +The _Wasp_ was expecting something of that nature and returned the +compliment, the vessels working nearer each other and firing as rapidly +as possible. The action had hardly begun when the _Wasp_ lost her main +topmast, and a few minutes later the mizzen topgallant mast and the gaff +were shot away. These mishaps so crippled her that she became almost +unmanageable. The _Frolic_, as the enemy was named, was also damaged, +but not so badly as the _Wasp_, but, unfortunately for the _Frolic_, the +heavy sea and the twisting about of the hull threw her into position to +be raked by the _Wasp_, and Captain Jones was quick to seize the +advantage, the vessels being so close that the ramrods were pushed +against each other's sides while the gunners were loading. The sea was +so heavy that the guns of the _Wasp_ frequently dipped under water. + +The intention of the Americans was to board, and Lieutenant James Biddle +held himself and men ready to take instant advantage of the moment the +roll of the sea brought them near enough to do so. + +Captain Jones did not believe himself warranted in boarding, since he +held the advantage of position, and he issued orders for the men to +wait, but their ardor could not be checked. Among his sailors was one +who had been impressed into the British service, where he was brutally +treated. Springing upon his gun, he grasped the bowsprit of the brig, +swung himself upon the spar and ran as nimbly as a monkey to the deck of +the enemy. Imitating his enthusiasm, Lieutenant Biddle and his boarders +took advantage of a favorable lurch at that moment and sprang upon the +deck of the _Frolic_. There, every man stopped and repressed the cheer +that rose to his lips, for the scene was one of the most dreadful that +imagination can picture. + +The quartermaster stood grimly clutching the wheel, a lieutenant, +bleeding from several wounds, was leaning against the companionway, +unable to stand without its support, while all along the deck were +strewn the dead and dying. Silently the victors stepped over the +prostrate forms to the quarter deck, where the officer weakly dropped +his sword to signify his surrender. Lieutenant Biddle walked to where +the colors were still fluttering and pulled them down. A few minutes +later the mainmast and foremast fell. + +Maclay gives the strength of the two vessels as follows: _Wasp_, 18 +guns, _Frolic_, 22; crew of the _Wasp_, 138, of the _Frolic_, 110. On +the _Wasp_ 5 were killed and 5 wounded; on the _Frolic_ 15 were killed +and 47 wounded, the latter being completely riddled. The cause of this +frightful difference in results was brought about by the Americans +discharging their broadsides when their ship was on the downward roll, +the shot landing in the hull of the enemy, while the latter fired on the +rise, her broadsides mainly passing into and through the rigging. + +As soon as Captain Jones learned of the fearful plight of the Frolic he +sent his surgeon on board, and everything possible was done to assist +the sorely smitten enemy. + +The _Wasp_ was so badly injured that Captain Jones gave his attention to +repairing her, and was thus engaged when a sail appeared. It proved to +be the British 74-gun ship of the line _Poictiers_, which, surmising +what had taken place, bore down, took possession of both ships and +carried them to Bermuda. + +This battle, one of the most fiercely contested of the war, naturally +caused much rejoicing throughout the United States. Congress voted +$25,000 to the officers and crew of the _Wasp_ as prize money, and gave +a gold medal to Master-Commandant Jones and a silver one to each of his +officers, while the Legislature of Pennsylvania presented a sword to +Lieutenant James Biddle. + +This gallant young officer is entitled to more notice than has been +given him. He was born in Philadelphia in 1783, and died in 1848. After +his exchange, he was appointed to the command of the _Hornet_, and +sailed from New York in the month of January, 1815, in company with the +_Peacock_ and _Tom Bowline_, but the three became separated, each making +for Tristan d'Acunha, which had been named as the rendezvous of the +squadron under the command of Stephen Decatur. + +This was on the last day of February, and Captain Biddle was about to +drop anchor when a sail appeared, and the _Hornet_ went out to +reconnoitre. The stranger approached as if anxious to fight him, and, +when within musket range, ran up the English flag and fired a shot, to +which the _Hornet_ replied with a broadside. The vessels continued +firing as they drew near each other. The superior aim of the American +speedily crippled the rigging of the other, and, coming together, the +_Penguin_, as the British vessel proved to be, in preparing to board, +succeeded in passing her bowsprit between the main and mizzen rigging of +the _Hornet_ on the starboard quarter. This gave the enemy the +opportunity he seemed to be seeking, but his boarders did not appear. + +The American sailors begged permission of Captain Biddle to board, but +he would not consent, since he wished to hold the advantage already +gained. Just then the heaving sea broke the vessels apart, the _Penguin_ +receiving considerable damage from the forcible rupture. The _Hornet_ +wore round to bring her broadside to bear, and was on the point of +opening fire, when the surviving officer of the _Penguin_ called out +that they surrendered. His condition was so hopeless that no choice was +left to him. + +Captain Biddle ordered his men to stop firing, and, stepping to the +taffrail, asked his enemy if they had struck. The answer was two musket +shots, one aimed at the man at the wheel and the other at Biddle. The +latter was hit on the chin and badly, though not dangerously, wounded, +while the man at the wheel was not struck. The men who fired the +treacherous shots were seen by two American marines, who shot them dead. + +No doubt the action of the Englishmen was unauthorized, and probably was +due to a misunderstanding; but the Americans were so incensed that it +was difficult to restrain them from continuing the firing. The enemy +hailed a second time and called out they had surrendered. + +The strength of the _Hornet_ was 20 guns and 132 men; of the _Penguin_, +19 guns and 128 men. The _Hornet_ had 1 man killed and 11 wounded; the +_Penguin_, 10 killed and 28 wounded. She was so badly shattered that, +after taking out her stores, her captors scuttled her. + +In order to complete our history of the gallant Captain James Biddle it +is necessary to carry the record in advance of some of the incidents +that follow. + +As has been stated, the _Peacock_ and the _Hornet_ had gone to Tristan +d'Acunha in obedience to the orders of Commodore Decatur, to wait for +him and the _President_, but the latter never arrived, for the good +reason that she had been captured by the enemy. Growing tired of +waiting, Biddle and Captain Warrington, of the _Peacock_, started on an +extended cruise, April 13, for the East Indies. + +Doubling the Cape of Good Hope, they met with no incident of note until +the latter part of April, when they sighted a large sail, which they +believed to be a heavily laden East India merchantman. A chase +immediately began. It continued a long time, and the _Peacock_ was +within a few miles, when she made the discovery that the stranger, +instead of being a merchantman, was a ship of the line. Captain +Warrington signalled the startling fact to Biddle, and the two turned to +escape. Since the formidable vessel could not pursue both when they +took different directions, she selected the _Hornet_ for her prize. + +All that Biddle could now hope to do was to out-sail his pursuer. He put +forth every effort known to the most skilful seamanship. When night +closed in, however, the pursuer had perceptibly gained. Since the +weather was perfectly clear and the two were in plain sight of each +other, the enemy could keep up the chase all night. Captain Biddle threw +overboard some of his heavy spars, cut away the sheet anchor and flung +several tons of kentledge into the sea. + +This helped matters somewhat, but the stranger continued slowly to gain, +and secured such a position that Captain Biddle was obliged to go about. +Still he could not shake off the bulldog at his heels, and at daylight +he was near enough to begin barking with the bow guns. Although the shot +did not strike the _Hornet_, Captain Biddle dropped his remaining +anchors into the sea, including six guns, launch, cables, and everything +not absolutely necessary. + +The lightening was so considerable that for the first time the _Hornet_ +began drawing away from her persistent pursuer. At the end of a few +hours, however, he began creeping up again, and Captain Biddle tumbled +overboard all his guns except one, most of his shot, his extra spars, +cutlasses, muskets, forge and bell, and indeed everything of which he +could free himself. Not only that, but the men lay down on the quarter +deck to help trim the ship. + +All in vain. The shot and shell whistled about the _Hornet_, the enemy +came closer, and every American prepared to submit as gracefully as +possible to the inevitable. Captain Biddle addressed his men feelingly, +telling them to show the same restraint in misfortune that they had in +victory, and then the gallant officer coolly awaited the moment when he +should be obliged to haul down his flag to save the lives of his brave +crew. + +But lo! the wind changed to a quarter favorable to the _Hornet_, and it +lasted throughout the night and the next day. The _Hornet_ drew steadily +away from the British ship of the line _Cornwallis_, as she proved to +be, and made her way at a leisurely speed to the United States. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +Captains Carden and Decatur--Cruise of the _Macedonian_--Battle with the +Frigate _United States_--Decatur's Chivalry. + + +Before the war broke out between England and the United States the naval +officers naturally were on the best of terms with one another. They +exchanged visits, had dinners together and talked in the most friendly +terms over the relations of their respective countries. Brave men always +feel thus, and no matter how fiercely they have been fighting, they +become friends again as soon as peace is declared. + +You have already been told considerable about Stephen Decatur, one of +the bravest and most chivalrous men that ever drew a sword. At the +breaking out of the War of 1812 he was given command of the frigate +_United States_, of 44 guns, built in 1798, and one of the finest in the +American navy. While lying at Norfolk, some months before war was +declared, the British frigate _Macedonian_, of about the same strength, +was in port, and the officers and crews became well acquainted. + +The commander of the _Macedonian_ was Captain John Surman Carden, one of +the finest officers in the British service. He and Decatur became fond +of each other and often discussed the probable results of the impending +naval contests, for it was apparent to both that their countries were on +the brink of war. Captain Carden conceded the bravery and skill of the +American officers and seamen, but insisted that they would be at a +disadvantage, because they had not met with the experience of the +Englishmen, who had been engaged in so many wars with European nations. + +The _Macedonian_ was made of oak and was without a superior in the +British navy. In the latter part of September, 1812, she left +Portsmouth, England. She was just off the docks and her crew, 297 in +number, were such as the best officer would have been proud to command. +The discipline was as near perfection as possible, Captain Carden being +one of the severest of disciplinarians. His business was to look out for +French merchantmen and warships, though as it was known that war had +been declared with the United States, it was deemed probable that +Captain Carden would have a chance of testing the mettle of her naval +officers and crews. + +There were two American vessels that Captain Carden was specially +anxious to meet. One was the _Essex_, which was playing havoc among the +English shipping (and of which I shall tell you something later on), +and the other that of Captain Stephen Decatur, the courteous but brave +naval officer who had displayed so much intrepidity in the war with +Tripoli and had insisted to Carden that the American sailors were the +match of the English anywhere. + +While at Madeira Captain Carden learned that the _Essex_ had sailed from +the Delaware and was expected to cruise in the neighborhood of the +Canary Islands. The Englishman turned southward and was within a few +days' sail of the islands when, on the 25th of October, the man at the +masthead reported a sail. As it approached it was carefully scrutinized +and found to be a frigate bearing down on the _Macedonian_. + +Convinced that she was an enemy, Captain Carden at once issued the +command to clear for action. The most thorough preparations were made +and officers were stationed with orders to shoot down the first man who +flinched from his duty. On board the ship were a number of American +seamen, who began speculating among themselves as to whether the +approaching frigate was a Frenchman or belonged to their own country. +They were in a trying position, for they were patriotic and would have +given anything in the world to escape firing upon their countrymen, but +there was no help for it. Such a rigid disciplinarian as Captain Carden +would listen to no protests from them, and, should the stranger prove +to be an American, it would be a choice between helping to fight her or +being shot down by their own officers. + +The approaching frigate went through a number of evolutions of such a +rapid and brilliant nature that the Englishmen murmured their +admiration. Through their glasses the officers could see groups of men +on the quarter deck scanning them closely, while glimpses of sailors +were caught as they moved about the deck and of the gun crews standing +quietly at their stations. Then, when there was a change of direction, +parties of marines were observed in her tops, muskets in hand, coolly +awaiting the time when the ships would engage at close quarters. + +While Captain Carden and his officers were in doubt whether the ship was +a French one she gave her colors to the breeze. They were the Stars and +Stripes of the American Republic. One of the finest of its frigates had +thrown down the gage of battle to as superb a frigate as belonged to the +British navy. + +Since all doubt of her nationality was dispelled, one of the American +seamen walked resolutely to Captain Carden, saluted and told him that he +and his companions had no wish to fight the flag of their country. In +reply the officer ordered him back to his station and with notice that +if the request was repeated he would be shot. Sad to say, the sailor +who made his wish known was one of the first killed in battle. + +The two ships now began exchanging shots, but the distance was too great +for any damage on either side. A little after 9 o'clock on that bright +sunshiny Sunday morning they were close enough for the wonderful +marksmanship of the American to display itself. The first shot that +found the _Macedonian_ entered through the starboard bulwark and killed +the sergeant of marines. A minute later the mizzen topmast was sundered, +and, cluttered with sails, yards and rigging, it fell into the maintop, +where it hung suspended, liable to fall at any moment and crush those +beneath. + +The fire of the American became frightfully destructive. It seemed as if +every shot splintered some part of the rigging or hull and killed and +wounded men right and left. The exasperating feature of this awful +business was that neither Captain Carden nor his aids, who were +directing operations from the quarter deck, could discover any +corresponding damage on the American ship. Her mizzen topgallant mast +had been carried away, but it looked as if all the other shots sent in +her direction sped past without harm. She was wrapped in an immense +volume of smoke made by her own broadsides, and through it constantly +shot tongues of crimson flame, while the roar of the rapidly discharged +guns was incessant. + +Now and then a rift appeared in the billows of vapor, through which the +Stars and Stripes were seen fluttering, while the men worked as coolly +at their guns as if going through manoeuvres in time of peace. Finally +the smoke became so dense that the Americans were unable to see through +it. Ceasing firing for a few minutes, the frigate moved far enough +forward to pass from under the impenetrable blanket of vapor and then +renewed the battle with more terrific effect than before. Her firing was +so rapid that several times Captain Carden believed the incessant flame +indicated she was on fire. The report was spread among his men to +encourage them, but no such good fortune came to the Englishmen. + +One of the men on board the _Macedonian_ gave the following graphic +account of his experience: + +"Our men kept cheering with all their might. I cheered with them, though +I confess I scarcely knew what for. Certainly there was nothing very +inspiriting in the aspect of things. Grape shot and canister were +pouring through our portholes like leaden hail. The large shot came +against the ship's side, shaking her to the very keel, and passing +through her timbers and scattering terrific splinters, which did more +appalling work than the shot itself. A constant stream of wounded men +were being hurried to the cockpit from all quarters of the ship. My +feelings were pretty much as I suppose every one else felt at such a +time. That men are without thought when they stand among the dying and +dead is too absurd an idea to be entertained. We all appeared cheerful, +but I know that many a serious thought ran through my mind. Still, what +could we do but keep up a semblance at least of animation? To run from +our quarters would have been certain death from the hands of our own +officers; to give way to gloom or show fear would do no good and might +brand us with the name of cowards and insure certain defeat." + +In the desperate hope of warding off defeat, Captain Garden now ordered +his helm aport and directed that boarders be called. The response was +prompt, for the British sailor fights with unsurpassable heroism, but at +the critical moment the forebrace was carried away, the ship was thrown +into the wind and exposed to a raking fire. The American instantly +seized the advantage and swept the decks with murderous destructiveness. +In a brief time the _Macedonian_ was completely disabled. Her rigging +was in tatters and splinters and her hull had been pierced by more +than a hundred shot, many of which struck between wind and water. + +[Illustration: BATTLE BETWEEN THE "UNITED STATES" AND THE "MACEDONIAN."] + +Finally the American ceased firing and drew off to make the few repairs +that were necessary. During the lull Captain Carden called his surviving +officers around him for council. There was indeed but one thing to do, +and it was agreed to surrender. As the American was returning, +therefore, to resume her appalling work the English colors were hauled +down. The victor lay to and lowered a boat, under charge of a +lieutenant, who, as he climbed aboard, gave his name and that of the +American 44-gun frigate as the _United States_, Captain Stephen Decatur. +The _United States_, whose crew numbered 478, had 5 killed and 7 +wounded, while the 297 of the _Macedonian_ lost 36 killed and 68 +wounded. + +So it was that the old friends settled the question over which they had +argued many times. When the English officer came aboard of the _United +States_ and offered his sword to Decatur the latter said: "I cannot +receive the sword of a man who has defended his ship with such bravery." + +The chivalrous nature of Decatur was shown in a private letter in which +he wrote: "One-half of the satisfaction arising from this victory is +destroyed in seeing the mortification of poor Carden, who deserved +success as much as we did who had the good fortune to obtain it." +Everything possible was done to alleviate the sufferings of the +prisoners. The private property of the officers and seamen was returned +or its equivalent in money. In a letter from Captain Carden to Captain +Decatur he expressed his feelings and added: "I have much gratitude to +express to you, my dear sir, for all your kindnesses, and all my +officers feel it equally with myself. If ever we should turn the tables +we will endeavor, if possible, to improve on your unusual goodness." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +Occasional American Defeats as Well as Victories--Captain Decatur's +Misfortune--The _Chesapeake_ and _Shannon_. + + +You would gain a wrong impression if my account of the leading naval +events in the War of 1812 were made up wholly of American victories. It +was inevitable that our gallant officers and men should meet with some +defeats. In order, therefore, to give as true an idea as possible of +those times I shall devote this chapter to telling about some events +which went the wrong way. + +Enough has been related concerning Stephen Decatur to show that he was +the most prominent of our naval leaders in our last war with Great +Britain. He entered into the work with the same dauntless enthusiasm he +showed whenever it was his privilege to serve his country, and his +capture of the _Macedonian_ was one of the most brilliant exploits of +the many that took place during those memorable years. + +In order to understand my use of the words "captain" and "commodore," it +is necessary to explain that at the time to which I now refer the latter +rank was different from what it is to-day. The commodore of a squadron +was the highest ranking officer and he might be lower than a captain. +Thus "Commodore" Perry, who won the remarkable victory on Lake Erie, was +promoted from that rank to "captain." + +Another interesting fact may be named. The Stars and Stripes used in +that war was slightly different in pattern from the present, for, +instead of containing thirteen stripes, as it did at the close of the +Revolution and as it does to-day, it had fifteen. The first law of +Congress bearing on this point was to add a stripe for every new State +admitted to the Union, but after two had come in and others were making +ready it became evident that before long the pattern of the beautiful +emblem would be spoiled if the rule were followed. So the increase in +the number of stripes stopped and remained fifteen for a few years after +the close of the war, even though new States had been admitted. Then the +law was changed so as to provide that the increase of States should be +shown by the stars in the blue field, while the stripes should always +remain thirteen in number, typical of the original colonies of the +Revolution. + +It was decided early in the war to send a squadron consisting of the +_President_, Captain Stephen Decatur, and the sloops of war _Peacock_, +Captain Warrington, and _Hornet_, Lieutenant Biddle, and the storeship +_Tom Bowline_ on a cruise in the Indian Ocean. This squadron was to +rendezvous at Tristan d'Acunha, but failed to do so, for a reason that +has been stated in the account of the exploits of the _Hornet_ and +_Peacock_. + +Captain Decatur lay in the harbor of New York with his vessels and found +himself so closely blockaded by the British squadron that it was +impossible for the Americans to sail in company. He sent out the two +ships named, and, on the night of January 14, 1815, when the blockading +squadron had been driven to the south by a gale, he sailed down the +Narrows, hoping to get to sea before it returned. There was good reason +to expect success, but misfortune speedily came. The beacon lights had +been removed and early in the evening the pilot ran the ship aground +just before reaching Sandy Hook. It required two hours of the hardest +kind of work to get her off. The _President_ was not very seaworthy at +the start, and the efforts to reach deep water so injured her that it +was necessary to return to the city for repairs, but the strong contrary +wind prevented and she was driven over the bar. + +Meanwhile the blockading squadron had come back and, early the next +morning, Decatur had four of them in full pursuit. He put on every +stitch of canvas, threw overboard everything that could be spared and +wet his sails, but the _President_ was so badly crippled from having run +aground that, despite all that was done, she steadily lost ground. The +_Endymion_ led the pursuers and soon drew up within range, her position +such that Decatur could not reply to the shots which began to injure his +ship and kill and wound his crew. + +He formed a desperate scheme that was characteristic of him. The +_Endymion_ was so far in advance of the other pursuers that there was a +possibility of turning about and capturing her. Then, by transferring +the American crew to her, the worthless _President_ could be abandoned +and swift flight be made in the _Endymion_, which had already +demonstrated her superior speed. + +The great risk in this attempt (for no one among the Americans doubted +their ability to overcome the other crew) was that before the capture +could be accomplished the other vessels would come up and Decatur be +assailed by an overwhelming force, but he did not hesitate. He explained +his plan to his men and they responded with cheers. No commander was +ever more beloved by his crew than Decatur, and they were ready to +follow him to the death, for he was always their leader and the foremost +in personal danger. + +Since every minute was valuable, Decatur put about and made for the +_Endymion_ with the intention of engaging her at close quarters. But the +British vessel suspected his purpose, for she also turned, and, being +much the superior sailer, was able to hold a safe distance between the +two. It was an exasperating disappointment, but Decatur opened with a +heavy fire, hoping to disable his antagonist before the arrival of the +others. + +A furious engagement followed, in which Decatur lost several of his most +valuable officers and was himself painfully wounded by flying splinters. +But the American guns were served with perfect precision and the +_Endymion_ was so broken and shattered by the fire that after two and a +half hours she was incapable of further resistance. She would have +surrendered had the time been sufficient for Decatur to enforce the +demand, but the other blockaders were hurrying up and placed the +American again in grave danger. He crowded on all sail once more, but +the scurrying clouds which gave him a chance of escaping were swept from +the sky and the bright moon revealed him so plainly to his pursuers that +they rapidly overtook the _President_. A running fight followed, but the +_President_ was overmatched in every respect. In his official report +Decatur said: "Two fresh ships of the enemy, the 38-gun frigates +_Pomone_ and _Tenedos_, had come up. The _Pomone_ had opened fire on the +port bow, within musket shot, the other, about two cables' length +astern, taking a raking position on our quarter, and the rest, with the +exception of the _Endymion_, within gunshot. Thus situated, with about +one-fifth of my crew killed and wounded, my ship crippled and a more +than fourfold force opposed to me, without a chance of escape, I deemed +it my duty to surrender." + +The British senior officer of the squadron to whom Decatur offered his +sword showed his appreciation of the American's gallantry and of his +chivalrous treatment of Captain Carden, when the situations were +reversed, by handing the weapon back to Decatur with the remark that he +was proud to return the sword of an officer who had defended his ship so +nobly. + +Shortly after this misfortune news reached this country of the signing +of a treaty of peace, though several encounters took place on the ocean +before the tidings could reach the various ships. + +Turning back to the earlier part of the war, mention must be made of +another American hero, James Lawrence, who was born in Burlington, N.J., +in 1781 and was active in the war with Tripoli. He was commander of the +_Hornet_ when she captured the _Peacock_ in an engagement which lasted +only fifteen minutes, with the loss of one American killed and two +wounded. He was given the command of the frigate _Chesapeake_, which was +repairing in Boston harbor. The ship had gained the reputation of being +unlucky, and, having already passed through several accidents, Lawrence +assumed command with extreme reluctance. + +Among the blockading vessels of the enemy outside of Boston was the +_Shannon_, commanded by Captain Philip Bowes Vere Broke. She was one of +the most efficient ships in the British navy, carried 38 guns and had a +crew of 330 men, all well disciplined and skilled in firing guns and in +fighting, while Broke himself probably had no superior as an officer. +That he was brave was proven not only by his sending a challenge to +Lawrence, inviting him to come out and fight him, but by his conduct +during the battle. + +Captain Lawrence sailed out of Boston harbor before Broke's challenge +reached him. He had learned that a single frigate had presumed to +blockade the port, and, having been ordered to sail as soon as possible, +he made unwise haste in venturing to give the _Shannon_ battle, even +though one cause was the wish to leave the port before other blockaders +appeared. + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN JAMES LAWRENCE.] + +The crew of the _Chesapeake_ was inferior in every respect to that of +the enemy, except that it contained ten more men. The majority had been +newly enlisted and contained many foreigners, landsmen, and +objectionable sailors. They were not only unaccustomed to the +ship--though they knew of its reputation as an unlucky one--but were +unacquainted with one another and nearly all were strangers to the +officers. The best of these were absent from illness and other causes. +Worse than all, many were in a maudlin state of drunkenness when the +_Chesapeake_ started out with flags flying to engage the well-manned +_Shannon_. + +On the way down the bay some of the _Chesapeake's_ crew impudently +notified Lawrence that they would not fight unless they received the +prize money earned a short time before. It was a humiliating situation +for the young commander, but he was virtually in the face of the enemy +and he issued prize checks to the malcontents. Well aware of the +character of the foe he was about to encounter, he must have looked upon +the meeting with foreboding. Maclay uses these impressive words: + +[Illustration: THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE "CHESAPEAKE" AND THE "SHANNON."] + +"The calm deliberation with which the American and English commanders +went out to seek each other's life and the earnestness with which they +urged their officers and men to steep their hands in the blood of +their fellow beings form one of the sombre pictures of naval history. +Lawrence was the youngest son of John Lawrence, Esquire, +counselor-at-law at Burlington, N.J., and was the second in command at +the celebrated capture of the _Philadelphia_ in the harbor of Tripoli. +Broke was the descendant of an ancient family which had lived in Broke +Hall, England, over three hundred and fifty years and for four hundred +years at Leighton. Both were men in the prime of manhood, Lawrence in +his thirty-second year and Broke in his thirty-seventh. Both were models +of chivalry and manly grace; both were held in the highest estimation in +their profession. Lawrence had just taken an affectionate farewell of +his two sons and an hour later was urging his men to "_Peacock_ them! +_Peacock_ them!" Broke a short time before had committed his wife to +God's mercy and soon afterward was urging his crew to 'Kill the men! +kill the men!' Both were men of the kindliest feelings and most tender +affections; both acknowledged the justice of the cause for which the +Americans were contending, yet with steady determination they went out +at the head of their ships' companies to take each other's life. A few +hours afterward, when Captain Broke fell on the _Chesapeake's_ decks +fainting and covered with his own blood, his lieutenants, on loosening +his clothes, found a small blue silk case suspended around his neck. It +contained a lock of his wife's hair." + +[Illustration: DEATH OF CAPTAIN LAWRENCE.] + +Lawrence, in accordance with his chivalrous nature, disdained to seek +any unfair advantage, his purpose being to engage in what is called a +fair yardarm and yardarm fight. It was toward the close of the first day +of summer, with thousands crowding the hills and points of advantage and +peering at the ships through glasses, that the battle opened by the fire +of the _Shannon_. Great damage was inflicted and much execution done by +the return broadside of the _Chesapeake_. The first fire severely +wounded Lawrence in the leg, but he refused to go below. Then the firing +became so close and rapid that half the American officers were killed or +wounded. The most frightful confusion that can be imagined followed. +When Lawrence formed his men to board after the two vessels had fouled +the bugler could not be found, whereupon Captain Broke led his own men +upon the deck of the _Chesapeake_. + +It was at this critical moment that Lawrence was fatally wounded and +carried below. He kept calling out his commands while in the cockpit to +fight harder and to keep the guns going. His last words, often +repeated in his delirium, were "_Don't give up the ship!_" and they +formed the motto of the American navy for many years afterward. + +[Illustration: THE OFFICERS OF THE "CHESAPEAKE" OFFERING THEIR SWORDS.] + +In the wild, savage fighting, where everything was so mixed that an +American lieutenant joined the British boarders under the impression +that they were his own men, Captain Broke was fearfully wounded, though +he afterward recovered. The _Chesapeake_, with a loss of 47 killed and +99 wounded to 24 killed and 59 wounded of the enemy, became the prize of +the _Shannon_. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +David Porter--A Clever Feat--Numerous Captures by the _Essex_--Her +Remarkable Cruise in the Pacific--Her Final Capture. + + +David Porter was born in 1780 and died in 1842. He came from a seafaring +family, and, entering the navy at an early age, did gallant service in +the war with France and Tripoli. He was the father of David Dixon +Porter, who, on account of his brilliant record in the war for the +Union, was made vice-admiral in 1866 and admiral in 1870. + +The elder Porter was appointed captain of the _Essex_ at the beginning +of the War of 1812, and, leaving New York, started on a cruise after the +British 36-gun _Thetis_, which was on her way to South America with a +large amount of specie aboard. She took several unimportant prizes, and, +failing to meet the _Thetis_, turned northward and on the night of July +10, 1812, sighted a fleet of merchantmen. + +The night was cloudy and dark and Porter with a great deal of cleverness +pushed his way among the vessels without his identity being suspected. +He had drawn in his guns, hidden most of his men and done all he could +to give the _Essex_ the appearance of being an inoffensive merchantman. +His object was to learn whether the escort was too powerful to be +attacked. He opened conversation with the captain of one of the vessels, +who, unsuspicious of his identity, informed him that the fleet was +carrying a thousand soldiers from Barbados to Quebec, and that the +convoying vessel was the _Minerva_, a 32-gun frigate. In addition, +several of the merchantmen were heavily armed. + +Captain Porter's next act was still more audacious. He glided forward +among the fleet and hailed the captain of a second vessel, but the +latter became suspicious, and was on the point of signalling to the +escort the appearance of a stranger among them, when Porter thrust out +the muzzles of twenty cannon and warned him that if he failed to keep +perfect silence and follow in his wake he would blow him out of the +water. The English captain obeyed, and Porter extricated his prize with +such astonishing skill that not a vessel took the alarm. When a safe +point was reached, Porter found that his prize was a brig with about two +hundred British soldiers on board. + +Having succeeded so well, Porter again returned to the fleet for another +capture. But by this time day was breaking and the character of his +vessel was discovered. It being useless to attempt further disguise, he +cleared for action and offered the _Minerva_ battle. The captain, +however, deemed it his duty to remain with his convoy, and continued his +course to Quebec, while Porter headed southward, afterward restoring his +prize to its owners for a liberal ransom. + +Captain Porter had become so clever in disguising his vessel as a +merchantman that some days later he lured the British 16-gun ship-sloop +_Alert_ to attack him. In the space of eight minutes the _Alert_ was so +helplessly crippled that her captain surrendered. The _Essex_ did not +suffer the slightest injury and no men were killed on either vessel. + +The _Essex_ had now five hundred prisoners aboard, and they formed an +element of serious danger, for they began plotting among themselves to +capture the ship from the Americans and turn her over to the enemy. +Captain Porter was a severe disciplinarian, and one of his practices was +to have the alarm of fire sounded at all hours of the day or night, that +his crew might be taught the successful way of fighting the ever-present +danger. To make such training perfect, he occasionally started a fire in +the hatches. + +The leader in the conspiracy to seize the ship fixed upon a night to +make the attempt, and his friends were on the alert to join him the +moment he gave the signal. In one of the hammocks was sleeping a +midshipmite only eleven years old, but, young as he was, he was a hero. +Pistol in hand, the plotter tiptoed up beside the hammock to learn +whether the boy was asleep. The little fellow was never wider awake in +his life; but he kept his eyes closed and breathed regularly, so as to +deceive the scoundrel, who slipped away to lead his companions in their +murderous uprising. + +The instant the man disappeared the boy midshipman sprang out of his +hammock, crept to the cabin and told Captain Porter what he had seen. +That officer ran into the berth deck and loudly shouted "_Fire_!" The +finely disciplined crew promptly answered the call, and going to the +main hatch, were speedily armed and received their orders from Captain +Porter. The plotters were overawed and the rebellion nipped in the bud. + +Thus the _Essex_ was saved by the wits of a boy only eleven years old. +The name of that boy was David Glasgow Farragut, and he became the +greatest naval officer of the American navy. Of course I shall have more +to tell you about him later on. + +Determined to rid himself of the dangerous prisoners, Captain Porter +placed them on board the _Alert_ and sent them to Nova Scotia on parole. +In a cruise of sixty days he made nine captures, recaptured five +privateers and merchantmen, and arrived in the Delaware early in +September. + +He sailed again in the latter part of October with the smallest frigate +in the navy, but with a full complement of officers and men. Among the +former, it need hardly be said, was young Midshipman Farragut. The first +port at which he stopped was Port Praya, where the Portuguese governor +showed them much courtesy. In December the _Essex_ crossed the equator, +and soon after overhauled a British brig of war, which strained every +effort to escape. The two manoeuvred for position, but the _Essex_ +proved her superiority, and, after a volley of musketry, which killed +one man, the _Nocton_, as she proved to be, hauled down her flag. She +carried only 10 guns and 31 men, but had $50,000 in specie on board. +Captain Porter placed an officer and crew in charge of the prize, with +instructions to make the nearest American port. While striving to do so +he was captured by the British frigate _Belvidera_. + +Captain Porter's instructions were to meet the _Constitution_ and +_Hornet_, which were cruising in that part of the world. He made +continued efforts to do so, and frequently got on their track, but +finally had to give it up. Then Captain Porter formed the bold plan of +doubling Cape Horn and entering the Pacific ocean. + +This venture was more dangerous than would be supposed, for all the +South American countries on that side of the continent were dominated by +Great Britain, and in entering the vast expanse the American knew he +would meet plenty of enemies and not a solitary friend. Like an army +when it invades a country, however, he determined to live off the enemy. +He knew that scores of English vessels were in the Pacific, and all +Porter had to do was to capture them. He had had sufficient experience +at that sort of work to give him confidence, and he liked the business. + +Unfortunately, it was the most dangerous season of the year for doubling +the Horn, which is always attended with peril. The _Essex_ was caught in +a tempest that lasted for three days, and was so terrific that the +stoutest hearted sailors quailed. The escape of the gallant little ship +could not have been narrower, and she suffered great damage, but finally +the dreaded extremity of South America was weathered, and in the +beginning of March, 1813, the _Essex_ sailed into the calmer water of +the Pacific, where no armed American vessel had ever before penetrated. + +The first halt was made off the island of Mocha, where a hunting party +secured a number of hogs, which were salted down for future use. +Captain Porter wished to keep secret his presence in that part of the +world until after he had secured a number of prizes, but the condition +of his vessel compelled him to put into Valparaiso, where he learned +that Chili had begun her war of independence against Spain. + +A sail which was sighted displayed the Spanish colors, and, believing +her to be one of the vessels that had been preying upon American +commerce in the Pacific, Captain Porter hoisted the British flag. The +stranger approached and sent an armed boat to the _Essex_. It was +immediately sent back with orders for the Peruvian cruiser to come under +the lee of the _Essex_. This was done, and she was compelled to strike. +Upon the demand of Porter, her captain gave a list of all the vessels, +so far as he could remember, that were cruising in the Pacific. Then the +arms, ammunition and spars of the captive were thrown overboard and she +was allowed to go. + +From that time forward the captures made by the _Essex_ were so numerous +that the full story would be monotonous. The swiftest and best of the +captured cruisers were fitted out with crews and added to the American +vessel, until Captain Porter had under his command seven ships, carrying +80 guns and 340 men, in addition to nearly a hundred prisoners. Still +more were added, and the cruise of the _Essex_ and her companions in +that part of the world became very much like a picnic. + +A number of powerful British frigates were searching for the _Essex_, +which had wrought such prodigious mischief. Porter sailed for the +Marquesas Islands, reaching them in the latter part of October. There he +landed, built a fort and made the repairs of which his vessel stood in +sore need. + +The work accomplished by Captain Porter was almost beyond computation. +He literally destroyed English commerce in the Pacific, for none of the +vessels not captured dared leave port, and the American merchant ships +were protected. The play being over, he craved more serious business. He +therefore set out to hunt up some of the British cruisers that were +trying to hunt him up. + +In February, 1814, the _Essex_ and the _Essex Junior_, as one of the +newly manned prizes had been christened, entered Valparaiso, where they +learned that the 36-gun frigate _Phoebe_ was in the neighborhood +searching for them. Captain Porter gave a reception to the officials of +Valparaiso, and the next morning, while half of the crew were ashore, +the _Essex Junior_ signalled from the offing that two British frigates +were in sight. They came into port, the captain of the _Phoebe_ +exchanging, compliments with Porter, they being old acquaintances; but, +all the same, each was distrustful of the other, and both maintained +what may be termed a position of armed neutrality. + +For six weeks the two frigates blockaded Porter. Learning then that +other ships were expected, Porter determined to get to sea. In the +attempt, his vessel was completely disabled by a storm. Despite the +neutrality of the port, the two British frigates attacked him, keeping +beyond range of the _Essex's_ short guns and thus rendering her +perfectly powerless to help herself. The _Essex_ was pounded at long +range until 58 of her men were killed and 66 wounded, when, to save her +officers and crew from annihilation, she surrendered. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +Oliver Hazard Perry--Prompt and Effective Work--"We Have Met the Enemy +and They Are Ours"--Death of Perry. + + +Oliver Hazard Perry was born in Rhode Island in 1785, and entered the +American navy as midshipman when fourteen years old, under his father, +Captain Christopher Raymond Perry, who commanded the 28-gun ship +_General Greene_, which did good service in the war against France. The +son also served on the _Constellation_ in the Tripolitan war, and +afterward gave his attention to ordnance. + +The surrender of Detroit by General William Hull at the opening of the +war gave the British control of the Territory of Michigan and Lake Erie. +They had formed the formidable plan of extending the Dominion of Canada +along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to the Gulf of Mexico, thus +inserting an immense wedge between the United States and the great West, +which has since become so important a part of our country. The only way +of blocking this far-reaching and dangerous scheme was for the Americans +to regain control of Lake Erie, and to young Perry was assigned the +seemingly almost impossible task. + +At the little town of Erie, Perry began the construction of his fleet, +and pushed it with such vigor, in the face of every sort of obstacle, +that early in July, 1813, he had ten vessels ready for sea, but only +enough men to man one of them. The end of the month made the total three +hundred, but he determined to get to sea on the first opportunity. +Outside was a powerful blockading squadron, and the water in the lake +was so low that it was not until the 4th of August that he was able to +get all his vessels over the bar. They comprised the _Scorpion_, +_Ariel_, _Lawrence_ (flagship), _Caledonia_, _Niagara_, _Somers_, +_Porcupine_, _Tigress_ and _Trippe_. The total guns carried were 54, +with a force of 490 men. + +The British squadron consisted of six vessels, with an aggregate of 63 +guns and 502 men. They were under the command of Commander Robert H. +Barclay, who had fought under Nelson at Trafalgar, and in another battle +lost an arm. It was less than three months before that the dying +Lawrence had uttered the appeal, "Don't give up the ship!" and Perry +hoisted a flag with the words displayed in large letters. As it floated +in the breeze from his vessel it was received with enthusiastic cheers. + +It was on the 10th of September, 1814, that the two squadrons met at the +western end of Lake Erie. When a mile apart, the _Detroit_, the British +flagship, fired a shot to test the distance. It ricochetted past the +_Lawrence_. A few minutes later she fired a second shot, which smashed +into the starboard bulwarks of the _Lawrence_ and sent a cloud of +splinters flying. The reply to these was a 32-pounder from the +_Scorpion_. Then the firing became more rapid, the enemy possessing the +advantage at long range. + +Most of the shots from the British vessels were directed against Perry's +flagship, which suffered considerably. He therefore made sail to get to +close quarters. His ship and the _Scorpion_ and _Ariel_ drew +considerably ahead of the rest of the fleet. As a consequence they +received the main fire of the enemy, which soon became concentrated on +the _Lawrence_, that was gallantly fighting against overwhelming odds. +Moreover, she was at a hopeless disadvantage with her short guns, and +soon became a wreck, with a large number of her men killed or wounded. + +Gradually the boats drifted nearer and the Americans were able to make +use of their short guns and small arms. Perry's clothing was torn by +splinters and two musket balls passed through his hat. The battle +continued for more than two hours with the utmost desperation, during +which the scenes on the _Lawrence_ were too frightful to be described. +Finally the wrecked flagship began drifting helplessly out of action, +when Perry determined to transfer his flag to the _Niagara_. + +[Illustration: COMMODORE PERRY AT THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE.] + +With his broad pennant folded over his arm, and accompanied by a younger +brother and four seamen, he stepped into the small boat, which began +pulling in the direction of the _Niagara_. The thick smoke concealed +them for a time, but it soon lifted, and Barclay aimed a shot at the +boat. He said in his official report that he saw the shot strike the +boat, whereupon Perry took off his coat and plugged the hole with it. +But for the temporary veil the American commander could not have made +half the brief distance between the _Lawrence_ and the _Niagara_. As it +was, however, he reached the latter without a scratch. He hoisted his +pennant and the flag bearing the immortal words of the gallant Lawrence. +Then an officer was sent in a boat to communicate the orders of the +Commodore to the other vessels. This was hardly done when Perry saw with +the keenest distress the surrender of the _Lawrence_. Such submission +was inevitable, for almost every man on board was either killed or +wounded and every gun on the engaged side was disabled. The English +crews broke into cheers, believing the battle won, but they could not +take possession of the _Lawrence_, which drifted out of range. + +Captain Barclay now made an attempt to change his line of battle with a +view of bringing his other broadsides into action. The line became +broken and entangled, observing which, Perry took instant advantage of +it. The _Niagara_, passing through the disorganized squadron, raked the +vessels fore and aft, while the other American vessels promptly +followed, and added to the confusion of the enemy and the dreadful +destruction on board. The Americans were now at close quarters and able +to do their best work, and so dreadful was it that fifteen minutes later +a white handkerchief was waved at the end of a boarding-pike on one of +the boats as a signal of surrender. + +Firing ceased, and in the smoke and confusion two of the enemy's boats +darted away in an attempt to escape; but they were followed and brought +back. Determined to honor the _Lawrence_, Perry now had himself rowed to +the wreck, drifting some distance away in charge of the few that had +survived the awful conflict. Perry took his position aft and with calm +dignity received the surrender. As the defeated officers approached and +presented their swords in turn, he told each to retain the weapon, +accompanying the remark with words of compliment for the bravery he had +displayed. + +The loss of the Americans was 27 killed and 96 wounded, and that of the +British 41 killed and 94 wounded. Perry showed every possible kindness +to the suffering prisoners, who expressed their gratitude. Commander +Barclay displayed conspicuous bravery throughout the battle and was +twice wounded, one of his injuries depriving him of the use of his +single remaining arm. + +From what was stated at the beginning of this chapter, it will be seen +that this battle was one of the most important of the war. Not only was +it a glorious victory of itself, the occasion being the first time in +England's history that she surrendered a whole squadron, but it settled +a much more momentous matter. The British General Proctor was waiting +with his army on the Canadian shore ready to be carried across the lake +by the English fleet, in the event of their being successful, and +pressing his invasion of Ohio, which would have been an almost fatal +blow to our country. + +On the Ohio shore General Harrison was waiting with an American force to +invade Canada, if Perry gained a victory. Hardly had the surrender been +made when the commandant, using his cap for a desk and the back of an +old letter for paper, pencilled the despatch which has become famous: +"We have met the enemy and they are ours--two ships, two brigs, one +schooner and one sloop," which he sent by messenger to General Harrison. + +[Illustration: THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE.] + +In the following month Harrison invaded Canada, with Proctor retreating +before him, and accompanied by the famous Indian, Tecumseh, and several +hundred of his warriors. Proctor halted near the Moravian Towns, where a +battle was fought October 5, in which the British and Indians were +decisively defeated. The Indian confederacy was destroyed and all danger +of the invasion of Ohio ended. + +Master-Commandant Perry's victory caused his promotion to the rank of +captain, and Congress awarded him a gold medal, besides suitably +rewarding his officers and men. After the war he was sent into southern +waters to help suppress piracy, which had become very troublesome. While +engaged on this duty he was seized with yellow fever, and died August +24, 1819, just as his ship reached Port of Spain, Trinidad. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +A Hero of the Olden Days--Cruise of the _Constitution_--Her Capture of +the _Cyane_ and _Levant_--Reminiscences of Admiral Stewart--His Last +Days. + + +During the early days of President Lincoln's administration, before the +firing upon Fort Sumter by the Confederates, the all-absorbing question +was as to whether or not the fort should be reinforced by the +Government. A good many opposed, because it was known that the attempt +would bring on a conflict, and, if war was to come, each was anxious +that the other side should strike the first blow. + +It was amid those times of excitement, doubt and trouble that Commodore +Charles Stewart left his modest home near Bordentown, N.J., and went by +train to Washington. From the station he made his way straight to the +White House and sent in his name to President Lincoln. As usual, the +Executive had a swarm of visitors, but he directed the distinguished +caller to be admitted at once. As the tall, sad-faced man rose from his +chair he towered fully two feet above the diminutive form of the naval +officer in his blue swallow-tail, who took the proffered hand, and, +after a few conventional words, looked up and said in his brisk manner: + +"Mr. President, I'll reinforce Fort Sumter." + +"You, Commodore! We are just discussing the question." + +"There's no need of discussing it; it must be done! Give me the men and +ships--there won't be many required--and I'll do it." + +The President saw that his caller was in earnest, and he respected him +too highly to indulge in anything like jesting. + +"I am inclined to think as you do, Commodore, but--" + +"But _what_?" impatiently interrupted the veteran. + +"You have already done so much for your country that it seems only fair +that we should give the younger men a chance." + +"Younger men! What's the matter with me? I'm not old enough yet to need +a cane." + +"I observe that; you are wonderfully spry for one of your years. Let me +see, what _is_ your age?" + +"Not quite eighty-four." + +"Why, you are still a young man; but the trouble is, Commodore, we have +so many that are still younger, that they are plaguing the life out of +me; I don't see how I can refuse them, but I shall be grateful to have +the benefit of your counsel any time you are willing to give it." + +[Illustration: THE BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER.] + +"Counsel be hanged! We have had too much _talk_; it's time for actions, +and I demand that you give me a chance with the rest." + +With that inimitable tact for which President Lincoln was noted, he +succeeded in soothing the ruffled feelings of the Commodore (soon +afterward made an admiral), but the old gentleman was not quite +satisfied, when he bade the President good-by, without having obtained +the opportunity to re-enter the active service of his country. + +This little anecdote, which is authentic, may serve to introduce my last +references to one of the most remarkable naval heroes of our country. If +his fire, vigor and patriotism burned so brightly in 1861, little need +be said in way of explanation of its nature when he was less than forty +years of age. + +Captain Stewart came back from a cruise in the West Indies in the spring +of 1814, and found the _Constitution_, "Old Ironsides," closely +blockaded by a powerful British squadron. That remarkable frigate had +already won such a reputation that the enemy were determined she should +not get to sea again. They held her locked in the port for months, but +despite their unceasing vigilance, Captain Stewart, who was a consummate +seaman, slipped out in December and sailed away. + +He made several captures, and the frigates of the enemy began an +industrious search for him, while all the lesser craft strained every +nerve to keep out of his way. On the 20th of February, 1815, when off +the coast of South America, he gave chase to two of the enemy's vessels, +one of which proved to be the _Cyane_ and the other the _Levant_. The +two together carried 55 guns and 313 men, while the _Constitution_ had +51 guns and a crew of 456 men. The _Cyane_ was properly a frigate, and +she being at the rear, Stewart opened fire from the long guns of his +port battery. The response from the starboard guns of the enemy was +prompt, and for a time the cannonade was deafening. The _Constitution_ +gave most of her attention to the rear ship. The smoke around the +American becoming so dense as to cloud the vision, Stewart slipped +forward and quickly delivered a double-shotted broadside. Before it +could be repeated the other ship attempted to gain a raking position +across the stern of the _Constitution_. By a splendid manoeuvre, +Stewart defeated the purpose, and, placing himself abreast the rear +ship, delivered another destructive broadside before the more sluggish +enemy comprehended their danger. He maintained his tremendous fire for a +time, when he observed the other ship luffing across his course to +secure a raking position, whereupon, with the same unsurpassable +seamanship that he had shown from the first, he crossed the wake of the +foremost ship and obtained a raking position himself. Before the vessel +could extricate itself Stewart raked her twice. Then the second ship +repeated the attempt of its consort, but Stewart not only defeated her, +but again laid the _Constitution_ so as to rake her. + +In the manoeuvring the two ships drew up side by side, and, the enemy +opening with the port battery, Stewart replied with his starboard guns. +The fire of the American was so amazingly accurate and effective that in +a short time the enemy hoisted a light and fired a gun in token of +surrender. The battle occurred in the early hours of evening. + +Upon sending an officer to take possession, it was found that the +captured vessel was the English 32-gun frigate _Cyane_. It took an hour +to transfer and secure the prisoners, when the _Constitution_ started +after the other ship, which was some distance away, engaged in repairing +her rigging. Seeing the American approaching, and not knowing what fate +had befallen her consort, the Englishman gallantly bore down to meet his +formidable enemy. The two vessels passed each other and exchanged +broadsides, but with another display of masterly seamanship Stewart, +before the other was aware of her danger, crossed her wake and raked +her. + +This startling experience convinced the Englishman that he had met his +master and he crowded on all sail in the desperate effort to escape. The +_Constitution_ was immediately after her, and by ten o'clock secured a +position from which to deliver another of her terrible broadsides, +seeing which the enemy surrendered. She proved to be the British sloop +of war _Levant_, of 21 guns. + +In this battle the _Constitution_ had 4 killed and 10 wounded, while on +the _Cyane_ and _Levant_ 35 were killed and 42 wounded. Of all the +battles in which this famous ship was engaged, there was none more +remarkable than this. When Stewart advanced to the attack he believed +both his enemies were frigates. The manner in which he baffled every +effort of the two to rake him, while he repeatedly raked them, was one +of the many proofs that the American navy contained no finer seaman than +he. The grand old _Constitution_ seemed to anticipate every wish of her +commander and responded with a promptness that could not have been +surpassed. The discipline of the crew was perfect, and, after all, +therefore, it is little wonder that one of the last acts of the famous +ship was the most brilliant of them all. + +It is stated by Richard Watson Gilder that when Captain Stewart was +talking with the respective captains of the _Cyane_ and _Levant_ in his +own cabin, the two fell into a dispute, each charging the other with +failing to do the right thing during the engagement, and insisting that +if it had been done they would not have been defeated. Stewart sat +amused and interested until he saw they were becoming angry, when he +interfered. + +"Now, gentlemen," said he, "there's no need of your growing warm over +this affair; no matter what evolutions you made, or what you did, the +end would have been the same. If you don't believe it, I will put each +of you back on your ship with the same crews and we'll fight it all over +again." + +Neither of the gentlemen was prepared to accept this proposal, and there +can be no doubt that Captain Stewart was warranted in his declaration, +and his prisoners knew it. + +Stewart started for home with his prizes, and early in March anchored in +Port Praya. While there, three powerful British frigates approached, +which, through a series of singular coincidences, were blockading Boston +at the time the _Constitution_ made her escape some months before. They +were anxious, above everything else, to capture the most dreaded ship +in the American navy. Stewart knew that his only chance was to get away +before they shut him in, for the experience of the _Essex_ at Valparaiso +proved that the neutrality of no port would protect an American cruiser. + +Accordingly, he lost no time in getting to sea, leaving with the utmost +haste and signalling to the _Cyane_ and _Levant_ to follow. They obeyed, +and were handled with such skill that all got to sea, with the squadron +in hot pursuit. The chase was continued for a long time, with the +remarkable result that both the _Constitution_ and _Cyane_ safely +reached Boston, while the _Levant_ was recaptured--a small reward for +the exertions of the British squadron. + +Maclay says: "In this brilliant cruise Captain Stewart proved himself an +officer of rare ability. His action with the _Cyane_ and _Levant_, and +his masterly escape from the British squadron, called for all the +qualities of a great commander, while his unhesitating attack on what +appeared, in the heavy weather, to be two frigates, the beautiful style +in which the _Constitution_ was put through the most difficult +manoeuvres, and the neatness with which he captured a superior force, +have ranked him as one of the most remarkable naval officers of his day. +Congress awarded him a sword and gold medal." + +It happened one day, when I was talking with Admiral Stewart at his +home, that he showed me a Toledo sword which had been presented to him +by the King of Spain, because of his rescue of a Spanish ship, drifting +helplessly in mid ocean, with the captain and all the crew dead or +prostrated by yellow fever. + +The blade of the weapon, although quite plain and ordinary looking, of +course was very valuable, but the hilt was so rough and crude that I +expressed my surprise. + +"I supposed that when a king makes a present of a sword," I said, "that +the hilt is generally of a more costly pattern than that." + +"So it is," replied Stewart, accepting it from me and playfully making a +few lightning-like passes in the air just to show that he had not +forgotten how to handle the weapon; "that was a very handsome sword when +it came to me, and I could not accept it until authorized by Congress. +During my fight with the _Cyane_ and _Levant_ I was walking back and +forth with this sword under my arm, the hilt slightly projecting in +front of my chest, when a grapeshot slipped it off, as it grazed me. The +hilt which it now has was put there by my gunner." + +"Were you ever wounded in battle?" I asked. "I was struck only once, +and it amounted to nothing. It was in the same battle. A pigeon became +so frightened by the smoke and racket that it flew hither and thither, +and finally perched on my shoulder. While there a musket ball struck its +claw at the junction of the toes with the leg, and entered my shoulder. +The resistance it met was so tough that it saved my shoulder from being +shattered; except for that, the hurt must have proved serious, but it +did not bother me at all." + +The Admiral, still loosely holding the weapon in his hand, turned his +faded eyes toward the window and gazed out over the snow. Those eyes +seemed to look backward over the vista of forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, +eighty years, and must have recalled the many stirring scenes in which +he had taken part, as well as the faces of the brave fellows, like +himself, who had gone from earth long ago, leaving him alone. Then the +old veteran, still erect and with the fires of patriotism glowing in his +brave heart, softly murmured: + +"I have been more fortunate than I deserve; strange that I should be the +only one left, but it cannot be for long." + +And yet he lived for seven more years. Then, when a scirrhus cancer +appeared on his tongue, a skilful surgeon told him it could be easily +removed and need cause him no trouble. + +"Oh," said the Admiral, who was then past ninety, "I've lived long +enough; let it alone." + +He died a few months later, and, as has been stated, was in his +ninety-second year. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +Captures Made After the Signing of the Treaty of Peace--The +Privateers--Exploit of the _General Armstrong_--Its Far-Reaching Result. + + +The treaty of peace between Great Britain and the United States was +signed December 24, 1814, at the city of Ghent, in Belgium. Had the +submarine telegraph been known at that time, or had we possessed our +ocean greyhounds, a good deal of blood-shed would have been saved, and +the most important victory of the whole war would not have been gained. +General Jackson won his famous triumph at New Orleans--still celebrated +in all parts of the country--January 8, 1815; the _President_ was +captured by a British fleet, January 15; Captain Stewart captured the +_Cyane_ and _Levant_, February 20; the _Hornet_ took the _Penguin_, +March 23, and the _Peacock_ captured the _Nautilus_, in a distant part +of the world, June 30. That was the last of hostilities between the two +countries, and let us pray that it will be the last for all time to +come. + +In the account of the naval exploits of the War of 1812, I have confined +myself to those of the regular cruisers of the United States, but in no +other war in which we were engaged did the privateers play so prominent +a part. These vessels were usually schooners or brigs of 200 or 300 +tons, with crews varying from 75 to 100 men. They left all of our +principal ports, many of the swiftest and most effective going from +Baltimore, but twenty-six were fitted out in New York alone in the +summer of 1812. Probably the whole number engaged was about six hundred. +Of the four hundred British prizes captured in the second year of the +war, four-fifths were taken by privateers. A favorite cruising ground +was the West Indies, but some of the vessels ventured across the ocean +and displayed a degree of boldness that recalled the days of Paul Jones. +Among the most famous were the _Reindeer_, _Avon_ and _Blakeley_, built +in a few weeks, near Boston, in 1814. They were so large and well +equipped that more than once they attacked and defeated British +warships. + +Some of the privateers which left Charleston, Bristol and Plymouth were +nothing but pilot boats, carrying twenty or thirty men each, who gave +their attention to the West Indies. They were often obliged to deplete +their crews to that extent in order to man their prizes that barely +enough were left to manage their own ships. In those days all, of +course, were sailing vessels, and they carried nothing in the shape of +armor. Their guns were cannon, loading at the muzzle and firing solid +shot. The most effective of these was the "Long Tom," which was +generally mounted on a pivot forward, and used in firing upon a fleeing +vessel. + +[Illustration: GENERAL ANDREW JACKSON.] + +(_Afterward President of the United States_.) + +The most famous achievement was that of the privateer _General +Armstrong_, which carried nine long guns, the largest being 24-pounders, +or "long nines." She sailed with a large crew, which was depleted to +ninety on account of the number in charge of the prizes captured. Her +commander was Captain Samuel C. Reid, born in Connecticut in 1783, and +died in 1861. It was he who designed the accepted pattern of the United +States flag, with its thirteen stripes and one star for each State. The +fifteen-striped flag, which it has been stated was carried through the +War of 1812, remained the pattern until 1818, when the change referred +to was made. + +While engaged upon one of his successful cruises, Captain Reid put into +the harbor of Fayal, one of the Azores, to provision his ship. He was +thus employed when Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, of England, reached the +same port and on the same errand. He had with him three vessels: the +flagship _Plantagenet_, 74 guns; the frigate _Rotan_, 38 guns, and the +brig _Carnation_, 18 guns. This powerful squadron was manned by 2,000 +men, and was on the way to New Orleans with the purpose of occupying the +city. + +When the British admiral discovered the American privateer within the +harbor, he placed his own vessels so as to prevent its escape. Captain +Reid did not think the enemy would attack him, since the harbor was +neutral, but the previous experience of his countrymen warned him that +it was not safe to count upon the British respecting the laws of war +when there was an opportunity to destroy one of the pests of the ocean. +He cleared his decks and made every preparation against attack, and it +was well he did so. + +It was not long before he observed several boats, crowded with men, +leave the _Plantagenet_ and row toward him. This was on the 26th of +September. There being no doubt of their hostile purpose, Captain Reid +several times warned them off, but they paid no attention to him. He +then fired upon the boats, and a number of the crews were killed and +wounded. This was a sort of reception they had not counted upon, and the +boats turned about and hastily rowed back to the flagship. + +"We have got to fight," said Captain Reid to his men; "they will attack +us again to-night, and things will be lively." + +There was no thought of surrender on the part of the Americans, though, +as will be noted, they were threatened by a force more than twenty times +as numerous as their own. They sent their valuables ashore and disposed +of everything, as if not a man expected to emerge from the fight alive. +All were cool and confident, and the dauntless courage of the commander +inspired every one around him. + +Night settled over the harbor, and by and by the sounds of oars showed +the enemy were approaching again. Through the gloom seven boats, +containing two hundred men, loomed into view, coming straight for the +_General Armstrong_. Each carried a carronade, with which they opened +fire on the privateer. The reply of the latter was so well directed and +effective that three of the boats were sunk and their crews left +struggling in the water. The cries that sounded across the harbor left +no doubt of the effect of the fire of the American. + +The four remaining boats were not frightened off, but, rowing with might +and main, reached the side of the vessel and began clambering on board. +They were enraged, and as their heads rose above the gunwales they +shouted, "No quarter!" + +"No quarter!" replied the Americans, discharging their pistols in their +faces and pressing them back into the water with their pikes. The +assailants displayed great bravery and made desperate efforts to board +the privateer; but the Americans needed not the incentive of the warning +that no quarter would be given to fight with all the vigor and skill at +their command. The struggle was a furious one, but in the end the +British were so decisively defeated that only two of the boats returned +to the ships. The others, filled with dead and wounded, drifted ashore. + +[Illustration: BRITISH ATTACK ON SULLIVAN ISLAND.] + +(_Our Last Naval Engagement with England_.) + +In this brief but terrific struggle there were only two Americans killed +and seven wounded, while the enemy acknowledged a loss of thirty-four +killed and eighty-six wounded, the former including the leader of the +expedition. + +Admiral Cochrane was so incensed by the rough treatment his men had +received that he determined to throw neutrality to the winds and destroy +the defiant privateer. Nothing more was attempted that evening, but in +the morning the _Carnation_ advanced to the attack of the _General +Armstrong_. This gave the latter a chance to bring its Long Tom into +play, and it was served with such unerring accuracy that not a shot +missed. Before the brig could come to close quarters she was so crippled +that she was obliged to withdraw. + +The three ships now closed in. It would have been folly to fight them. +So Captain Reid scuttled his ship, lowered his boats and rowed ashore. +The enemy were disposed to follow him thither, but he and his men took +refuge in an old stone fortress and dared the Englishmen to do so. Upon +second thought they decided to leave the Americans to themselves. + +This wonderful exploit was celebrated in song, one stanza of which ended +thus: + + +"From set of sun till rise of morn, through the long September night, +Ninety men against two thousand, and the ninety won the fight; + + In the harbor of Fayal the Azore." + +While the victory of itself was one of the most remarkable of which +there is any record, it resembled that of Perry on Lake Erie in its +far-reaching consequences. Admiral Cochrane found his ships so crippled +that he returned to England to refit. He then sailed for New Orleans, +which he reached a few days after it had been occupied by General +Jackson. But for the delay caused by his fight with Captain Reid he +would have shut out General Jackson from the city and prevented his +winning the most glorious land victory of the whole war. + + + + +LESSER WARS. + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +Resentment of the Barbary States--The War with Algiers--Captain +Decatur's Vigorous Course--His Astonishing Success as a Diplomat. + + +It was not alone in our wars with the leading nations that the American +navy won glory. Wherever there arose a demand for its work, its +patriotism, skill and bravery were instant to respond. + +England had its hands full during the early years of the nineteenth +century in combating Napoleon Bonaparte and other nations with which she +became embroiled. Had she been wise and treated the United States with +justice, she would have saved herself the many humiliations received at +our hands. She is another nation to-day, but it was wholly her fault +that her "children" on this side of the ocean were forced to strike for +the defence of their rights in the Revolution and the War of 1812. + +In the account of our war with Tripoli it has been shown that the young +American navy performed brilliant service. The Barbary States took +naturally to piracy, and Great Britain, by securing immunity for her +vessels through the payment of tribute, also secured a virtual monopoly +of the commerce of the Mediterranean. Her policy was a selfish one, for +she believed the United States was too weak to send any effective +warships into that part of the world. The story of Tripoli convinced her +of the mistake of this belief. + +The Barbary States were sour over their defeat, and, when the War of +1812 broke out, they eagerly seized the occasion to pick a quarrel with +us. The Dey of Algiers opened the ball by insisting that $27,000 should +be paid him, the same being past due (under the old treaty providing for +tribute from the United States), owing to the difference in the methods +of computing time by the two countries. Since our war with England +prevented the sending of any force to the Mediterranean at that time, +the consul complied and the blackmail was handed to the Dey. + +This concession only whetted the barbarian's appetite, and his next step +was to order the consul to leave the country, since he was not honest +enough to make his residence in the Dey's dominions congenial to the +latter. About that time the Dey received a present of valuable naval +stores from England, and he lost no time in sending out his corsairs to +prey upon American commerce. + +Tripoli and Tunis were not so active, but believing the British boast +that they would sweep the American navy from the seas, they allowed the +warships of that nation to recapture several prizes that the American +privateers had sent into their ports. Their sympathies were wholly with +England and against the United States, which they hated with an +intensity natural to their savage nature. + +The United States bided its time. No sooner had the War of 1812 closed +than our Government decided to give its attention to Algiers, whose +defiant Dey had not only refused to allow his American prisoners to be +ransomed, but had insolently declared that he meant to add a good many +more to them. + +Hardly had the treaty with England been proclaimed when two squadrons +were ordered into Algerian waters. The first was under the command of +Captain William Bainbridge and assembled at Boston, and the second, +under Captain Stephen Decatur, was organized at New York. Decatur was +the first to get under way, sailing on May 20 with a squadron consisting +of ten vessels, mounting 210 guns. He had under his direct command +nearly all the seamen who had served under him and survived the last +war. + +It may seem that Decatur had an easy task before him, but Maclay shows +that the force against which he sailed was really the stronger. It +consisted of 5 frigates, 6 sloops of war and 1 schooner--all carrying +360 guns, which exceeded those of the American squadron by 50 per cent. +The Algerian admiral was the terror of the Mediterranean. He had risen +from the lowest to the highest rank by his indomitable valor and skill. +He once captured by boarding in broad daylight a Portuguese frigate +within sight of Gibraltar. He had performed other valiant exploits; his +ships were well equipped and manned, and the crews trained in modern +warfare. + +In addition, the city of Algiers was so strongly fortified that Lord +Nelson declared that twenty-five ships of the line would not be more +than enough to capture it. As Decatur drew near the Portugal coast he +made guarded inquiries as to the whereabouts of the Algerian squadron. +He used the utmost care to prevent his presence from becoming known to +the enemy, and finally heard that which led him to believe the Moorish +admiral had passed through the Straits of Gibraltar and entered the +Mediterranean. At Gibraltar Decatur saw several boats hurrying off to +Algiers to warn his enemy of his danger. He made sail up the +Mediterranean, hoping to beat the despatch boats. The admiral's flagship +was descried, and, still striving to avert suspicion, the American ships +worked gradually toward him. Before they could get within range the +Moorish admiral took the alarm, and, crowding on every stitch of canvas, +made a resolute effort to escape. He handled his ship with great skill, +and Decatur feared he would succeed in reaching some neutral port or +elude him in the night, which was near at hand. + +A hot chase followed, and the Turks soon opened on the American flagship +and wounded several men, but Decatur reserved his fire until able to +deliver one of his fearful broadsides. A shot literally cut the Moorish +admiral in two. A few minutes later a second broadside was fired, but no +signal of surrender was made, and the men in the tops continued firing +until the American marines picked them off. Seeing there was no escape +for the enemy, and wishing to save the unnecessary shedding of blood, +Decatur took a position off the frigate's bow, whereupon she made a +vigorous effort to escape. + +In doing this, she headed directly for the 18-gun brig _Epervier_, which +was in danger of being run down; but the plucky master-commandant, John +Downes, backed and filled away with wonderful skill, chased the flying +frigate, delivered nine diminutive broadsides and compelled the Turk to +strike his colors. + +Upon taking possession of the prize it was found that 30 had been killed +and there were 406 prisoners. On the _Guerriere_ 3 had fallen and 11 +were wounded by the fire of the enemy. + +Believing that the rest of the Algerian squadron would make haste to +their home port, Decatur hastened thither with the view of cutting them +off. If the Dey refused to come to terms, he intended to blockade the +squadron and bombard the city. It was on the 28th of June, 1815, that +the American fleet appeared off Algiers, and the commander signalled a +request for the Swedish consul to come aboard. He came out a few hours +later, accompanied by the Algerian captain of the port. When Decatur +proved by the testimony of one of the native prisoners that their +admiral had been killed and his ship and a second one captured, the +officer was astounded, and so alarmed that he asked the American +commander on what terms he would make peace. + +Decatur was prepared for this question, and produced a letter to the Dey +from the President of the United States, in which it was declared that +the only conditions upon which peace could be made was the full and +final relinquishment by Algiers of all claim to tribute in the future, +and the guarantee that American commerce would not be molested. The +captain, like all Orientals, began to quibble to gain time, asking that +the commissioners should land and conduct the negotiations on shore. +Decatur replied that they must be negotiated on board the _Guerriere_ +and nowhere else. + +The next day the Moorish captain returned with full powers to negotiate. +Decatur now notified him that, in addition to the terms already named, +every American prisoner must be given up without ransom, and the value, +to the last penny, of their stolen property restored. Other minor +demands were added, all of which were within the province of Decatur, +who had been clothed with full authority to make peace. The captain +asked for a truce that he might lay the terms before the Dey. This was +denied. Then he asked for a delay of three hours. + +"Not three minutes," replied Decatur; "if the remaining ships of your +squadron appear before the treaty is signed, or before every American +prisoner is on board this ship, I will capture every one of them." + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN BAINBRIDGE AND THE DEY OF ALGIERS.] + +The Moor was thoroughly cowed by the aggressive American, and, +promising to do all he could to secure the consent of the Dey, he was +hastily rowed ashore. It was understood that if the Dey agreed to the +terms the captain would return in the boat with a white flag displayed +at the bow. + +He had been gone but a short time when an Algerian ship of war was +discovered, crowded with soldiers and approaching. Decatur instantly +cleared for action, and had started to meet the enemy, when the port +captain was observed approaching as rapidly in his boat as his men could +row, and with the white signal fluttering from the bow. All the +Americans, including Decatur, were disappointed, but as he had promised, +he waited until the boat was within hail. Then he called out to know +whether the treaty was signed. He was told that it was, and in a short +time the prisoners were brought alongside and delivered to their +rescuers. Wan, emaciated and hollow-eyed from their long and bitter +imprisonment, they wept tears of joy and kissed the American flag that, +coming so many thousand miles, had brought them deliverance. + +Thus in two weeks after the arrival of the American squadron in Algerian +waters, every demand of its Government was complied with, and a treaty +of peace made on terms dictated by its gallant and faithful +representative. It will be admitted that Stephen Decatur proved himself +one of the most successful diplomats as well as intrepid and skilful of +commanders. + +He now proceeded to Tunis and notified the Dey that he would give him +twelve hours in which to pay $46,000 for allowing the seizure of +American prizes in his port during the late war. The Dey paid it. The +next call of the American commander was on the Bashaw of Tripoli, who, +although he blustered a good deal, was compelled to hand over $25,000 +for a similar breach of the law. + +Among the vessels of the American squadron were three--the _Guerriere_, +_Macedonian_, and the _Peacock_--which had been captured from Great +Britain during the late war. This fact gave peculiar point to the +reproof of the Dey's prime minister to the British consul: "You told us +that the Americans should be swept from the seas in six months by your +navy, and now they make war upon us with some of your own vessels which +they took from you." + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +Piracy in the West Indies--Its Cause--Means by Which It Was Wiped +Out--Piracy in the Mediterranean. + + +We hear little of pirates in these days, but for ten years or more after +the close of the War of 1812 the West Indies were infested by them. Our +Government saw that in self-defense they must be wiped out, for they +grew bolder with every month and made it unsafe for our commerce in +those waters. + +Where did they come from and what gave rise to the ocean nuisances? +About the time named Spain was the mistress of most of the South +American countries. When she discovered America through Columbus, and +for a long period afterward, she was one of the greatest maritime +nations in the world. Like England at the present time, she had colonies +in all parts of the globe, and had she not been so cruel and unwise in +the treatment of her dependencies, would still have retained a great +deal of her former greatness and power; but she is one of the few +nations that never learn from experience, and a short time after our +second war with Great Britain her South American colonies began +revolting against her, and one by one they gained their independence. + +Among the most powerful of the rebelling provinces were Buenos Ayres +and Venezuela; and, taking lesson from the success of our privateers, +they sent out many swift sailing, well-armed vessels to prey upon +Spanish commerce. They did their work so effectively that by and by they +extended their attacks to the vessels of all nations. Nothing being done +for a time to check them, they grew rapidly in numbers and audacity, +until, as has been stated, the West Indies swarmed with the pests. The +men living along the coast found buccaneering so profitable that they +gave up their peaceful pursuits and became free-booters of the sea. Like +the Spaniards themselves, they were ferocious, and generally murdered +the crews of the captured vessels and then divided the plunder among +themselves. + +Seeing that something must be done to check these intolerable outrages, +our Government gave the task, in 1819, to Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero +of Lake Erie. His work was more difficult than would be supposed, for, +in addition to destroying the pirates, he had to avoid offending the +countries named, with whom we wished to maintain friendly relations. +They sent out regular cruisers that had the same right to prey upon +Spanish commerce that our privateers had to attack English ships when we +were at war with their country. Some of these cruisers secretly engaged +in piracy; many that flew the black flag, in the presence of those who +could not defend themselves, claimed to be authorized privateers at +other times and carried forged commissions. They were treacherous, cruel +and merciless to the last degree. + +It will be seen, therefore, that the task assigned to Captain Perry +required quick decision, courage and discretion. He possessed all those +qualities in a high degree, and, in the performance of his duty, reached +the mouth of the Orinoco in July, 1815, in command of three powerful +ships. The following extract from his journal will give a vivid idea of +the discomforts which he and his men underwent in the performance of +their work: + +"The sun, as soon as it shows itself in the morning, strikes almost +through you. Mosquitoes, sand flies and gnats cover you, and as the sun +gets up higher it becomes entirely calm and the rays pour down a heat +that is insufferable. The fever that it creates, together with the +irritation caused by the insects, produces a thirst which is insatiable, +to quench which we drink water at a temperature of eighty-two degrees. +About four o'clock in the afternoon a rain squall, accompanied by a +little wind, generally takes place. It might be supposed that this would +cool the air, but not so, for the steam which arises as soon as the sun +comes out makes the heat still more intolerable. At length night +approaches and we go close inshore and anchor. Myriads of mosquitoes and +gnats come off to the vessel and compel us to sit over strong smoke +created by burning oakum and tar, rather than endure their terrible +stings, until, wearied and exhausted, we go to bed to endure new +torments. Shut up in the berth of a small cabin, if there is any air +stirring, not a breath of it can reach us. The mosquitoes, more +persevering, follow us and annoy us the whole night by their noise and +bites until, almost mad with heat and pain, we rise to go through the +same trouble the next day." + +Perry sailed three hundred miles up the Orinoco and was undaunted by the +fact that the dreaded yellow fever soon appeared among his men. He was +seized with the terrible disease and died on the 24th of August. He was +buried with the highest civic and military honors at Trinidad, many +British officers who had fought against him on Lake Erie showing their +respect for his bravery and an appreciation of his kindness to them when +they were prisoners of war. His remains were afterward removed to +Newport, Rhode Island, where a magnificent monument was erected to his +memory. + +The untimely death of this naval hero before he had time to complete +his work encouraged the West Indian pirates and they became more +audacious than before. In the autumn of 1821 several naval vessels were +sent thither by our Government. They did vigorous work, capturing and +destroying a number of piratical vessels, but there were too many of +them, and they were spread over too extended a space to be wiped out by +a few captures. In the following year a still more powerful squadron +went to the West Indies under the command of Captain James Biddle, who +did such valiant service in the War of 1812. A good many buccaneers were +destroyed, including several leaders of the buccaneers whose atrocious +deeds had long made their names a terror. In one of these attacks +Lieutenant William H. Allen, of the schooner _Alligator_, was killed by +a musket ball. His gallantry in the fight between the _Argus_ and +_Pelican_ in the war with Great Britain sent a thrill of admiration +through the country and brought him well-merited promotion. + +You have not forgotten the wonderful cruise of Captain David Porter in +the _Essex_, when he entered the Pacific Ocean and caused such havoc +among the British shipping. He was appointed commander of the West India +forces and arrived off Porto Rico in March, 1823. He was provided, in +addition to his warships, with a number of barges, furnished with +twenty oars apiece, and which were indispensable in following the +pirates up the shallow creeks and into the shoal waters where the +vessels could not go. + +[Illustration: OUR FLEET IN THE BALTIC.] + +Captain Porter was discreet but impatient with injustice. When one of +his schooners was fired into by the Porto Rican authorities he promptly +demanded an explanation, which was given. The most important incident of +his service occurred in the autumn of 1824 and is known as the "Foxardo +Affair." + +In October of that year the storehouse of the American consul at St. +Thomas was broken into and robbed of much valuable property which there +was reason to believe had been carried to the small port at the eastern +end of Porto Rico known as Foxardo. Lieutenant Platt, of the _Beagle_, +anchored off the town and asked the help of the authorities in capturing +the criminals and recovering the property. The officer was treated with +the grossest discourtesy. Having landed in civilian clothes, the +authorities accused him of being an impostor and ordered him to show his +commission. The Lieutenant produced it, whereupon they declared it a +forgery and arrested him on the charge of being a pirate. After he and a +midshipman who accompanied him had been insulted repeatedly they were +allowed to leave. + +When Captain Porter learned of this outrage he entered the harbor with +several of his vessels and sent a letter to the alcalde or governor, +notifying him that he had one hour in which to send an explanation of +his action. While waiting for the return of the flag of truce Captain +Porter saw one of the shore batteries getting ready to fire upon him. +Instantly, he sent a detachment, which captured the battery and spiked +the guns. Then Captain Porter landed, and, after spiking another +battery, made his way to the town. By and by the alcalde and captain of +the port appeared and made such profuse and humble apologies that the +officer could not refuse to accept them, and returned to his ship. + +Such is a truthful account of the incident as it occurred. It would seem +that there was nothing in the course of the gallant naval officer that +deserved censure. One of his officers had been insulted and he compelled +the offenders to make a suitable apology. Fearing with good reason a +treacherous attack from the batteries on shore, he spiked their guns. +But when the news reached our Government Captain Porter was ordered +home, tried by court martial and sentenced to be suspended from the +service for six months. Feeling himself unjustly treated, Captain Porter +resigned and entered the Mexican navy, where he remained until 1829. In +that year Andrew Jackson became President of the United States. He had +been through trying and stormy times himself and would never submit to +insult from any man or nation. He appointed Porter consul general at +Algiers. He afterward became minister to Turkey and died March 28, 1843. + +Captain Lewis Warrington succeeded Porter in the West Indies and +followed out his aggressive policy. The buccaneers were hunted down +without cessation and nest after nest broken up until, at the close of +1825, piracy in those waters was practically suppressed. For several +years, however, a squadron was maintained there and more than once its +services were needed, but the work was completed and since then no +trouble in that quarter of the world of the nature described has plagued +either ourselves or any other nation. + +Even in the Mediterranean our navy had similar work to do. While little +Greece was making so gallant a struggle for freedom against Turkey a +number of her vessels played the rôle of pirate and attacked ships of +other nations. Among others, an English brig had been seized, but +Lieutenant Lewis M. Goldsborough, after a furious fight, recaptured the +vessel. Lieutenant John A. Carr singled out the Greek captain and in +the fierce hand-to-hand conflict killed him. Lieutenant +Goldsborough--who afterward became rear-admiral--received the thanks of +several of the Mediterranean powers for his assistance in ridding the +waters of the pirates who, though few in number, became exceedingly +troublesome. + +It was by such prompt, vigorous and brave measures that the American +navy compelled the respect not only of civilized but of barbarous +peoples in all parts of the world. This fact is proven by a remarkable +occurrence, not often mentioned in history, the particulars of which are +given in the next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +The Qualla Battoo Incident. + + +Qualla Battoo is the name of a small Malay town, which stood on the +northwestern coast of Sumatra. In the month of February, 1831, the +_Friendship_, a trading vessel from Salem, Mass., lay at anchor off the +town, taking on board a cargo of pepper. Her captain, Mr. Endicott, and +crew numbered fifteen men. There being no harbor, the vessel was about +half a mile from shore. The day was oppressively hot and no one on the +_Friendship_ put forth more exertion than was absolutely necessary. Even +the swarthy natives seemed to languish in the flaming heat and displayed +less vigor in bringing out the pepper in their boats than they did when +the sun beat down upon them with its usual rigor. + +Captain Endicott understood the treacherous nature of the Malays, and he +and his crew kept sharp watch of those who were given the management of +the vessel's boats, owing to the difficult character of the coast which +made such a course necessary. + +The trade in pepper was almost the only one in which Qualla Battoo +engaged. Captain Endicott, his second mate and four seamen were on +shore at the trading station, a little way up the river, superintending +the weighing of the pepper. The first mate and the rest of the crew +waited on the vessel to receive and stow away the cargo. The work had +hardly begun when a suspicious proceeding caught the eye of Captain +Endicott. + +The first boat, after receiving its load, passed the short distance +necessary down the river to the sea, where, instead of rowing directly +out to the ship, it turned up the coast and took on board more men. The +Captain concluded the crew needed this additional help to work their way +through the heavy surf. But, not wholly satisfied, he told two of his +men to go nearer the shore, keep their eyes on the boat and report to +him anything that looked wrong. + +Captain Endicott, from his position, was unable to catch the full +significance of the first action of the natives in charge of the +outgoing boat, for, instead of taking on board more help, the whole +unarmed party stepped ashore and twice as many fully armed warriors took +their places. They carefully concealed their weapons and the Americans +on the vessel made the same mistake as their captain in believing they +were merely the additions necessary to help work the craft through the +surf. + +They tied fast to the gangway and most of them climbed over the side +with their daggers hidden in their clothing. The mate would have stopped +them, but they pretended not to understand his words and acted as if +interested in the appearance of the guns and rigging. Their conduct was +so natural that the mate and his men gave their whole attention to +taking the pepper on board and stowing it away. The mate was absorbed in +his work, when suddenly several Malays sprang with lightning-like +quickness at him and buried their daggers in his back. He turned and +attempted to defend himself, but was quickly despatched. Five men rushed +to the help of the mate, but they were unarmed and outnumbered four to +one. Two were quickly killed and three made prisoners. The other four +seamen sprang overboard and swam for land. They saw that the beach was +lined with warriors waiting for them. Accordingly they turned to one +side and swam several miles to a promontory, where they were safe for +the time. + +Seeing that their friends had gained possession of the ship, several +boatloads of natives rowed out to it, took possession, plundered and +then tried to run it ashore, that they might break out the metal work at +their leisure. + +Meanwhile the two seamen stationed near shore by the captain saw what +had taken place and ran back to him with the alarming news. He instantly +ordered all into the second boat and hurried down the river, hoping to +reach the vessel in time to recapture it. The boat was pursued by the +natives along the bank, but it managed to reach the mouth of the river, +where it would have perished in the surf but for the help of a friendly +member of an adjoining tribe, who sprang from his armed coasting +schooner and swam to their assistance. He helped them through the surf, +and, when confronted by the native armed boats, made such threats and +flourishes with his sword (none of the Americans being armed) that he +kept the miscreants at bay and the white men succeeded in reaching the +open sea. + +Seeing that it would be sure death to go to the vessel, the boat was +rowed to a small town about twenty miles distant, where the occupants +found three American merchant vessels. The officers and crews were +enraged upon learning what had taken place, and, although it was night, +they made sail at once for Qualla Battoo, reaching it next day. In reply +to the demand that the _Friendship_ should be returned, the insolent +Rajah told them to take her if they could. The three ships moved as +close to shore as was safe and opened fire with such guns as they had. +All merchant vessels carried some kind of armament against pirates in +that part of the world. Impatient with the delay involved in recapturing +the _Friendship_, by attacking at long range, as it may be called, three +boats were filled with armed men who rowed straight for the vessel. It +was swarming with armed natives, who kept up a vicious but ill directed +fire, the result of which was the sailors rowed the faster, eager to get +close enough to punish the miscreants for their murderous work. + +When they were almost to the ship the Malays sprang overboard and swam +frantically for land. Captain Endicott regained possession of his +vessel, and, upon examination, found it had been rifled from stem to +stern. Among the plunder taken away was $12,000 in specie. Altogether +the loss was $40,000 to the owners of the ship and the captain was +compelled to give up his voyage and return home. + +It took a long time for news to travel in those days, but it finally +reached the United States, where Andrew Jackson happened to be +President. He immediately ordered the 44-gun frigate _Potomac_ to that +out of the way corner of the world, with instructions to punish the +guilty parties concerned in the outrage. Captain Downes lost no time in +getting under way and arrived off Qualla Battoo in February, 1832, just +a year after the treacherous attack upon the _Friendship_. + +Anxious to prevent his errand becoming known so that he might surprise +the Malays, Captain Downes disguised his ship as a merchantman, closing +his ports and taking every precaution possible. He displayed the Danish +colors, still maintaining the guise of a merchantman, and sent a boat's +crew to take soundings along shore. The natives on the beach displayed +so hostile a disposition that no landing was made, and, having gained +the necessary information, the boat returned to the frigate. Captain +Downes then informed them that the expedition would leave the ship at +midnight. + +A strong armed force in several boats secretly rowed to land at the time +named, but day was approaching when they reached the beach, where the +men landed under the guidance of the former second mate of the +_Friendship_ and started inland. One division turned to the left to +attack the fort at the northern end of the town. The Malays received +them with a brisk discharge of cannon, muskets, javelins and arrows. +But, returning the fire, the Americans burst open the gate of the +stockade, fought hand to hand with the fierce Malays and drove them out +of the open space into the citadel. There they were attacked with the +same impetuosity, but they fought like tigers, and it was not until +twelve had been killed and a great many wounded that they were overcome. +The Rajah in command, after a desperate defence in which he wounded +several Americans, was finally despatched. + +In the meantime the fort in the middle of the town had been attacked by +the other division and carried after a bloody fight in which a marine +was killed and a number wounded. But the strongest fort of all stood on +the bank of the river near the beach. There the Rajah of Qualla Battoo, +who was the real author of the attack on the _Friendship_, had gathered +a large force of his best warriors and announced that he would fight to +the death. + +The strength of the force which marched against the fort was eighty-five +men. One of the officers who took part in this attack said: "The natives +were brave and fought with a fierceness bordering on desperation. They +would not yield while a drop of their savage blood warmed their bosoms +or while they had strength to wield a weapon, fighting with that +undaunted firmness which is the characteristic of bold and determined +spirits and displaying such an utter carelessness of life as would have +been honored in a better cause. Instances of the bravery of these +people were numerous, so much so that were I to give the detail of each +event my description would probably become tiresome." + +The barricades stoutly resisted the fire. Leaving a force to engage the +fort in front, Lieutenant Shubrick led a body of sailors through the +woods to the rear with the 6-pounder which had been brought from the +frigate. When they reached their position they came upon three heavily +armed schooners, swarming with warriors, awaiting a chance to take part +in the fight. Shubrick promptly opened upon them with his cannon, +followed by a destructive fire of musketry, which sent the Malays +leaping overboard and into the woods. They succeeded, however, in +warping one of the schooners beyond range. + +The Americans now being at the front and rear of the fort, a +simultaneous attack was made. The gate was wrenched from its fastenings, +but the first American who tried to enter was killed and three others +badly wounded. Undaunted the remainder of the assailants rushed through +and drove the defenders to a high platform, where they made their final +stand. The other stockade was in flames, which were burning so fast that +the Americans themselves were in danger from them. The little cannon was +brought into play from a neighboring elevation and poured canister and +grape into the Malays. Meanwhile the Americans, who had performed their +part so well, came up and joined in the attack on the main fort. The +Malays, still fighting, shrieked out their defiant cries. In the ardor +of the assault the little cannon was too heavily loaded and dismounted. +Amid the wild confusion the flames of the second fort reached the +magazine and the whole structure blew up with a tremendous explosion. + +The cannon being useless, Lieutenant Shubrick ordered a general assault +upon the citadel, and it was made with a resistless rush. The men +scrambled upon the platform, in the face of the swarthy wild cats, and +despatched them in a whirlwind fashion. The work being apparently +completed, the bugle was sounded for retreat and the Americans returned +to the beach. On the way they were fired upon by another fort for which +they had searched without being able to find it. Returning the fire, the +Americans charged through the jungle and after another desperate fight +it was captured, most of the garrison slain and the remainder sent +scurrying through the woods. + +The roll call revealed that two Americans had been killed and eleven +wounded. All were gently lifted into the boats and carried to the ship. +A moderate estimate made 100 of the Malays killed and fully double the +number wounded. + +Captain Downes now brought his long 32-pounders to bear and opened a +bombardment of Qualla Battoo which spread destruction and death among +the natives. Many were killed and others sent scurrying in terror to the +jungle. Toward the close of the day white flags were displayed and the +firing ceased. Immediately after a boat was sent out by the remaining +rajahs, with a white flag fluttering at the bow. On coming aboard the +messengers were presented to Captain Downes and they humbly prayed that +he would stop the firing of his big guns, which were killing all their +people. He promised to do so on their pledge never again to molest an +American. He assured them that if they ever did his country would send +larger and more terrible ships across the ocean that would lay their +towns in ashes and slay hundreds of their men. The subsequent history of +that quarter of the world leaves no doubt that the impressive warning of +Captain Downes produced the best of results, for Sumatra has never +required any further attention from our navy. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +Wilkes's Exploring Expedition. + + +Perhaps my young readers have wondered over the same fact that used to +puzzle me when a boy. While the civilized world was interested, as it +has been for hundreds of years, in trying to reach the Pole, and the +nations were constantly sending expeditions to search for it, to be +followed by others to hunt for the expeditions and then by others to +look up those that were hunting for the others and so on, all these +efforts were confined to the North Pole. Everybody seemed to have +forgotten that there is also a South Pole, which is not a mile further +from the equator than the North Pole. + +Of course there was good reason for all this. There is a great deal of +land in the north, while the unbroken ocean seas stretch away from the +South Pole for hundreds and thousands of miles in every direction and +the prodigious masses and mountains of ice make it impossible to get +anywhere near it. Our daring explorers are continually edging further +north, and doubtless within a few years the Pole will be reached, but +there appears no prospect of the South Pole being seen for many a year +to come. + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN CHARLES WILKES.] + +Lieutenant Charles Wilkes was born in 1798 and died in 1877. He entered +the American navy at an early age and in 1838 was made commander of the +squadron which spent four years in sailing through the Pacific, along +its American coasts and in the Antarctic regions. + +Before giving an account of this memorable scientific expedition, let me +add a little more information concerning this distinguished naval +officer, since this is the only chapter which contains any reference to +him. He was made a captain in 1855. In the month of November, 1861, +while in command of the steamer _San Jacinto_, he stopped the British +ship _Trent_ and forcibly took off the two Confederate commissioners, +Mason and Slidell, who were on their way respectively to England and +France to secure their aid for the Southern Confederacy. + +Captain Wilkes was highly applauded for his act by his countrymen, but +England was very indignant. It was an illegal proceeding on his part, +since the deck of a ship is the same as the soil of the country whose +flag she flies. Our Government was compelled to disavow his action and +restore the commissioners to English custody. + +In the War for the Union Captain Wilkes commanded the James River +squadron, was made commodore in 1862 and was retired in 1864 and made +rear-admiral on the retired list. + +[Illustration: THE "SAN JACINTO" STOPPING THE "TRENT."] + +The scientific expedition of which Lieutenant Wilkes was given command +was intended, to quote the words of Congress, "for the purpose of +exploring and surveying the southern ocean, as well to determine the +existence of all doubtful islands and shoals as to discover and +accurately fix the position of those which lie in or near the track of +our vessels in that quarter and may have escaped the observation of +scientific navigators." + +Lieutenant Wilkes sailed from Hampton Roads on the 19th of August, 1838, +his flagship being the 18-gun sloop-of-war _Vincennes_, the 18-gun +sloop-of-war _Peacock_, the 12-gun brig-of-war _Porpoise_, the storeship +_Relief_, the tender _Sea Gull_ and the tender _Flying Fish_. Since one +of the main objects was scientific research, the expedition was provided +with a philologist, naturalists, conchologists, mineralogist, botanist, +draughtsmen and a horticulturist. + +A halt for a week was made at the Madeira Islands, when the ships headed +southward, reaching Rio Janeiro late in November. In January, 1839, they +halted at Orange Harbor, Terra del Fuego, and made it their base of +operations. On the 25th of February Lieutenant Wilkes, in the +_Porpoise_, accompanied by the _Sea Gull_, started for the South Pole. +On the 1st of March considerable ice and snow were encountered and an +island sighted, but the men could not land because of the surf. The next +day the Ashland Islands were discovered and soon after the two vessels +reached Palmersland. The following is the account of Lieutenant Wilkes: + +"It was a day of great excitement to all, for we had ice of all kinds to +encounter, from the iceberg of huge quadrangular shape, with its +stratified appearance, to the sunken and deceptive masses that were +difficult to perceive before they were under the bow. I have rarely seen +a finer sight. The sea was literally studded with these beautiful +masses, some of pure white, others showing all shades of the opal, +others emerald green and occasionally, here and there, some of deep +black. Our situation was critical, but the weather favored us for a few +hours. On clearing these dangers we kept off to the south and west under +all sail, and at 9 P.M. we counted eight large islands. Afterward the +weather became so thick with mist and fog as to render it necessary to +lie to till daylight, before which time we had a heavy snowstorm. A +strong gale now set in from the southwest; the deck of the brig was +covered with ice and snow and the weather became exceedingly damp and +cold. The men were suffering not only from want of sufficient room but +from the inadequacy of the clothing." + +Naturally the further south they penetrated the greater became their +danger from the increasing fields of ice and icebergs. The _Peacock_ and +_Flying Fish_ left Orange Harbor on the same day with the _Porpoise_ and +_Sea Gull_. They were separated by a gale and the _Peacock_ was +continually beset by icebergs. Every rope and the deck, spars and +rigging were thickly coated with ice. Some days later the _Flying Fish_ +was met and she reported that she had penetrated to the parallel of 70 +degrees. There was imminent danger of being frozen in, and, as they were +short of provisions, they sailed northward. The _Flying Fish_ reached +Orange Harbor in April, while the _Peacock_ continued on to Valparaiso, +where the storeship _Relief_ was found. In May the other members of the +squadron arrived at the port, with the exception of the _Sea Gull_, +which was never heard of again. + +The squadron now crossed the Pacific, reaching Sydney, New South Wales, +in the latter part of November. There, after consulting with his +officers, Lieutenant Wilkes decided to make another Antarctic cruise. +The _Flying Fish_ proved so unseaworthy that, after passing through a +violent storm, she was obliged to return to port and took no further +part in the enterprise. + +Once more among the ice fields, the ships were menaced by danger from +every side. Some of the escapes were of the most thrilling nature. One +of the ships barely missed being crushed by hundreds of tons of ice +which fell from the top of an overhanging iceberg. The weather was +intensely cold and the snow and fine sleet which were whirled +horizontally through the air cut the face like bird shot. + +The _Vincennes_ prowled along the edge of the Antarctic Continent as far +as 97 degrees east, when Lieutenant Wilkes headed northward and arrived +at Sydney in March, 1840, and found the _Peacock_ at anchor. The +_Porpoise_ reached 100 degrees east and 64 degrees 65 minutes south when +she turned her prow away from the inhospitable solitude and in March +arrived at Auckland Isle. + +The following summer was spent in exploring the islands of the Southern +Archipelago. A party was engaged in a launch and cutter, when a tempest +compelled them to run into a bay of the Fiji group for shelter. While +working its way back the cutter ran upon a reef and was attacked by the +natives. The ammunition of the Americans was wet and they abandoned the +cutter and returned to the _Vincennes_. + +Since these natives needed a lesson, Lieutenant Wilkes landed a force +and burned the native village. A few days later an exploring party was +again attacked while trying to trade with the natives. The men were +forced to retreat to their boats, under a hot fire, many of the savages +using muskets with no little skill. Reinforcements were landed and the +savages put to flight, but in the fighting Midshipman Underwood and +Henry Wilkes were mortally hurt and a seaman dangerously wounded. + +Matters had now assumed so serious a shape that a detachment of seventy +officers and men landed at another point on the island and marched upon +the nearest village, laying waste the crops as they advanced. When the +village was reached it was found to be defended by a strong stockade, +with a trench inside, from which the crouching natives could fire +through loopholes, while outside of the stockade was a deep ditch of +water. Feeling their position impregnable, the savages flourished their +weapons and uttered tantalizing whoops at the white men. The whoops +quickly changed when the cabins within the stockade were set on fire by +a rocket. The natives fled, leaving the village to be burned to ashes. +The Americans pushed hostilities so aggressively that on the following +day the islanders sued for peace. + +The squadron next sailed to the Hawaiian Islands, where several months +were spent in exploration. Then the coast of Oregon was visited and the +_Peacock_ suffered wreck at the mouth of the Columbia. Doubling the Cape +of Good Hope, the expedition reached New York in June, 1842, having been +gone nearly four years and having sailed more than 30,000 miles. + + + + +THE WAR FOR THE UNION. + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +A New Era for the United States Navy--Opening of the Great Civil +War--John Lorimer Worden--Battle Between the _Monitor_ and +_Merrimac_--Death of Worden. + + +The War for the Union ushered in a new era for the American navy. Steam +navigation had been fully established some years before. As all my +readers no doubt know, the first successful steamboat in this country +was the _Clermont_, made by Robert Fulton, which ascended the Hudson in +the summer of 1807. The average speed of the pioneer boat was about five +miles an hour, so that the trip occupied more than thirty hours. This +great invention was a novelty, and, like many others of a similar +nature, it required considerable time for it to come into use. The first +western steamboat was built at Pittsburg in 1811. It gave an impetus to +river navigation by steam, and before long the boats were ploughing the +principal streams of the country. The first steamer to cross the +Atlantic was the _Savannah_, which made the voyage in 1819, but ocean +navigation was not fairly begun until 1838, when the _Sirius_ and _Great +Western_ made the voyage from England to the United States. It is a +noteworthy fact that one of the greatest of English scientists, after +demonstrating that ocean navigation by steam was impossible, was a +passenger on the _Great Western_ on her first trip across the Atlantic. + +When the great Civil War burst upon the country the National Government +not only failed to comprehend the gigantic nature of the struggle, but +was almost wholly unprepared for it. The navy consisted of 90 vessels, +of which only 42 were in commission, while 21 were unfit for service, +and of those in commission there were but 11, carrying 134 guns, that +were in American waters. The remainder were scattered over the waters of +the globe, such being the policy of President Buchanan's Secretary of +the Navy, who, like the Secretary of War and other members of the +Presidential Cabinet, were secessionists who did all they could to pave +the way for the establishment of the Southern Confederacy. + +On the authority of Maclay, the total number of officers of all grades +in the navy on August 1, 1861, was 1,457, in addition to whom an immense +volunteer force was called for and 7,500 volunteer officers were +enrolled before the close of the war. Three hundred and twenty-two +officers resigned from the United States navy and entered that of the +seceding States, of which 243 were officers of the line. The 7,600 +sailors in the navy at the opening of the war was increased to 51,500 +before the close of hostilities. + +In a work of this nature the difficulty is to select the most striking +and interesting incidents from the scores that formed a part of the War +for the Union. One of the many heroes who was brought into prominence +was John Lorimer Worden, who was born in Dutchess County, N.Y., March +12, 1818. He entered the navy when sixteen years old and became a +lieutenant in 1840. His services in the Mexican War were unimportant and +he was a first lieutenant of the Brooklyn Navy Yard when the Civil War +broke out. + +In the month of April, 1861, when a conflict was inevitable, the +Government was anxious to send dispatches to Captain Adams commanding +the fleet at Pensacola, who was waiting for orders to reinforce with two +companies of artillery, that post being in danger of capture by the +Confederates. The dispatches intrusted to Lieutenant Worden were orders +for such reinforcements to be made. + +It was so delicate and dangerous a duty, since Worden was compelled to +make his way through the South which was aflame with secession +excitement, that he committed the dispatches to memory and then +destroyed them. He applied to General Bragg in command of the +Confederate forces in that neighborhood for permission to make a verbal +communication from the Secretary of War to Captain Adams. Permission was +given, and, going on board, Worden delivered his message like a boy +reciting his piece at school. Captain Adams gave him a written +acknowledgment of the receipt of the dispatches, adding that the orders +of the Government would be carried out. + +Having thus cleverly eluded the suspicious watchfulness of the +authorities, Lieutenant Worden started for home, but when near +Montgomery, Ala., then the capital of the Confederacy, he was arrested, +taken from the train and thrown into prison. This was on the order of +General Bragg, who discovered how he had been outwitted, and the prompt +reinforcement prevented the capture of Fort Pickens, for which Bragg had +made every preparation. The post was held by the Unionists throughout +the war and was the only one south of Mason and Dixon's line so held. + +Lieutenant Worden was kept a prisoner until the 13th of the following +November, when, his health having broken down, he was exchanged and sent +North. There he remained, slowly regaining his strength until March, +1862, when it fell to his lot to become a leading actor in one of the +most famous naval engagements in all history. + +When war had fully begun the Union forces in charge of the Norfolk Navy +Yard saw they were not strong enough to prevent its capture by the +Confederates, who were arming for that purpose. They therefore set fire +to the numerous and valuable shipping there. Among the vessels scuttled +and sunk was the steam frigate _Merrimac_, at that time the finest +vessel in the service. In truth, she went down so quickly that very +little damage was done to her. The Confederates raised her, fastened a +huge iron snout or prow at the front, cut down her deck and encased her +with railroad iron, which sloped at an angle of forty-five degrees, and +was smeared on the outside with grease and tallow. Her enormous weight +made her draw more than twenty feet of water and when she was moving +slowly through the bay or river her appearance suggested the mansard +roof of a vast house. From what has been said it will be noted that the +_Merrimac_ was a genuine ironclad, something which had never been heard +of before. + +[Illustration: BLOCKADE RUNNER--THE "MONITOR"--CAPTAIN ERICSSON.] + +Regular news of the building of the _Merrimac_ (called the _Virginia_ by +the Confederates) was telegraphed to Washington by friends of the +Government. The authorities felt some uneasiness, but were far from +suspecting the terrible power for destructiveness possessed by the +monster. Captain Ericsson, the famous Swedish inventor, was constructing +on Long Island an ironclad about one-fourth the size of the _Merrimac_, +and he was urged to all possible speed in its completion. He kept his +men busy night and day and had it finished a day or two before the +completion of the _Merrimac_. + +The _Merrimac_ carried ten guns, which fired shells and had a crew of +300 men, under the command of Commodore Franklin Buchanan, a former +officer of the United States navy. Late in the forenoon of March 8, +1862, a column of black smoke rising over the Norfolk Navy Yard gave +notice that the _Merrimac_ had started out at last on her mission of +destruction and death. As the enormous craft forged into sight it was +seen that she was accompanied by three gunboats ready to give what help +they could. + +Five Union vessels were awaiting her in Hampton Roads. They were the +steam frigates _Minnesota_ and _Roanoke_ and the sailing frigates +_Congress_, _Cumberland_ and _St. Lawrence_, all of which immediately +cleared for action. Turning her frightful front toward the _Cumberland_, +the _Merrimac_ swept down upon her in grim and awful majesty. The +_Cumberland_ let fly with her terrific broadsides, which were powerful +enough to sink the largest ship afloat, but the tons of metal hurled +with inconceivable force skipped off the greased sides of the iron roof +and scooted away for hundreds of yards through the startled air. + +The prodigious broadsides were launched again and again, but produced no +more effect than so many paper wads from a popgun. The iron prow of the +_Merrimac_ crashed through the wooden walls of the _Cumberland_ as if +they were cardboard, and, while her crew were still heroically working +their guns, the _Cumberland_ went down, with the red flag, meaning "no +surrender," flying from her peak. Lieutenant Morris succeeded in saving +himself, but 121 were lost out of the crew of 376. + +Having destroyed the _Cumberland_, the _Merrimac_ now made for the +_Congress_, which had been vainly pelting her with her broadsides. The +_Congress_ was aground and so completely at the mercy of the _Merrimac_, +which raked her fore and aft, that every man would have been killed had +not the sign of surrender been displayed. As it was, her commander and +100 of the crew were slain by the irresistible fire of the tremendous +ironclad. + +By this time the fearful spring afternoon was drawing to a close and +the _Merrimac_ labored heavily back to Sewall's Point, intending to +return on the morrow and continue her work of destruction. + +The news of what the _Merrimac_ had done was telegraphed throughout the +South and North. In the former it caused wild rejoicing and raised hope +that before the resistless might of the new ironclad the North would be +compelled to make terms and save her leading seacoast cities from +annihilation by acknowledging the Southern Confederacy. The national +authorities were thrown into consternation. At a special meeting of the +President's Cabinet Secretary of War Stanton expressed his belief that +the _Merrimac_ would appear in front of Washington and compel the +authorities to choose between surrender and destruction, and that the +principal seaports would be laid under contribution. + +But at that very time the hastily completed _Monitor_ was speeding +southward under the command of Lieutenant Worden, who had risen from a +sick bed to assume the duty which no one else was willing to undertake. +Her crew numbered 16 officers and 42 men, with Lieutenant S. Dana Green +as executive officer. Her voyage to Hampton Roads was difficult and of +the most trying nature to the officers and crew, who were nearly +smothered by gas. The boat would have foundered had not the weather been +unusually favorable, but she reached Hampton Roads on the night of March +8 and took a position beside the _Minnesota_, ready and eager for the +terrific fray of the morrow. The _Monitor_ carried two 11-inch Dahlgren +guns and fired solid shot. + +[Illustration: THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE "MERRIMAC" AND "MONITOR."] + +When the _Merrimac_ steamed back the _Monitor_ moved out from her +position and boldly advanced to meet her. The huge monster and smaller +craft, whose appearance suggested the apt comparison of a cheese box on +a raft, silently drew near each other until within a hundred yards, when +the smaller opened with a shot to which the larger replied. The battle +was now between two ironclads. If the shots of the _Monitor_ glanced +harmlessly off of the _Merrimac_ those of the latter were equally +ineffective against the _Monitor_. The latter had the advantage of being +so much smaller that many of the shells of the _Merrimac_ missed her +altogether. Those which impinged against the pilot house or turret did +no harm, while the lesser boat was able to dart here and there at will, +dodging the _Merrimac_ and ramming her when she chose, though such +tactics accomplished nothing. All attempts to run down the _Monitor_ +were vain. The novel battle continued for four hours, when the +_Merrimac_, unable to defeat her nimble antagonist, steamed back to +Norfolk and the strange contest--the first between ironclads--was over. + +The _Monitor_ had proven her inestimable value and was held in reserve +by the Government for future emergencies. But the first battle between +the two proved the last. Some months later, when the Union troops +advanced upon Norfolk, the _Merrimac_ was blown up to prevent her +falling into the hands of the Federals, while at the close of the year +the _Monitor_ foundered in a gale off Cape Hatteras. + +This fight marked an era in the history of naval warfare. The days of +wooden vessels were numbered. All nations saw that their warships to be +effective must be ironclad, and the reader does not need to be reminded +that such is the fact to-day respecting the navy of every civilized +nation. + +During this memorable fight a shell from the _Merrimac_ lifted the iron +plate of the pilot house of the _Monitor_ and disabled Lieutenant Worden +by driving the fragments into his face, while he was peering out of the +peep-hole. He was compelled to give way to Lieutenant Green, who handled +the little ironclad throughout the remainder of the fight. + +Lieutenant Worden never fully recovered from the injuries received in +his fight with the _Merrimac_. As soon as he was able to take an active +command he asked the privilege of doing so. In charge of the _Montauk_, +of the South Atlantic blockading squadron, he destroyed, while under a +heavy fire, the Confederate steamer _Nashville_ and participated in the +unsuccessful attack upon Charleston. He received the thanks of Congress +and was promoted to be a commander for his services with the _Monitor_. +From 1870 to 1874 he was superintendent of the Naval Academy at +Annapolis, becoming commodore in 1868, rear admiral in 1872 and was +retired in 1886. It was said that he never was without pain from the +injuries received in the battle with the _Merrimac_ until his death, +October 18, 1897. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +Two Worthy Sons--William D. Porter--The Career of Admiral David Dixon +Porter. + + +The reader will not forget the exploits of Captain David Porter, in +command of the _Essex_ in the War of 1812. Contrary to the rule that +great men never have great sons, Captain Porter left two boys who +possessed the same remarkable qualities as himself and one of whom +became more famous than his gallant father. + +The eldest of his sons was William D., who was born in New Orleans in +1809, but was educated in the North and was appointed to the navy when +fourteen years old. He was placed in command of a cumbrous ironclad +constructed from a ferryboat at the beginning of the war and named the +_Essex_, in honor of the famous cruiser with which his father played +havoc with the shipping of Great Britain in the Pacific. In the attack +on Fort Henry, in February, 1862, the _Essex_, while doing effective +service, had her boiler pierced by a shot from the enemy, with appalling +consequences. Porter was scalded and knocked senseless and twenty-nine +officers and men were disabled or killed by the escaping steam. + +Later, when he had fully recovered, he was placed in command of the +_Essex_, which was repaired and greatly improved. The Confederates had +completed a more terrible ironclad than the _Merrimac_, which they named +the _Arkansas_. Manned by brave officers and crew, it came down the +Yazoo into the Mississippi, and, secure in her fancied invulnerability, +challenged the whole Union fleet which was assisting in the siege of +Vicksburg. In the furious engagement that followed Captain Porter, with +the _Essex_, succeeded in destroying the ironclad. He rendered his +country other valuable service, but his health gave way, and, while in +the East for medical attendance, he died in the City of New York at the +age of fifty-three. + +The more famous son of Captain Porter was David Dixon, who was born in +Chester, Pa., in 1813. He entered Columbia College, Washington, when +only eleven years old, but left it in 1824 to accompany his father on +his cruise in the West Indies to break up piracy in those waters. When, +two years later, Captain Porter entered the Mexican navy he appointed +his son a midshipman. He acquitted himself gallantly in more than one +fight with the Spanish cruisers. While still a mere boy he was made a +midshipman in the United States navy. As a lieutenant he saw plenty of +active service in the war with Mexico, and, at the beginning of the +Civil War, was one of our most trusted officers. In command of the +_Powhatan_ he covered the landing of the reinforcements for Fort Pickens +just in time to save its capture by Confederates. + +[Illustration: DAVID DIXON PORTER.] + +One of the most important captures of the war was that of New Orleans, +in the spring of 1862. The naval forces were under the command of +Admiral Farragut, while Commander Porter had charge of the mortar fleet. +The principal defences below the city were Forts Jackson and St. Philip. +In approaching them Porter had his ships dressed out with leaves and +branches of trees, the clever disguise proving an effectual protection +from a very destructive fire. + +The furious bombardment lasted for several days and nights. The river +was spanned by a boom of logs, which it was necessary to break through +that the vessels might reach the city above. This was done, Porter +protecting the expedition which effected it. When the situation of the +forts became hopeless his demand for their surrender was accepted and an +officer came on board under a flag of truce to complete the +negotiations. + +While Porter and his visitor were conversing an officer came forward +with the information that the immense floating battery _Louisiana_, of +four thousand tons burden and carrying sixteen heavy guns, had been set +on fire, as Admiral Cervera did with his ships a generation later, when +his escape was cut off from Santiago. + +"Such an act is anything but creditable to you," remarked Porter, +addressing the Confederate commander. + +"I am not responsible for the acts of the naval officers," replied the +visitor. + +The explanation was reasonable, and without any excitement, Commander +Porter renewed the conversation respecting the surrender, but a few +minutes later the officer again approached. + +"The ropes which held the floating battery to the bank have been burned +and she is drifting down stream toward us." + +"Are her guns loaded and is there much ammunition aboard?" asked Porter +of the Confederate commander. + +"I suppose the guns are loaded, but I know nothing about naval matters +here," was the reply. + +Just then the heated cannon began firing their huge charges, which, +though without aim, were likely to do injury to the Union vessels toward +which the battery was floating. Besides, the magazine was stored with +powder and the impending explosion could not fail to be disastrous. + +"If you do not mind it," said Porter, addressing the visitor, "we will +continue our negotiations." + +In referring to this incident, the Admiral said: + +"A good Providence, which directs the most important events, sent the +battery off toward Fort St. Philip, and, as it came abreast of that +formidable fort, it blew up with a force which scattered the fragments +in all directions, killing one of their own men in the fort, and when +the smoke cleared off it was nowhere to be seen, having sunk immediately +in the deep water of the Mississippi. The explosion was terrific and was +seen and heard for many miles up and down the river. Had it occurred +near the vessels, it would have destroyed every one of them." + +[Illustration: GUN AND MORTAR BOATS ON THE MISSISSIPPI.] + +After the fall of New Orleans Porter was sent to Ship Island to await +the attack that was in contemplation upon New Orleans. He was recalled +by Admiral Farragut to aid him in the siege of Vicksburg. In passing the +batteries Porter had three of his vessels disabled and twenty-nine men +killed and wounded. The capture of that last Confederate stronghold on +the Mississippi was a severe and tedious task, but General Grant, with +that bulldog tenacity for which he was famous, held on until the 4th +of July, 1863, when General Pemberton, the Confederate commander, +surrendered his whole garrison of more than 20,000 men. In thus opening +the Mississippi all the way to the Gulf the navy rendered invaluable +assistance. Porter's aid was so important and his conduct so gallant +that he received the thanks of Congress and was created a full rear +admiral, his commission dating from July 4, 1863. In a public dispatch +the Secretary of the Navy said, addressing Admiral Porter: "To yourself, +your officers and the brave and gallant sailors who have been so fertile +in resources, so persistent and so daring under all circumstances, I +tender, in the name of the President, the thanks and congratulations of +the whole country on the fall of Vicksburg." + +One of the most disastrous expeditions of the Civil War was that which +was undertaken by General N.P. Banks, in the spring of 1864. His +ostensible purpose was to complete the conquest of Texas and Louisiana, +but there is good reason to believe that the famous Red River expedition +was little more than a huge cotton speculation. Immense quantities were +stored along the river and could it have been secured would have been +worth many hundred thousand dollars to the captors. The charge has been +made, with apparent reason, that several Confederate leaders were +concerned in the "deal," seeing as they did, that the end of the +Confederacy was at hand. The trouble, however, was that other +Confederates like General Dick Taylor did all they could to defeat the +purpose of General Banks and they succeeded to perfection. + +The Union commander had an army of 30,000 men with which he began the +ascent of the Red River. He captured Fort de Russy March 14 and then +marched against Shreveport. His forces were strewn along for miles, with +no thought of danger, when at Sabine Cross Roads they were furiously +attacked by General Dick Taylor and routed as utterly as was the first +advance upon Manassas in July, 1861. The demoralized men were rallied at +Pleasant Hill, where they were again attacked and routed by Taylor. +Banks succeeded at last in reaching New Orleans, where he was relieved +of his command. + +When Porter had waited a short time at the appointed place of meeting +for Banks's army a messenger reached him with news of that General's +defeat and his hurried retreat. Porter saw that it would not do for him +to delay an hour. He had had great difficulty in getting his fifty +vessels up the narrow stream, whose current was falling so rapidly that +it already appeared impossible to get the fleet past the snags and +shoals to the point of safety two hundred miles below. + +Improving every moment and under a continual fire from the shore, Porter +managed to descend something more than half way down the river to Grand +Ecore, where he found Banks and his demoralized army. Porter advised the +commander to remain where he was until the spring rains would enable the +fleet to ascend the river again, but Banks was too frightened to do +anything but retreat, and he kept it up until he arrived at New Orleans. + +The river fell so rapidly that all the fleet would have been stranded +above the falls but for the genius of Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Bailey, +of Wisconsin, a military engineer who accompanied Banks's expedition. +Under his direction several thousand men were set to work, and, at the +end of twelve days, they had constructed a series of wing dams, through +which the vessels were safely floated into the deeper water below the +falls. This accomplished their deliverance from what otherwise would +have been certain destruction. Porter pronounced the exploit of Bailey +the greatest engineering feat of the whole war. One of the Admiral's +most pleasing traits was his appreciation of the services of his +assistants. He complimented Bailey in glowing terms in his official +report, secured his promotion to brigadier-general and presented him +with a sword which cost nearly a thousand dollars. + +[Illustration: BREAKING THROUGH THE DAMS ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.] + +Porter was now transferred to the North Atlantic Squadron and commanded +the powerful naval contingents in the two attacks on Fort Fisher, +December, 1864, and January, 1865. In the latter Porter and General +Terry succeeded in capturing the last important sea fortress belonging +to the Confederates. Porter was promoted to be vice-admiral in 1866 and +admiral in 1870. He was superintendent of the naval academy until 1869, +and died in Washington, February 13, 1891, one day before the death of +General Sherman. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +Charles Stuart Boggs--His Coolness in the Presence of Danger--His +Desperate Fight Below New Orleans--His Subsequent Services. + + +When the gallant Lawrence, mortally wounded on the _Chesapeake_, was +dying, he called out in his delirium, "Don't give up the ship!" thus +furnishing a motto that has served times without number for the American +navy. Among the mourning relatives left by Lawrence was a married +sister, Mrs. Boggs, who lived in New Brunswick, N.J., where a son was +born to her in January, 1811, and named Charles Stuart. + +It was probably the admiration formed for his heroic uncle which led the +boy to determine to follow in his footsteps, for he was appointed a +midshipman when fifteen years old, and saw active service in the +Mediterranean against the Greek pirates, to which reference has been +made in a previous chapter. He was made lieutenant in 1833. One of the +most marked traits in young Boggs was his perfect coolness in times of +peril and his instant perception of the best thing to do. The following +incident will illustrate this remarkable power on his part, which was +united to a gentleness of disposition that made one wonder at his daring +and intrepidity. + +During the war with Mexico Lieutenant Boggs was ordered to the steamer +_Princeton_, which took a leading part in the bombardment of the Castle +of St. Juan de Ulloa and of Tampico. The brig _Truxton_ unfortunately +ran aground on the bar of Tuspan River and had to be surrendered to the +Mexicans. The _Princeton_ was ordered to destroy her. Anchoring near the +wreck, a boat was manned and placed in charge of Lieutenant Boggs, to +whom the work of destruction was intrusted. + +The boat had nearly reached the stranded vessel when it was caught in +one of the tropical tempests, which sometimes appear with cyclonic +suddenness in that part of the world. It was impossible to board the +wreck, and equally impossible to get back to the _Princeton_. A powerful +current set in toward shore, in which direction the gale was blowing. +The combined efforts of the sturdy rowers could not check the progress +of the boat, which perhaps would have been the right course to take but +for an alarming discovery. + +On the beach a company of Mexican soldiers were drawn up with a field +piece, making ready to annihilate the little American company, as they +could do without the slightest difficulty before the gallant sailors +could land and make a charge. Here was a dilemma indeed. Nothing could +extricate the boat and its crew from their peril and not a man could +raise a finger to help himself. + +There was only one person who saw the only possible thing to do. +Lieutenant Boggs ordered the single white shirt in the party to be torn +up, tied on the end of a boathook and displayed as a flag of truce. +Then, by his directions, the men rowed with all speed straight for the +enemy, who were thus disarmed of their hostile purpose. Walking up to +the leader of the company, the lieutenant explained that he had been +sent to destroy the _Truxton_, but had been driven ashore against his +will. He hastened to explain to the officer that he had no intention of +attacking the town, but he should do so if any one tried to prevent his +destruction of the stranded vessel. + +When the insignificance of the American party is remembered, there was +something amusing in this; but the Mexican officer not only gave his +promise, but entertained his visitors until the gale was over. Then the +_Truxton_ was fired and Boggs returned to his ship. + +He was on the Pacific coast when the Civil War broke out, serving as +inspector of lighthouses. Chafing under idleness, he petitioned the +Government to give him active employment afloat. His wish was granted +and he was placed in command of the _Varuna_, a passenger steamer, +purchased by the Government and changed into a gunboat. Admiral Farragut +was making his preparations to attack New Orleans, and the _Varuna_ was +added to his fleet. She was a very swift but frail craft, a fact which +led Farragut to grant Boggs' request to be allowed to run ahead of the +position that had been assigned him. + +In order to get up all the steam possible, the pork among the ship's +store was flung into the blazing furnace under the boilers. The craft +went through the water at a tremendous speed, and upon coming opposite +the forts, Boggs fired his starboard battery and then ordered grape and +canister to be used as rapidly as possible. Work had hardly begun when +the Confederate gunboats appeared on every hand. With the same coolness +that he had shown when driven ashore in Mexico, the command was given +for the guns to be fired "on both sides." Indeed, there were so many +targets that it would have been about as difficult to miss as to hit +one. + +[Illustration: ATTACK ON ROANOKE ISLAND--LANDING OF THE TROOPS.] + +The _Varuna_ did terrific work, her gunners displaying fine markmanship. +The formidable craft _Governor Moore_ had detected her in the early +morning light, and steaming after her, fired a shot when only a +hundred yards away, but missed. The _Varuna_ replied, killing and +wounding men on the _Governor Moore_ at every shot. One of the enemy's +shot, however, raked the _Varuna_, killing four men and wounding nine. +Another struck the _Varuna's_ pivot gun and killed and wounded a number +more. Then the _Governor Moore_ rammed the _Varuna_ twice in quick +succession. + +But while the Confederate was doing so, Boggs planted three 8-inch +shells into his antagonist, which set her on fire and compelled her to +drop out of action. Her loss had been heavy and her engines were so +battered that her commander ran her ashore, where she was burned to the +water's edge. + +Out of the misty light burst the _Stonewall Jackson_ and rammed the +_Varuna_ on the port side, repeating the blow with a viciousness that +stove in the vessel below the water line; but the _Varuna_ swung the ram +ahead until her own broadside guns bore, when she planted several 5-inch +shells into the _Stonewall Jackson_, which set her on fire and caused +her to drift ashore. + +But the _Varuna_ had been mortally hurt and was sinking fast. To quote +the words of Commodore Boggs: "In fifteen minutes from the time the +_Varuna_ was struck by the _Stonewall Jackson_, she was on the bottom, +with only her topgallant forecastle out of the water." + +But those were exceedingly lively minutes for the _Varuna_ and the other +craft in her neighborhood. Commander Boggs turned her prow toward shore +and crowded all steam, firing his guns as the water rose about the +trucks. When the last shell left the side of the sinking vessel the +current had reached the mouth of the piece, and some of it was blown out +like mist with the shrieking missile. + +The moment the bow of the _Varuna_ struck the bank a chain cable was +fastened around the trunk of a tree, so as to prevent her from sliding +into deep water as she went down and taking the wounded and dead with +her. This was a precaution which would not have occurred to every man in +the situation of Commander Boggs. + +The daring conduct of this officer brought a tribute from one of our +poets, which contains the stanzas: + +"Who has not heard of the dauntless _Varuna_? + Who shall not hear of the deeds she has done? +Who shall not hear while the brown Mississippi + Rushes along from the snow to the sun? + +"Five of the rebels like satellites round her, + Burned in her orbit of splendor and fear, +One like the Pleiad of mystical story + Shot terror-stricken beyond her dread sphere." + +When Boggs' native city heard of his gallant conduct it voted him a +sword, and the State of New Jersey did the same. He came North and was +appointed to the command of the blockading squadron off Wilmington. He +would have preferred active service, and finally his health broke down +under the exposure and fatigue to which he was subjected, and he was +compelled to return home to recruit. Upon his recovery, he was appointed +to duty in New York, but the war ended without his having another +opportunity to distinguish himself in the service of his country. He +died a few years after the close of hostilities. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +John Ancrum Winslow--His Early Life and Training--The Famous Battle +Between the _Kearsarge_ and _Alabama_. + + +A few weeks ago I had as guests at my house two young men who were +graduates of the West Point Military Academy in 1889. One was my son, at +present an instructor in the Academy, and the other was E. Eveleth +Winslow, of the corps of engineers, who had the honor of being graduated +at the head of his class. During the course of the conversation I asked +Captain Winslow whether he was a relative of the late Commodore John +Ancrum Winslow, commander of the _Kearsarge_ in her famous fight with +the _Alabama_. + +"He was my grandfather," replied my friend, with a glow of pride. + +It was a pleasant bit of information, but it made me realize how the +years are passing. It seems but a short time ago that the country was +electrified by the news of the great battle, off Cherbourg, France, +which sent to the bottom of the ocean the most destructive cruiser the +Southern Confederacy ever launched. And here was the grandson of the +hero of that fight, already thirty years of age, with the hair on his +crown growing scant. _Tempus fugit_ indeed. + +The name Winslow is a distinguished one in the annals of our country, +and especially in Massachusetts, the State from which Captain Winslow +hails. He is the ninth generation from John Winslow, brother of Edward +Winslow, Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, and the founder, as may +be said, of Plymouth Rock itself. John A. Winslow, the subject of this +sketch, however, was a Southerner by birth, being a native of +Wilmington, North Carolina, where he was born November 19, 1811. His +mother belonged to the famous Rhett family of the fiery State of South +Carolina. The father had gone to Wilmington from Boston, to establish a +commercial house, four years before the birth of the son, who was sent +North to be educated. At the age of sixteen he entered the navy, and saw +a good deal of dangerous service in the extirpation of the West Indian +pirates. The exciting experience was exactly to the liking of young +Winslow, whose life more than once was placed in great peril. + +After an extended cruise in the Pacific, he returned east in 1833, and +was promoted to past midshipman. His service was of an unimportant +character for a number of years, the rank of lieutenant coming to him +in 1839. His conduct was so gallant in the war with Mexico that he was +publicly complimented by Commodore Matthew C. Perry, a younger brother +of the Lake Erie hero, and given the choice of vessels belonging to the +fleet. + +A curious incident is mentioned by his biographer. He went with the +division which set out to capture Tampico, but the city surrendered +without a fight upon the approach of the boats. He remained several +weeks and then went back to the fleet at Vera Cruz. One of the vessels +had been capsized in a squall, and the captain was occupying Winslow's +room, and continued to share it until other arrangements could be made. +The name of this visitor was Raphael Semmes, afterward the commander of +the _Alabama_. The history of our navy is full of such strange +occurrences. When the furnace blast of secession swept over the country, +the most intimate friends--in many cases brothers--became the deadliest +of enemies. For a time two flags were flung to the breeze in the United +States, and the men who fought under each were among the bravest of the +brave, for they were all _Americans_. + +In 1855 Winslow was made a commander and was engaged in various duties +until the breaking out of the Civil War. He hurried to Washington and +applied for active service. Captain Foote was busy fitting out a +flotilla at St. Louis, and Winslow was sent to join him. The work +involved great labor and difficulty, and Winslow's aid was invaluable, +although far from congenial. The task of blazing away at the guerrillas +in the bushes and woods along shore, of raking the muddy rivers and +streams for torpedoes, and of managing the awkward, nondescript craft, +was not to the liking of the naval officer, accustomed to the free air +of the deep, blue ocean. Finally his request to be transferred to sea +service was granted, and in the early part of 1863 he was placed in +command of the _Kearsarge_. + +This sloop of war had a crew of 163 men, carried two 11-inch pivot guns, +four short 32-pounders and one rifled 30-pounder, the total shot weight +of the seven guns being 430 pounds. In this place it may be well to give +the statistics of the _Alabama_, since the two vessels were so +intimately associated in history. The Confederate cruiser carried one +100-pounder Blakely gun, one 8-inch shell gun and six long 32-pounders, +the eight guns having a total of 360 pounds shot weight, while the crew +consisted of 149 men, of mixed nationalities, nearly all of them being +Englishmen. + +England at that time was less friendly to the United States than she +has since become, and she gave most unfair help to the Southern +Confederacy by aiding to fit out and man cruisers for it. When the war +was over she was compelled to pay a good round sum for her dishonest +course, and was taught a lesson she is not likely soon to forget. These +cruisers wrought immense havoc among our shipping, and Commander Winslow +was sent into European waters in quest of them. He was specially anxious +to meet the _Florida_, and followed her from the coast of South America +to that of England and France. The governments of those two countries +threw every possible obstacle in his way. The French pilots were +forbidden to serve the _Kearsarge_, and Captain Winslow had to be his +own pilot--something he was well able to do because of his familiarity +with the coasts. + +Finding the _Florida_ in Brest, he blockaded the port. It was in the +depth of winter and the shore was dangerous, but Winslow did his duty so +well that the _Florida_ dared not poke her nose outside, until he was +compelled, because of shortness of provisions, to steam over to Cadiz to +obtain them. He made all haste to return, but when he arrived the +_Florida_ had slipped out and was gone. + +There was no telling to what part of the world she had fled, and Captain +Winslow sailed to Calais, where he learned that the rebel +_Rappahannock_ was awaiting a chance to put to sea. He held her there +for two months, when a French pilot purposely ran the _Kearsarge_ into +the piers along shore. It was done by prearrangement with the officers +of the _Rappahannock_, in order to give the latter a chance to put to +sea. The indignant Winslow drove all the French pilots off his ship, and +by vigorous work got her off by daylight the next morning. Meanwhile the +_Rappahannock_, which had greatly overstayed her time, was ordered by +the French authorities to leave. Winslow heard of this, and, without +waiting for some of his men and officers who were on shore, he moved out +of the harbor. When the commander of the _Rappahannock_ saw the +_Kearsarge_ once more off the port of Calais, he knew it was all up and +dismantled his ship. + +There was one Confederate scourge that had been roaming the seas for +months which Captain Winslow was anxious, above all others, to meet; +that was the _Alabama_, commanded by his former room-mate, Captain +Raphael Semmes. The _Kearsarge_, like many other vessels of the United +States, had been hunting here and there for the ocean pest, but it +seemed impossible to bring her to bay. + +On Sunday morning, June 12, 1864, the _Kearsarge_ was lying off the town +of Flushing, Holland, with many of the officers and men ashore, and +with everything wearing the appearance of a protracted rest for the +crew. Some hours later, however, a gun was fired as a signal for every +member of the ship's company to come aboard at once. The cause of this +sudden awaking was a telegram from Minister William L. Dayton, at Paris, +notifying Captain Winslow that the _Alabama_ had arrived at Cherbourg. +On Tuesday, Winslow appeared off the fort, and saw the cruiser within, +with her Stars and Bars floating defiantly in the breeze. Had Captain +Winslow followed, he would have been compelled by law to remain +twenty-four hours after the departure of the _Alabama_, so he took a +station outside, determined that the cruiser should not escape him +again. + +In this case, however, the precaution was unnecessary, for Semmes had +made up his mind to fight the National vessel. He had been charged with +cowardice in running away from armed ships, and he had destroyed and +captured so many helpless merchantmen that he felt something was due to +retrieve his reputation. A comparison of the crews and armaments of the +_Kearsarge_ and _Alabama_ will show that they were pretty evenly +matched, though the slight numerical superiority of the Union ship was +emphasized by the fact that her men were almost wholly American, while +those of Semmes, as already stated, were nearly all English. + +Shortly after the arrival of Captain Winslow the following challenge was +brought out to him: + + + + Confederate Steamer _Alabama_, + Cherbourg, June 14, 1864. + + Sir:--I hear that you were informed by the United States + Consul that the _Kearsarge_ was to come to this port solely for the + prisoners landed by me, and that she was to depart in twenty-four + hours. I desire you to say to the United States Consul that my + intention is to fight the _Kearsarge_ as soon as I can make the + necessary arrangements. I hope these will not detain me more than + till to-morrow evening, or next morning, at the farthest. I beg she + will not depart before I am ready to go out. + + I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant + + R. Semmes, _Captain_. + + + + + + +This note, though couched in seemingly courteous language, contained the +most aggravating sort of sting, in the hope expressed that the +_Kearsarge_ would not leave until the _Alabama_ was ready to go out, and +the intimation--undoubtedly false--that the sole business of the Union +vessel was to take charge of the prisoners brought thither by the +Confederate. Captain Winslow had not spent months in hunting over the +globe for such a chance as this to let it slip. + +The _Alabama_ was among friends. She had the sympathies of the +thousands, who hoped to see the Yankee ship sunk by the fearful +commerce-destroyer. Excursion trains were run from Paris and other +points to Cherbourg, and among the vast multitude who gathered on shore +on that warm, hazy Sunday morning--June 19--to witness the coming +battle, it may be doubted whether there were a score who wished to see +the _Kearsarge_ win. + +The respective captains were brave men and good officers. Both had +declared that, if they ever met, the battle would not end until one of +the ships went to the bottom, and each knew that the other would keep +his word. Such a thing as surrender was not thought of by either. + +Semmes was confident of his ability to sink the _Kearsarge_. Being a +Roman Catholic, and unable to attend service, he requested a friend to +go to mass and have it offered up for him, which was done. His +accumulated sixty chronometers were sent ashore, and the motto displayed +by his ship was "_Aide toi et Dieu t'aidera_," meaning, "Help yourself +and God will help you," another version of the old adage, "God helps +them that help themselves." + +The church chimes were sending out their mellow notes on the warm summer +air when the _Alabama_ began slowly steaming out of the harbor. She was +cheered by the sympathetic thousands, who heard the drums beating to +quarters, and fervently prayed that their favorite might return +victorious. + +Winslow neglected nothing in the way of preparation. While calmly +confident, his experience had taught him that such a contest is often +decided by a chance shot, and he knew that the doom of one of the ships +would be sealed before the set of sun. Having done all he could, he +committed everything to the God of battles, content to abide by His +will, whatever it might be. + +It was about ten o'clock that Winslow, with his glass pointed toward +shore, saw the head of the _Alabama_ coming round the point of the mole, +some three miles distant. He immediately beat to quarters. The +_Couronne_ accompanied the _Alabama_ to the limits of French waters, and +then turned back. The English yacht _Deerhound_ had hurried down from +Caen, upon being telegraphed of the impending fight, and the owner, with +his family on board, followed the _Alabama_ at the risk of receiving a +stray shot that would wind up the career of the pleasure craft and all +on board. + +Some time before Captain Winslow had arranged his sheet chains for a +distance of fifty feet amidships and over the side of his vessel, +extending six feet down. They were intended as an additional protection +to his machinery, and the practice is common among warships. The chains +were secured by marline to eyebolts protected with one-inch boards. This +natural precaution was the foundation for Captain Semmes' charge that +the _Kearsarge_ was partly armored. During the fight this part of the +ship was hit only twice, so that the protection, if it be considered +such, bore an unimportant part in the battle itself. + +Captain Winslow was determined that no question about neutral waters +should be raised. Accordingly, as the _Alabama_ approached, he steamed +out to sea, as if running away from his antagonist. Another object he +had in mind was to prevent the _Alabama_, in case she was crippled, from +escaping by running into the harbor. + +When the _Kearsarge_ had reached a point some seven miles from land, she +swung around and made directly for the _Alabama_, although such a course +exposed her to the raking broadsides of the enemy. Reading his purpose, +Semmes slowed his engines and sheered off, thus presenting his starboard +battery to the _Kearsarge_. When the vessels were about a mile apart, +the jets of fire and smoke from the side of the _Alabama_, followed by +the reverberating boom of her cannon, showed that she had fired her +first broadside. It did only trifling damage to the rigging of the +_Kearsarge_. A second and part of a third broadside were delivered, with +no perceptible effect. All the time, under a full head of steam, Winslow +was rushing toward his enemy for the death grapple. Still in peril of +being raked, he now sheered when half a mile distant and fired his +broadside of five-second shells, at the same time endeavoring to pass +under the _Alabama's_ stern, but Semmes defeated the manoeuvre by also +sheering his vessel. The effort of each was now to keep his starboard +broadside presented to the other, the attempt causing the two ships to +describe an immense circle, the diameter of which steadily decreased, +until it was barely a third of a mile. + +Ten minutes after the opening of the battle the spanker gaff of the +_Alabama_ and the ensign were brought down by the fire of the +_Kearsarge_, whose crew burst into cheers, but the Confederates quickly +hoisted the colors to their mizzen. When the two ships were within a +third of a mile of each other the fire became terrible; but from the +first that of the _Kearsarge_ was more accurate and did vast damage. +This was impressively shown by the fact that although the _Kearsarge_ +fired only 173 shots during the fight, nearly every one struck the +_Alabama_, which fired 370, of which only 28 landed. + +One of the _Alabama's_ 60-pound Blakely shells passed through the +bulwarks of the _Kearsarge_, and, bursting on the quarter deck, wounded +three men, of whom William Gowin was mortally hurt. When carried to the +surgeon, the intensely suffering man smiled. "We are whipping the +_Alabama_," he said, "and I am willing to give my life for such a +victory." + +Another Confederate shell burst in the hammock nettings and started a +fire, which was easily extinguished. A third lodged in the sternpost, +but failed to explode. Had it done so, its effect would have been +terrific. The damage done by the other shells was insignificant. + +A far different story was told on the Confederate cruiser. Winslow's +instructions to his gunners were to fire slowly and to make every shot +tell, and they did so. The men on the _Alabama_ stripped to their shirts +and drawers and fired rapidly, as if the only thing to do was to work +the guns without taking pause to aim. Crashing planks and timber and +exploding shells seemed to be all about them. A single shot from the +_Kearsarge_ killed and wounded eighteen men and disabled a gun. Another +burst in the coal bunks and cluttered up the engine room. Death and +destruction raged on every hand, and still the terrible _Kearsarge_ +kept working nearer, the dearest wish of Winslow being to get to close +quarters. + +The ships had described seven circles about each other and were starting +on the eighth, when Winslow, all alive and eagerness, saw the _Alabama_ +set her fore trysail and two jibs and start for shore. That meant that +it was all up with her, and her captain's only hope now was to get into +the harbor of Cherbourg. Winslow ran across her bow and was on the point +of raking her, when the _Alabama's_ flag came down. Uncertain whether +this was an accident, and suspecting a ruse by which the enemy expected +to reach shore, now only two miles off, Winslow stopped firing, but held +himself ready to open again. A white flag was displayed, and he began +preparations to render assistance to his defeated antagonist. Just then, +however, the _Alabama_ fired again, upon which Winslow answered with +several shots, when the white flag was run up for the second time. + +The doom of the _Alabama_ had overtaken her at last. She was fast +settling, and while the only two serviceable boats of the _Kearsarge_ +were hurrying to the relief of the crew, the famous cruiser threw her +prow high in air and slid stern foremost into the depths of the +Atlantic. + +In the midst of the wild confusion a boat from the _Alabama_, under +charge of the English master's mate, came alongside, announcing that the +_Alabama_ had surrendered and begging for help. On the promise of this +man to return, Winslow allowed him to go back to the aid of the drowning +crew, but instead of keeping his pledge, he took refuge on the yacht +_Deerhound_, which was circling about and doing all it could for the +struggling wretches in the water. Among those picked up was Captain +Semmes, who had flung his sword into the sea and leaped overboard as his +ship was going down. He was suffering from a painful wound in the hand, +and when helped on board of the _Deerhound_ was in an exhausted +condition. The captain of the yacht, after picking up thirty-nine men, +including a number of officers, instead of delivering them to Captain +Winslow, as he was in honor bound to do, edged away from the scene, and, +putting on all steam, did not pause until he reached Southampton. The +_Kearsarge_ picked up the men that remained and took them into +Cherbourg. + +In this famous battle the _Kearsarge_ had only 1 killed and 2 wounded, +while Semmes lost 40 killed and 70 taken prisoners. The Confederate +commander and his sympathizing British friends offered all sorts of +excuses for his defeat. Some of them were ingenious, but none was the +true one. The cause of the sinking of the _Alabama_ was the same as that +which gave us so many wonderful naval victories in the War of 1812. Our +vessels were manned by Americans, while the _Alabama_ was really an +English ship, armed with English guns and manned and fought by an +English crew: there's the truth in a nutshell. + +Captain Winslow received the promotion to the grade of a commodore which +he had so gallantly won. He died in 1873. It was a source of regret +throughout the country that on the night of February 2, 1894, the +_Kearsarge_ was wrecked off Roncador Reef, while on a voyage from +Port-au-Prince, Hayti, to Bluefields, Nicaragua. None of her crew was +drowned, but the vessel itself was lost, despite every effort to save +her. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + + +An Unexpected Preacher--Andrew Hull Foote--His Character and Early +Career--His Brilliant Services in the War for the Union. + + +One Sunday morning early in the Civil War a large assemblage had +gathered in a prominent church in a Western city for the purpose of +worship. But the hour for opening the services came and passed and the +preacher, the one indispensable individual, did not appear. The auditors +became uneasy. No one knew the cause of his absence and no word came +from the parsonage, which was at some distance from the church. When the +congregation were about to break up and pass out a stranger, sitting +near the front, quietly arose, walked up the pulpit steps, gave out the +opening hymn, led in prayer and preached a sermon which impressed all by +its plain, practical truths. He held the attention of the people from +the opening to the close, and among the listeners were more than one who +felt that the unexplained absence of the regular pastor had resulted in +a gain, though a brief one, for them. + +Naturally there was no little curiosity to learn the name of the +stranger. When approached by some of the leading brethren at the close +of the services, he modestly said he was Captain Foote of the United +States navy. He occasionally preached, when there seemed to be a call +for such work on his part, but preaching was not his profession, and he +would not have thought of entering the pulpit had he not seen that it +was a choice between doing so and allowing the congregation to go home. + +Andrew Hull Foote was born in New Haven, Conn., September 12, 1806. He +belonged to a prominent family, his father, Samuel A. Foote, having +served in Congress for several terms, as United States Senator, and as +Governor of his State. The son received the best educational training +and was subjected to the strict religious discipline characteristic of +the Puritan families of old New England. His romantic nature was deeply +stirred by the accounts of the naval exploits of his countrymen in the +War of 1812, and he set his heart upon entering the navy. His mother +opposed, but, when she saw it was useless, wisely yielded. His father's +influence readily procured him the appointment of midshipman, and he was +directed to report on the schooner _Grampus_, under the command of +Lieutenant (afterward Admiral) Gregory. + +[Illustration: ANDREW HULL FOOTE.] + +The _Grampus_ went to the West Indies in quest of pirates, but never +found any. Young Foote was then transferred to the sloop of war +_Peacock_, which had made such a glorious record in the last war with +Great Britain, his next transfer being to the frigate _United States_, +the flagship of Commodore Isaac Hull, who won the famous victory over +the _Guerriere_ in August, 1812. + +The cruise lasted three years, and Foote returned to New York in the +spring of 1837. He made a visit to his home, when he was once more +ordered to the West Indies. + +About this time he was brought under religious influence. He read his +Bible and spent many hours in prayer, and finally yielded completely to +God. He made his mother inexpressibly happy by sending her the glad +news, and thenceforward throughout his stirring life he was one of the +most humble, devout and consecrated of Christians. + +Like Havelock, he did an amount of good among those placed under his +charge, the full extent of which can never be known in this world. While +on duty at the Naval Asylum in Philadelphia he persuaded the men to give +up their grog rations and sign a pledge of total abstinence, and when +executive officer on the _Cumberland_ he did the same thing with its +crew. He was a voluntary chaplain and gave a religious address on the +berth deck every Sunday evening to those who wished to listen. + +Disease of the eyes incapacitated him for duty for a long time, and he +was much disappointed that he was not permitted to take any part in the +Mexican war. One of his most practical temperance addresses was that, +while engaged off the coast of Africa in suppressing the slave trade, he +persuaded the men under him on the _Perry_, of which he was the +commander, to give up the use of liquor. Although exposed to one of the +most pestilential climates in the world, he did not lose a man. + +At the breaking out of the Civil War he was in command of the Brooklyn +Navy Yard. He was overwhelmed with work for a time, and was glad when, +early in the autumn of 1861, he was ordered to the West to help in the +building of an inland navy on the Mississippi. + +Captain Foote worked with the tremendous energy which he threw into +every task, and succeeded in getting together seven boats, four of which +were partly protected by armor. At the beginning of February, 1862, he +started from Cairo to ascend the Tennessee, his objective point being +Fort Henry, though the Confederates were deceived into thinking it was +Columbus, on the Mississippi. He asked the Government for more men with +which to man additional boats, but they were not furnished, and he went +forward with such as he could get. + +On the night preceding the attack on Fort Henry the little fleet +anchored abreast of the army under General Grant, which was encamped on +the bank. The night was cold and tempestuous, but the morning dawned +keen and clear, and no time was lost in preparing the flotilla for the +attack on the fort. He intimated to General Grant that he must not +linger if he wished to cut off the retreat of the enemy. Grant assured +him he would be on time to put his army in motion. + +Fort Henry stood on a bend in the river, which it commanded for a long +distance up and down stream. Foote placed his boats behind an island a +mile below the fort, with a view of avoiding the long range rifles of +the Confederates, which were liable to cripple the gunboats before they +could get into close action. The wooden vessels halted upon coming in +view of the fort, and the ironclads, as they were called, moved slowly +up stream abreast of one another, firing their bow guns in answer to the +shots of the rebels. The latter had had the time to practice to acquire +the exact range, while the boats had yet to find it. They fired slowly +and with such accuracy that the infantry stationed outside of the works +hastily fled, though the gunners bravely remained at their posts. + +Foote opened fire when not quite a mile from the fort. His instructions +were to fire slowly and with care, the result of which was that guns +were continually dismounted and the earth and sandbags sent flying in +every direction. It was while the attack was being pressed in this +vigorous fashion that a shell pierced the boiler of the _Essex_, +commanded by Lieutenant Porter, and caused so many deaths, as has been +related in a preceding chapter. + +This appalling accident was a serious loss to Captain Foote, for Porter +was doing inestimable service when thus driven out of action, but the +daring commander pressed forward in the face of the murderous fire, +encouraged by the visible results of his shots, which were playing +frightful havoc against the defences of the fort. Tilghman, the +Confederate commander, displayed great bravery, fighting until every one +of his guns was dismounted. Then, finding himself powerless to offer +further resistance, he hauled down his flag. Firing immediately ceased +on the part of the Union flotilla, and Foote sent a boat ashore to take +possession. + +Despite General Grant's usual promptness, he did not arrive in time to +intercept the flight of the garrison. As a consequence the prisoners +surrendered, including General Tilghman and his staff, numbered less +than a hundred. The others fled overland to Fort Donelson, only to be +compelled to surrender shortly afterward to Grant in what proved to be +the first great Union victory of the war. + +The severity of this battle is shown by the fact that Foote's ship was +struck 31 times, the _Essex_ 15, and the _Carondelet_ 6. The total +number of killed, wounded and missing was 48. The success was so +decisive that Foote was applauded throughout the North, sharing the +well-earned honors with General Grant, whose successful career is known +to every boy in the land. + +Foote now steamed down the river to Cairo and began the ascent of the +Cumberland, to assist General Grant, who was marching overland to the +attack on Fort Donelson. Dauntless as was the courage of the naval +leader, he knew his task was a hopeless one. He had not only lost the +_Essex_, but Fort Donelson was greatly superior in strength to Fort +Henry. The water assault, however, was deemed a military necessity, and +he did not hesitate. + +On February 14 he advanced resolutely to the attack with his two wooden +gunboats and four partial ironclads. The tremendous land batteries +opened on this weak force the moment it came within range, and the +results were of the most destructive nature. As usual, the chief +attention was given to the flagship, which was struck again and again by +the flying shot and shell. Undismayed by the awful tempest, Foote pushed +steadily onward, cool, calm, hopeful and prepared for the worst. + +His pilot was a brave man, but under the frightful fire he began to show +a nervousness that caught the eye of Foote. Walking up to him, he placed +his hand in a kindly manner on his shoulder and spoke encouragingly to +him. While he was doing so, the poor fellow was torn into pieces by a +shot, and the captain himself was badly wounded in the foot by a flying +splinter. Paying no heed to the bleeding member, he limped about the +boat, swept by the iron hail, and gave his orders as coolly as before. +But the shot that killed the pilot also smashed the wheel, and the +unmanageable boat began drifting down stream. The tiller ropes of +another boat were also cut about the same time, and she also floated +helplessly with the current. The Confederates increased their fire, and +the other two boats, also greatly damaged, followed the flagship, and +the ferocious fight that had lasted more than an hour was over, with the +Union flotilla badly repulsed. + +The flagship had been struck 59 times, and 54 had been killed and +wounded on the different ships; but Foote would have maintained the +fight, with a fair probability of success, but for the destruction of +his steering gear. + +Grant and Foote now formed a plan for the capture of Nashville, but on +the eve of starting were stopped by a telegraphic order from General +Halleck not to allow the gunboats to go further up the river than +Clarksville. Foote was greatly disappointed, and, absolutely certain of +capturing the city, telegraphed for permission to do so, but it was +refused. Thus he was left no alternative but to return to Cairo. + +While there, he learned that the Confederate force occupying Columbus +had evacuated the town and fortified themselves on Island No. 10. They +numbered about 8,000 and were under the command of General Mackall, from +Beauregard's army. Foote transferred his flag to the ironclad _Benton_ +and advanced against the powerful works that had been erected on the +island. The bombardment was continued for three weeks, without +inflicting serious damage, and there was little prospect of capturing +the place from the river, when General Pope arrived with a large land +force; but to reach the fort it was necessary for him to get his troops +across the river, and he had not a single transport to use for that +purpose. + +Pope's arrival below made it necessary to send a gunboat down to him, +for until that was done he could make no movement against the rebel +force there. The all-important question was whether any one of the +gunboats could run the terrific gauntlet of the batteries that lined the +shore. It looked as if the attempt must result in the inevitable +destruction of any craft before half the distance could be accomplished. +At a council of the officers it was agreed that it was too hazardous to +try to run one of the gunboats past the batteries. Such was the opinion +of every man except Henry Walke, commander of the _Carondelet_, who +volunteered to try the seemingly impossible task. Captain Foote +reluctantly gave his consent. + +It was understood that Walke was to make the attempt on the first rainy +or foggy night. In the event of success, he was to cooperate with Pope, +and, when he moved, to assist in the attack on the fortifications. +Captain Foote closed his instructions to his faithful aide with the +following impressive words: + + On this delicate and somewhat hazardous service to which I assign + you I must enjoin upon you the importance of keeping your lights + secreted in the hold or put out, keeping your officers and men + from speaking at all, when passing the forts, above a whisper, and + then only on duty, and of using every other precaution to prevent + the rebels suspecting that you are dropping below their batteries. + + If you successfully perform this duty assigned to you, which you + so willingly undertake, it will reflect the highest credit upon you + and all belonging to your vessel, and I doubt not but that the + government will fully appreciate and reward you for a service + which, I trust, will enable the army to cross the river and make a + successful attack in the rear, while we storm the batteries in + front of this stronghold of the rebels. + + Commending you and all who compose your command to the care and + protection of God, who rules the world and directs all things, I + am, respectfully, your obedient servant, + + A.H. Foote. + + P.S.--Should you meet with disaster, you will, as a last resort, + destroy the steam machinery, and, if possible, to escape, set fire + to your gunboat, or sink her, and prevent her falling into the + hands of the rebels. + +The night selected--April 4--was rainy and of inky blackness, relieved +by vivid flashes of lightning. No precaution that could be thought of +was neglected. Chains were twisted around the pilot-house and other +vulnerable parts, and wood was piled against the boilers, with which the +hose was connected, to make the jets of steam available to repel +boarders. On one side was lashed a boat loaded with pressed hay, while a +barge of coal was fastened on the side furthest from the dangerous +batteries, and the escape steam was led into the paddle-wheel house in +order to muffle the sound. Among the fully armed crew were twenty of +the most expert sharpshooters in the army. + +It was about ten o'clock when the _Carondelet_ swung round in the stream +and started on its fearful race. The fleet fairly held its breath, as +officers and men listened and peered down the river in the tempestuous +darkness. Now and then the zigzagging lightning gave a momentary glimpse +of the craft moving away, but the straining eye and ear caught no sight +or sound. + +But when the _Carondelet_ was close to the batteries a blaze suddenly +shot up several feet above the chimneys. The soot had caught fire and +the reflection was thrown far out on the water. The engineer immediately +opened the flue caps and all was darkness again. So quickly did this +singular glow come and vanish that it must have been mistaken by the +sentinels for a part of the lightning display, for it caused no alarm; +but the turning of the escape steam into the paddle-box had allowed the +soot to get dry, and they flamed up a second time. Though extinguished +as promptly as before, the sentinels knew something was wrong and +signalled to the batteries below that one of the boats of the enemy was +approaching. + +It was useless to attempt concealment any longer. Walke ordered the +engine ahead at full speed and ran close to the shore nearest the +batteries, that their shot might pass over him. Aside from the enemy, +this was dangerous work, for there was no telling into what obstruction +the boat would dash. A man stood at the front with lead and line, +quietly calling out in a guarded voice the soundings, which were +repeated by a second man on deck, who forwarded the report aft to Walke, +standing beside the pilot. + +All the time the rain was falling in torrents. Suddenly a dazzling gleam +showed the pilot he was speeding straight for a shoal under the guns of +the Confederate battery. + +"Hard aport!" commanded the captain, and the heavy craft barely missed +the island, past which it shot at the highest speed. The lightning +flashes helped the _Carondelet_ in more than one way. It not only gave +the pilot the necessary knowledge to avoid running aground, but confused +the Confederate gunners, who sent most of their shots over the boat, +which was not struck once during its remarkable run down the +Mississippi. Two shots had entered the barge at her side, but not a man +was hurt. The boat was received with wild cheers by the expectant +soldiers, who, while hoping for the best, feared the worst. + +It had been agreed between Walke and Captain Foote that in case the +former was successful, he was to make it known by firing minute guns. +The captain was listening intently, when through the rain and darkness +the welcome signals reached his ears, and he thanked God that all had +come out so well. + +Now that General Pope had received the transport for which he longed, +Captain Foote breathed freely and prepared to give what help he could in +the attack upon the rebel fortifications; but, to his surprise, Pope +sent an urgent request that a second boat should be sent to him on the +next night, adding that the success of the whole movement depended upon +a compliance with this request. + +Foote replied that it would be as safe to run the batteries at midday as +on a clear night; for a vessel had to pass not only seven batteries, but +be kept "head on" to a battery of eleven guns, at the upper part of +Island No. 10, and to pass within 300 yards of it. In deference to +Pope's earnest request, Captain Foote consented to prepare another boat, +but would not permit it to start until the night was favorable. + +The second night was similar to the one described, and Lieutenant +Thompson, in charge of the _Pittsburg_, started down the river at two +o'clock in the morning. Although exposed to the same fire as the +_Carondelet_, he was equally fortunate, and ran the gauntlet with the +same good fortune. + +The passage of these two ironclads sealed the fate of Island No. 10, for +Pope could now cross the river, and, by taking position in the rear of +the Confederate works, cut off the supplies of the garrison. The +crossing was made and the enemy's batteries silenced. On the 8th the +island was surrendered to Captain Foote and General Pope, including the +garrison of 5,000 men. + +Captain Foote's next move was to Fort Pillow. All this time he was +suffering so severely from the wound in his foot that it affected his +spirits, usually buoyant and hopeful. Another disturbing cause was the +continual interference of General Halleck, who prevented several +movements that Foote knew must have resulted in important successes. + +His health continued to decline till finally the day came when he was +compelled to ask for a leave of absence. He went to his brother's home +in Cleveland, where his condition caused great solicitude throughout the +country. Afflictions crowded upon him. He returned to his home, which +was shadowed by the death of his bright boy at the age of fourteen +years. A few months later two of his daughters died. How hollow sounded +the praises of his countrymen when his head was bowed with such +overwhelming sorrow! He had been made rear admiral, and, though still +weak, was by his own request assigned to the command of the North +Atlantic squadron. He went to New York to complete his preparations, but +while there succumbed to his illness, and died at the Astor House, June +26, 1863. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +A Man Devoid of Fear--William Barker Cushing--Some of His Exploits--The +Blowing Up of the _Albemarle_--His Sad Death. + + +If ever man lived who knew not the meaning of fear, he was William +Barker Cushing, born in Wisconsin in 1842. He entered the Naval Academy +in 1857, remained four years, received his appointment from the State of +New York, but claiming Pennsylvania as his residence. He was wild and +reckless, and resigned in March, 1861, when even his closest friends saw +little hope of his success in life. + +Many heroes are referred to as fearless, but that man is reckoned brave +who knows the full extent of the danger facing him, and yet does not +hesitate to meet it; but Cushing was a youth who really seemed to love +danger for its own sake, and never flinched while death was on every +hand, but went unhesitatingly forward, when it would have been no +reflection upon his courage had he turned about and run. + +The breaking out of the Civil War offered so fascinating a field for him +that he could not resist the temptation. The Secretary of the Navy +always had a tender spot in his heart for the daring fellow, and when +Cushing promised that if he would give him a chance he would prove +himself worthy of the Secretary's confidence, that official consented +and attached him to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. At the very +first opportunity Cushing displayed the wonderful personal intrepidity +which was soon to make him the most famous naval officer of his age. + +In the expedition against Franklin, Va., in the autumn of the year, he +was placed in command of the gunboat _Ellis_, and showed such skill and +bravery that he was recommended by the acting admiral to the Navy +Department. Some weeks later he steamed into New River Inlet, with the +object of capturing Jacksonville and destroying the salt works. He was +successful, secured three vessels and drove the enemy from two pieces of +artillery with which they were firing on him at short range. All was +going well, but while still close to the abandoned works Cushing's +little steamer ran aground, and, despite every effort, he could not work +her free. + +He saw it was useless to try to get the boat off. He therefore took +everything out of her, excepting the pivot gun and ammunition, and, +placing them on board one of the captured schooners, ordered the crew to +leave. Knowing the enemy would soon return in overwhelming numbers, he +asked for six volunteers to stay with him and fight with the single gun +to the last. The response was prompt, for his daring spirit was +infectious, and he instructed the others, in the event of him and his +comrades being attacked, to make no attempt to help them. + +Just as he anticipated, the Confederates opened upon the doomed steamer +at daylight, firing from so many different points that the defenders +were helpless. As fast as the gun could be loaded, it was pointed here, +there and everywhere, for, no matter in what direction it was aimed, it +was pretty sure to hit some of the enemy; but a single gun against a +score could accomplish nothing, and the lieutenant had to decide whether +to remain, with the certainty of every man being shot to pieces, of +surrendering, or of rowing in an open boat for more than a mile through +the murderous fire. With scarcely a moment's hesitation, he resolved +upon the last plan, which looked as suicidal as remaining on the +steamer. + +The gun was loaded to the muzzle and trained upon the enemy, so as to go +off when heated, the steamer set on fire in several places, and, +dropping into the smaller boat, the men pulled with might and main for +the schooner. Fortune favors the brave, and they reached it in safety, +and soon after arrived at Beaufort. + +This exploit won for Cushing the commendation of the Navy Department +for "his courage, coolness and gallantry." + +His restless spirit would not allow him to remain idle. He was +continually engaging in some daring enterprise, in which it must not be +supposed he displayed nothing more than headlong recklessness. That +quality was supplemented by coolness and skill, without which he never +could have attained the remarkable success that attended his career. + +Among the numerous achievements the following will serve as an +illustration of the young man's disposition: + +Lieutenants Lamson and Cushing had command of a number of gunboats that +were sent to the aid of General Peck, stationed at Norfolk. In the +latter part of April it was learned that a Union boat had been decoyed +ashore by the display of a white handkerchief and then fired upon. The +angered Cushing asked for and received the privilege of retaliating for +this treacherous act. In charge of seven boats, manned by ninety +sailors, he set out and landed under the protection of the fire of the +vessels. Leaving a part of his force to protect the boats, he started +inland, taking a 12-pounder howitzer with him. + +His objective point was a village three miles away, where several +hundred cavalry were stationed. Advancing boldly, he drove in the +pickets, and coming across a span of mules hitched to a cart, he tied +the rope of the howitzer to the rear, lashed the animals to a gallop and +went clattering into the village to the loud shouts of "Forward, double +quick!" + +Just as they entered the formidable body of cavalry were discerned, +galloping down the street toward them, swinging their sabres and +shouting at the top of their voices. In a twinkling the howitzer was +unlimbered, and the charge of grape which was poured into the +approaching horsemen was supplemented by a volley of musketry. The +racket terrified the mules, which broke into a gallop, dragging the cart +and ammunition after them, and never paused until they were among the +ranks of the enemy. With a shout, Cushing was after them, followed by +his men, and mules and ammunition were recovered in a twinkling. By this +time the demoralized cavalry had fled, and Cushing, after retaining +possession of the village until dusk, leisurely made his way back to the +boats. + +The war having proven the immeasurable value of ironclads of the +_Merrimac_ type, the Confederates strained every nerve to build them, +often succeeding under the most trying conditions. One of the most +formidable of these craft was the _Albemarle_, upon which work was +begun early in 1863, at Edward's Ferry, several miles up the Roanoke +River. Iron was so scarce that the country was scoured for miles in +every direction for bolts, bars and metal. As stated by Maclay, the keel +was laid in an open cornfield, and an ordinary blacksmith's outfit +formed the plant for building; but the makers persevered and completed a +craft 122 feet over all, with 45 feet beam and drawing 8 feet of water. +The casemate was 60 feet long, constructed of massive timbers, covered +with 4-inch planking, over which were placed two layers of 2-inch iron. +The motive power was furnished by twin screws operated by engines of 200 +horse-power each. Her armament consisted of an Armstrong 100-pounder in +the bow and another in the stern, the casemate being so pierced that the +guns could be used at broadside or quarter. + +At midnight, April 19, 1864, the _Albemarle_ gave a proof of her +prodigious power of destruction. On the preceding two days the +Confederates had made a determined attack on Plymouth, held by the Union +forces, and the ironclad now set out to render assistance. The wooden +gunboats _Miami_ and _Southfield_ offered just the sort of targets the +monster fancied. Under a full head of steam, the _Albemarle_ rammed her +iron beak clean into the fire room of the _Southfield_. The latter was +skewered upon the projection and began slowly sinking. The snout was so +entangled with the _Southfield_ that the victim could not be shaken off, +and as she sank she carried her foe with her. The bow of the ironclad +dipped below the surface, and a most extraordinary and inglorious end +seemed inevitable, when the _Southfield_ touched bottom, rolled over and +freed itself from the bow of the ram, which popped up again. + +Meanwhile the _Miami_ was pounding the iron hide of the monster, which +shed the missiles as the _Merrimac_ shed the broadsides from the +_Cumberland_ and _Congress_. When only a few feet from the _Albemarle_, +Lieutenant Flusser, standing directly behind a gun of the _Miami_, let +fly with a heavy shell, which, striking the armor of the _Albemarle_, +was shivered into a thousand fragments, most of which rebounding, +instantly killed the officer and wounded a dozen men. The _Miami_ +retreated, and the next day Plymouth surrendered to the Confederates. + +In May, the _Albemarle_ steamed down into the Sound and attacked the +Union gunboats, which made a heroic defence. The monster received +broadside after broadside and was repeatedly rammed, but suffered no +material damage, while she killed 4, wounded 25 and caused the scalding +of 13, through piercing the boiler of one of her assailants. + +It will be seen that this ironclad had become a formidable menace to the +Union arms, not only in the immediate neighborhood, but further north. +It was the intention of her commander to clear out the fleets at the +mouth of the river, and then make an excursion up the coast, somewhat +like that which Secretary Stanton once believed the _Merrimac_ was about +to undertake. General Grant was pressing his final campaign against +Richmond, and the _Albemarle_ threatened to interfere with his plans, +for if she made the diversion of which she was capable, she was likely +to postpone indefinitely the wind up of the war. + +Ah, if some daring scheme could be perfected for destroying the +_Albemarle_! What a feat it would be and how vast the good it would +accomplish! There was one young officer in the American navy who +believed the thing could be done, and he volunteered to undertake it. + +Well aware that the Unionists would neglect no means of blowing up the +_Albemarle_, the Confederates used every possible precaution. At the +wharf in Plymouth, where she was moored, a thousand soldiers were on +guard, and her crew, consisting of sixty men, were alert and vigilant. +To prevent the approach of a torpedo boat, the ram was surrounded by a +boom of cypress logs, placed a considerable distance from the hull, and +a double line of sentries was stationed along the river. What earthly +chance was there under such conditions of any possible harm coming to +her? + +The picket boat in which Lieutenant Cushing undertook to destroy the +rebel ram was built at New York under his supervision, and taken to +Norfolk by way of the canals, and thence to Albemarle Sound again by +canal. He made his preparations with great care, and on the night of +October 27, which was dark and stormy, he started in his picket boat. He +was accompanied by eight men and the following officers: Acting Ensign +William L. Howarth, Acting Master's Mates Thomas S. Gay and John +Woodman, Acting Assistant Paymaster Francis H. Swan, Acting Third +Assistant Engineers Charles L. Steever and William Stotesbury. + +Cushing took in tow a small cutter, in which he intended to capture the +Confederate guard, that was in a schooner anchored near the wrecked +_Southfield_, and prevent their sending up an alarm rocket as a warning +to the sentinels above of the approach of danger. He stationed himself +at the stern, his plan being to land a little way below the ram and +board her from the wharf. A sudden dash promised her capture by +surprise, when she could be taken down stream. If this scheme could not +be carried out, he intended to blow her up with a torpedo as she lay at +the dock. + +The launch crept along the river bank as silently as an Indian canoe +stealing into a hostile camp. The distance to be passed was fully eight +miles, and the peril began almost from the moment of starting. The +necessary commands were spoken in whispers, and the waiting men scarcely +moved as they peered into the deep gloom and listened to the almost +inaudible rippling of the water from the bow. Speed was reduced as they +drew near Plymouth, in order to lessen the soft clanking of the engine +or the motion of the screw. + +They were still a mile below Plymouth when the shadowy outlines of the +wrecked _Southfield_ loomed dimly to view. The Confederates had raised +her so that her hurricane deck was above the surface. Within a few yards +of the wreck a schooner was anchored containing a guard of twenty men +with a field piece and rocket, provided for precisely such danger as now +drew near. But on this night, of all others, the sentinels were dozing, +for had they been vigilant they must have seen the little craft whose +crew saw theirs and were on the _qui vive_ to board on the instant of +discovery. + +The good fortune encouraged all hands, and as the schooner and wreck +melted into the darkness the launch swept around a bend in the river and +caught the glimmer of the camp fires along the banks, partly +extinguished by the falling rain. Still creeping cautiously on, the +outlines of the prodigious ram gradually assumed form in the gloom. It +looked as if the surprise would be complete, when a dog, more watchful +than his masters, began barking. He had discovered the approaching +danger, and the startled sentinels challenged, but no reply was made. A +second challenge bringing no response, several muskets flashed in the +night. Other dogs joined in barking, alarm rattles were sprung and wood +flung upon the fires, which, flaring up, threw their illumination out on +the river and revealed the launch and cutter. The hoarse commands of +officers rang out, and the soldiers, springing from sleep, caught up +their guns and rushed to quarters. + +Amid the fearful din and peril Cushing cut the tow line and ordered the +cutter to hasten down the river and capture the guard near the +_Southfield_. At the same moment he directed the launch to go ahead at +full speed. He had changed his plan. Instead of landing he determined +to blow up the ram. When close to it he learned for the first time of +the cordon of logs which surrounded the _Albemarle_, but, believing they +were slippery enough from remaining long in the water to be passed, he +sheered off, made a sweep of a hundred yards and again charged under +full steam for the obstruction. + +As he drew near the guards fired a volley which riddled Cushing's coat +and tore off the sole of his shoe. + +At the same moment he heard the vicious snapping of the primers of the +huge guns, which showed they had missed fire. + +"Leave the ram!" he shouted. "We're going to blow you up!" + +The Confederates, however, did not follow the advice and the launch +fired her howitzer. Then she glided over the slimy logs and paused in +front of the muzzle of a loaded cannon which could be almost reached +with the outstretched hand. Still cool and self-possessed amid the +horrible perils, Cushing stood erect, lowered the torpedo spar, shoved +it under the overhang, waited a moment for it to rise until he felt it +touch the bottom of the ram, when he gave a quick, strong pull on the +trigger line. A muffled, thunderous explosion followed, an immense +column of water rose in the air and the tremendous tipping of the +_Albemarle_ showed she had received a mortal hurt. + +It was accomplished at the critical second, for the rifled gun, filled +with 100 pounds of canister and pointed at the launch ten feet away, was +immediately discharged. The careening of the ram deviated the aim just +enough to prevent the crew from being blown to fragments, but confident +that not a man could escape, the Confederates twice called upon their +assailants to surrender, and several did so, but Cushing was not among +them. With the same marvelous coolness he had displayed from the first +he took off his coat and shoes, flung his sword and revolver aside and +shouted: + +"Every man save himself!" + +Then he leaped into the water and began swimming with might and main +down stream, the bullets skipping all about him, but he soon passed +beyond sight and was still swimming when he heard a plashing near him. +It was made by one of the acting master's mates, John Woodman, who was +exhausted. Cushing helped him until he himself had hardly an ounce of +strength left, when he was obliged to let go, and the poor fellow, +calling good-by, sank from sight. + +When unable to struggle longer, Cushing let his feet drop and they +touched bottom. He managed to reach land, where he sank down so worn +out that he lay motionless until daylight. Then he crawled into a swamp, +where he remained hidden until a friendly negro appeared, who extended +every possible kindness to him. From him Cushing learned that the +_Albemarle_ had been destroyed and was at the bottom of the river. It +was thrilling news, and the following night, after he had thoroughly +rested and been fed by his dusky friend, he moved down the river, found +a skiff and in it made his way to the fleet, bringing the first news of +the success of an exploit which it is safe to say has never been +surpassed in the history of our navy. Even the captain of the +_Albemarle_ declared that "a more gallant thing was not done during the +war." + +While conceding to Lieutenant Hobson the full credit for his daring +achievement in sinking the _Merrimac_ in the channel of Santiago harbor, +on June 3, 1898, it was by no means the equal of that of Lieutenant +Cushing, thirty-four years before. + +For his superb work Cushing received a vote of thanks from Congress and +was promoted to the rank of lieutenant commander. He led a division of +sailors in the second and what proved to be the successful attack upon +Fort Fisher, in January, 1865. It was a desperate fight and none +displayed more heroism than the young officer who had destroyed the +_Albemarle_. + +Hon. J.T. Headley, the biographer of Cushing, in an article written +immediately after the close of the Civil War, used these words: "Still a +young man, he has a bright future before him, and if he lives will +doubtless reach the highest rank in the navy. Bold, daring and +self-collected under the most trying circumstances--equal to any +emergency--never unbalanced by an unexpected contingency, he possesses +those great qualities always found in a successful commander. No man in +our navy, at his age, has ever won so brilliant a reputation, and it +will be his own fault if it is not increased until he has no superior." + +And yet Commander Cushing's reputation was not increased nor was it +through any fault of his own. It was not long after the war that his +friends were pained to observe unmistakable signs of mental unsoundness +in the young hero. These increased until his brain was all askew, and he +died in an insane asylum in 1874. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +The Greatest of Naval Heroes--David Glasgow Farragut. + + +David Glasgow Farragut was the greatest naval hero of modern times. +There are many honored names connected with the American navy, but his +towers above them all. The highest honors that his country could give +were freely bestowed upon him and no one will deny that he earned them +all. + +His father, although a native of Minorca, came to this country in 1776 +and lost no time in joining the ragged, starving patriots in their +struggle for independence. His skill and gallantry won him the rank of +major. When the war ended he settled on the western frontier, near +Knoxville, Tenn., where at a place called Campbell's Station his son +David was born in 1801. When only nine years old he was appointed +midshipman under Captain David Porter, the heroic commander of the +_Essex_. Captain Porter and Major Farragut were old friends, to which +fact was due the privilege extended to a lad of such tender years. + +In the sketch of Captain Porter the reader will recall the incident in +which young Farragut learned of the conspiracy among the 500 prisoners +on board the _Essex_, and, by giving his commander warning, prevented +the capture of the ship by the savage plotters. + +The boy was on the _Essex_ when, disabled and helpless, she was pounded +into a surrender by two British ships while in the harbor of Valparaiso, +in January, 1814. It was one of the most sanguinary battles of the war, +when the decks ran with blood and the dead and dying were stretched on +every hand. Amid the terrible carnage the boy Farragut conducted himself +with such coolness and bravery that he was specially complimented by +Captain Porter in his report. Although wounded, he stood unflinchingly +to his guns, winning the admiration of the grim heroes around him and +demonstrating the wonderful qualities which later were to raise him to +the position of the foremost naval hero of the age. + +Peace came, and, although Farragut was in continual service, promotion +was slow. He became lieutenant in 1825, commander in 1841 and captain in +1851. His first wife, whom he married in Norfolk, became an invalid and +did not live long. His second wife was also a native of Norfolk. Thus he +was not only a Southerner himself, but his wife was a native of that +section. When, therefore, civil war came and it became fashionable for +people to express secession sentiments, it was taken for granted that +Farragut would cast his fortunes with the South; but upon being +approached he indignantly replied: "I would see every man of you damned +before I would raise my hand against that flag!" Being told that it +would be unsafe for him to remain in the South, he added that he wanted +only two hours to find another place of residence. He moved away at once +and with his wife and only son took up his home on the Hudson near +Tarrytown. + +[Illustration: COMMODORE DAVID GLASGOW FARRAGUT.] + +Being a stranger in that neighborhood, he was regarded with suspicion. +He was fond of taking long walks, and it is said that some of the people +suspected that he belonged to a gang of plotters who intended to cut the +Croton Aqueduct, but the quiet man was simply awaiting the summons of +his country to serve her in any capacity possible. + +The call came in the spring of 1861, when he was about threescore years +old. His duty was that of serving on the board appointed by Congress to +retire superannuated officers from the active service. This duty +completed, he was appointed to the command of the expedition organized +for the capture of New Orleans. He sailed from Hampton Roads on the 3d +of February, 1862, in the flagship _Hartford_ and arrived seventeen +days later at Ship Island, the place of rendezvous. There he set to work +to make his arrangements for the great task which was wholly different +from any that had ever engaged his attention. But how well he completed +this grand work, he being the real supervisor and superintendent, has +been referred to in a previous chapter and is told in every history of +our country. + +[Illustration: CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS--ATTACK ON FORT PHILIP.] + +The skill and courage displayed by Farragut in the capture of New +Orleans attracted national attention and added greatly to his +reputation. In the latter part of June he ran the batteries of +Vicksburg, but notified the Government that though he could go up and +down the river as he chose and silence the batteries when he pleased, no +substantial good would result unless a land force of ten or twelve +thousand men attacked the town from the rear. It was this plan which +brought about the capture of Vicksburg by General Grant and the opening +of the Mississippi River. Farragut, who had been made rear admiral, +afforded great aid in taking Port Hudson and cleaning out all rebel +fortifications along the Father of Waters. + +This immense work having been accomplished, the Government now gave its +attention to Mobile, another of the Confederate strongholds in the +South. The campaign arranged was to attack it with a land force under +the command of Generals Canby and Granger and a naval force under +Farragut. In January, 1864, he made a reconnaissance of Mobile Bay and +informed the Government that if it would supply him with a slight +additional force he would attack and capture it at once. He knew that +the defences were being strengthened every day and repeatedly urged that +he be furnished with the means of making an immediate assault. But the +ill-advised and disastrous expedition of Banks up the Red River took +away the available troops and the appeal of Farragut remained unheeded +until the summer was well advanced. + +By that time the defences of Mobile were well nigh impregnable. Fort +Gaines, on Dauphin Island, had a garrison of 864 men and mounted three +10-inch columbiads, four 32-pounder rifled guns and twenty smoothbore +guns of 32, 24 and 18-pound calibres. The principal pass to Mississippi +Sound was commanded by Fort Powell, with one mounted 10-inch gun, one +8-inch columbiad and four rifled guns. The main fortification was Fort +Morgan, whose heavy guns were placed in three tiers. It mounted seven +10-inch, three 8-inch and twenty-two 32-pounder smoothbore guns and two +8-inch, two 6.5-inch and four 5.82-inch rifled guns. The exterior +batteries were also heavily armed and the garrison numbered 640 men. +The bay was filled with skilfully placed torpedoes, some of them of +stupendous size and power and sufficient, it would seem, if properly +handled, to destroy all the navies of the world. + +All arrangements being completed, the signal for the advance was hoisted +at daylight, August 5, 1864. The Union fleet consisted of 21 wooden +vessels and 6 ironclads. The wooden vessels sailed in pairs, the larger +on the starboard, so that if either was disabled the other could carry +it along. Farragut's intention was to lead with the flagship _Hartford_, +but he reluctantly allowed the _Brooklyn_ to take that post, since she +carried four chase guns to the _Hartford's_ one and was provided with an +ingenious apparatus for picking up torpedoes. It was contended further +that the flagship would be the special target of the enemy, a fact that +was likely to cripple her and prevent the employment of the +all-important signals. The last argument bore no weight with Farragut, +who replied that she would be the chief target anyway, no matter what +the position, and exposure to fire was one of the penalties of rank in +the navy. The monitors were to advance in single file, slightly in +advance of the wooden ships, the _Tecumseh_, Commander Tunis A.M. +Craven, in the lead. + +[Illustration: IN MOBILE BAY.] + +In this order the slow advance was begun and at a few minutes past +seven the _Tecumseh_ fired the first gun. The forts waited twenty +minutes when they replied, and the _Brooklyn_ responded with two +100-pounder Parrot rifles. Under the protection of Fort Morgan nestled +the Confederate rams and ironclads, which directed their fire +principally at the wooden vessels. The great battle was opened. + +The enemy's gunboats and the ram _Tennessee_ moved out from behind the +fort and continued firing at the wooden boats, giving principal +attention, as was expected, to the flagship, which was struck several +times. She soon began returning the fire, still advancing, and +repeatedly drove the gunners from the water batteries, but they +immediately returned and kept bravely at work. + +Smokeless powder was unknown in those days, and, as the vapor enfolded +the ships, Farragut kept stepping up the rigging almost unconsciously +until he was so high that he was clinging to the futtock shrouds. He had +his spyglass in one hand and kept raising it to his eyes. Captain +Percival Drayton had been closely watching the Admiral and now became +alarmed, lest some damage to the ropes should cause him to fall +overboard. He told Signal Quartermaster Knowles to climb the rigging and +secure Farragut to the shrouds. He obeyed and passed a lead line to one +of the forward shrouds and then drew it around the Admiral to the after +shroud and made it fast. Feeling the faithful officer at work, the +Admiral looked down kindly at him and said: "Never mind me, I am all +right." But Knowles persisted and did not descend until he had completed +his work. + +By and by the increasing smoke made it necessary for the commander to +ascend still higher, in order to maintain a clear view of the battle. He +untied the fastenings, and, climbing to the futtock shrouds, passed the +rope once more around his body several times and tied the end to the +rigging. The picture of Admiral Farragut thus lashed to the rigging has +been seen thousands of times in the histories of the Civil War. + +While in this perilous position he signalled for closer order. The +bombardment of the fort was terrific and produced great effect. +Commander Craven, with the _Tecumseh_, singled out the ram _Tennessee_, +under the command of Admiral Franklin Buchanan, who had charge of the +_Merrimac_ on the first day of her fight with the _Monitor_. Both were +ironclads and Buchanan was as anxious to fight Craven as the latter was +to fight him. Craven, fearing his adversary would retreat, pressed +forward so eagerly that he paid no attention to the torpedoes over +which his hull was continually scraping. One or more of these suddenly +exploded, the front dipped and the _Tecumseh_ plunged bow foremost to +the bottom of the bay, carrying with her 93 men out of a crew of 114. + +This appalling disaster was accompanied by a touching incident. When the +_Tecumseh_ was diving downward Commander Craven and the pilot +instinctively started for the opening through which only one man could +pass at a time. They reached the foot of the ladder at the same moment. +"You first," said Craven, halting. The pilot just succeeded in +scrambling out, when the _Tecumseh_ went down, taking her heroic captain +with her. + +The terrible occurrence was witnessed by friends and foes. A boat was +quickly lowered from the _Metacomet_ and sent to the relief of the +survivors. It passed within a hundred yards of Fort Morgan, which could +have easily blown it out of the water. But General Page, the Confederate +commandant, knowing her errand, gave the order not to harm the boat, +which was on its way to save drowning men. His soldiers broke into +cheers, but he sternly stopped them, with the advice to wait till the +_Hartford_ was sunk. The boat picked up ten men and officers, while four +swam to the beach and were made prisoners. + +When the lull was over Farragut headed his ship for the fort, +signalling to the remainder of the fleet, which followed close after +him. When warned of the torpedoes the wrathful Admiral came near adding +a little profanity to his contemptuous opinion of them as he passed on. +Wheeling, he launched his whole broadside at the fort, then delivered a +second at the _Tennessee_ and headed for the gunboats _Selma_, _Gaines_ +and _Morgan_, all of which were raking him. Casting off his consort, the +_Metacomet_, he sent her after the _Selma_, and, after a hot chase, she +captured her. The other two took to shallow water under the guns of the +fort. + +The ships, having passed the latter, were about to anchor when the +_Tennessee_ was perceived coming straight for the fleet, with the +intention of attacking it. Farragut signalled to the vessels to run her +down and ordered the pilot of the _Hartford_ to drive her with full +speed at the ironclad. The _Monongahela_ was the first to reach the +monster, struck her fairly, and, swinging around, let fly with a +broadside of 11-inch shot, which dropped harmlessly from her mailed +side. Undaunted, the _Monongahela_ rammed her again, though she received +ten times as much damage as she inflicted. The _Lackawanna_ passed +through a somewhat similar experience but a gunner drove a 9-inch shell +into one of the shutters, which was shattered and forced within the +casemate. The crews were so close that they taunted each other through +the portholes and even hurled missiles across the brief intervening +space. + +At this juncture the _Hartford_ arrived, charging full speed upon the +ram, which so shifted its position that the blow was a glancing one. +Recoiling, the flagship delivered its most tremendous broadside, doing +no harm, while the _Hartford_ itself was pierced again and again by the +exploding shells which strewed her deck with dead and dying. Nothing +daunted, Farragut prepared to ram once more, when his ship was badly +injured by an accidental blow from the _Lackawanna_. But Farragut, +seeing that she still floated, called for a full head of steam that he +might deliver a blow that was likely to send his own ship to the bottom. + +By this time the slower going monitors had arrived and were getting in +their fine work. The _Tennessee's_ smokestack was shot away, her stern +port shutter was disabled, making the gun useless, while her steering +chains were smashed. Like a stag beset by a pack of hounds, she was +brought to her knees. The white flag was raised, and the sorely battered +_Tennessee_ became the captive of the Union fleet. The forts were +passed and the victory of Mobile Bay was secure. + +[Illustration: BURNSIDE'S EXPEDITION CROSSING HATTERAS BAR (1862).] + +But it had cost dearly. In addition to the men lost on the _Tecumseh_, +there had been 25 killed and 28 wounded on the _Hartford_, 11 killed and +43 wounded on the _Brooklyn_, the total of all, including those lost on +the _Tecumseh_, being 145 killed and 170 wounded. The Confederate loss +was 12 killed, 20 wounded and 280 prisoners. + +Fort Powell was subjected to a severe bombardment that afternoon and on +the following night was abandoned and blown up. Fire being opened on +Fort Gaines, it also surrendered. Fort Morgan, the only fort in the +possession of the enemy, surrendered August 23, before an attack of the +navy and the land forces under General Granger from New Orleans. + +Soon after this splendid victory Admiral Farragut went North, where he +was received with all possible honors. The war ending soon after, his +inestimable services came to a close. That no reward might be lacking, +the office of vice-admiral was specially created for him in December, +1864, and that of admiral in 1866. He died in 1870. + + + + +THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. + +CHAPTER XXX. + +The Movement Against Cuba--The Destruction of Cervera's Fleet--Admiral +Sampson--Admiral Schley--"Fighting Bob" Evans--Commodore John C. +Watson--Commodore John W. Philip--Lieutenant Commander Richard +Wainwright. + + +Since the war with Spain was undertaken for the liberation of Cuba from +the most frightful atrocities that mind can conceive, it was natural +that the chief attention of our Government should be directed to the +expulsion of the Spaniards from that island. Neither the Ladrones nor +Philippines entered into the question; but, inasmuch as they were +valuable possessions of Spain, their conquest was a natural and +effective blow against the nation with which we were at war. + +In view of what subsequently occurred, we can smile at the general +uneasiness and fear which prevailed in this country at the opening of +hostilities regarding the fleets of Spain. She was known to have a +formidable navy and a great many believed it was superior to our own. +There was no telling where it would strike the first blow. Boston, New +York, Philadelphia, Washington and other seaboard cities made powerful +preparations against the dread fleet, which in truth was no more to be +feared than the ferryboats on the North River, and yet but for the +preparations referred to it is more than probable we should have +suffered. + +The most formidable fleet was under the command of Admiral Cervera. Our +own squadrons were engaged for weeks in hunting for it, and it was +reported in a dozen different places. Finally it was learned that it had +taken refuge in the harbor of Santiago, the city of that name being +besieged by the land forces under General Shafter. Immediately the +American fleet of Admiral Sampson blockaded the ships of the enemy, +determined to hold it powerless inside the broad harbor, for it +followed, as a matter of course, that so long as it was bottled up there +it could do nothing to help Spain. + +No one could know his weakness better than the Spanish Admiral. He had +fine ships and fine guns, but his crews were undisciplined. They were +wretched marksmen and in no respect to be compared with our gunners, who +demonstrated in the War of 1812 that they have no equals in the whole +world. Knowing all this, Admiral Cervera was loth to venture out of +the harbor of Santiago, and the days and weeks passed in idleness while +the monotonous blockade continued. + +[Illustration: ADMIRAL CERVERA.] + +It was the fear that the Spanish ships would make a dash on some dark, +stormy night and escape that led to one of the most striking and +brilliant exploits of the war. That is the sinking of the collier +_Merrimac_ in the channel of the harbor by Lieutenant Richmond Pearson +Hobson, on the night of June 3. That the effort was not wholly +successful does not detract from the glory of the brave men who went +unflinchingly to what looked like almost certain death. + +The companions of Lieutenant Hobson in this remarkable achievement were +Osborn Deignan, George F. Phillips, Francis Kelly, George Charette, +Daniel Montague, J.C. Murphy and Randolph Clausen. The last named was +not one of the original six chosen, but he had been at work on the +_Merrimac_ preparing her for the attempt and hid himself away on the +lumbersome craft and they were obliged to take him. + +As soon as the Spaniards discovered the approach of the _Merrimac_, in +the darkness, they opened upon her with their batteries from both +shores, and she was subjected to a fire which it would seem must riddle +her like a sieve and kill every man. But under the direction of the +cool-headed and daring Lieutenant the collier was swung into the right +position, and, but for the shooting away of the rudder, would have been +sunk directly across the channel, which would have been effectively +blocked. The position of the wreck as a consequence was diagonal and +left the passage partly open. + +[Illustration: LIEUTENANT RICHMOND PEARSON HOBSON.] + +Having accomplished as nearly as possible the perilous task the brave +party were obliged to remain clinging to a raft until morning, when the +Spaniards discovered and made them prisoners. Admiral Cervera himself +helped to take Hobson out of the water and was so filled with admiration +of the extraordinary daring of himself and companions that he sent a +flag of truce to Admiral Sampson with the welcome news that all the men +were safe in his hands. They were confined first in Morro Castle and +later in the city of Santiago. They were treated with the respect their +heroism deserved and on July 6 were exchanged for a number of prisoners +held by our forces. + +[Illustration: ADMIRAL WILLIAM T. SAMPSON.] + +Just one month after this exploit, that is on the morning of July 3, +1898, Admiral Cervera attempted to escape from the harbor of Santiago. +The smoke of his vessels was discerned over the hills, and the watchful +ships outside signalled the fact to the other members of the squadron. A +few minutes later the bow of one of the Spanish steamers came into sight +from behind the Estrella Battery. The _Brooklyn_, _Iowa_ and _Oregon_, +some two and a half miles distant, crowded on all steam and headed for +the harbor. The first Spanish cruiser to show itself was the _Infanta +Maria Teresa_, followed by the _Vizcaya_, the _Almirante Oquendo_ and +the _Cristobal Colon_, with the torpedo boats _Pluton_ and _Furor_ +bringing up the rear. The _Infanta Maria Teresa_, leading the +procession, was the flagship of Admiral Cervera. He sent a shell toward +the American vessels, but, in accordance with the rule, it went wide of +the mark. The _Texas_ opened with her big guns and her companions +quickly joined in the thunderous chorus. + +No sooner were the Spanish ships clear of the harbor than they turned +westward and strained every nerve to escape, firing at their pursuers, +who were equally determined to overtake or destroy them. The _Brooklyn_, +further away from shore, changed her course so as to follow a parallel +direction, and, as soon as she attained a fair range, opened a +tremendous and well directed fire. The _Texas_, whose course was +somewhat diagonal, singled out the _Vizcaya_, and, unable to outspeed +her, pounded her savagely with her shells. + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN JOHN PHILIP, OF THE "TEXAS."] + +Every movement of the splendid battleship was directed by her Captain, +John W. Philip. The _Texas_ was struck several times, but did not +receive any material damage, while she wrought frightful havoc on the +_Vizcaya_. + +The _Oregon_, the finest ship in our navy, which had come more than +14,000 miles from the Pacific coast, was ploughing forward under forced +draught, and, with a tremendous burst of speed, shot past the _Texas_ +and drew up on the _Brooklyn_ in the effort to head off the leading +fugitive, while the _Iowa_ was doing her utmost to maintain her killing +pace and was firing her great guns with splendid precision. Suddenly the +_Vizcaya_ broke into flames and headed for shore. Knowing that she was +doomed, the _Brooklyn_ and _Oregon_ gave her a few parting shots and +kept up their furious pursuit of the _Almirante Oquendo_ and the +_Cristobal Colon_. + +Just then the torpedo boat destroyers _Pluton_ and _Furor_ were +discovered speeding also to the westward. Lieutenant Commander Richard +Wainwright, who was an officer on the _Maine_ when she was destroyed, +was now in command of the auxiliary cruiser _Gloucester_, and, without +hesitation, he dashed after the destroyers, though for a part of the +time he received the fire of Morro Castle, the _Vizcaya_ and both of the +dangerous craft he was chasing. But the _Gloucester_ seemed to bear a +charmed life, or, more truthfully speaking, the Spanish gunners didn't +know how to shoot. + +Unfortunately for Admiral Sampson, he had gone some miles away to hold a +conference with General Shafter when the Spanish fleet made its attempt +to escape, but he now came up with the _New York_, eagerly rushing +forward to bear a hand in the fight. The _Pluton_ and _Furor_ fled +before her, while the _Indiana_ shelled the first destroyer so +mercilessly that she turned and headed for the mouth of the harbor, +several miles distant. The vigilant _Gloucester_ joined the _Indiana_ +and one of the destroyers displayed a flag of truce. She was ablaze from +bow to stern and her crew ran her ashore, where she blew up. The second +was also beached and deserted by her crew. Meanwhile the _Vizcaya_ ran +up the white flag and the _Texas_ stopped firing. She, like the _Infanta +Maria Teresa_, was on fire and her crews could do nothing but take to +the shore in the desperate effort to save themselves. + +The _Almirante Oquendo_ and the _Colon_ were still fleeing for life, +with the _Iowa, Oregon, Brooklyn_ and _Texas_ hard after them. Suddenly +the _Almirante Oquendo_ turned toward shore. The _Brooklyn_ and _Oregon_ +kept after the _Cristobal Colon_, leaving the _Texas_ to dispose of the +_Almirante Oquendo_. But the latter was in flames and the flag at her +stern was pulled down. The _Texas_ was approaching when the Spanish ship +was torn by a tremendous explosion. The Americans broke into cheers. +Captain Philip threw up his hand and called: + +"Don't cheer, boys; the poor fellows are dying!" + +It was chivalrous and thoughtful on the part of the American commander +and will never be forgotten. + +The _Cristobal Colon_ steamed along the coast with the speed of a race +horse, but the _Brooklyn_, _Texas_ and _Oregon_ seemed to feel the prick +of the spur and ran as never before and as their captains did not +believe them capable of doing. The _Brooklyn_ gradually drew ahead and +the Spaniard, seeing that escape was out of the question, hauled down +his flag. Thus the victory became complete. + +The news was just in time to help in the universal rejoicing and +celebration of the Fourth of July. The Spanish fleet on the other side +of the globe had been destroyed and now the second fleet was wiped out. +In the former instance not a life was lost and in the latter only one +man was killed on our side, while the loss of the enemy was severe. +Never was a more decisive victory gained by one nation over another in +the whole history of the world. + +All my readers are familiar with the events that immediately followed, +but perhaps they would like to know something concerning the naval +heroes who did so much to contribute to the grand naval victory off +Santiago. + +William T. Sampson was born in Palmyra, N.Y., February 9, 1840. He was +the son of an ordinary day laborer and had few early educational +advantages, but he was appointed to the Naval Academy and was graduated +at the head of his class. He was on the frigate _Potomac_, with the rank +of master, when the war broke out, but was too young to secure a command +during the war. He became a lieutenant in July, 1862, and served with +that rank on the practice ship _John Adams_ at the Naval Academy and on +the ironclad _Patapsco_. On January 15, 1865, the _Patapsco_ attempted +to force an entrance into the harbor of Charleston, which was one +network of mines. Sampson exposed himself fearlessly and the ship met +with a fearful disaster by being blown up by a submarine mine. Seventy +went down to death as did those on the _Maine_, while Sampson and more +than a score of others, after being blown a hundred feet through the +air, saved themselves by swimming until they were picked up. Sampson was +commissioned as lieutenant commander in 1866, was at the Naval Academy +from 1868 to 1871, cruised for two years in European waters and first +commanded the _Alert_ in 1874. Appointed to the superintendency of the +Naval Academy in 1888, he held the situation for four years. + +With the construction of the new navy, Sampson commanded in turn two +modern ships, the cruiser _San Francisco_ and the battleship _Iowa_. He +was a close student of ordnance matters, gave special attention to +torpedo work and was chief of the Bureau of Naval Ordnance from 1893 to +1897. There can be no question of his fine ability nor that, had the +opportunity presented, Rear Admiral Sampson, as he had become, would +have proven himself among the foremost officers in our navy. It was a +great personal misfortune that he happened to be absent from the front +of Santiago when the Spanish fleet made its venture, but it must not be +forgotten that, in anticipation of such action, he had planned the +battle that was fought by the American ships. + +[Illustration: VIEW OF CHARLESTON HARBOR, SHOWING THE SUNKEN VESSELS.] + +Winfield Scott Schley was born in Frederick, Md., October 9, 1839, and +was graduated from the Naval Academy at the beginning of the Civil War. +After brief service on the storeship _Potomac_ he was promoted to master +in 1861, and served on the _Winona_, of the West Gulf blockading +squadron, 1862-63. He there gained a taste of real war and performed a +number of exploits which proved his coolness and daring. He received +honorable mention for his services in the engagements which led to the +capture of Port Hudson. He was commissioned lieutenant in July, 1862, +and was executive officer of the _Wateree_ from 1864 to 1865, having +been made lieutenant commander in July, 1866, after which he spent three +years again at the Naval Academy, serving as instructor of modern +languages. + +Admiral Schley has done brilliant service outside of what is generally +considered the routine duty of his profession. When he was in Eastern +waters in 1864 he landed 100 men, who protected the American consulate +when threatened during a native insurrection among the natives of the +Chin-Chi Islands. His most famous exploit was the rescue of the Greely +Arctic expedition. In 1881 Lieutenant Adolphus W. Greely commanded an +expedition of twenty-five men, which established an observation station +at the farthest point in the polar regions then attained. The +expedition, when in a starving condition and with only seven men alive, +was rescued at Cape Sabine, Grinnell Land, in 1884 by Captain Schley. He +was rewarded for this service by a gold medal from Congress and promoted +by President Arthur to chief of the Bureau of Equipment and made captain +in 1888. + +[Illustration: COMMODORE WINFIELD SCOTT SCHLEY.] + +After resigning this position Captain Schley commanded the cruiser +_Baltimore_, which bore the remains of Ericsson, the great Swedish +inventor, to his native land, whose king presented Schley with a gold +medal in recognition of this service. He won the commendation of the +Navy Department for his tactful success in settling threatened trouble +over the stoning of a number of American sailors from the _Baltimore_ by +a party of Chilians at Valparaiso. Commodore Schley is a fine tactician, +possesses a winning personality and his work with the _Brooklyn,_ off +Santiago, on July 3, was neither more nor less than his friends expected +of him. + +Robley D. Evans, known everywhere as "Fighting Bob," was born in +Virginia in 1846. When his father died he made his home with his uncle +in Washington, D.C., where he attended Gonzaga College. In 1859 a +Congressional Representative from Utah appointed him to the Naval +Academy. It was necessary for the boy to take up a nominal residence in +that distant territory, and on the journey thither and back he +encountered many personal dangers through all of which he conducted +himself with the pluck and bravery which afterward distinguished him in +the service of his country. He entered the academy in 1860 and upon his +graduation became a midshipman and ensign, first on the frigate +_Powhatan_, and before he had attained his majority took part in the +desperate assault on Fort Fisher. He was stretched on the ground, +dreadfully wounded and with so many dead men piled upon him that he +barely escaped suffocation. He was wounded twice in the body and shot +through both legs. It seemed scarcely possible for him to live, and he +lay in the hospital for months. But when a surgeon prepared to amputate +one of his legs Evans, who had managed to procure a revolver, warned him +that upon his first attempt to do so he would shoot him. The leg was +saved, but Evans was lamed for life. + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN ROBLEY D. EVANS, OF THE "IOWA."] + +As soon as he was able to get about he applied for active service and +his application was granted. He was engaged in various duties and in +October, 1891, he arrived in command of the _Yorktown_ at Valparaiso, +directly after the attack of a mob of Chilians upon the sailors of the +_Baltimore_. When some of the refugees fled for safety to the _Yorktown_ +and the Chilians demanded their surrender "Fighting Bob" replied that he +would defend them until the _Yorktown_ went to the bottom. Some time +later the captain's launch was stoned, for the Chilians hated the +Americans as intensely as did the Spaniards. Captain Evans placed a +rapid fire gun in the bow of the launch, filled her with armed men and +went ashore. Hunting out the authorities, he notified them that if any +more stones were thrown at his launch he would make life a burden for +every Chilian within reach of the Yorktown's guns. The launch was not +stoned again. + +It is a mistaken though general impression of "Fighting Bob" that he is +simply a headlong and reckless fighter. Such is far from being the case, +for he is deliberate, thoughtful and tactful. He is a fine scholar, +possesses a thorough knowledge of international law and is simply +resolute in protecting the rights of himself and countrymen. This was +proven by his conduct when in charge of the American fleet in the Bering +Sea, placed there to prevent the illegal killing of seals. There was a +good deal of friction at that time between this country and England and +had Captain Evans been the reckless "scrapper" that many supposed he +could not have failed to involve us in trouble with that country. There +was not a word of censure upon his course. Out of 108 vessels engaged in +the illegal trade he captured 98 and of the several hundred seals +unlawfully killed he captured every one. Like all the other officers and +sailors who took part in the destruction of Cervera's fleet, he was +energetic, skilful, brave and chivalrous, for when Captain Eulate, of +the captured _Vizcaya_, offered his sword to the Captain of the _Iowa_ +that gentleman kindly waved him back and told him to keep the weapon he +had used so well. + +Captain Evans does not like the name "Fighting Bob", for he feels he has +no more claim to the distinction than the rest of his associates. Many +of the stories told of his roughness of speech and profanity are not +true, though it cannot be denied that he has a habit of expressing +himself very vigorously when his feelings are stirred. By his own +request, Captain Evans was relieved, September 15, 1898, of the command +of the _Iowa_, he having served more than his regular term of sea +service. At present he is a member of the Board of Inspection and +Survey. + +John C. Watson was born in Frankfort, Ky., August 24, 1842, and is a +member of one of the leading families of the State. He entered the Naval +Academy at the age of fourteen and was graduated near the head of his +class in June, 1860. He was a midshipman on the _Susquehanna_ in Europe, +at the breaking out of the war, and was made master in August, 1861. + +It is proof of the worth of the man that he was assigned as navigator of +the flagship _Hartford_, commanded by the lion-hearted Farragut. He +became lieutenant in June, 1862, and flag lieutenant to Farragut in +January, 1864. + +The reader of these pages has learned something of the great battles of +New Orleans, Mobile Bay, Vicksburg and Port Hudson. Watson took part in +all of them and none acquitted himself better. In a letter to his son, +Admiral Farragut wrote: "I am almost as fond of Watson as I am of your +own dear self." In his report of the battle of Mobile Bay, where Watson +was wounded, Farragut wrote: "Lieutenant Watson has been brought to your +attention in former times. He was on the poop attending to the signals +and performed his duty, as might be expected, thoroughly. He is a scion +worthy of the noble stock he springs from, and I commend him to your +attention." + +A squadron of invincible power was made up for Watson in the summer of +1898, with which it was intended Commodore Watson should pay a hostile +visit to the coast of Spain. But for the signing of the peace protocol, +that visit under its gallant and distinguished commander would have +proved one that the decrepit monarchy would remember to the end of time. + +Captain John W. Philip, promoted to the rank of commodore for his superb +work with the _Texas_ off Santiago, is brave, modest, devout and fond of +practical joking. He is genial, exceedingly popular with his associates +and men and one of the finest officers in the navy. The little incident +well illustrates his character, when, in the midst of the wild rejoicing +of his men over the destruction of the Spanish fleet, he checked them +with the words: "Don't cheer, boys; the poor fellows are dying!" + +Lieutenant Commander Richard Wainwright performed an unequalled exploit +when in command of the _Gloucester_, formerly the yacht _Corsair_, he +wiped out the two torpedo boat destroyers _Pluton_ and _Furor_. At the +time of that exploit he was only forty-eight years old and the youngest +man of his grade in the navy. He is a fine officer and is a son of the +late Commodore Wainwright, who died in the service of his country during +the Civil War. Like many of our naval heroes, he seems to inherit his +fine fighting qualities, though it would not be far from the truth to +say that such is the rightful heritage of every American soldier and +sailor. + +[THE END.] + + + + +[Sidenote: Reasons why you should obtain a Catalogue of our +Publications] + +1. You will possess a comprehensive and classified list of all the best +standard books published, at prices less than offered by others. + +2. 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Ellis, A.M.. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + visibility: hidden; + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Dewey and Other Naval Commanders, by Edward S. Ellis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Dewey and Other Naval Commanders + +Author: Edward S. Ellis + +Release Date: December 8, 2005 [EBook #17253] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEWEY AND OTHER NAVAL COMMANDERS *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Paul Ereaut and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/001.jpg" width="400" height="583" alt="ADMIRAL GEORGE DEWEY, U.S.N." title="ADMIRAL GEORGE DEWEY, U.S.N." /> +<span class="caption">ADMIRAL GEORGE DEWEY, U.S.N.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h1>DEWEY</h1> + +<h1>AND OTHER</h1> + +<h1>NAVAL COMMANDERS.</h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>EDWARD S. ELLIS, A.M.,</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Author of +"A History of the World," " The People's Standard History +of the United States," "A History of the State of New York," "Deerfoot +Series," "Log Cabin Series," Etc.</span><br /><br /></h4> + + +<h3>NEW YORK</h3> + +<h2>HURST & COMPANY</h2> + +<h3>PUBLISHERS<br /></h3> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Copyright</span>, 1899,</h4> + +<h4>BY</h4> + +<h4>JOHN HOVENDON.</h4> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 1]<a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"></a></span></p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3>CONTENTS.<br /></h3> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="10" summary="Contents"> + +<tr><td align='right'>CHAPTER</td> +<td align='right'></td> +<td></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#INTRODUCTION">INTRODUCTION</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>I</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Admiral George Dewey—The Birth and Boyhood of</span> +<span class="smcap">George Dewey.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>II</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Dewey in the War for the Union.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>III</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Dewey in the War with Spain.</span></td></tr> + + +<tr><td></td><td align='left'><a href="#THE_REVOLUTIONARY_BATTLES">THE REVOLUTIONARY BATTLES</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>IV</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Birth of the American Navy—The</span> +<span class="smcap">Privateers—Capture of New Providence, in</span> +<span class="smcap">the Bahamas—Paul Jones—A Clever Exploit—A</span> +<span class="smcap">Skilful Escape—Fine Seamanship—An Audacious</span> +<span class="smcap">Scheme.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>V</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Daring Attempt by Captain Paul Jones—Why It</span> +<span class="smcap">Failed—A Bold Scheme—Why It Did Not Succeed—The</span> +<span class="smcap">Fight Between the <i>Ranger</i> and <i>Drake</i>.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>VI</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">One of the Most Memorable Sea Fights Ever Known—The</span> +<span class="smcap">Wonderful Exploit of Captain Paul Jones.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><b>VII</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Our Naval War with France—The Tribute Paid to the</span> +<span class="smcap">Barbary States by Christian Nations—War Declared</span> +<span class="smcap">Against the United States by Tripoli—Bainbridge,</span> +<span class="smcap">Decatur, Stewart, Dale and Preble.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><b>VIII</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">The First Serious Engagement—Loss of the</span> +<span class="smcap"><i>Philadelphia</i>—The Scheme of Captain Bainbridge—Exploit</span> +<span class="smcap">of Lieutenant Decatur.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><b>IX</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Bombardment of Tripoli—Treacherous Act of a</span> +<span class="smcap">Turkish Captain—A Quick Retribution at the Hands of Captain Decatur.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_X"><b>X</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Bomb Ketch—A Terrible Missile—Frightful</span> +<span class="smcap">Catastrophe—Diplomacy in Place of War—Peace.</span></td></tr> + + +<tr><td></td><td align='left'><a href="#THE_WAR_OF_1812">THE WAR OF 1812</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><b>XI</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Cause of the War</span> +<span class="smcap">of 1812—Discreditable Work of the Land Forces—Brilliant Record of the</span> +<span class="smcap">Navy—The <i>Constitution</i>—Captain Isaac Hull—Battle</span> +<span class="smcap">Between the <i>Constitution</i> and <i>Guerriere</i>—Winning a Wager.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><b>XII</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Jacob Jones—The <i>Wasp</i> and the <i>Frolic</i>—James</span> +<span class="smcap">Biddle—The <i>Hornet</i> and the <i>Penguin</i>—A Narrow Escape.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><b>XIII</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Captains Carden and Decatur—Cruise of the</span> +<span class="smcap"><i>Macedonian</i>—Battle with the Frigate <i>United States</i>—Decatur's</span> +<span class="smcap">Chivalry.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"><b>XIV</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Occasional American Defeats as Well as Victories—Captain</span> +<span class="smcap">Decatur's Misfortune—The <i>Chesapeake</i> and <i>Shannon</i>.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_XV"><b>XV</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">David Porter—A Clever Feat—Numerous Captures by the</span> +<span class="smcap"><i>Essex</i>—Her Remarkable Cruise in the Pacific—Her Final Capture.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"><b>XVI</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Oliver Hazard Perry—Prompt and Effective Work—"We</span> +<span class="smcap">Have Met the Enemy and They Are Ours"—Death of Perry.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII"><b>XVII</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Hero of the Olden Days—Cruise of the</span> +<span class="smcap"><i>Constitution</i>— Her Capture of the <i>Cyane</i> and <i>Levant</i>—Reminiscences</span> +<span class="smcap">of Admiral Stewart—His Last Days.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII"><b>XVIII</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Captures Made After the Signing of the Treaty of</span> +<span class="smcap">Peace—The Privateers—Exploit of the <i>General</i></span> +<span class="smcap"><i>Armstrong</i>—Its Far-Reaching Result.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td></td><td align='left'><a href="#LESSER_WARS">LESSER WARS</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX"><b>XIX</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Resentment of the Barbary States—The</span> +<span class="smcap">War with Algiers—Captain Decatur's Vigorous Course—His Astonishing Success as a Diplomat.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_XX"><b>XX</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Piracy in the West Indies—Its Cause—Means</span> +<span class="smcap">by Which It Was Wiped Out—Piracy in the Mediterranean.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI"><b>XXI</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Qualla Battoo Incident.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII"><b>XXII</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Wilkes's Exploring Expedition.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td></td><td align='left'><a href="#THE_WAR_FOR_THE_UNION">THE WAR FOR THE UNION</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII"><b>XXIII</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">A New Era for the United</span> +<span class="smcap">States Navy—Opening of the Great Civil War—John Lorimer Worden—Battle</span> +<span class="smcap">Between the <i>Monitor</i> and <i>Merrimac</i>—Death of Worden.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV"><b>XXIV</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Two Worthy Sons—William D. Porter—The</span> +<span class="smcap">Career of Admiral David Dixon Porter.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV"><b>XXV</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Charles Stewart Boggs—His Coolness in</span> +<span class="smcap">the Presence of Danger—His Desperate Fight Below New Orleans—His</span> +<span class="smcap">Subsequent Services.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI"><b>XXVI</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">John Ancrum Winslow—His Early Life and</span> +<span class="smcap">Training—The Famous Battle Between the <i>Kearsarge</i></span> +<span class="smcap">and <i>Alabama</i>.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII"><b>XXVII</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">An Unexpected Preacher—Andrew Hull Foote—His</span> +<span class="smcap">Character and Early Career—His Brilliant Services in the War for the Union.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII"><b>XXVIII</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Man Devoid of Fear—William Barker Cushing—Some</span> +<span class="smcap">of His Exploits—The Blowing Up of the <i>Albemarle</i>—His Sad Death.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX"><b>XXIX</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Greatest of Naval Heroes—David Glasgow Farragut.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td></td><td align='left'><a href="#THE_SPANISH-AMERICAN_WAR">THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'valign='top'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX"><b>XXX</b></a></td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Movement Against</span> +<span class="smcap">Cuba—The Destruction of Cervera's Fleet—Admiral Sampson—Admiral</span> +<span class="smcap">Schley—"Fighting Bob" Evans—Commodore John C. Watson—Commodore</span> +<span class="smcap">John W. Philip—Lieutenant Commander Richard Wainwright.</span></td></tr> +</table><br /><br /></div> + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 5]<a name="Page_5" id="Page_5"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="INTRODUCTION" id="INTRODUCTION"></a>INTRODUCTION</h2> + + +<p>I purpose telling you in the following pages about the exploits of the +gallant men who composed the American Navy, beginning with the +Revolution and ending with the story of their wonderful deeds in our +late war with Spain. You can never read a more interesting story, nor +one that will make you feel prouder of your birthright. While our +patriot armies have done nobly, it is none the less true that we never +could have become one of the greatest nations in the world without the +help of our heroic navy. Our warships penetrated into all waters of the +globe, and made people, whether barbarous or civilized, respect and fear +the Stars and Stripes.</p> + +<p>This is due in a great measure to the bravery of our naval heroes, who +did not fear to meet Great Britain, the "mistress of the seas," when her +navy outnumbered ours one hundred to one. England is now our best +friend, and no doubt will always remain so. Never again can there be war +between her and us, and it will not be strange that one of these days, +if either gets into trouble, the American and English soldiers will +"drink from the same canteen," which is another way of saying they will +fight side by side, as they did <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 6]<a name="Page_6" id="Page_6"></a></span>a short time ago in Samoa. All the +same, our brethren across the ocean are very willing to own that we +fought them right well. Indeed, they think all the more of us for having +done so. You know that one brave man always likes another who is as +brave as himself, just as Northerners and Southerners love each other, +and are all united under one flag, which one side defended and the other +fought against, through long years, terrible years from 1861 to 1865.</p> + +<p>The decks of no ships have ever been trodden by braver men than our +American sailors. There are no more heroic deeds in all history than +those of Paul Jones, Porter, Hull, Decatur, Perry, Cushing, Farragut, +Worden, Dewey, Schley, Evans, Philip, Hobson and scores of others, who +have braved what seemed certain death for the glory of our flag. Many +gave up their lives in its defence, and their names form one of the +proudest and most cherished heritages that can descend to a grateful +country.</p> + +<p>So, I repeat, I am sure you will be interested and instructed in +learning the story of the heroes who have done so much for us; and their +example cannot fail to inspire you with loftier heroism, greater +devotion, and deeper resolve to do all you can for our favored land, +which is the fairest that ever sun shone upon.</p> + +<p>E.S.E.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 7]<a name="Page_7" id="Page_7"></a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>THE BIRTH AND BOYHOOD OF GEORGE DEWEY.</h3> + + +<p>The name of Vermont recalls the gallant "Green Mountain Boys," who +proved their sturdy patriotism not only in the Revolution, but before +those stormy days broke over the land. In the colonial times the section +was known as the "New Hampshire Grants," and was claimed by both New +York and New Hampshire, but Vermont refused to acknowledge the authority +of either, even after New York, in 1764, secured a decision in her favor +from King George, and set vigorously to work to compel the settlers to +pay a second time for their lands. The doughty pioneers would have none +of it, and roughly handled the New York officers sent thither. In 1777 +Vermont formally declared her independence and adopted a State +constitution. Then, since the Revolution was on, Ethan Allen and the +rest of the "Green Mountain Boys" turned in and helped whip the +redcoats. That being done, Vermont again as<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 8]<a name="Page_8" id="Page_8"></a></span>serted her independence, +compelled New York to recognize it in 1789, and she was admitted to the +Union in 1791.</p> + +<p>It was away back in 1633 that the first Englishman bearing the name of +Dewey arrived in Massachusetts with a number of other emigrants. They +settled in Dorchester, and in 1636 Thomas Dewey, as he was named, +removed to Windsor, Connecticut, where he died in 1648, leaving a widow +and five children. Following down the family line, we come to the birth +of Julius Yemans Dewey, August 22, 1801, at Berlin, Vermont. He studied +medicine, practiced his profession at Montpelier, the capital, and +became one of the most respected and widely known citizens of the State. +He was married three times, and by his first wife had three sons and one +daughter. The latter was Mary, and the sons were Charles, Edward, and +George, the last of whom became the famous Admiral of the American navy +and the hero of the late war between our country and Spain. He was born +in the old colonial house of Dr. Dewey, December 26, 1837.</p> + +<p>George was a good specimen of the mischievous, high-spirited and +roystering youngster, who would go to any pains and run any risk for the +sake of the fun it afforded. This propensity was carried to <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 9]<a name="Page_9" id="Page_9"></a></span>such an +extent that the youth earned the name of being a "bad boy," and there is +no use of pretending he did not deserve the reputation. He gave his +parents and neighbors a good deal of anxiety, and Dr. Dewey, who knew +how to be stern as well as kind, was compelled more than once to +interpose his authority in a way that no lad is likely to forget.</p> + +<p>Dr. Dewey was a man of deep religious convictions. In middle life he +gave up the practice of medicine and founded the National Life Insurance +Company, to whose interests he devoted his time and ability, and met +with a good degree of success. George was gifted by nature with rugged +health, high spirits and indomitable pluck and fearlessness. None could +surpass him in running, leaping, swimming and in boyish sports. He was +fond of fishing and of rough games, and as a fighter few of his years +could stand in front of him. In numerous athletic trials he was +invariably the victor, and it must be admitted that he loved fighting as +well as he liked playing ball or fishing. He gave and received hard +knocks, and even at that early age showed evidence of the combative, +aggressive courage that became so marked a feature of his manhood.</p> + +<p>An incident is related by Z.K. Pangborn, the well known editor of New +Jersey, who took charge of <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 10]<a name="Page_10" id="Page_10"></a></span>the Montpelier school, in which George Dewey +was a pupil. The school was notorious for the roughness of a number of +its pupils, who had ousted more than one instructor and welcomed the +chance to tackle a new one. Master Dewey was the ringleader of these +young rebels, and chuckled with delight when the quiet-looking, +ordinary-sized teacher sauntered down the highway to begin his duties in +the schoolroom.</p> + +<p>At the time of the gentleman's appearance George was sitting astride of +a big limb in a tree at the side of the road, his pockets bulging with +stones, which he was hurling with unpleasant accuracy at every one who +came within range. Several youngsters were howling from having served as +targets to the urchin up the tree, and as soon as Mr. Pangborn saw how +things were going he shouted to Dewey to stop his sport. The boy replied +by advising the teacher to go to the hottest region named in works on +theology, and, descending the tree, led several young scamps in an +attack upon the instructor. There was a lively brush, in which it cannot +be said that either party was the victor.</p> + +<p>A drawn battle is always unsatisfactory to two armies, and George +determined to have it out in the schoolroom with the teacher, who, +expecting the struggle, had prepared for it and was as eager as the +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 11]<a name="Page_11" id="Page_11"></a></span>boys for the fight. As before, Dewey was the leader in the attack on +the pedagogue, who was wiry, active, and strong. He swung his rawhide +with a vigor that made Dewey and the others dance, but they pluckily +kept up the assault, until the instructor seized a big stick, intended +to serve as fuel for the old-fashioned stove, and laid about him with an +energy that soon stretched the rebels on the floor.</p> + +<p>Then how he belabored them! As fast as one attempted to climb to his +feet he was thumped back again by the club that continually whizzed +through the air, and if a boy tried to stay the storm by remaining +prone, the instructor thumped him none the less viciously. Indeed, +matters had got to that point that he enjoyed the fun and was loath to +let up, as he felt obliged to do, when the howling rebels slunk to their +seats, thoroughly cowed and conquered.</p> + +<p>George Dewey was the most battered of the lot and made a sorry sight. In +fact, he was so bruised that his teacher thought it prudent to accompany +him to his home and explain to his father the particulars of the affray +in school. Mr. Pangborn gave a detailed history of the occurrence, to +which Dr. Dewey listened gravely. When he understood everything, he +showed his good sense by thanking the teacher for having administered +the punishment, asking him to <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 12]<a name="Page_12" id="Page_12"></a></span>repeat it whenever the conduct of his son +made it necessary.</p> + +<p>This chastisement marked a turning point in the boy's career. He did a +good deal of serious thinking throughout the day, and saw and felt his +wrongdoing. He became an attentive, obedient pupil, and years after, +when grown to manhood, he warmly thanked Mr. Pangborn for having +punished him with such severity, frankly adding: "I believe if you +hadn't done so I should have ended my career in the penitentiary."</p> + +<p>Dr. Dewey wished to give George a career in the army, and he sent him to +Norwich University, a military training school, in order to fit him for +the Military Academy at West Point. George's tastes, however, were for +the navy, and after much pleading with his father he brought him to his +way of thinking. The utmost that Dr. Dewey could do was to secure the +appointment of his son as alternate, who, as may be understood, secures +the appointment only in the event of the principal failing to pass the +entrance examination. In this case the principal would have passed +without trouble, and, to quote an ordinary expression, George Dewey +would have been "left," had not the mother of the other boy interposed +at the critical moment. Under no circum<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 13]<a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"></a></span>stances would she allow her son +to enter the navy. He was compelled to give up all ambition in that +direction and to take up the study of theology. At this writing he is a +popular preacher, who will always believe it was a most providential +thing for our country that turned him aside from blocking the entrance +of George Dewey to the Naval Academy at Annapolis.</p> + +<p>Our hero entered the institution September 23, 1854. It did not take him +long to discover that the institution, like that at West Point, is +controlled by the most rigid discipline possible. No stricter rules can +be devised than those that prevail at the two institutions. I have heard +it said by a West Point graduate that a cadet cannot sit down and +breathe for twenty-four hours without violating some rule. The fact that +a few men do escape being "skinned"—that is, punished for derelictions +of duty—does not prove that they have not committed any indiscretions, +but that they have escaped detection.</p> + +<p>Hard, however, as was the road for Dewey to travel, he never shrank or +turned aside, for he knew the same path had been traveled by all who had +gone before him, and he reasoned that what man had done man could do, +and he did it.</p> + +<p>It will be noted that the future Admiral entered <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 14]<a name="Page_14" id="Page_14"></a></span>the Naval Academy at a +stirring period in the history of our country, over which the coming +Civil War already cast its awful shadow, and, as the months and years +passed, the shadow darkened and grew more portentous until the red +lightning rent the clouds apart and they rained blood and fire and woe +and death.</p> + +<p>At the Annapolis Academy the lines between the cadets from the North and +the South were sharply drawn. They reflected the passions of their +sections, and, being young and impulsive, there were hot words and +fierce blows. As might be supposed, George Dewey was prominent in these +affrays, for it has been said of him that there was never a fight in his +neighborhood without his getting into the thickest of it.</p> + +<p>One day a fiery Southerner called him a dough-face, whereupon Dewey let +go straight from the shoulder and his insulter turned a backward +somersault. Leaping to his feet, his face aflame with rage, he went at +the Green Mountain Boy, who coolly awaited his attack, and they +proceeded instantly to mix it up for some fifteen minutes in the most +lively manner conceivable. At the end of that time the Southerner was so +thoroughly trounced that he was unable to continue the fight.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 15]<a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"></a></span>It was not long before Dewey had a furious scrimmage with another +cadet, whom he soundly whipped. He challenged Dewey to a duel, and Dewey +instantly accepted the challenge. Seconds were chosen, weapons provided +and the ground paced off. By that time the friends of the two parties, +seeing that one of the young men, and possibly both, were certain to be +killed, interfered, and, appealing to the authorities of the +institution, the deadly meeting was prevented. These incidents attest +the personal daring of Admiral Dewey, of whom it has been said that he +never showed fear of any living man. Often during his stirring career +was the attempt made to frighten him, and few have been placed in so +many situations of peril and come out of them alive, but in none did he +ever display anything that could possibly be mistaken for timidity. He +was a brave man and a patriot in every fibre of his being.</p> + +<p>A youth can be combative, personally brave and aggressive, and still be +a good student, as was proven by the graduation of Dewey, fifth in a +class of fourteen. As was the custom, he was ordered to a cruise before +his final examination. He was a cadet on the steam frigate <i>Wabash</i>, +which cruised in the Mediterranean squadron until 1859, when he returned +to Annapolis and, upon examination, took rank as the <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 16]<a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"></a></span>leader of his +class, proof that he had spent his time wisely while on what may be +called his trial cruise. He went to his old home in Montpelier, where he +was spending the days with his friends, when the country was startled +and electrified by the news that Fort Sumter had been fired on in +Charleston harbor and that civil war had begun. Dewey's patriotic blood +was at the boiling point, and one week later, having been commissioned +as lieutenant and assigned to the sloop of war <i>Mississippi</i>, he hurried +thither to help in defence of the Union.</p> + +<p>The <i>Mississippi</i> was a sidewheel steamer, carrying seventeen guns, and +was destined to a thrilling career in the stirring operations of the +West Gulf squadron, under the command of Captain David Glasgow Farragut, +the greatest naval hero produced by the Civil War, and without a +superior in all history.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 17]<a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>DEWEY IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION.</h3> + + +<p>No one needs to be reminded that the War for the Union was the greatest +struggle of modern times. The task of bringing back to their allegiance +those who had risen against the authority of the National Government was +a gigantic one, and taxed the courage and resources of the country to +the utmost. In order to make the war effective, it was necessary to +enforce a rigorous blockade over three thousand miles of seacoast, open +the Mississippi river, and overcome the large and well-officered armies +in the field. The last was committed to the land forces, and it proved +an exhausting and wearying struggle.</p> + +<p>Among the most important steps was the second—that of opening the +Mississippi, which being accomplished, the Southwest, from which the +Confederacy drew its immense supplies of cattle, would be cut off and a +serious blow struck against the armed rebellion.</p> + +<p>The river was sealed from Vicksburg to the Gulf of Mexico. At the former +place extensive batteries had been erected and were defended by an army, +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 18]<a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"></a></span>while the river below bristled with batteries and guns in charge of +brave men and skilful officers.</p> + +<p>While General Grant undertook the task of reducing Vicksburg, Captain +Farragut assumed the herculean work of forcing his way up the +Mississippi and capturing New Orleans, the greatest commercial city in +the South. Knowing that such an attack was certain to be made, the +Confederates had neglected no precaution in the way of defence. Ninety +miles below the city, and twenty miles above its mouth, at the +Plaquemine Bend, were the forts of St. Philip and Jackson. The former, +on the left bank, had forty-two heavy guns, including two mortars and a +battery of four seacoast mortars, placed below the water battery. Fort +Jackson, besides its water battery, mounted sixty-two guns, while above +the forts were fourteen vessels, including the ironclad ram <i>Manassas</i>, +and a partially completed floating battery, armored with railroad iron +and called the <i>Louisiana</i>. New Orleans was defended by three thousand +volunteers, most of the troops formerly there having been sent to the +Confederate army in Tennessee.</p> + +<p>The expedition against New Orleans was prepared with great care, and so +many months were occupied that the enemy had all the notice they could +ask in which to complete their preparations for its defence. <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 19]<a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a></span>The Union +expedition consisted of six sloops of war, sixteen gunboats, twenty +mortar schooners and five other vessels. The <i>Mississippi</i>, upon which +young Dewey was serving as a lieutenant, was under the command of +Melanethon Smith. The land troops numbered 15,000, and were in charge of +General Benjamin F. Butler, of Massachusetts.</p> + +<p>Farragut arrived in February, 1862, nearly two months after the +beginning of preparations to force the river. When everything was in +readiness the fleet moved cautiously up stream, on April 18, and a +bombardment of Forts St. Philip and Jackson was opened, which lasted for +three days, without accomplishing anything decisive. Farragut had +carefully studied the situation, and, confident that the passage could +be made, determined it should be done, no matter at what cost. On the +night of the 23d his vessels were stripped of every rope and spar that +could be spared, the masts and rigging of the gunboats and mortar +vessels being trimmed with the limbs of trees, to conceal their identity +from the Confederate watchers.</p> + +<p>At two o'clock in the morning the signal was hoisted on the <i>Hartford</i>, +Captain Farragut's flagship, and the fleet started in single line to run +the fearful gauntlet. The <i>Cayuga</i> led, the <i>Pensacola</i> followed, <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 20]<a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"></a></span>and +the <i>Mississippi</i> was third. The rebels had huge bonfires burning on +both shores, and as the <i>Pensacola</i> came opposite the forts they opened +their furious fire upon her.</p> + +<p>A good deal of uneasiness prevailed in the Union fleet regarding the +rebel rams. It was known they were formidable monsters, which the +Confederates believed could smash and sink the whole Union squadron. +While it was known that much was to be feared from the forts, it was the +ironclads that formed the uncertain factor and magnified the real danger +in many men's minds.</p> + +<p>The <i>Mississippi</i> was hardly abreast of Fort St. Philip when the dreaded +<i>Manassas</i> came plunging down the river out of the gloom at full speed, +and headed directly for the <i>Mississippi.</i> She was not seen until so +close that it was impossible to dodge her, and the ironclad struck the +steamer on the port side, close to the mizzenmast, firing a gun at the +same time. Fortunately the blow was a glancing one, though it opened a +rent seven feet long and four inches deep in the steamer, which, being +caught by the swift current on her starboard bow, was swept across to +the Fort Jackson side of the river, so close indeed that her gunners and +those in the fort exchanged curses and imprecations.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 21]<a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 677px;"> +<img src="images/024.png" width="677" height="400" alt="SHELLING FORTS PHILIP AND JACKSON." title="SHELLING FORTS PHILIP AND JACKSON." /> +<span class="caption">SHELLING FORTS PHILIP AND JACKSON.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 22]<a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"></a></span>The passage of the forts by the Union vessels forms one of the most +thrilling pictures in the history of the Civil War. The <i>Hartford</i>, like +all the vessels, was subjected to a terrible fire, was assailed by the +Confederate ironclads, and more than once was in imminent danger of +being sent to the bottom. Following with the second division, Captain +Farragut did not reply to the fire of the forts for a quarter of an +hour. He hurled a broadside into St. Philip and was pushing through the +dense smoke when a fire-raft, with a tug pushing her along, plunged out +of the gloom toward the <i>Hartford's</i> port quarter. She swerved to elude +this peril and ran aground close to St. Philip, which, recognizing her +three ensigns and flag officer's flag, opened a savage fire, but luckily +most of the shot passed too high.</p> + +<p>There was no getting out of the way of the fire-raft, which, being +jammed against the flagship, sent the flames through the portholes and +up the oiled masts. The perfect discipline of the crew enabled them to +extinguish the fire before it could do much damage, and the <i>Hartford</i> +succeeded in backing into deep water and kept pounding Fort St. Philip +so long as she was in range.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 23]<a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 543px;"> +<img src="images/026.png" width="543" height="400" alt="THE "HARTFORD"—FARRAGUT'S FLAGSHIP." title="THE "HARTFORD"—FARRAGUT'S FLAGSHIP." /> +<span class="caption">THE "HARTFORD"—FARRAGUT'S FLAGSHIP.</span> +</div> + +<p>Without attempting to describe the battle in detail, we will give our +attention to the <i>Mississippi</i>. <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 24]<a name="Page_24" id="Page_24"></a></span>Within an hour and a quarter of the +time the leading vessel passed the forts, all had reached a safe point +above, where they engaged in a furious fight with the Confederate +flotilla, the smaller members of which were soon disabled or sunk.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the ironclad <i>Manassas</i> had been prowling at the heels of the +Union squadron, but being discovered by the <i>Mississippi</i>, the steamer +opened on her with so destructive a fire that the ram ran ashore and the +crew scrambled over the bows and escaped. The <i>Mississippi</i> continued +pounding her until she was completely wrecked. The loss of the Union +fleet was thirty-seven killed and one hundred and forty-seven wounded, +while the Confederate land forces had twelve killed and forty wounded. +The Confederate flotilla must have lost as many men as the Unionists. +Having safely passed all obstructions, Captain Farragut steamed up to +the river to New Orleans, and the city surrendered April 25, formal +possession being taken on May 1.</p> + +<p>It will be admitted that Lieutenant Dewey had received his "baptism of +fire."</p> + +<p>It is the testimony of every one who saw him during the turmoil of +battle that he conducted himself with the coolness and courage of a +veteran. At no time during the passage of the forts and the desperate +fighting with the Confederate flotilla above did he display the first +evidence of nervousness or lack of self-possession.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 25]<a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"></a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 583px;"> +<img src="images/028.png" width="583" height="400" alt="IRONCLADS ON THE MISSISSIPPI." title="IRONCLADS ON THE MISSISSIPPI." /> +<span class="caption">IRONCLADS ON THE MISSISSIPPI.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 26]<a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"></a></span> +</p><p>The next engagement in which Lieutenant Dewey took part was the attempt +by Farragut to pass the battery of nineteen guns, mounted on the +hundred-foot high bluff of Port Hudson, on a bend of the Mississippi, +below Vicksburg. The position was the most difficult conceivable to +carry from the river, because of the plunging shots from the enormous +guns on the bluff above.</p> + +<p>Captain Farragut had no thought of reducing these batteries, which would +have been impossible with a fleet double the strength of his, but he +wished to get his vessels past in order to blockade the river above the +bend. The attempt was made on the night of March 14, 1863, with the +<i>Hartford</i> in the lead, and followed by the <i>Richmond</i>, <i>Monongahela</i> +and <i>Mississippi</i>, with the smaller boats. The first three boats had as +consorts the <i>Albatross</i>, <i>Kineo</i> and <i>Genessee</i>. Captain Mahan, in "The +Gulf and Inland Waters," gives the following vivid description of this +historical incident:</p> + +<p>"As they drew near the batteries, the lowest of which the <i>Hartford</i> had +already passed, the enemy threw up rockets and opened their fire. +Prudence, <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 27]<a name="Page_27" id="Page_27"></a></span>and the fact of the best water being on the starboard hand, +led the ships to hug the east shore of the river, passing so close under +the Confederate guns that the speech of the gunners and troops could be +distinguished. Along the shore, at the foot of the bluffs, powerful +reflecting lamps, like those used on locomotives, had been placed to +show the ships to the enemy as they passed, and for the same purpose +large fires, already stacked on the opposite point, were lit. The fire +of the fleet and from the shore soon raised a smoke which made these +precautions useless, while it involved the ships in a danger greater +than any from the enemy's guns. Settling down upon the water in a still, +damp atmosphere, it soon hid everything from the eyes of the pilots. The +flagship leading had the advantage of pushing often ahead of her own +smoke; but those who followed ran into it and incurred a perplexity +which increased from van to rear. At the bend of the river the current +caught the <i>Hartford</i> on her port bow, sweeping her around with her head +toward the batteries, and nearly on shore, her stern touching the ground +slightly; but by her own efforts and the assistance of the <i>Albatross</i> +she was backed clear. Then, the <i>Albatross</i> backing and the <i>Hartford</i> +going ahead strong with the engine, her head was fairly pointed up the +stream, and she <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 28]<a name="Page_28" id="Page_28"></a></span>passed by without serious injury. Deceived possibly by +the report of the howitzers in her top, which were nearly on their own +level, the Confederates did not depress their guns sufficiently to hit +her as often as they did the ships that followed her. One killed and two +wounded is her report; and one marine fell overboard, his cries for help +being heard on board the other ships as they passed by, unable to save +him."</p> + +<p>If the capture of the batteries was impossible, their passage was almost +equally so. The <i>Richmond</i> was so badly injured that she was compelled +to turn down stream, having suffered a loss of three killed and fifteen +wounded, while the <i>Monongahela</i> had six killed and twenty-one wounded +before she was able to wrench herself loose from where she had grounded +and drift out of range.</p> + +<p>Now came the <i>Mississippi</i>, whose tragic fate is graphically told by +Admiral Porter in his "Naval History of the Civil War":</p> + +<p>"The steamship <i>Mississippi</i>, Captain Melancthon Smith, followed in the +wake of the <i>Monongahela</i>, firing whenever her guns could be brought to +bear. At 11:30 o'clock she reached the turn which seemed to give our +vessels so much trouble, and Captain Smith was congratulating himself on +the prospect of <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 29]<a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"></a></span>soon catching up with the flag officer, when his ship +grounded and heeled over three streaks to port.</p> + +<p>"The engines were instantly reversed and the port guns run in in order +to bring her on an even keel, while the fire from her starboard battery +was reopened on the forts. The engines were backed with all the steam +that could be put upon them, and the backing was continued for thirty +minutes, but without avail.</p> + +<p>"It was now seen that it would be impossible to get the ship afloat.</p> + +<p>"Captain Smith gave orders to spike the port battery and throw the guns +overboard, but it was not done, for the enemy's fire was becoming so +rapid and severe that the Captain deemed it judicious to abandon the +ship at once in order to save the lives of the men.</p> + +<p>"While preparations were being made to destroy the ship, the sick and +wounded were lowered into boats and conveyed ashore, while the men at +the starboard battery continued to fight in splendid style, firing at +every flash of the enemy's guns. The small arms were thrown overboard, +and all possible damage was done to the engine and everything else that +might prove of use to the enemy.</p> + +<p>"The ship was first set on fire in the forward store<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 30]<a name="Page_30" id="Page_30"></a></span>room, but three +shots came through below her water-line and put out the flames. She was +then set afire in four places aft, and when the flames were well under +way, so as to make her destruction certain, Captain Smith and his first +lieutenant (George Dewey) left the ship, all the officers and crew +having been landed before.</p> + +<p>"The <i>Mississippi</i> was soon ablaze fore and aft, and as she was now +relieved of a great deal of weight—by the removal of her crew and the +destruction of her upper works—she floated off the bank and drifted +down the river, much to the danger of the Union vessels below. But she +passed without doing them any injury, and at 5:30 o'clock blew up and +went to the bottom."</p> + +<p>When the time came for the crew to save themselves as best they could, +all sprang overboard and struck out for shore. A little way from the +blazing steamer a poor sailor was struggling hard to save himself, but +one arm was palsied from a wound, and he must have drowned but for +Dewey, who swam powerfully to him, helped him to a floating piece of +wreckage and towed him safely to land.</p> + +<p>The lieutenant was now transferred to one of the gunboats of Admiral +Farragut's squadron and engaged in patrol duty between Cairo and +Vicksburg.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 31]<a name="Page_31" id="Page_31"></a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 592px;"> +<img src="images/034.png" width="592" height="400" alt="GUNBOATS PASSING BEFORE VICKSBURG." title="GUNBOATS PASSING BEFORE VICKSBURG." /> +<span class="caption">GUNBOATS PASSING BEFORE VICKSBURG.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 32]<a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"></a></span>The latter surrendered to General Grant July 4, 1863, and the river was +opened from its source to the Gulf. Early in 1864 the lieutenant was +made executive officer of the gunboat <i>Agawam</i>, and when attached to the +North Atlantic squadron, took part in the attack on Fort Fisher, one of +the strongest of forts, which, standing at the entrance of Cape Fear +river, was so efficient a protection to Wilmington that the city became +the chief port in the Confederacy for blockade runners. Indeed, its +blockade was a nullity, despite the most determined efforts of the Union +fleet to keep it closed. The Confederate cruisers advertised their +regular days for departure, and they ran upon schedule time, even women +and children taking passage upon the swift steamers with scarcely a fear +that they would not be able to steam in and out of the river whenever +the navigators of the craft chose to do so.</p> + +<p>The first attempt against Fort Fisher was in the latter part of +December, 1864, but, though the fleet was numerous and powerful, and the +greatest gallantry was displayed, the attack was unsuccessful. General +Butler, in command of the land troops, after a careful examination of +the Confederate works, pronounced capture impossible and refused to +sacrifice his men in a useless attack. Nevertheless the attempt <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 33]<a name="Page_33" id="Page_33"></a></span>was +renewed January 12, when General Alfred Terry had charge of the land +forces. The garrison made one of the bravest defences of the whole war, +and the hand-to-hand fight was of the most furious character. It lasted +for five hours, when the fort was obliged to surrender, the garrison of +2,300 men becoming prisoners of war. It was in this fearful struggle +that Ensign "Bob" Evans, who was with the naval force that charged up +the unprotected beach, was so frightfully wounded that it was believed +he could not live. When the surgeon made ready to amputate his shattered +leg, Bob, who had secured possession of a loaded revolver, swore he +would shoot any man who touched the limb with such purpose. Perforce he +was left alone, and in due time fully recovered, though lamed for life.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Dewey was one of the most active of the young officers in the +attack on Fort Fisher, and conducted himself with so much bravery and +skill, executing one of the most difficult and dangerous movements in +the heat of the conflict, that he was highly complimented by his +superior officers.</p> + +<p>But peace soon came, and a generation was to pass before his name was +again associated with naval exploits. In March, 1865, he was promoted to +the rank of lieutenant-commander and assigned to duty <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 34]<a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></a></span>on the +<i>Kearsarge</i>, the vessel that acquired undying glory for sinking the +<i>Alabama</i>, off Cherbourg, France, during the previous July. Early in +1867 he was ordered home from the European station and assigned to duty +at the Kittery Navy Yard, at Portsmouth, New Hampshire.</p> + +<p>While at this station he became acquainted with Miss Susan B. Goodwin, +daughter of the "war Governor" of New Hampshire. She was an accomplished +young woman, to whom the naval officer was married, October 24, 1867. +Their all too brief wedded life was ideally happy, but she died December +28, 1872, a few days after the birth of a son, named George Goodwin, in +honor of his grandfather.</p> + +<p>From 1873 to 1876 Dewey was engaged in making surveys on the Pacific +coast; he commanded the <i>Juniata</i> on the Asiatic squadron in 1882-83, +and the following year was made captain and placed in charge of the +<i>Dolphin</i>, one of the original "white squadron." Next came service in +Washington as Chief of the Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting, as member +of the Lighthouse Board and president of the Board of Inspection and +Survey (he being made commodore February 28, 1896), until 1897, when he +was placed in command of the Asiatic squadron, much against his will.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 35]<a name="Page_35" id="Page_35"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>DEWEY IN THE WAR WITH SPAIN.</h3> + + +<p>While engaged with his duties in Washington, Commodore Dewey found his +close confinement to work had affected his health. Naturally strong and +rugged, accustomed to the ozone of the ocean and toned up by the variety +of the service, even in times of peace, the monotony of a continual +round of the same duties told upon him, and his physician advised him to +apply for sea service. He knew the counsel was wise and he made +application, which was granted.</p> + +<p>Assistant Secretary of War Theodore Roosevelt, after a careful study of +the record of the different naval commanders, was convinced that George +Dewey deserved one of the most important commands at the disposal of the +Government. The impetuous official was certain that war with Spain was +at hand, and that one of the most effective blows against that tyrannous +power could be struck in the far East, where the group of islands known +as the Philippines constituted her most princely possessions.</p> + +<p>The assignment, as has been stated, was not pleas<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 36]<a name="Page_36" id="Page_36"></a></span>ing to Dewey, because +he and others believed the real hard fighting must take place in +European or Atlantic waters. We all know the uneasiness that prevailed +for weeks over the destination of the Spanish fleet under Admiral +Cervera. Dewey wanted to meet him and do some fighting that would recall +his services when a lieutenant in the Civil War, and he saw no chance of +securing the chance on the other side of the world, but Roosevelt was +persistent, and, against the wishes of the Naval Board, he obtained his +assignment as flag officer of the Asiatic squadron.</p> + +<p>Commodore Dewey felt that the first duty of an officer is to obey, and +after a farewell dinner given by his friends at the Metropolitan Club in +Arlington, he hurriedly completed his preparations, and, starting for +Hong Kong, duly reached that port, where, on January 3, 1898, he hoisted +his flag on the <i>Olympia</i>.</p> + +<p>The official records show that the <i>Olympia</i> was ordered home, but +Roosevelt, in a confidential dispatch of February 25, directed Commodore +Dewey to remain, to prepare his squadron for offensive operations, and, +as soon as war broke out with Spain, to steam to the Philippines and hit +the enemy as hard as he knew how. Meanwhile ammunition and supplies were +hurried across the continent to San Fran<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 37]<a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"></a></span>cisco as fast as express trains +could carry them, and were sent thence by steamer to Hong Kong, where +they were eagerly received by the waiting Commodore.</p> + +<p>Reverting to those stirring days, it will be recalled that the Queen +Regent of Spain declared war against the United States on April 24, +1898, to which we replied that war had begun three days earlier, when +the Madrid government dismissed our minister and handed him his +passports. Then followed, or rather were continued, the vigorous +preparations on the part of our authorities for the prosecution of the +war to a prompt and decisive end.</p> + +<p>Commodore Dewey's squadron lay at anchor in the harbor of Hong Kong, +awaiting the momentous news from Washington. When it reached the +commander it was accompanied by an order to capture or destroy the +enemy's fleet at Manila. Almost at the same time Great Britain issued +her proclamation of neutrality, the terms of which compelled Dewey to +leave the British port of Hong Kong within twenty-four hours. He did so, +steaming to Mirs Bay, a Chinese port near at hand, where he completed +his preparations for battle, and on the 27th of April steamed out of the +harbor on his way to Manila.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 38]<a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"></a></span>The city of Manila, with a population numbering about a quarter of a +million, lies on the western side of Luzon, the principal island, with a +magnificent bay in front, extensive enough to permit all the navies of +the world to manœuvre with plenty of elbow room. The entrance to the +immense bay is seven miles wide and contains two islands, Corregidor and +Caballo, both of which were powerfully fortified, the works containing a +number of modern guns. Torpedoes were stretched across the channel and +the bay abounded with enough mines and torpedoes, it would seem, to blow +any fleet of ironclads to atoms as soon as it dared to try to force an +entrance into the waters. Some twenty miles beyond lay the city of +Manila, and about ten miles to the south was Cavité, constituting the +strongly fortified part of the city proper.</p> + +<p>Of course the Spanish spies were on the watch in Hong Kong, and while +the American squadron was steaming out of the bay the news was +telegraphed to the authorities at Manila, who knew that the real +destination of the enemy was that city. Every effort was made to keep +the matter a secret, but it was impossible, and it soon became known to +everybody that the American "pigs" were coming, and that Manila must +fall, if the Spanish fleet were unable to beat off the enemy.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 39]<a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a></span>The Spaniards proclaimed that they would send every one of the American +vessels to the bottom; but they had made similar boasts before, and +their bombast did not quiet the fears of the people, among whom a panic +quickly spread. Those who were able to do so gathered their valuables +and took refuge on the merchant ships in the harbor and thanked heaven +when they bore them away. Many others fled from the city, but the +majority stayed, grimly determined to be in at the death and accept +whatever fate was in store for them.</p> + +<p>The distance between Hong Kong and Manila is 630 miles, and it needed +only a little figuring on the part of the inhabitants to decide that the +dreaded squadron would be due on the following Saturday evening or early +the next morning, which would be the first of May. The self-confidence +of Admiral Montojo and his officers was almost sublime. All they asked +was a fair chance at the "American pigs." They hoped that nothing would +occur to prevent the coming of the fleet, for the Spaniards would never +cease to mourn if the golden opportunity were allowed to slip from their +grasp. They were not disappointed in that respect.</p> + +<p>It is proper to give at this point the respective strength of the +American and Spanish fleets. The <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 40]<a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"></a></span>squadron under the command of +Commodore Dewey was as follows:</p> + +<p><i>Olympia</i>—Protected cruiser (flagship), 5,500 tons. Speed, 21.7 knots. +Complement, 450. Armor, protected deck, 2 inches to 4-3/4 inches. Guns, +main battery, four 8-inch, ten 5-inch, rapid-fire; secondary battery, +rapid-fire, fourteen 6-pound, seven 1-pound, four Gatlings, one field +gun and five torpedo tubes. Captain Charles V. Gridley.</p> + +<p><i>Baltimore</i>—Protected cruiser, 4,400 tons. Speed, 20.1 knots. +Complement, 386. Armor, 2-1/2 inches to 4 inches. Guns, main battery, +four 8-inch, six 6-inch, slow-fire; secondary battery, rapid-fire, four +6-pound, two 3-pound, two 1-pound, four 37 MM. Hotchkiss, two Colts, one +field gun and five torpedo tubes. Captain N.M. Dyer.</p> + +<p><i>Raleigh</i>—Protected cruiser, 3,213 tons. Speed, 19 knots. Armor, 1 inch +to 2-1/2 inches. Guns, one 6-inch, rapid-fire, ten 5-inch; secondary +battery, eight 6-pounders, four 1-pounders, and two machine guns. +Complement, 320. Captain J.B. Coghlan.</p> + +<p><i>Boston</i>—Protected cruiser, 3,189 tons. Speed, 15.6 knots. Complement, +270. Armor, 1-1/2 inch deck. Guns, main battery, two 8-inch and six +6-inch rifles; secondary battery, rapid-fire, two 6-pounders and two +3-pounders. Captain F. Wildes.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 41]<a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a></span><i>Petrel</i>—Fourth-rate cruiser, 890 tons. Speed, 13.7 knots. Guns, four +6-inch, two 3-pounder rapid-fire, one 1-pounder, and four machine guns. +Commander E.P. Wood.</p> + +<p><i>Concord</i>—Gunboat, 1,710 tons. Speed, 16.8 knots. Armor, 3/8-inch deck. +Guns, main battery, six 6-inch rifles. Commander Asa Walker.</p> + +<p><i>Hugh McCulloch</i>—Revenue cutter, light battery of rapid-fire guns.</p> + +<p><i>Zafiro</i>—Auxiliary cruiser: supply vessel.</p> + +<p>The vessels under command of Admiral Montojo were the following:</p> + +<p><i>Reina Cristina</i>—Cruiser (flagship). Built in 1887, iron, 3,090 tons, +14 to 17.5 knots, according to draught, and a main battery of six +6.2-inch rifles.</p> + +<p><i>Castilla</i>—Cruiser, built in 1881, wood, 3,342 tons, 14 knots, and four +5.9-inch Krupps and two 4.7-inch Krupps in her main battery.</p> + +<p><i>Velasco</i>—Small cruiser, built in 1881, iron, 1,139 tons, and three +6-inch Armstrongs in her main battery.</p> + +<p><i>Don Juan de Austria</i>—Small cruiser, completed in 1887, iron, 1,152 +tons, 13 to 14 knots, and four 4.7-inch rifles in her main battery.</p> + +<p><i>Don Antonio de Ulloa</i>—Small cruiser, iron, 1,152 <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 42]<a name="Page_42" id="Page_42"></a></span>tons. Four 4.7-inch +Hontoria guns; two 2.7-inch, two quick-firing; two 1.5-inch; five muzzle +loaders.</p> + +<p>Gunboats <i>Paragua</i>, <i>Callao</i>, <i>Samar</i>, <i>Pampagna</i>, and <i>Arayat</i>, built +1881-6, steel, 137 tons, 10 knots, and each mounting two quick-firing +guns.</p> + +<p>Gunboats <i>Mariveles</i> and <i>Mindoro</i>, built in 1886 and 1885, iron, 142 +tons, 10 knots, each mounting one 2.7-inch rifle and four machine guns.</p> + +<p>Gunboat <i>Manileno</i>, built in 1887, wood, 142 tons, 9 knots, and mounting +three 3.5-inch rifles.</p> + +<p>Gunboats <i>El Cano</i> and <i>General Lezo</i>, built in 1885, iron, 528 tons, 10 +to nearly 12 knots, and each mounting three 3.5-inch rifles.</p> + +<p>Gunboat <i>Marquis Del Duero</i>, built in 1875, iron, 500 tons, 10 knots, +and mounting one 6.2-inch and two 4.7-inch rifles.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Through the bright sunshine and when the stars twinkled in the sky or +the full moon rode overhead, the American ships steamed to the southeast +across the heaving China Sea. The Stars and Stripes fluttered in the +breeze and there was a feeling of expectancy on board the grim engines +of war, that had laid aside every possible encumbrance, and like +prize-fighters were stripped to the buff and eager for battle.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 43]<a name="Page_43" id="Page_43"></a></span>The run was a smooth one, and as the sun was sinking in the sky +Commodore Dewey, peering through his glass, caught the faint outlines of +Corregidor Island, and dimly beyond the flickering haze revealed the +Spanish fleet in the calm bay. The Commodore had been in that part of +the world before, and while waiting at Hong Kong had gathered all the +knowledge possible of the defences of Manila. He knew the fort was +powerfully fortified and the bay mined, and knowing all this, he +remembered the exclamation of his immortal instructor in the science of +war, the peerless Farragut, when he was driving his squadron into Mobile +Bay. Recalling that occurrence, Commodore Dewey joined in spirit in +repeating the words:</p> + +<p>"D—— the torpedoes!"</p> + +<p>It was still many miles to the entrance, and night closed in while the +squadron was ploughing through the sea that broke in tumbling foam at +the bows and spread far away in snowy wakes at the rear. All lights were +put out, the full moon again climbed the sky and the shadowy leviathans +plunged through the waters straight for the opening of the bay, guarded +by the fort and batteries, with the Spanish fleet beyond, defiantly +awaiting the coming of the American squadron.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 44]<a name="Page_44" id="Page_44"></a></span>Suddenly from Corregidor Island the darkness was lit up by a vivid +flash, a thunderous boom traveled across the bay, and the heavy shot +tore its way screaming over the <i>Raleigh</i>, quickly followed by a second, +which fell astern of the <i>Olympia</i> and <i>Raleigh</i>. The Spaniards had +discovered the approach of the squadron. The <i>Raleigh</i>, <i>Concord</i>, and +<i>Boston</i> replied; all the shots being fired with remarkable accuracy.</p> + +<p>One may imagine the consternation in Manila when the boom of those guns +rolled in from the bay, for none could mistake its meaning. Women and +children ran to the churches and knelt in frenzied prayer; men dashed to +and fro, not knowing what to do, while the Spanish soldiers, who had not +believed the American ships could ever pass the harbor torpedoes and +mines, were in a wild panic when they learned that the seemingly +impossible had been done. To add to the terror, rumors spread that the +ferocious natives were gathering at the rear of the city to rush in and +plunder and kill.</p> + +<p>When at last the morning light appeared in the sky, the Americans saw +tens of thousands of people crowded along the shore, gazing in terror +out on the bay where rode the hostile fleets, soon to close in deadly +battle. Commodore Dewey coolly scanned the hostile vessels, and grasping +the whole situation, <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 45]<a name="Page_45" id="Page_45"></a></span>as may be said, at a glance, led in the attack on +the enemy.</p> + +<p>While approaching Cavité two mines exploded directly in front of the +<i>Olympia</i>. The roar was tremendous and the water was flung hundreds of +feet in the air. Without swerving an inch or halting, Dewey signalled to +the other vessels to pay no attention to the torpedoes, but to steam +straight ahead. It was virtually a repetition of the more emphatic +command of Farragut in Mobile Bay, uttered thirty-four years before.</p> + +<p>The batteries on shore let fly at the ships, and the first reply was +made by Captain Coghlan of the <i>Raleigh</i>. The <i>Olympia</i> had led the way +into the harbor, and she now headed for the centre of the Spanish fleet. +Calmly watching everything in his field of vision, and knowing when the +exact moment arrived for the beginning of the appalling work, Commodore +Dewey, cool, alert, attired in white duck uniform and a golf cap, turned +to Captain Gridley and said in his ordinary conversational tone:</p> + +<p>"Gridley, you may fire when ready."</p> + +<p>A series of sharp, crackling sounds followed, like exploding Chinese +crackers, and then the thunderous roars and a vast volume of smoke +rolled over the bay and enveloped the warships that were pouring their +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 46]<a name="Page_46" id="Page_46"></a></span>deadly fire into the Spanish vessels. The American ships, in order to +disconcert the aim of the batteries of the enemy, moved slowly in their +terrible ellipses or loops, their sides spouting crimson flame and +answered by the shots of the Spaniards, who fought with a courage +deserving of all praise. The manœuvring of the American ships led the +breathless swarms on shore to believe they were suffering defeat, and an +exultant telegram to that effect was cabled to Madrid, nearly ten +thousand miles away, where it caused a wild but short-lived rejoicing.</p> + +<p>At half-past seven there was a lull. Commodore Dewey drew off to +replenish his magazines, of whose shortness of supply he had received +disturbing reports. Advantage was taken of the cessation to give the men +breakfast, for it is a well accepted principle that sailors as well as +soldiers fight best upon full stomachs. As the wind blew aside the dense +smoke, it was seen that the <i>Reina Cristina</i>, the Spanish flagship, was +in flames. Hardly two hours later the American squadron advanced again +to the attack, and Admiral Montojo was observed to transfer his flag +from the doomed <i>Reina Cristina</i> to the <i>Isla de Cuba</i>, which soon after +was also ablaze. Amid the crash and roar of the ponderous guns sounded +the shrieks and cries of mortal agony from the Spanish <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 47]<a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"></a></span>crews, victims +to the matchless gunnery of the Americans.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 636px;"> +<img src="images/050.png" width="636" height="400" alt="THE "OLYMPIA" IN MANILA BAY." title="THE "OLYMPIA" IN MANILA BAY." /> +<span class="caption">THE "OLYMPIA" IN MANILA BAY.</span> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 48]<a name="Page_48" id="Page_48"></a></span></p> + +<p>The latter pressed their advantage remorselessly. The <i>Don Juan de +Austria</i> was the centre of the heaviest fire, and suddenly a part of the +deck flew upward in the air, carrying with it scores of dead and +wounded. A shot had exploded one of her magazines, and at the sight of +the awful results Admiral Montojo threw up his arms in despair. The crew +refused to leave the blazing ship, and cursing and praying they went +down with her. Then the <i>Castilla</i> burst into one mass of roaring flame, +and the rest of the defeated fleet skurried down the long narrow isle +behind Cavité. Others dashed up a small creek, where they grounded, and +those that were left ran ashore. By half-past eleven the batteries of +Cavité were silenced, the Spanish fleet was destroyed, and the +victorious Americans broke into ringing cheers. The battle of Manila, +one of the most remarkable in naval annals, was won and Commodore Dewey +took rank among the greatest of all the heroes of the sea.</p> + +<p>What a marvellous record! Of the Spaniards, the dead and wounded +numbered nearly a thousand, while not a single life had been lost by the +American squadron. Several were wounded, but none seriously. No such +victory between ironclads has thus <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 49]<a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"></a></span>far taken place in the history of +the world. In the face of mines, torpedoes and shore batteries, +Commodore Dewey had won an overwhelming and crushing victory. The power +of Spain in the Philippines was forever destroyed, and another glorious +victory had been added to the long list that illumines the story of the +American navy.</p> + +<p>It was easy for Dewey to compel the surrender of Manila, but with the +prudence that always guides him, he decided that since his force was not +strong enough to occupy and hold the city, to await the arrival of +reinforcements from the United States. They reached Manila the following +August, and, under command of General Wesley Merritt and aided by the +fleet, Manila surrendered, almost at the same hour that the +representatives of Spain and our own officials in Washington signed the +protocol that marked the cessation of war between the two countries.</p> + +<p>Now came long and trying weeks and months to Rear Admiral Dewey, he +having been promoted upon receipt of news of his great victory. Peerless +as was his conduct during offensive operations, it was surpassed in many +respects by his course throughout the exasperating period named. Germany +and France were unfriendly and Aguinaldo treacherous, though <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 50]<a name="Page_50" id="Page_50"></a></span>Great +Britain and Japan were ardent in their sympathy for the United States. +Germany especially was a constant cause of irritation to Admiral Dewey, +whose patience was often tried to the utmost verge. To his tact, +prudence, self-control, firmness, diplomacy and masterful wisdom were +due the fact that no complication with foreign powers occurred and that +the United States escaped a tremendous war, whose consequences no one +could foresee or calculate.</p> + +<p>Everybody instinctively felt that Admiral Dewey was the real hero of our +war with Spain. The wish was general that he should return home in order +that his countrymen might have opportunity to show their appreciation of +him and to give him fitting honors.</p> + +<p>And nothing could be more repugnant than all this to the naval hero, who +is as modest as he is brave. Besides, he felt that his work was by no +means finished in the far East, for, as has been shown, there was need +of delicate diplomacy, prudence and statesmanship. He asked to be +allowed to stay, and he did so, until, the main difficulty being passed, +and his health feeling the result of the tremendous strain that was +never relaxed, he finally set sail in the <i>Olympia</i> for home, leaving +Hong Kong in May, and, one year after his great victory, proceeding at a +leisurely rate that did not bring him to his native shores <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 51]<a name="Page_51" id="Page_51"></a></span>until the +cool breezes of autumn. On the long voyage hither he was shown the +highest honors everywhere, and Washington or Lincoln could not have +received more grateful homage than was paid to him by his countrymen, +whom he had served so long, so faithfully and so well.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, it should be added, that the rank of full Admiral of the +navy, hitherto borne only by David Glasgow Farragut and David Dixon +Porter, was revived and bestowed, in February, 1899, upon George Dewey, +and of the three none has worn the exalted honor more worthily than the +Green Mountain Boy, who has proven himself the born gentleman and +fighter, the thorough patriot and statesman and the Chevalier Bayard of +the American navy.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 52]<a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_REVOLUTIONARY_BATTLES" id="THE_REVOLUTIONARY_BATTLES"></a>THE REVOLUTIONARY BATTLES</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + + +<h3>Birth of the American Navy—The Privateers—Capture of New Providence, +in the Bahamas—Paul Jones—A Clever Exploit—A Skilful Escape—Fine +Seamanship—An Audacious Scheme.</h3> + + + +<p>When, on April 19, 1775, the battle of Lexington opened the Revolution +the Colonies did not possess a single ship with which to form the +beginning of a navy. They had for many years been actively engaged in +the coasting trade and some of their vessels did valiant service on the +side of England in the wars against France and Spain. We had a good many +hardy, skilled seamen, who formed the best material from which to man a +navy, and before long Congress undertook the work of building one. That +body ordered the construction of thirteen frigates—one for each +State—and some of these did noble work, but by the close of the war few +of them were left; nearly all had been captured or destroyed.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 53]<a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"></a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 303px;"> +<img src="images/056.png" width="303" height="400" alt="CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES." title="CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES." /> +<span class="caption">CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 54]<a name="Page_54" id="Page_54"></a></span>It was far different with the privateers, which were vessels fitted out +by private parties, under the authority of Congress, to cruise the seas +wherever they chose and capture English vessels wherever they could. +When a prize was taken the lucky officers and crews divided the plunder. +It was a very tempting field for the brave and enterprising Americans +and when, in March, 1776, Congress gave them permission to fit out and +sail privateers, they were quick to use the chance of securing prize +money as it was called. Those swift sailing vessels and their daring +crews sailed out of Salem, Cape Ann, Newburyport, Bristol and other +seacoast towns, and they did not have to hunt long before they found the +richest sort of prizes. In the single year 1776 these privateers +captured 342 British vessels and wrought great havoc among the English +shipping.</p> + +<p>In January, 1778, one of these privateers entered the harbor of New +Providence, in the Bahamas, and captured the fort and a sixteen-gun +man-of-war. Many other valiant exploits were performed and before long +some of the more daring privateers boldly crossed the Atlantic and by +their deeds threw the coast of Great Britain into consternation.</p> + +<p>Among the most remarkable of these naval heroes was a young Scotchman, +not quite thirty years old.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 55]<a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"></a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 539px;"> +<img src="images/058.png" width="539" height="400" alt=":Flag-"Don't tread on me"" title="Flag-"Don't tread on me"" /> +</div> + +<p>He had been trained in the merchant service and had become a skilful +sailor before he removed to Virginia, where he made his home. He +devotedly loved his adopted country, and, when the war broke out between +the colonies and Great Britain, and the long, hard struggle for +independence began, he was among the very first to offer his services on +the side of liberty. His character was so well known and appreciated +that he was appointed a first lieutenant. I am sure you have all heard +of him, for his name was John Paul Jones, though since, for some reason +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 56]<a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"></a></span>or other, he dropped his first name and is generally referred to simply +as Paul Jones.</p> + +<p>His first service was on the <i>Alfred</i>, which helped in the capture of +the fort at New Providence, already spoken of. Jones with his own hands +hoisted the first flag displayed on an American man-of-war. It was of +yellow silk, with the device of a rattlesnake, and bore the motto, +"Don't tread on me."</p> + +<p>Jones attracted such favorable attention during this enterprise that on +his return he was made commander of the twelve-ton brig <i>Providence</i> and +was employed for a time in carrying troops from Rhode Island to New +York. Since he was by birth a citizen of Great Britain, which then +insisted that "once a British subject always a British subject," the +English cruisers made determined efforts to capture him. Many of the +officers declared that if they could lay hands on the audacious +freebooter, as they called him, they would hang him at the yard arm. +But, before doing so, they had to catch him, and that proved a harder +task than they suspected. He was chased many times and often fired into, +but the <i>Providence</i> was always swift enough to show a clean pair of +heels to her pursuers and Jones himself was such a fine sailor that he +laughed at their efforts to take him prisoner.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 57]<a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a></span>One of the cleverest exploits of Jones was performed in the autumn of +1776. He saw an American brig returning from the West Indies, heavily +laden with supplies for Washington's army, which was badly in need of +them. A British frigate was in hot pursuit of the American, which was +straining every nerve to escape, but would not have been able to do so +except for Jones, who ran in between the two, and, firing into the +frigate, induced her to let the American go and chase him. Taking +advantage of the chance thus offered, the brig got safely away and then +Jones himself dodged away from the frigate, which thus lost both.</p> + +<p>In the month of October, 1776, Jones was promoted to the rank of captain +and ordered to cruise between Boston and the Delaware. I must tell you +an anecdote which illustrates his wonderful seamanship.</p> + +<p>Some weeks before he was made a captain, and while cruising off Bermuda, +he saw five sail far to the windward and he beat up, doing so carefully +and with the purpose of finding out whether there was a chance for him +to strike an effective blow. He picked out what looked like a large +merchant ship and gave chase. He gained fast, but to his dismay, when he +was quite close, he discovered that instead of <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 58]<a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"></a></span>a merchant ship he had +almost run into a twenty-eight gun frigate of the enemy.</p> + +<p>Finding he had caught a Tartar, Jones did the only thing left to him. He +hauled off and put on every stitch of sail and the frigate did the same. +She proved the better sailer, and, though she gained slowly, it was +surely, and in the course of a few hours she had approached within +musket shot of the brig's lee quarter. There seemed no possible escape +for Jones, knowing which, he did a remarkable thing. He veered off until +the frigate was almost astern, when he put about dead before the wind, +with every yard of canvas set.</p> + +<p>The Englishman was dumfounded by the daring manœuvre, which brought +the American within pistol shot, for he did not fire a gun until Jones +was beyond reach of his grape. The pursuit was continued hour after +hour, but the brig was now at her best and finally left her pursuer +hopelessly astern. When the <i>Providence</i> ran into Newport in October she +had captured or destroyed fifteen prizes.</p> + +<p>Jones's bold and skilful seamanship drew attention to him and he was now +given command of the 24-gun ship <i>Alfred</i>, while Captain Hacker took +charge of the <i>Providence</i>. The two vessels started on a cruise in +company and some days later the <i>Alfred</i> fell in with <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 59]<a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a></span>three British +vessels, and, after a brisk action, captured them all. One proved to be +a transport with 150 men and a large amount of supplies for Burgoyne's +army, which was at that time organizing in Montreal for its notable +campaign through New York, where it was captured by General Gates, at +Saratoga.</p> + +<p>This transport was so valuable that Jones, instead of putting a prize +crew on board, determined to take her into port, and, if in danger of +capture from pursuit, he meant to sink her. It began snowing the +following night and the <i>Providence</i> and <i>Alfred</i> were obliged to +separate.</p> + +<p>Jones was making for Boston when he was discovered by the frigate that +he had outwitted two months before, when the <i>Providence</i> narrowly +escaped capture. Night was closing in and the frigate being to windward, +her outlines were indistinct. Captain Jones ordered his prizes to steer +southward and to pay no attention to the signals displayed on his own +vessel. At midnight he hoisted a toplight and tacked to the west, +knowing the others would continue to the southward as he had directed. +The strategem was successful, for at daylight the frigate was pressing +hard after the <i>Alfred</i>, while the prizes had disappeared. The <i>Alfred</i> +eluded her enemy as before, <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 60]<a name="Page_60" id="Page_60"></a></span>and, upon reaching Boston, Jones found his +captives awaiting him.</p> + +<p>An idea of the effectiveness of the privateers may be gained by the +statement that during the year 1777 nearly 500 vessels were captured by +them. By that time Paul Jones had proven himself to be the finest +officer in the American Navy. He had every quality to make him such. No +one could surpass him in seamanship. He was cool and daring and was +animated by the highest patriotism for his adopted country. Such a man +was sure to be heard of again, as Great Britain learned to her cost.</p> + +<p>France had shown a strong liking for the American colonies from the +first. No doubt this liking was influenced by her hatred of England, for +the nations had been bitter rivals for years. We had sent several +commissioners to Paris, and they did a good deal for our country. The +commissioners had a heavy, single-decked frigate built in Holland, which +was named the <i>South Carolinian</i> and was intended for Paul Jones, but +some difficulties occurred and he was sent to sea in the 18-gun ship +<i>Ranger</i>, which left Portsmouth, N.H., at the beginning of November. She +was so poorly equipped that Jones complained, though he did not hesitate +on that account.</p> + +<p>On the way to Nantes, in France, the <i>Ranger</i> cap<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 61]<a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"></a></span>tured two prizes, +refitted at Brest, and in April, 1778, sailed for the British coast. +Having made several captures, Captain Jones headed for the Isle of Man, +his intention being to make a descent upon Whitehaven. A violent wind +that night baffled him, and, hoping to prevent his presence in the +section from being discovered, he kept his vessel disguised as a +merchantman. Sailing hither and thither, generally capturing all vessels +that he sighted, he finally turned across to the Irish coast and in the +latter part of the month was off Carrickfergus, where he learned from +some fishermen that the British sloop-of-war <i>Drake</i> was at anchor in +the roads. Jones was exceedingly anxious to attack her, and planned a +night surprise, but again the violent wind interfered and he was forced +to give up the scheme, so well suited to his daring nature.</p> + +<p>This brave man now set out to execute one of the most startling schemes +that can be imagined. Whitehaven at that time was a city of 50,000 +inhabitants and the harbor was filled with shipping. His plan was to +sail in among the craft and burn them all. It seemed like the idea of a +man bereft of his senses, but there was not the slightest hesitation on +his part. Such enterprises often succeed through their very boldness, +and his belief was that by acting quickly he <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 62]<a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"></a></span>could accomplish his +purpose and strike a blow at England that would carry consternation to +the people and the government.</p> + +<p>Captain Jones had in mind the many outrages committed by British vessels +along our seacoast, for, describing his purpose in a memorial to +Congress, he said his intention was, by one good fire in England of +British shipping, "to put an end to all burnings in America."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 63]<a name="Page_63" id="Page_63"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + + +<h3>A Daring Attempt by Captain Paul Jones—Why It Failed—A Bold +Scheme—Why It Did Not Succeed—The Fight Between the <i>Ranger</i> and +<i>Drake</i>.</h3> + + + +<p>Paul Jones waited until midnight. Then, when no one was dreaming of +danger, his men silently pulled away from the <i>Ranger</i> in two boats, one +commanded by himself and the other by Lieutenant Wallingford. It was a +long pull, and when they reached the outer pier of the harbor it was +beginning to grow light in the east. They now parted company, and Jones +directed his men to row for the south side of the harbor, while the +Lieutenant was to make for the north shore. The object of the two was +the same: the burning of the shipping.</p> + +<p>Wallingford reached the north side, and then, strangely enough, gave up +the attempt, his reason being that the candle on which he counted to +start the fire was blown out. The reader must remember that in those +days matches were unknown and the task of relighting had to be done with +the steel, flint and tinder. Though the contrivance is an awkward one, +we cannot help thinking the excuse of the Lieutenant was <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 64]<a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></a></span>weak, but the +result was a failure on his part to carry out the important work +assigned to him.</p> + +<p>Captain Jones was a different kind of man. Although day had fully +dawned, he kept his men rowing rapidly. Reaching the south side of the +harbor, he came upon a small fort garrisoned by a few soldiers. Leaping +out of the boat, the American dashed forward, bounded over the walls and +captured the sentinels before they knew their danger. The guns were +spiked and the garrison made prisoners.</p> + +<p>"Set fire to the shipping!" he commanded to his men, while he, with only +a single companion, ran for a second fort some distance away and spiked +the guns in that. Then he hurried back to the first fort and found to +his surprise that the fire had not been started.</p> + +<p>"The candles have given out," was the reply to his angry inquiry.</p> + +<p>It being broad daylight, his men expected him to jump into the boat and +order them to return with all haste to the ship; but, instead of doing +so, he darted into one of the nearest houses, procured some tinder and +candles and began himself the work of destruction. Fixing his attention +upon a large vessel, he climbed quickly aboard and started a fire in her +steerage. To help matters, he flung a barrel of tar over <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 65]<a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></a></span>the flames and +in a few minutes they were roaring fiercely. It meant prodigious damage, +for the vessel was surrounded by more than a hundred others, none of +which could move, since they were aground and the tide was out.</p> + +<p>As may be supposed, there was great excitement by that time. The alarm +had been given. Men were running to and fro, and a number hurried toward +the burning ship with the purpose of extinguishing the flames. All the +Americans had entered the small boat and were impatiently awaiting their +commander. Instead of joining them, Jones drew his pistol, and, standing +alone in front of the crowd, kept them back until the fire burst out of +the steerage and began running up the rigging. Backing slowly with drawn +pistol, he stepped into the boat and told his men to row with might and +main for the vessel.</p> + +<p>The instant this was done the crowd rushed forward and by desperate +efforts succeeded in putting out the blaze before it had done much +damage. Then the forts attempted to fire on the Americans, but their +guns were spiked. Some cannon on the ships were discharged at the boats, +but their shots went wild. When the <i>Ranger</i> was reached Captain Jones +made the discovery that one of his men was missing. The reason was +clear. He was a deserter and had been <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 66]<a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a></span>seen by his former comrades +running from house to house and giving the alarm. Such was the narrow +chance by which one of the most destructive conflagrations of British +shipping was averted.</p> + +<p>As may be supposed, this daring act caused alarm throughout England. +Jones was denounced as a freebooter and pirate, and every effort was +made to capture him. Had his enemies succeeded, little mercy would have +been shown the dauntless hero.</p> + +<p>England was very cruel to many of her American prisoners, and Captain +Jones fixed upon a bold and novel plan for compelling her to show more +mercy toward those unfortunate enough to fall into her power. It was to +capture some prominent nobleman and hold him as a hostage for the better +treatment of our countrymen. It must be remembered that Jones was +cruising near his birthplace and when a sailor boy had become familiar +with the Scottish and the English coasts. The <i>Ranger</i> was a fast +vessel, and, as I have shown, Jones himself was a master of seamanship. +It would seem, therefore, that all he had to do was to be alert, and it +need not be said that he and his crew were vigilant at all times.</p> + +<p>The Earl of Selkirk was a Scottish nobleman who had his country seat at +the mouth of the Dee, and Jones made up his mind that he was just the +man to <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 67]<a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></a></span>serve for a hostage. At any rate, he could not be put to a +better use and certainly would not suspect the purpose of the American +vessel which, as night was closing in, anchored offshore. Indeed, no one +dreamed that the vessel was the terrible American "pirate," which had +thrown the whole country into terror.</p> + +<p>Fortunately the night was dark and the men rowed to land without being +noticed. The task was an easy one, for there was no one to resist them. +They walked silently through the darkness to the fine grounds, and, +having surrounded the handsome building, the officer in charge of the +party presented himself at the door and made known his startling errand. +He was informed that the Earl was absent. A careful search revealed that +such was the fact, and all the trouble of the Americans went for naught.</p> + +<p>It was a keen disappointment and the party decided to compensate +themselves so far as they could. The Earl was wealthy and the house +contained a great deal of valuable silver plate. A quantity of this was +carried to the <i>Ranger</i>.</p> + +<p>Captain Jones was angered when he learned what had been done. He knew +the Earl and Lady Selkirk well and personally liked them both. The +singular scheme he had in mind was solely for the benefit of his adopted +countrymen.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 68]<a name="Page_68" id="Page_68"></a></span>"I am accused of being a pirate, robber and thief," he exclaimed, "and +you are doing all you can to justify the charges. Every ounce of plate +shall be returned."</p> + +<p>He kept his word. The messengers who took back the silver carried a note +from Captain Jones apologizing to Lady Selkirk for the misconduct of his +men.</p> + +<p>Now, if there was anything which Paul Jones loved it was to fight. It +was simply diversion for him to capture merchantmen or vessels that +could make only a weak resistance, and he longed to give the enemy a +taste of his mettle. It may be said that his situation grew more +dangerous with every hour. His presence was known and a score of +cruisers were hunting for him.</p> + +<p>The British sloop of war <i>Drake</i>, which the gale prevented him from +attacking, was still at Carrickfergus, and Jones sailed thither in the +hope of inducing her to come out and fight him. Being uncertain of his +identity, the captain of the <i>Drake</i> sent an officer in a boat to learn +the truth. Captain Jones suspected the errand and skilfully kept his +broadsides turned away until the officer, determined to know his +identity, went aboard. As soon as he stepped on deck he was made a +prisoner and sent below.</p> + +<p>Captain Jones reasoned that the captain of the <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 69]<a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"></a></span><i>Drake</i> would miss his +officer after awhile and come out to learn what had become of him. He, +therefore, headed toward the North Channel, the <i>Drake</i> following, with +the tide against her and the wind unfavorable until the mid-channel was +reached, when, to quote Maclay, Paul Jones "in plain view of three +kingdoms, hove to, ran up the flag of the new Republic and awaited the +enemy."</p> + +<p>In reply to the demand of the <i>Drake's</i> captain, Jones gave the name of +his vessel and expressed the pleasure it would give him to engage him in +battle. The American was astern of the <i>Drake</i>, and, to show his +earnestness, Captain Jones ordered his helm put up and let fly with a +broadside. The <i>Drake</i> replied and then the battle was on. There was +little manœuvring, the contest being what is known as a square +yardarm and yardarm fight.</p> + +<p>The comparative strength of the two vessels was as follows: The <i>Ranger</i> +carried 18 guns and 123 men, the <i>Drake</i> 20 guns and 160 men, a number +of the latter being volunteers for the fight, which lasted one hour and +four minutes, at the end of which time the <i>Ranger</i> had lost two killed +and six wounded and the <i>Drake</i> forty-two killed. The latter was so +badly damaged by the well directed fire of the American that the captain +called for quarter. Ceasing her fir<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 70]<a name="Page_70" id="Page_70"></a></span>ing, Captain Jones lowered a boat +and sent it to the <i>Drake</i> to take possession.</p> + +<p>As an evidence of the effect of the fire of the <i>Ranger</i>, the following +words may be quoted from Jones's official report: "Her fore and +maintopsail yards being cut away and down on the caps, the topgallant +yard and mizzen gaff both hanging up and down along the mast, the second +ensign which they had hoisted shot away and hanging on the quarter +gallery in the water, the jib shot away and hanging in the water, her +sails and rigging cut entirely to pieces, her masts and yards all +wounded and her hull very much galled."</p> + +<p>The damages to the <i>Ranger</i> were so slight they were repaired by the +close of the following day, when she got under sail with her prize. +Despite the swarm of cruisers that were hunting for him, Jones passed +unscathed through North Channel, along the western coast of Ireland and +arrived at Brest, in France, within a month of the day he left the port, +his cruise having been one of the most remarkable in naval history.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 71]<a name="Page_71" id="Page_71"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + + +<h3>One of the Most Memorable Sea Fights Ever Known—The Wonderful Exploit +of Captain Paul Jones.</h3> + + + +<p>I have taken Paul Jones as the highest type of the infant American navy. +There were others who fought with great bravery and did much to aid in +the struggle for American independence, but none combined in such +perfection the qualities of perfect seamanship, cool but dauntless +courage and skill in fighting.</p> + +<p>Of course, no matter how daring our cruisers, they did not always escape +disaster. At the close of the Revolution there had been twenty-four +vessels lost, carrying 470 guns. Several of these met their fate through +shipwreck. Contrast with this the loss of Great Britain, which was 102 +war vessels, carrying in all 2,624 guns. The total vessels of all kinds +captured from the English by our cruisers and privateers was about 800.</p> + +<p>Captain Jones had made so successful a cruise with the <i>Ranger</i> that he +felt, upon returning to Brest, in France, he was entitled to a better +ship. He wrote to Benjamin Franklin, expressing himself plainly on <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 72]<a name="Page_72" id="Page_72"></a></span>that +point, and the American commissioner, after several months' delay, had a +ship of 40 guns placed under the command of Jones. Her original name was +the <i>Duras</i>, but at Jones's request it was changed to the <i>Bonhomme +Richard</i>. This was in compliment to Franklin, who was often called "Poor +Richard" by his admiring countrymen, because for many years he had +published "Poor Richard's Almanac," filled with wise and witty sayings.</p> + +<p>This ship was an old Indiaman, in which 42 guns were placed, and the +final number of her crew was 304. The 32-gun frigate <i>Alliance</i>, Captain +Landais, was put under the orders of Captain Jones and a third, the +<i>Pallas</i>, was bought and armed with thirty guns. A merchant brig and a +cutter were also added to the squadron. It was found very hard to man +these vessels and any other captain than Jones would have given up the +task as an impossible one. It seemed as if about every known nation in +the world was represented and some of the men of the most desperate +character. Maclay says in his "History of the American Navy" that the +muster roll of the <i>Bonhomme Richard</i> showed that the men hailed from +America, France, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, +England, Spain, India, Norway, Portugal, Fayal and Malasia, while there +were <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 73]<a name="Page_73" id="Page_73"></a></span>seven Maltese and the knight of the ship's galley was from Africa. +The majority of the officers, however, were American.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/076.png" width="400" height="399" alt="BENJAMIN FRANKLIN." title="BENJAMIN FRANKLIN." /> +<span class="caption">BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.</span> +</div> + +<p>This squadron sailed from L'Orient on June 19, 1779. Almost immediately +trouble occurred. Captain Landais, without any show of reason, claimed +that the command, by right of seniority of commission, belonged to him. +On the first night out the <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 74]<a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></a></span><i>Alliance</i> and <i>Bonhomme Richard</i> collided +and were obliged to return to port for repairs. Vexatious delays +prevented the sailing of the squadron until August 14.</p> + +<p>One of the consorts captured an English war vessel in the latter part of +June, but was compelled to abandon her on the appearance of a superior +force of the enemy, and the squadron put into L'Orient for repairs. A +piece of good fortune came to the <i>Bonhomme Richard</i> while in this port. +About a hundred exchanged American prisoners volunteered and did a great +deal to improve the discipline and strengthen the crew of Jones's ship.</p> + +<p>The valiant American, however, met with difficulties that were of the +most exasperating nature. A boat's crew deserted and spread the news of +the arrival of the squadron off the English coast. Captain Landais, +commander of the <i>Alliance</i>, refused to obey the signals of the +flagship, and conducted himself so outrageously that Jones more than +suspected his brain was askew. The <i>Bonhomme Richard</i> was old and in bad +condition, but Jones told Benjamin Franklin in a letter that he meant to +do something with her that would induce his Government to provide him +with a better ship. He sailed almost completely around Great Britain, +during which he cap<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 75]<a name="Page_75" id="Page_75"></a></span>tured seventeen vessels, most of which were +destroyed though the more valuable were sent into port in charge of +prize crews.</p> + +<p>This depletion of his crew so weakened it that Captain Jones wisely +refrained from remaining long in one place. Doubling Flamborough Head, +he came up with his companions, the <i>Pallas</i> and the <i>Alliance</i>, the +latter having been out of his company for a fortnight.</p> + +<p>This was on September 23, 1779. It was near noon, while the American +squadron was chasing a British brigantine and was approaching +Flamborough Head from the south, that a large sail was discovered, +rounding that promontory from the south. Another and another followed, +the astonished Americans counting them until the number had mounted up +to forty-two.</p> + +<p>It was a startling sight, for if these vessels were ships of war nothing +could save the American squadron, or, if most of them were merchantmen, +under a strong escort, the peril of Captain Jones and his crews would be +almost as great. The commander studied the fleet through his glass, +allowing it to come closer and closer and holding himself ready to flee, +should it be necessary to do so. Finally, after a long scrutiny, Jones's +face lit up with exultation. There <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 76]<a name="Page_76" id="Page_76"></a></span>were only two vessels of war in the +fleet, and he immediately gave the signal for pursuit.</p> + +<p>The <i>Serapis</i>, commanded by Captain Pearson, knew that he was confronted +by the redoubtable Paul Jones, and he welcomed a fight with him, for the +British captain was one of the bravest of men. He signalled for the +merchantmen to scatter, and they did so with the utmost haste, while the +frigate with her consort, the <i>Countess of Scarborough</i>, boldly advanced +to engage the American squadron.</p> + +<p>It was at this critical moment that the captain of the <i>Alliance</i> once +more showed his insubordination. He refused to obey Jones's signal to +fall to the rear of the <i>Bonhomme Richard</i> and the <i>Pallas</i> for a time +was equally disobedient. Soon, however, she changed her conduct and +gallantly advanced to engage the <i>Countess of Scarborough</i>. Captain +Landais, however, sullenly kept out of the battle, and, as we shall +presently learn, did even worse than that.</p> + +<p>Captain Pearson, of the <i>Serapis</i>, waited until his convoy was beyond +danger, when he tacked inshore. Fearing he would get away, Jones ran in +between him and the land. It was now growing dark, and it was hard for +the American commander to follow the movements of his enemy. But the +latter was not fleeing, and, although dimly visible to each other, the +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 77]<a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"></a></span>two antagonists began cautiously approaching, both on the alert for any +advantage that might present itself. Nothing but the rippling of water +made by the vessels broke the profound, expectant hush that rested upon +both.</p> + +<p>Suddenly from the gloom came the voice of the captain of the <i>Serapis</i>:</p> + +<p>"What ship is that?"</p> + +<p>Jones wished to get nearer before opening fire and replied:</p> + +<p>"I do not understand you; speak louder."</p> + +<p>"What ship is that?" repeated the other in a louder voice through his +trumpet. "Answer or I shall fire into you."</p> + +<p>Jones made no reply, knowing that it was useless, but continued to edge +near his antagonist. A minute later both ships discharged a broadside at +the same moment, the gloom being lit up by spouts of crimson flame, +while the thunder "shook the mighty deep" and the sulphurous smoke +rolled slowly upward and drifted through the rigging. Then again came a +minute or so of impressive stillness, while the crews of both looked +around to learn the results of the awful tempest of round shot, grape +and canister of which they had been the targets.</p> + +<p>Sad work, indeed, had been done, for from each <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 78]<a name="Page_78" id="Page_78"></a></span>vessel rose the cries of +the wounded and dying—cries that inspired their companions to revenge +and caused them to hasten the reloading and firing of the cannon. But +unfortunately the <i>Bonhomme Richard</i> suffered from her own guns as well +as from those of the enemy. On the lower gun deck was an improvised +battery of six 18-pounders, two of which burst, killing most of the men +at work there and tearing away the deck above them. The remainder of the +men refused to serve the other guns, and thus the <i>Bonhomme Richard</i> was +deprived of the services of her heaviest battery, in addition to the +serious loss in dead and wounded.</p> + +<p>Captain Jones forged ahead, crossing his enemy's bow, while the latter +came up on his port quarter. They were within a biscuit's toss of each +other, wrapped in dense smoke, lit up by the jets of flame which were +continuous. Mingled with the terrific booming was the spiteful rattle of +musketry from the tops and yells and cries of the wounded. The decks of +the <i>Bonhomme Richard</i> were slippery with blood, which increased until +the men, as they ran to and fro, splashed in it, like children playing +in a mud puddle, and it was the same on the <i>Serapis</i>. It found its +outlet through the scuppers and crimsoned the deep blue of the ocean.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 79]<a name="Page_79" id="Page_79"></a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/082.png" width="400" height="601" alt="FIGHT BETWEEN "BONHOMME RICHARD" AND "SERAPIS."" title="FIGHT BETWEEN "BONHOMME RICHARD" AND "SERAPIS."" /> +<span class="caption">FIGHT BETWEEN "BONHOMME RICHARD" AND "SERAPIS."</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 80]<a name="Page_80" id="Page_80"></a></span></p> +<p>Some of the shots from the <i>Serapis</i> pierced the <i>Bonhomme Richard</i> +under the water line, causing her to leak badly. Deprived of his +18-pound guns by reason of the accident mentioned, Jones was forced to +rely upon his 12-pounders. They were worked for all that was in them, +but the whole fourteen were silenced in little more than half an hour +and seven of the quarter deck and forecastle guns were dismounted. She +was left with three 9-pounders, which, being loaded and aimed under the +eye of Jones himself, did frightful execution on the deck of the enemy.</p> + +<p>An hour had passed and the men were fighting furiously, when the full +moon appeared above the horizon and lit up the fearful scene. The +<i>Serapis</i> attempted to cross the bow of the <i>Bonhomme Richard</i>, but +miscalculated and the <i>Bonhomme Richard</i> shoved her bowsprit over the +other's stern. In the lull that followed, when each expected his +antagonist to board, Captain Pearson called out:</p> + +<p>"Have you struck?"</p> + +<p>"Struck!" shouted back Jones; "I am just beginning to fight!"</p> + +<p>The <i>Serapis</i> made another effort to get into position to rake the +American, but in the blinding smoke she ran her jibboom afoul of the +starboard mizzen <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 81]<a name="Page_81" id="Page_81"></a></span>shrouds of the <i>Bonhomme Richard</i>. Captain Jones +himself lashed the spar to the rigging, knowing that his only chance was +in fighting at close quarters, but the swaying of the ships broke them +apart. At that instant, however, the spare anchor of the <i>Serapis</i> +caught on the American's quarter and held the two vessels, as may be +said, locked in each other's arms.</p> + +<p>They were so close, indeed, that the English gunners could not raise the +lower port lids, and they blew them off by firing their cannon through +them. The men on each ship in loading were forced to push their rammers +into the ports of the other vessel. The <i>Bonhomme Richard</i> was set on +fire by burning wads, but the flames were speedily extinguished.</p> + +<p>The explosion of the American's lower guns at the opening of the battle +had made her helpless against the corresponding battery of the enemy, +which pounded away until a huge, yawning gap was opened. Some of the +shots went clean through the battered hull and splashed into the water, +hundreds of feet distant. The disadvantage was more than offset by the +concentration of the Americans on the upper deck and in the rigging. The +fire of the <i>Bonhomme Richard</i> became so terrible that every officer and +man of the enemy kept out of sight, observing which an American seaman +crawled out on the main yard, car<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 82]<a name="Page_82" id="Page_82"></a></span>rying a bucket of hand grenades which +he threw wherever he saw a man. He did this with such excellent aim that +he dropped one through the main hatchway and into the gunroom. It fell +into a heap of powder and produced an explosion that was awful beyond +description, for it killed and wounded thirty-eight men and really +decided the battle.</p> + +<p>At that moment, when it all seemed over, Captain Landais fired a +broadside from the <i>Alliance</i> into the <i>Bonhomme Richard</i>. Captain Jones +called to him in God's name to desist, but he circled about the two +ships and fired again and again into his ally, killing and wounding a +number of men and officers. It was believed that the <i>Alliance</i> had been +captured by the enemy and had joined in the attack on the <i>Bonhomme +Richard</i>, which was so injured that she began slowly to sink. Having +wrought this irreparable damage, the <i>Alliance</i> drew off and ceased her +murderous work.</p> + +<p>Jones incited his prisoners to desperate pumping by the report that the +<i>Serapis</i> must soon go down and that the only way to save themselves +from drowning was to keep the <i>Bonhomme</i> afloat. An officer ran to the +quarter deck to haul down the colors, but they had been shot away. He +then hurried to the taffrail and shouted for quarter. Jones, being in +another part of <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 83]<a name="Page_83" id="Page_83"></a></span>the ship, did not hear him. The British commander +mustered his men to board the American, but they were driven back by the +firing from the rigging of the <i>Bonhomme Richard</i>. The condition of the +latter could not have been more desperate. She was so mangled that she +began to settle, most of her guns had been disabled, a fire that could +not be checked was already close to her magazine and several hundred +prisoners were stealing here and there, waiting for a chance to strike +from behind.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 84]<a name="Page_84" id="Page_84"></a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 610px;"> +<img src="images/086.png" width="610" height="400" alt="OLD-TIME BATTLESHIPS." title="OLD-TIME BATTLESHIPS." /> +<span class="caption">OLD-TIME BATTLESHIPS.</span> +</div> + +<p>A deserter had slipped on board of the <i>Serapis</i> in the confusion and +acquainted the commander with the frightful plight of the American. +After firing with renewed ardor for several minutes Captain Pearson +again called to know whether Jones had surrendered. He shouted back a +defiant negative, and, pistol in hand, ordered his men to the guns, +threatening to kill the first one who refused. All knew his temper too +well to hesitate, and the battle was renewed with greater fury than +before. Captain Pearson could not believe the condition of the <i>Bonhomme +Richard</i> as bad as was represented by the deserter. He had lost a great +many men, all his guns were silenced, and, being utterly unable to make +any further defence, he hauled down his flag with his own hands.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 85]<a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"></a></span>The surrender was just in time to save the <i>Bonhomme Richard</i>, which +was in danger of going down and blowing up. The united efforts of both +crews were necessary to extinguish the flames before they reached the +magazine. She was kept afloat through the night, while the wounded and +prisoners were transferred to the <i>Serapis</i>. Then the battered and +riddled old hulk plunged downward bow foremost into the depths of the +German Ocean.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 404px;"> +<img src="images/088.png" width="404" height="400" alt="MEDAL PRESENTED BY CONGRESS TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES." title="MEDAL PRESENTED BY CONGRESS TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES." /> +<span class="caption">MEDAL PRESENTED BY CONGRESS TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES.</span> +</div> + +<p>This battle has never been surpassed in heroism. Both sides fought with +a bravery that has given the <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 86]<a name="Page_86" id="Page_86"></a></span>conflict a place by itself in naval +annals, and it will always stand as a proof of the dauntless courage of +the Anglo-Saxon beyond the reach of those of the Latin race. The +<i>Bonhomme Richard</i> had 42 guns and the <i>Serapis</i> 50; the American crew +numbered 304 and the English 320. The killed on each side was 49; the +wounded on the <i>Bonhomme Richard</i> was 116 and on the <i>Serapis</i> 117, +there being a difference of only one in the total of killed and wounded. +The battle lasted three hours and a half.</p> + +<p>The <i>Countess of Scarborough</i> made a gallant resistance for two hours, +when she was so crippled that she was compelled to surrender to the +Frenchman. An investigation into the treacherous conduct of Captain +Landais caused many to believe him insane, though others were convinced +that he was inspired by intense jealousy of Captain Jones. He was +discharged from both the French and American navy. Benjamin Franklin was +among those who believed he deserved punishment for his perfidy.</p> + +<p>The <i>Serapis</i> and <i>Countess of Scarborough</i> were refitted and given to +France, while Captain Jones was placed in command of the <i>Alliance</i>. He +was loaded with honors in France, the king presenting him with a gold +sword, and when he sailed for the United States he gave another +exhibition of his superb sea<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 87]<a name="Page_87" id="Page_87"></a></span>manship by eluding the blockaders that were +waiting for him outside of Texel, running through the Straits of Dover +and then defiantly standing down the English Channel in full view of +more than one of the largest British fleets. He reached the United +States in June, 1780, without mishap.</p> + +<p>Congress gave Captain Jones a vote of thanks, and, had the war +continued, no doubt he would have rendered more brilliant service for +the country he loved so well, but before he could be given a fitting +command hostilities ceased. He had won a world-wide reputation and +accepted the appointment of rear-admiral in the Russian navy, but gained +no opportunity to display his marvelous prowess. He died in Paris in +1792.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 88]<a name="Page_88" id="Page_88"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + + +<h3>Our Naval War with France—The Tribute Paid to the Barbary States by +Christian Nations—War Declared Against the United States by +Tripoli—Bainbridge, Decatur, Stewart, Dale and Preble.</h3> + + + +<p>Now I suspect that if my young readers were asked to name the nations +with which, at one time or another we have been at war, they would not +be likely to include France in the list. All the same, we have had a war +with her, though it was confined to the ocean and there was no formal +declaration on either side.</p> + +<p>A few years after the close of our Revolution one of the most appalling +uprisings in the history of the world took place in France. The kings +and nobility ground the people into the very dust until they were goaded +into revolt, which overturned the throne and was marked by atrocities +that shocked the world. Incredible as it may seem, there were a million +people put to death during the awful days of the Reign of Terror.</p> + +<p>The mad rulers, not satisfied with deluging their own country with +blood, were at war with most of the neighboring nations. They seemed to +wish to array <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 89]<a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></a></span>themselves against all mankind and began a system of +action toward us which soon became unbearable.</p> + +<p>They seemed to think we could be scared into paying the rulers immense +sums of money for the privilege of being left alone. They encouraged +their naval officers to capture American vessels, and when we sent +commissioners to France to protest they were coolly told that outrages +upon our commerce would not be stopped until we paid the leaders several +hundred thousand dollars in the way of bribes. Then it was that one of +our commissioners made the memorable reply: "Millions for defence, but +not one cent for tribute."</p> + +<p>Our representatives were driven out of France and the capture of our +vessels by French cruisers continued. So Congress met, cancelled all +treaties with France, formed an army, placed Washington, then an old +man, at the head, formed a new navy and told the men-of-war to go out +and give the insolent nation a lesson she very much needed.</p> + +<p>And France got the lesson. The fighting on the ocean, beginning in 1798, +continued for two years and a half. The French cruisers succeeded in +capturing only one vessel from the American navy, while 84 armed French +ships, mostly privateers, mounting more than 500 guns, were captured by +our vessels. <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 90]<a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"></a></span>In February, 1801, a treaty of peace was signed with +France, which brought our troubles with her to an end.</p> + +<p>Now, if you will examine your map of Africa, you will notice a group of +countries along the southern coast of the Mediterranean that are known +as the Barbary States. Their names are Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, and +Tripoli. I remember when I was a boy how easy it was to learn the names +of the capitals of those countries, for each one was the same as the +country itself.</p> + +<p>The people of the Barbary States are only half civilized or barbarous, +but they have always had a mighty high opinion of themselves, though it +can hardly be as high to-day as it was a hundred years ago. They looked +upon the "dogs of Christians" as heathen nations, only fitted to be +their slaves, and it must be admitted that it was quite natural they +should hold the leading maritime nations of Europe as well as ourselves +in contempt, for all deserved it.</p> + +<p>The favorite business of those barbarians was playing pirate. Their +corsairs roamed up and down the Mediterranean, eagerly hunting for +Christian merchant vessels, that they might kill the crews and divide +the plunder among themselves. Sometimes, by way of variety, they would +throw their captives into <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 91]<a name="Page_91" id="Page_91"></a></span>dungeons and then notify the governments to +which they belonged that they would be set free upon the payment of a +large sum of money to their captors. If the government did not choose to +pay the ransom, why their captors would give themselves the pleasure of +putting the prisoners to death.</p> + +<p>Now, it would have been an easy thing for any one of the Christian +nations interested to send a fleet into the Mediterranean, which, +speaking figuratively, would have wiped those miscreants off the face of +the earth; but such an enterprise would have cost a good deal of money, +so, instead of punishing the wretches as they deserved, the countries +paid them a yearly sum of money on their promise not to disturb vessels +when they ran across them.</p> + +<p>So it was that, year after year, we sent a good round gift to those +barbarians. You know our Government is often slow in meeting its +obligations, and it happened now and then we were late in sending our +tribute to the swarthy rulers. When that occurred, the Dey, or Bashaw, +imposed a heavy fine to remind us of the expense of trifling with him. +We meekly bowed our heads, paid it, and tried to be more prompt +afterward. Then, too, the mighty ruler sometimes expressed a wish to +receive naval stores instead of money, and we were happy to oblige him. +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 92]<a name="Page_92" id="Page_92"></a></span>Of course, he set his own valuation on what he received, which was +generally about one-half of what they cost our Government, but we made +no complaint.</p> + +<p>It came about that the Dey of Tripoli got the idea into his head that we +were not paying him as much as we did his neighbors. In his impatience, +he decided to give us a lesson as badly needed as it was in the case of +France, to which I have alluded. So he declared war against the United +States. It would be interesting to know what ideas the Dey had of the +Republic on the other side of the Atlantic.</p> + +<p>One good thing resulted from our flurry with France. A number of good +ships had been added to our navy. Better still, many young officers, +brave, skilful and glowing with patriotic ardor, were serving on those +ships. They eagerly welcomed the chance of winning glory. To them the +war with Tripoli offered the very opportunity for which they longed.</p> + +<p>Among these was William Bainbridge, who was born in 1774 and died in +1833. He began life as a sailor at the age of fifteen, and was in +several engagements before he was appointed to the navy in 1798, during +our war with France.</p> + +<p>Another was Stephen Decatur, born in Maryland in 1779 and killed in a +duel with Commodore Barron <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 93]<a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a></span>in 1820. His father was a gallant officer in +the Revolution, and his two sons were among the bravest officers who +ever trod the quarter deck. Both entered the service in 1798, and +Stephen is generally regarded as the best type of the young American +naval officer during the early years of the present century.</p> + +<p>Still another was Charles Stewart, born in Philadelphia in 1778, and, +like those whom I have named, he entered the navy as lieutenant in 1798. +It will always be one of my pleasantest recollections that I was well +acquainted with Stewart, and spent many hours talking with him about the +stirring scenes in which he took part. He lived to be more than ninety +years of age, dying in 1869, and for a good many years occupied a modest +little home, just below Bordentown, New Jersey. When eighty-eight years +old he was as active as a man of half his years. I came upon him one +wintry day, when he was of that age, and found him in the barn, +shoveling corn into a hopper, of which a sturdy Irishman was turning the +crank. The old admiral kept his hired man busy and enjoyed his own work. +He was of small figure, always wore an old-fashioned blue swallow-tail +with brass buttons, took snuff, and would laugh and shake until his +weatherbeaten face was purple over some of his reminiscences of the +early days of the Republic.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 94]<a name="Page_94" id="Page_94"></a></span>Think of it! He remembered seeing Benedict Arnold burned in effigy in +Philadelphia in 1781; he recalled Paul Jones, and had drunk wine and +talked with Washington.</p> + +<p>Stewart and Decatur were of about the same age, and attended the old +Academy in Philadelphia. They were bosom friends from boyhood. Stewart +told me that Decatur was a good student, but there was hardly a boy in +the school, anywhere near his own age, with whom he did not have a +fight. He would "rather fight than eat," but he was not a bully, and +never imposed upon any one younger or weaker than himself.</p> + +<p>A great many of my talks with old Admiral Stewart related to the war +with Tripoli, which began in 1801 and lasted nearly four years. As you +will learn, Stewart had a great deal to do with that war, and most of +the incidents that follow were told to me by him, a fact which insures +their truthfulness and interest.</p> + +<p>Among others to whom I shall refer was Commodore Richard Dale, who was +born in 1756, and died in 1826. He was older, as you will notice, than +the three whom I have mentioned. As to his bravery, it is enough to say +that he was first lieutenant on the <i>Bonhomme Richard</i> during her +terrible fight under <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 95]<a name="Page_95" id="Page_95"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 96]<a name="Page_96" id="Page_96"></a></span>Paul Jones with the <i>Serapis</i>, and served with +that wonderful naval hero on the <i>Alliance</i> and the <i>Ariel</i>. Had he not +been made of the right stuff he never could have held such a position +when a very young man.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 311px;"> +<img src="images/098.png" width="311" height="400" alt="COMMODORE EDWARD PREBLE." title="COMMODORE EDWARD PREBLE." /> +<span class="caption">COMMODORE EDWARD PREBLE.</span> +</div> + +<p>Another hero was Commodore Edward Preble, born in 1761 and died in 1807. +When only sixteen years old he joined a privateer, and at eighteen was +active in the attacks of the <i>Protector</i> on the British privateer +<i>Admiral Duff</i>. He was on the <i>Winthrop</i>, and fought bravely in the +battle which resulted in the capture of a British armed brig. He was +commissioned lieutenant in 1798, and the year following commanded the +<i>Essex</i>.</p> + +<p>From what I have told you, it will be seen that it was a gallant band +that our Government sent into the Mediterranean in 1801 to chastise the +barbarians and compel them to respect the Stars and Stripes.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 97]<a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>The First Serious Engagement—Loss of the Philadelphia—The Scheme of +Captain Bainbridge—Exploit of Lieutenant Decatur.</h3> + + + +<p>Andrew Sterrett was executive officer of the <i>Constellation</i>, which +captured the French frigate <i>L'Insurgente</i>, in 1799, and <i>La Vengeance</i>, +in 1800. It fell to his lot, while in command of the <i>Enterprise</i>, a +vessel of 12 guns, to have the first serious fight in the war with +Tripoli. When off Malta, he met a Tripolitan vessel of 14 guns, and they +fought furiously for two hours, at the end of which time the enemy +hauled down his flag. The Americans left their guns and broke into +cheers, whereupon the Tripolitan fired a broadside. Nothing loath, +Lieutenant Sterrett resumed the battle. The Tripolitans ran in close and +attempted to board, but were repulsed, and, under the fierce fire of the +<i>Enterprise</i>, they again hauled down their flag.</p> + +<p>"I guess they mean it this time," remarked Lieutenant Sterrett, but the +words were hardly spoken when the enemy let fly with another broadside.</p> + +<p>As may be supposed, this exhausted the patience of the American +commander. He ordered his men <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 98]<a name="Page_98" id="Page_98"></a></span>to their guns, and mentally resolved to +finish the job without fail. Circling round his antagonist, he raked her +from stem to stern, shot away the mizzen mast, made a sieve of the hull +and killed and wounded fifty men. He was still at it, when, through the +smoke, he caught sight of the swarthy captain, leaping up and down on +the deck, swinging his arms and shrieking in broken English that he had +surrendered. To show he was in earnest, he flung his colors overboard.</p> + +<p>"Now throw your guns and powder after your flag," shouted Sterrett.</p> + +<p>He was promptly obeyed; and, resolved to take no chances, Sterrett then +compelled him to cut away his masts, after which he was permitted to rig +a jury mast and a single sail.</p> + +<p>"Now go home to your Dey," said his conqueror, "and give him my +compliments."</p> + +<p>Not a man was killed on board the <i>Enterprise</i>, though, as has been +shown, the loss of the enemy was severe.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 293px;"> +<img src="images/102.png" width="293" height="400" alt="CAPTAIN WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE." title="CAPTAIN WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE." /> +<span class="caption">CAPTAIN WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE.</span> +</div> + +<p>The American squadron in that part of the world was increased, and a +number of engagements took place, with the advantage invariably on the +side of our countrymen. By the opening of 1803 there were nine of our +ships, carrying two hundred and <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 99]<a name="Page_99" id="Page_99"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 100]<a name="Page_100" id="Page_100"></a></span>fourteen guns, in the Mediterranean +waters. The fine frigate <i>Philadelphia</i> captured a Moorish cruiser upon +which were found papers signed by the Governor of Tangier authorizing +the commander to destroy American commerce. Commodore Preble sailed into +the harbor and demanded an explanation of the emperor. He denied having +given any such authority to his subordinate, and in making his denial +undoubtedly told a falsehood. Nevertheless, he was so scared that he +signed anew the treaty of 1786, deprived the governor of his commission +and confiscated his estates.</p> + +<p>Captain William Bainbridge was in command of the <i>Philadelphia</i>, and was +detailed to help in blockading Tripoli. His companion vessel was sent in +pursuit of a corsair, so that the <i>Philadelphia</i> was left alone to +perform blockade duty. On the last day of October, 1803, Captain +Bainbridge observed a Tripolitan vessel trying to make port. He gave +chase, but the coast was dangerous, abounding with shoals and reefs, +with which the fugitive vessel was familiar, while Captain Bainbridge +had to keep sounding and regulating his speed in accordance with the +degree of danger.</p> + +<p>In the midst of the pursuit, and while every precaution was taken, the +crew, to their dismay, heard <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 101]<a name="Page_101" id="Page_101"></a></span>a dull, grating sound, whose meaning they +well knew; the bow of the frigate rose six feet out of the water, and +the stoppage was so sudden that nearly every one was thrown off his +feet.</p> + +<p>A hurried examination showed that the <i>Philadelphia</i> was inextricably +fast, and could not be freed until the tide rose. Meanwhile the corsairs +would issue from the harbor near at hand, and, choosing their own +position, batter the frigate to pieces and kill or make prisoners of the +crew.</p> + +<p>Every possible effort was made to release the ship, but she was too +firmly spiked on the jagged reef to be budged, and the dreaded peril +speedily appeared. The Tripolitans soon discovered the plight of the +American, and nine gunboats hurried out from the harbor. Fire was opened +on both sides, but neither was effective, the position of the frigate +preventing an effective aim. The sea drove her higher upon the rocks, +and she careened so much that all the guns became useless. The +Tripolitans, seeing her helplessness, now came closer and increased +their fire.</p> + +<p>There was no help for Captain Bainbridge. Unable to deliver an effective +shot, the enemy could kill every one of his men. He therefore flooded +his magazine, blocked the pumps, bored holes through the bottom of the +ship in order to sink her if his enemies <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 102]<a name="Page_102" id="Page_102"></a></span>succeeded in releasing her, +and then struck his flag. Distrustful at first, though they ceased +firing, the Tripolitans finally came aboard, plundered the officers and +men of their personal property, and then took them—three hundred and +fifteen in all—to the city, where they were lodged in prison.</p> + +<p>Some days later a powerful northerly wind partly lifted the +<i>Philadelphia</i> off the rocks, and by united efforts her captors +succeeded in getting her into deep water. The holes in the bottom were +plugged, and the guns and anchors that had been thrown overboard in the +shallow water were easily recovered and replaced on the ship. Thus the +Bashaw secured a most valuable prize.</p> + +<p>The disaster gave a serious aspect to the war, for it not only added +material strength to the enemy, but increased their courage and insured +a more determined resistance on their part. While the loss was a severe +one to the American navy, it was not difficult to replace it.</p> + +<p>One day a letter reached Commodore Preble. Apparently it was nothing but +a blank sheet of paper, but knowing that lemon juice had been employed +for ink, the Commodore held it before a flame and brought out the +following, in the handwriting of Bainbridge:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 103]<a name="Page_103" id="Page_103"></a></span>"Charter a small merchant schooner, fill her with men and have her +commanded by fearless and determined officers. Let the vessel enter the +harbor at night with her men secreted below deck; steer her directly on +board the frigate, and then let the men and officers board, sword in +hand, and there is no doubt of their success. It will be necessary to +take several good rowboats in order to facilitate the retreat after the +enterprise has been accomplished. The frigate in her present condition +is a powerful auxiliary battery for the defence of the harbor. Though it +will be impossible to remove her from her anchorage and thus restore +this beautiful vessel to our navy, yet, as she may and no doubt will be +repaired, an important end will be gained by her destruction."</p> + +<p>Captain Bainbridge had sent several similar letters to Preble, his good +friend, the Swedish consul, being the man who secured their delivery. +The plan suggested by Bainbridge was a good one, for, since it was +impossible to add the <i>Philadelphia</i> to our navy, the next best thing +was to prevent her remaining with that of Tripoli. It may as well be +stated here that the court martial which investigated the particulars of +the loss of the <i>Philadelphia</i> acquitted Captain Bainbridge of all blame +and declared that he <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 104]<a name="Page_104" id="Page_104"></a></span>had done everything possible under the +circumstances.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, the American squadron succeeded about this time in +capturing a Tripolitan gunboat, which would serve admirably to disguise +the purpose of the Americans. Preble then told Lieutenant Decatur of the +suggestion made by Bainbridge. No sooner was the young lieutenant +acquainted with the plan than he volunteered to lead in the perilous +enterprise. Nothing could have suited the daring fellow better.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Charles Stewart, who arrived a short time before in the +<i>Siren</i>, not knowing of the scheme that had been formed, proposed with +the <i>Siren's</i> men to cut out the <i>Philadelphia</i>. Preble informed him the +honor had been given to Decatur. Stewart was disappointed, but expressed +his honest pleasure that the management of the affair was entrusted to +such worthy hands.</p> + +<p>"He is the best man that could have been selected," he said heartily, +"and there isn't a shadow of doubt that he will succeed."</p> + +<p>Every one in the fleet was eager to volunteer, but Decatur selected +sixty-two men, to which were added six officers from the <i>Enterprise</i> +and six from the <i>Constitution</i>, with a native pilot. Knowing the daring +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 105]<a name="Page_105" id="Page_105"></a></span>nature of Decatur, he was given strict orders not to attempt to cut out +the <i>Philadelphia</i>, but to destroy her.</p> + +<p>Late in the day, February 9, 1804, the ketch left Syracuse for Tripoli, +accompanied by the <i>Siren</i>, Lieutenant Stewart, to cover the retreat. +The weather became so bad that the attempt had to be postponed, since +the ketch was sure to be dashed to pieces on the rocks. The impatient +crew was compelled to withdraw and wait for a week before the weather +moderated. On the 15th, everything being favorable, the crew of the +ketch bade good-by to their friends and set out on their perilous +mission.</p> + +<p>The night was clear and starlit, and at nine o'clock the ketch was in +full view of the city and its twinkling lights, with the dark shores +crowded with batteries, while far ahead, under the guns of the Bashaw's +castle, lay the <i>Philadelphia</i>. The wind fell and the little craft crept +slowly through the water, seemingly into the very jaws of death, until +the outlines of the silent frigate loomed to sight through the gloom. +Following Decatur's guarded orders, the men lay flat on the deck, all +concealing themselves as best they could, while five or six, dressed as +Maltese sailors, lounged about in plain sight.</p> + +<p>The quartermaster at the wheel, obeying the di<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 106]<a name="Page_106" id="Page_106"></a></span>rections of Decatur, +steered so as to foul the <i>Philadelphia</i>, from which there suddenly came +a hail. Lieutenant Decatur whispered to the pilot to say they had just +arrived from Malta, and, having lost their anchor, wished to make fast +to the <i>Philadelphia's</i> cables until another could be got from shore. A +brief conversation followed, during which the ketch edged closer, but +the Tripolitans soon discovered the men in the stargleam, and the alarm +was sounded; but with great coolness and haste the ketch was worked into +position and Decatur gave the order to board.</p> + +<p>The eager Americans, with cutlass and boarding pike in hand, dashed +through the gun ports and over the bulwarks. In a twinkling the quarter +deck was cleared and all the Tripolitans on the forecastle were rushed +overboard. The noise brought up a number of Turks from below, but the +moment they saw what was going on they either leaped into the sea or hid +themselves in the hold. They were pursued, and within ten minutes the +frigate was captured, without a shot having been fired or an outcry +made.</p> + +<p>An abundance of combustibles had been brought, and they were now +distributed and fired so effectively that nothing could save the fine +vessel. Then the Americans scrambled back to the ketch, Lieutenant +Decatur being the last to leave the doomed frigate, <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 107]<a name="Page_107" id="Page_107"></a></span>from which the +dazzling glare lit up the harbor and revealed the smaller boat straining +to get away. The batteries on shore opened fire, but, in their +excitement, they aimed wildly, and no harm was done. Every American +safely reached the <i>Siren</i>, waiting anxiously outside. The two made sail +for Syracuse, where Captain Preble was vastly relieved to hear the news. +The ketch was renamed the <i>Intrepid</i>, and Decatur, for his daring +exploit, was promoted to the rank of captain and presented with a sword +by Congress.</p> + +<p>The <i>Philadelphia</i> was totally destroyed, and its remains still lie at +the bottom of the harbor of Tripoli. In referring to this exploit, the +great English naval commander, Lord Nelson, said it was "the most bold +and daring act of the age."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 108]<a name="Page_108" id="Page_108"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>Bombardment of Tripoli—Treacherous Act of a Turkish Captain—A Quick +Retribution at the Hands of Captain Decatur.</h3> + + +<p>The Bashaw of Tripoli was not yet subdued. He treated his American +prisoners with greater harshness and refused to believe their nation was +strong enough to bring him to terms.</p> + +<p>On August 3, Commodore (as the senior officer of every squadron was then +called) Preble sailed into the harbor of Tripoli with his fleet and +opened the bombardment of the city. At the same time, several of his +gunboats engaged those of the enemy. Lieutenant James Decatur, brother +of Stephen, made chase of a Tripolitan vessel, reserving his fire until +the two almost touched, when he poured in such a destructive discharge +of musketry and grape that the terrified enemy surrendered. Lieutenant +Decatur sprang aboard of his prize, when, at that instant, the Turkish +commander, a man of massive strength and build, fired his pistol in the +American officer's face and killed him. In the confusion caused by this +treacherous act the enemy's boat got away and started for the city.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 109]<a name="Page_109" id="Page_109"></a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 270px;"> +<img src="images/112.png" width="270" height="400" alt="CAPTAIN STEPHEN DECATUR." title="CAPTAIN STEPHEN DECATUR." /> +<span class="caption">CAPTAIN STEPHEN DECATUR.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 110]<a name="Page_110" id="Page_110"></a></span></p> +<p>Meanwhile, Captain Decatur had been doing characteristic work. With +three gunboats he attacked a force three times as numerous as his own. +Impetuously boarding the first craft, after a discharge from his long +boat, he engaged the numerous crew in a furious hand-to-hand struggle, +in which all were made prisoners or forced to leap into the sea to save +themselves. Then Decatur began towing away his prize, when he was told +of the murder of his brother.</p> + +<p>The grief-stricken and enraged captain instantly cast his prize adrift +and started after the "unspeakable Turk." The boat was easily +recognized, and, delivering a destructive fire, the pursuer ran +alongside and the Americans rushed aboard, with Decatur in the lead. The +enormous size and gorgeous uniform of the Turkish captain made him so +conspicuous that Decatur knew him at once, and, rushing forward, lunged +at him with his boarding pike. The Turk must have felt contempt for the +American who dared thus to assail him, for his assailant was but a boy +in size compared to him. He speedily proved his physical superiority +over Decatur, for he not only parried the lunge of the pike, but +wrenched it from his hand. He in turn drove his pike at Decatur's +breast, but his blow was also parried, though its violence broke off the +American's sword at the hilt. The <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 111]<a name="Page_111" id="Page_111"></a></span>active Turk came again, and his +second blow was only partly turned aside, the point of the pike tearing +through Decatur's coat and inflicting a bad wound in his chest.</p> + +<p>Before the Turk could strike a third time, Decatur ran in, and the two +instantly engaged in a fierce wrestling bout. The American was the most +skilful, but by sheer strength his enormous antagonist threw him to the +deck, and, gripping him by the throat with one hand, he reached down to +draw a small curved knife, known as a yataghan. It was behind the sash +in his waist and directly in front. Decatur threw both legs over the +back of the Turk and pressed him so close that he could not force his +hand between their bodies to reach his weapon. Decatur's pistol was at +his hip. He was able to withdraw it, and he then did the only thing that +could possibly save his life, though the chances were that the act would +hasten his death.</p> + +<p>Reaching over the back of the Turk, he pointed the weapon downward +toward his own breast and pulled the trigger. In most cases the bullet +would have passed through both bodies, but, fortunately, the ball +encountered some obstruction and did not reach the imperiled American. +He shoved off the bulky form, which rolled over on its back, dead.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 112]<a name="Page_112" id="Page_112"></a></span>It must not be supposed that while this furious hand-to-hand encounter +was under way the respective crews were idle. They, too, were fighting +fiercely, and, closing about the struggling commanders, each side +endeavored to help its own. The crowd surged back and forth and became +mixed in inextricable confusion. One of the Turks saw a chance to help +his captain and made a vicious blow at his opponent with his scimiter. +Reuben James, a sailor, who was so wounded in his arms that he could not +use them, thrust his head forward and received the stroke upon his +skull. The wound was a frightful one, but, beyond dispute, it saved the +life of Decatur, who never forgot the man that had done him this +inestimable service.</p> + +<p>Reuben James was one of the volunteers who helped Decatur destroy the +<i>Philadelphia</i>. He recovered from his terrible wound and did excellent +service in the war of 1812. In one battle he was three times wounded +before he would allow his comrades to carry him below. He lived fully +twenty years after the death of his beloved commander, dying at a good +old age, though he was scarred with sabre cuts, wounded times +innumerable by bullets, and compelled to suffer the amputation of a leg.</p> + +<p>The bombardment of Tripoli was less successful <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 113]<a name="Page_113" id="Page_113"></a></span>than expected. The +shells were of such poor quality that no impression was made on the +defences. All naval operations have proven that, as a rule, ships are +comparatively powerless for aggressive work against forts and batteries +on shore.</p> + +<p>An investigation into the cause of the failure of so many shells sent +into Tripoli brought out several interesting facts. Captain Bainbridge, +who carefully noted the results of the bombardment while a prisoner in +the city, stated that out of forty-eight thrown on one day only one +exploded. It was found that the fuses in many of the bombs had been +choked by lead that was poured into them. This was probably done by +French agents in Sicily.</p> + +<p>At the beginning of hostilities, the Tripolitans placed great reliance +upon their ability to fight at close quarters. Undeniably, they did +better in such position than in handling their ships. They had all the +viciousness of wild cats, and it has been shown how fiercely they fought +in hand-to-hand encounters; but their experience with the Americans +taught them that they were to be dreaded in any situation where their +anger was aroused, and, as a consequence, the Turks became less eager +for tests of individual strength, skill and bravery.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 114]<a name="Page_114" id="Page_114"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>The Bomb Ketch—A Terrible Missile—Frightful Catastrophe—Diplomacy in +Place of War—Peace.</h3> + + +<p>Whenever a war is under way a number of persons on each side are certain +to come forward with ingenious schemes for injuring their opponents, +through improvements upon the accepted methods of conducting +hostilities. So it came about, after the slight success attained in +bombarding Tripoli, that a plan was formulated for creating +consternation in the blockaded city and bringing the defiant Bashaw to +his senses.</p> + +<p>The new scheme was to fix up the <i>Intrepid</i> as a bomb ketch, send her +into the harbor at night and there explode her. While a few had no faith +in the plan, others believed it would cause great destruction and spread +dismay among the Tripolitans.</p> + +<p>In the forward hold were stowed one hundred barrels of gunpowder, and on +the deck above were piled one hundred and fifty shells and a lot of shot +and scrap iron. The plan was to give this floating volcano the +appearance of a blockade-runner. Two small boats were taken along, to be +used by the crews <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 115]<a name="Page_115" id="Page_115"></a></span>after setting off the fuse that was to blow the ketch +into a million atoms. It will be seen that the task was of the most +dangerous nature conceivable, and yet when Captain Preble called for +volunteers it seemed as if every one was eager to go.</p> + +<p>The command was given to Master-Commandant Richard Somers, who was of +the same age as Decatur and Stewart, and had established a reputation +for coolness and intrepidity in the operations of the fleet. Midshipman +Henry Wadsworth, an uncle of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the poet, was +the second in command. They were accompanied by another midshipman named +Israel, who begged so hard to be allowed to go that he could not be +refused, and ten of the best seamen.</p> + +<p>After waiting for several days, the night of September 4 was found to be +just what was desired. A fog lay like a blanket on the sea, but it was +so clear overhead that the stars shone with brilliant splendor. Before +the start was made, Decatur, Stewart and Somers, all the most intimate +of friends, had a long talk in the cabin of the ketch, no one else being +present. Each felt the gravity of the situation. Somers, though cool and +composed, seemed to feel a presentiment that he would not return. He +took a ring off his finger, and breaking it apart, gave one portion to +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 116]<a name="Page_116" id="Page_116"></a></span>Decatur, one to Stewart, and kept the other for himself. He told his +friends what he wished done in case of his death, and they assured him +that every wish should be respected.</p> + +<p>During that last impressive interview Stewart asked Somers what he would +do if discovered and attacked by the enemy.</p> + +<p>"Blow us all up together!" was the instant response; "I shall never be +taken prisoner."</p> + +<p>I may remark here that no writer has recorded this expression of the +gallant Somers, and I give it because Admiral Stewart assured me of its +truth. His recollection of the incident, more than sixty years +afterward, was as vivid as on the succeeding day. Indeed, Stewart, as is +often the case with aged persons, remarked that his memory of +occurrences a half century old was unerring, while of quite recent +incidents it was unreliable.</p> + +<p>It was comparatively early in the evening when the ketch got under way +with a favoring breeze. Stewart, with the <i>Siren</i>, by order of Preble, +stood toward the northern passage, through which the ketch was to pass. +His purpose was to remain in as close as was safe, and hold himself +ready to pick up the men as they returned in their boats. Stewart turned +his night glass toward the <i>Intrepid</i> and watched her <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 117]<a name="Page_117" id="Page_117"></a></span>slowly fading +from sight, until she melted into the gloom and not the slightest trace +of her outlines was discernible.</p> + +<p>Nothing could be more trying than the waiting of the craft outside, for +Somers' own vessel and two small ones were near at hand. The stillness +was so profound that men heard the suppressed breathing of their +comrades. If one moved, he did so on tiptoe. Few words were spoken, and +all in guarded undertones. The rippling of the water against the prows +and cables was an annoyance, and on more than one forehead great drops +of cold perspiration gathered.</p> + +<p>Slowly and painfully the long minutes wore away, until it seemed as if +several hours had passed, when in reality the interval was but a small +part of that period. Every nerve was in this tense state, when suddenly +the boom of a cannon came rolling through the fog from the direction of +the city, followed soon by the rapid firing of artillery. The approach +of the <i>Intrepid</i> had been discovered, and it seemed as if all the +enemy's batteries were blazing away at her. But what of the ketch +itself?</p> + +<p>Stewart, like all the rest, was peering into the black mist, when he saw +a star-like point of light, moving with an up and down motion, in a +horizontal <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 118]<a name="Page_118" id="Page_118"></a></span>line, showing that it was a lantern carried by a man running +along the deck of a ship. Then it dropped out of sight, as if the bearer +had leaped down a hatchway. For a moment all was profound darkness, and +then an immense fan-like expanse of flame shot far up into the sky, as +if from the crater of a volcano, and was crossed by the curving streaks +of fire made by shells in their eccentric flight. Across the water came +the crashing roar of the prodigious explosion, followed a few moments +later by the sounds of wreckage and bodies as they dropped into the sea. +Then again impenetrable gloom and profound stillness succeeded. The +batteries on shore were awed into silence by the awful sight, and the +waiting friends on the ships held their breath.</p> + +<p>The hope was that Lieutenant Somers and his companions had fired the +fuse and then rowed away in their boats, but as minute followed minute +without the sound of muffled oars from the hollow night reaching the +straining ears, suspense gave way to sickening dread. The vessels moved +to and fro about the entrance, as if the inanimate things shared in the +anxiety that would not allow them to remain still. At intervals a gun +was fired or a rocket sent up to guide the missing ones, but none +appeared. Every man had been killed by the explosion of the ketch.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 119]<a name="Page_119" id="Page_119"></a></span>Investigations made afterward seemed to establish that Somers was +attacked by three gunboats, and, finding escape impossible, it was he +who ran along the deck, lighted lantern in hand, and deliberately blew +up the <i>Intrepid</i>, destroying not only himself and companions, but many +of the enemy. The mangled remains of several bodies were found some days +later and given burial on shore, but not one could be recognized. +Captain Bainbridge and some of his brother officers, who were prisoners +in Tripoli, were allowed to view them. He said: "From the whole of them +being so disfigured, it was impossible to recognize any feature known to +us, or even to distinguish an officer from a seaman."</p> + +<p>In November, Commodore Samuel Barron arrived, and succeeded Captain +Preble in command of the American squadron. He brought with him the +<i>President</i> and <i>Constellation</i>, thereby increasing the force to ten +vessels, carrying two hundred and sixty-four guns.</p> + +<p>Having failed to bring the Bashaw to terms by force of arms, the +Americans now resorted to what may be termed diplomacy. The reigning +Bashaw of Tripoli was a usurper, having displaced his elder brother, who +had fled to Upper Egypt. He had a good many friends, who, if they dared, +would have <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 120]<a name="Page_120" id="Page_120"></a></span>been glad to replace him on his throne. The American consul, +who understood all the particulars, proposed to our government to use +the deposed ruler as an instrument to compel the usurper to make terms. +The Government authorized the consul to go ahead.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, he made his way to Alexandria, sought out the banished +ruler, proposed his plan, and it was eagerly accepted. He furnished the +consul with a cavalry escort, enlisted a number of Greek soldiers, the +party marched a thousand miles across the flaming Barcan desert, and in +April appeared before Derne, one of the seaports of the reigning +monarch, who was also advancing upon the place. With the help of the +American fleet, the town was captured, and, for the first time in its +history, the Stars and Stripes were given to the breeze above a +fortification on the eastern side of the Atlantic.</p> + +<p>By the enlistment of the mongrel population of the neighborhood, the +American consul gathered a formidable force, with which the enemy were +again defeated. Then they boldly set out for Tripoli.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the usurper was shivering with fear, and was more than ready +to make a treaty of peace with the terrible barbarians from the other +side of the ocean. The treaty was signed on June 2, 1805. The Bashaw, +who had demanded a princely sum for <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 121]<a name="Page_121" id="Page_121"></a></span>the release of his American +prisoners, was now glad to set them free for $60,000. It was agreed, +furthermore, that no more tribute should be paid, and thus ended all our +troubles with Tripoli.</p> + +<p>These proceedings left the rightful ruler in the lurch. He had been +promised that he should be restored to his throne on condition of +helping the Americans, and he had given the most valuable sort of aid, +but the treaty declared that no assistance should be given him. It was a +gross injustice on the part of our Government, which did no special +credit to itself, when, after the deposed ruler had made a pitiful +appeal to Congress, that body presented him with a beggarly pittance of +$2,400.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 122]<a name="Page_122" id="Page_122"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_WAR_OF_1812" id="THE_WAR_OF_1812"></a>THE WAR OF 1812.</h2> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>Cause of the War of 1812—Discreditable Work of the Land +Forces—Brilliant Record of the Navy—The <i>Constitution</i>—Captain Isaac +Hull—Battle Between the <i>Constitution</i> and <i>Guerriere</i>—Winning a +Wager.</h3> + + +<p>Probably no hostilities in which the United States was ever engaged so +abound with stirring, romantic and remarkable exploits as those upon the +ocean in the War of 1812.</p> + +<p>Now, as to the cause of the war between England and our country: Great +Britain was engaged in a tremendous conflict with France, at the head of +which was the greatest military leader of the world, Napoleon Bonaparte. +England needed every soldier and sailor she could get. Some of them +deserted to our ships, so her officers began the practice of stopping +such vessels on the ocean, searching them for deserters, and if found +they were taken away. Sometimes she took Americans, because she knew +they were good seamen, and, to excuse her action, she declared they were +deserters from the British navy.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 123]<a name="Page_123" id="Page_123"></a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 580px;"> +<img src="images/126.png" width="580" height="400" alt="IMPRESSING AMERICAN SAILORS." title="IMPRESSING AMERICAN SAILORS." /> +<span class="caption">IMPRESSING AMERICAN SAILORS.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 124]<a name="Page_124" id="Page_124"></a></span></p> +<p>This action was against the law of nations. She had no more right to +molest an American vessel than she had to land a force on our coast, +march inland and search the house of a private family. We protested, but +she paid no attention. It happened more than once that when our vessels +refused to be searched the English fired into them and killed and +wounded some of the American crews. If any nation acted that way toward +England to-day she would declare war at once, and so would any other +nation.</p> + +<p>Finding there was no peaceable way of stopping the unbearable conduct of +Great Britain, our country, in the month of June, 1812, declared war +against her, and it lasted until the early part of 1815.</p> + +<p>There was one feature of that war which it is not pleasant for Americans +to recall. It opened with a cowardly surrender by General William Hull +of Detroit to the English army, and for two years our land forces did +very little to their credit. They set out to invade Canada several +times, but in every instance were beaten. The leading generals were +"poor sticks," quarreled among themselves, and for a time failed to gain +any advantage. The trouble was not with the soldiers. They were among +the best in the world, but their leaders were of no account. By and by, +however, the poor officers were weeded out and <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 125]<a name="Page_125" id="Page_125"></a></span>good ones took their +places. Then something was accomplished in which we all could feel +pride.</p> + +<p>It was just the other way on the ocean. From the very start our naval +vessels and privateers won the most brilliant of victories. This was the +more remarkable when several facts are kept in mind. Great Britain had +been at war so long that she had the most powerful navy by far in the +world. It numbered one thousand and thirty-six vessels, of which two +hundred and fifty-four were ships-of-the-line, not one of which carried +less than seventy guns of large calibre. This prodigious navy was manned +by one hundred and forty-four thousand sailors, and eighty-five of her +war vessels were on the American coast, equipped and ready for action.</p> + +<p>In amazing contrast to all this, we had only twenty large war vessels +and a number of gunboats that were of little account. The disparity was +so great that our Government, after looking at the situation and +discussing the matter, decided that it would be folly to fight England +on the ocean, and it was decided not to do so. When Captains Stewart and +Bainbridge learned of this decision, they went to President Madison and +his advisers and insisted that the American navy, weak as it was, should +be given a chance of showing what it could do. Consent was <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 126]<a name="Page_126" id="Page_126"></a></span>finally +given, and then opened the wonderful career of our cruisers and +privateers.</p> + +<p>Among the frigates that had been built during our war with France was +the <i>Constitution</i>, which carried 44 guns. She earned the name of being +one of the luckiest ships in the navy, and because of her astonishing +record was named "Old Ironsides." The old hulk of this historical ship +is still carefully preserved in remembrance of her brilliant record, +which in some respects has never been equalled.</p> + +<p>Sailors are superstitious, and the good name which the <i>Constitution</i> +gained made it easy to get all the seamen needed. When you come to look +into the matter you will find that the <i>Constitution</i> was a lucky ship, +because it was always officered by the best men we had, and they were +wise enough to choose the finest crews.</p> + +<p>The captain of the <i>Constitution</i>, when the war broke out, was Isaac +Hull, a nephew of General William Hull, who made the cowardly surrender +of Detroit. He was born in Connecticut in 1773, and died in 1843. He was +one of the brilliant young officers who received his commission in 1798, +and was commander of the <i>Argus</i> during the war with Tripoli. He was +made a captain in 1806, and the following year was given command of the +<i>Constitution</i>.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 127]<a name="Page_127" id="Page_127"></a></span>Upon learning that the war had broken out, Captain Hull left the +Chesapeake, with orders to join the squadron under the command of +Captain Rodgers at New York. When off Barnegat, New Jersey, he was +sighted by the blockading squadron of Captain Philip Bowes Vere Broke, +which gave chase. The ingenuity and skill displayed by Captain Hull in +escaping from the enemy, when all escape seemed hopeless, is still +referred to as one of the most remarkable exploits in the history of the +American navy. The chase lasted for more than two days and three nights, +and it is safe to say that very few commanders placed in the situation +of Captain Hull would have been able to save themselves from capture.</p> + +<p>Captain Hull sailed on a cruise from Boston on August 21, just in time +to dodge an order from Washington to remain in port until further +orders. On the afternoon of August 19, when several hundred miles to the +eastward of Halifax, he sighted the British frigate <i>Guerriere</i>. Her +commander, Captain James E. Dacres, was an old acquaintance of Hull, and +the two had made a wager of a hat during peace that if they ever met in +battle the other would run.</p> + +<p>The British officer was as anxious as Hull for a fight, and they drew +near each other, both confident of <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 128]<a name="Page_128" id="Page_128"></a></span>winning the wager made half in jest +a brief time before.</p> + +<p>Great interest attaches to this naval battle, for it was the first of +its kind and a fair test of the respective prowess of ships of and crews +of that nature. The <i>Constitution</i> was somewhat the superior, carrying +55 guns and four hundred and sixty-eight men, while the <i>Guerriere</i> had +49 guns and two hundred and sixty-three men, but all of the latter were +under fine discipline, while most of the Americans were green hands. +Captain Dacres was confident of his superiority, and had no doubt that +when the two frigates met the <i>Constitution</i> would be compelled speedily +to strike her colors. He waited for the American to come up, each having +cleared for action.</p> + +<p>A little after four o'clock the two exchanged broadsides, but they were +so far apart that no damage was done. Dacres manœuvred for a raking +position, but Hull would not permit it, nor could he obtain one for +himself. There was much wearing and manœuvring, which prevented the +firing on either side from being effective. Each was wary of the other +and took the utmost pains to prevent his securing any advantage.</p> + +<p>When it became certain that the battle was to be one at close range, +Hull ordered the firing to cease, <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 129]<a name="Page_129" id="Page_129"></a></span>in order that the fullest preparation +could be made for the next broadside. He knew the skill of his men in +marksmanship, and determined to hold his fire until the most +advantageous position was reached. As he drew near his enemy, the latter +continued firing, and some of her shots were so effective that the crews +cheered. The Americans, most of them barefooted and stripped to the +waist, were standing beside their guns eager and impatient for the order +to fire, but Hull, when appealed to, shook his head. It was a proof of +the fine discipline of the American crew that when they saw two of their +comrades killed by the fire of the enemy, they silently waited without +murmur for the order whose delay they could not comprehend.</p> + +<p>Not until about a hundred feet distant and in the exact position desired +did Captain Hull give the order to fire as the guns bore. To quote +Maclay: "In an instant the frigate belched forth a storm of iron hail +that carried death and destruction into the opposing ship. The effect of +this carefully aimed broadside at short range was terrific. The +splinters were seen to fly over the British frigate like a cloud, some +of them reaching as high as the mizzen top, while the cheers of her men +abruptly ceased and the shrieks and groans of the wounded were heard. +The Ameri<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 130]<a name="Page_130" id="Page_130"></a></span>cans had struck their first earnest blow, and it was a +staggering one. The Englishman felt its full weight, and perhaps for the +first time realized that this was no child's play."</p> + +<p>The Americans displayed remarkable skill in their gunnery, as it may be +said they have always done. The main yard of the enemy was shot away in +the slings, and hull, rigging and sails were badly mangled. A shot +passing through the mizzenmast close to the deck, added to the stress +from the sails, caused it to break in two and fall over the quarter. One +curious effect of this dragging in the water was to make the wreckage +act like a rudder, bringing her up to the wind in spite of the +opposition of the helm. While the damage on the <i>Constitution</i> was less, +it clogged her action, but she secured a position from which she +delivered two raking broadsides. Then as the vessel see-sawed, the +jibboom of the <i>Guerriere</i> crossed the <i>Constitution's</i> quarter deck. +Both crews made ready to board, but each found the other so fully +prepared that neither attempted it. Meanwhile the riflemen in the +rigging were working with destructive energy. In each of the +<i>Constitution's</i> tops were seven marines, six loading for the seventh, +who was the best marksman. A good many officers were wounded and killed +on both sides.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 131]<a name="Page_131" id="Page_131"></a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 264px;"> +<img src="images/134.png" width="264" height="400" alt="THE "CONSTITUTION" AND THE "GUERRIERE."" title="THE "CONSTITUTION" AND THE "GUERRIERE."" /> +<span class="caption">THE "CONSTITUTION" AND THE "GUERRIERE."</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 132]<a name="Page_132" id="Page_132"></a></span></p> +<p>Although the vessels had been lashed together, their lurching broke +them apart, and the Englishman gained a chance to use his broadsides. A +fire broke out on the <i>Constitution</i>, but it was quickly extinguished, +and the shot of the American soon made a complete wreck of the enemy. +When it became clear that the <i>Guerriere</i> could make no further +resistance, Captain Hull drew off to repair the damages to his own ship. +Another English frigate was likely to appear at any moment, and she +would make short work of the <i>Constitution</i> in her crippled condition. +It took but a short time to complete the work, when she returned to her +former position beside the wallowing <i>Guerriere</i>. A lieutenant was sent +on board to receive the surrender, which Dacres gave with painful +reluctance. When brought to the side of the <i>Constitution</i>, Hull +assisted him up the rope ladder. Dacres extended his sword.</p> + +<p>"No" replied Hull, "I will not take it from one who knows so well how to +use it, but I must trouble you to pay me that hat I have won."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 133]<a name="Page_133" id="Page_133"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>Jacob Jones—The <i>Wasp</i> and the <i>Frolic</i>—James Biddle—The <i>Hornet</i> and +the <i>Penguin</i>—A Narrow Escape.</h3> + + + +<p>I must now tell you something about another gallant young officer who +entered the American navy at the close of the century, when he was +hardly thirty years old. He was Jacob Jones, who lived until 1850. He +was a lieutenant on the <i>Philadelphia</i> for two years, and was with that +frigate when she ran on the rocks in the harbor of Tripoli. He was given +command of the 18-gun sloop of war <i>Wasp</i>, which sailed from the +Delaware in October, 1812, and headed eastward, with the intention of +intercepting some of the enemy's merchantmen plying between Great +Britain and the West Indies.</p> + +<p>About a week after sailing he sighted five merchantmen, several of which +were well armed, while all were convoyed by a brig of war. Jones stood +toward them, when the brig signalled to her companions to make all sail +before the wind, while she dropped back to attend to the stranger. The +American came up quite close, and hailing, demanded the name of the +other. For a reply, the brig lowered the <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 134]<a name="Page_134" id="Page_134"></a></span>Spanish colors, ran up the +British flag, and let fly with a broadside and volley of musketry.</p> + +<p>The <i>Wasp</i> was expecting something of that nature and returned the +compliment, the vessels working nearer each other and firing as rapidly +as possible. The action had hardly begun when the <i>Wasp</i> lost her main +topmast, and a few minutes later the mizzen topgallant mast and the gaff +were shot away. These mishaps so crippled her that she became almost +unmanageable. The <i>Frolic</i>, as the enemy was named, was also damaged, +but not so badly as the <i>Wasp</i>, but, unfortunately for the <i>Frolic</i>, the +heavy sea and the twisting about of the hull threw her into position to +be raked by the <i>Wasp</i>, and Captain Jones was quick to seize the +advantage, the vessels being so close that the ramrods were pushed +against each other's sides while the gunners were loading. The sea was +so heavy that the guns of the <i>Wasp</i> frequently dipped under water.</p> + +<p>The intention of the Americans was to board, and Lieutenant James Biddle +held himself and men ready to take instant advantage of the moment the +roll of the sea brought them near enough to do so.</p> + +<p>Captain Jones did not believe himself warranted in boarding, since he +held the advantage of position, and he issued orders for the men to +wait, but their <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 135]<a name="Page_135" id="Page_135"></a></span>ardor could not be checked. Among his sailors was one +who had been impressed into the British service, where he was brutally +treated. Springing upon his gun, he grasped the bowsprit of the brig, +swung himself upon the spar and ran as nimbly as a monkey to the deck of +the enemy. Imitating his enthusiasm, Lieutenant Biddle and his boarders +took advantage of a favorable lurch at that moment and sprang upon the +deck of the <i>Frolic</i>. There, every man stopped and repressed the cheer +that rose to his lips, for the scene was one of the most dreadful that +imagination can picture.</p> + +<p>The quartermaster stood grimly clutching the wheel, a lieutenant, +bleeding from several wounds, was leaning against the companionway, +unable to stand without its support, while all along the deck were +strewn the dead and dying. Silently the victors stepped over the +prostrate forms to the quarter deck, where the officer weakly dropped +his sword to signify his surrender. Lieutenant Biddle walked to where +the colors were still fluttering and pulled them down. A few minutes +later the mainmast and foremast fell.</p> + +<p>Maclay gives the strength of the two vessels as follows: <i>Wasp</i>, 18 +guns, <i>Frolic</i>, 22; crew of the <i>Wasp</i>, 138, of the <i>Frolic</i>, 110. On +the <i>Wasp</i> 5 were killed <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 136]<a name="Page_136" id="Page_136"></a></span>and 5 wounded; on the <i>Frolic</i> 15 were killed +and 47 wounded, the latter being completely riddled. The cause of this +frightful difference in results was brought about by the Americans +discharging their broadsides when their ship was on the downward roll, +the shot landing in the hull of the enemy, while the latter fired on the +rise, her broadsides mainly passing into and through the rigging.</p> + +<p>As soon as Captain Jones learned of the fearful plight of the Frolic he +sent his surgeon on board, and everything possible was done to assist +the sorely smitten enemy.</p> + +<p>The <i>Wasp</i> was so badly injured that Captain Jones gave his attention to +repairing her, and was thus engaged when a sail appeared. It proved to +be the British 74-gun ship of the line <i>Poictiers</i>, which, surmising +what had taken place, bore down, took possession of both ships and +carried them to Bermuda.</p> + +<p>This battle, one of the most fiercely contested of the war, naturally +caused much rejoicing throughout the United States. Congress voted +$25,000 to the officers and crew of the <i>Wasp</i> as prize money, and gave +a gold medal to Master-Commandant Jones and a silver one to each of his +officers, while the Legislature of Pennsylvania presented a sword to +Lieutenant James Biddle.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 137]<a name="Page_137" id="Page_137"></a></span>This gallant young officer is entitled to more notice than has been +given him. He was born in Philadelphia in 1783, and died in 1848. After +his exchange, he was appointed to the command of the <i>Hornet</i>, and +sailed from New York in the month of January, 1815, in company with the +<i>Peacock</i> and <i>Tom Bowline</i>, but the three became separated, each making +for Tristan d'Acunha, which had been named as the rendezvous of the +squadron under the command of Stephen Decatur.</p> + +<p>This was on the last day of February, and Captain Biddle was about to +drop anchor when a sail appeared, and the <i>Hornet</i> went out to +reconnoitre. The stranger approached as if anxious to fight him, and, +when within musket range, ran up the English flag and fired a shot, to +which the <i>Hornet</i> replied with a broadside. The vessels continued +firing as they drew near each other. The superior aim of the American +speedily crippled the rigging of the other, and, coming together, the +<i>Penguin</i>, as the British vessel proved to be, in preparing to board, +succeeded in passing her bowsprit between the main and mizzen rigging of +the <i>Hornet</i> on the starboard quarter. This gave the enemy the +opportunity he seemed to be seeking, but his boarders did not appear.</p> + +<p>The American sailors begged permission of Cap<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 138]<a name="Page_138" id="Page_138"></a></span>tain Biddle to board, but +he would not consent, since he wished to hold the advantage already +gained. Just then the heaving sea broke the vessels apart, the <i>Penguin</i> +receiving considerable damage from the forcible rupture. The <i>Hornet</i> +wore round to bring her broadside to bear, and was on the point of +opening fire, when the surviving officer of the <i>Penguin</i> called out +that they surrendered. His condition was so hopeless that no choice was +left to him.</p> + +<p>Captain Biddle ordered his men to stop firing, and, stepping to the +taffrail, asked his enemy if they had struck. The answer was two musket +shots, one aimed at the man at the wheel and the other at Biddle. The +latter was hit on the chin and badly, though not dangerously, wounded, +while the man at the wheel was not struck. The men who fired the +treacherous shots were seen by two American marines, who shot them dead.</p> + +<p>No doubt the action of the Englishmen was unauthorized, and probably was +due to a misunderstanding; but the Americans were so incensed that it +was difficult to restrain them from continuing the firing. The enemy +hailed a second time and called out they had surrendered.</p> + +<p>The strength of the <i>Hornet</i> was 20 guns and 132 men; of the <i>Penguin</i>, +19 guns and 128 men. The <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 139]<a name="Page_139" id="Page_139"></a></span><i>Hornet</i> had 1 man killed and 11 wounded; the +<i>Penguin</i>, 10 killed and 28 wounded. She was so badly shattered that, +after taking out her stores, her captors scuttled her.</p> + +<p>In order to complete our history of the gallant Captain James Biddle it +is necessary to carry the record in advance of some of the incidents +that follow.</p> + +<p>As has been stated, the <i>Peacock</i> and the <i>Hornet</i> had gone to Tristan +d'Acunha in obedience to the orders of Commodore Decatur, to wait for +him and the <i>President</i>, but the latter never arrived, for the good +reason that she had been captured by the enemy. Growing tired of +waiting, Biddle and Captain Warrington, of the <i>Peacock</i>, started on an +extended cruise, April 13, for the East Indies.</p> + +<p>Doubling the Cape of Good Hope, they met with no incident of note until +the latter part of April, when they sighted a large sail, which they +believed to be a heavily laden East India merchantman. A chase +immediately began. It continued a long time, and the <i>Peacock</i> was +within a few miles, when she made the discovery that the stranger, +instead of being a merchantman, was a ship of the line. Captain +Warrington signalled the startling fact to Biddle, and the two turned to +escape. Since the formidable <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 140]<a name="Page_140" id="Page_140"></a></span>vessel could not pursue both when they +took different directions, she selected the <i>Hornet</i> for her prize.</p> + +<p>All that Biddle could now hope to do was to out-sail his pursuer. He put +forth every effort known to the most skilful seamanship. When night +closed in, however, the pursuer had perceptibly gained. Since the +weather was perfectly clear and the two were in plain sight of each +other, the enemy could keep up the chase all night. Captain Biddle threw +overboard some of his heavy spars, cut away the sheet anchor and flung +several tons of kentledge into the sea.</p> + +<p>This helped matters somewhat, but the stranger continued slowly to gain, +and secured such a position that Captain Biddle was obliged to go about. +Still he could not shake off the bulldog at his heels, and at daylight +he was near enough to begin barking with the bow guns. Although the shot +did not strike the <i>Hornet</i>, Captain Biddle dropped his remaining +anchors into the sea, including six guns, launch, cables, and everything +not absolutely necessary.</p> + +<p>The lightening was so considerable that for the first time the <i>Hornet</i> +began drawing away from her persistent pursuer. At the end of a few +hours, however, he began creeping up again, and Captain Biddle tumbled +overboard all his guns except one, most <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 141]<a name="Page_141" id="Page_141"></a></span>of his shot, his extra spars, +cutlasses, muskets, forge and bell, and indeed everything of which he +could free himself. Not only that, but the men lay down on the quarter +deck to help trim the ship.</p> + +<p>All in vain. The shot and shell whistled about the <i>Hornet</i>, the enemy +came closer, and every American prepared to submit as gracefully as +possible to the inevitable. Captain Biddle addressed his men feelingly, +telling them to show the same restraint in misfortune that they had in +victory, and then the gallant officer coolly awaited the moment when he +should be obliged to haul down his flag to save the lives of his brave +crew.</p> + +<p>But lo! the wind changed to a quarter favorable to the <i>Hornet</i>, and it +lasted throughout the night and the next day. The <i>Hornet</i> drew steadily +away from the British ship of the line <i>Cornwallis</i>, as she proved to +be, and made her way at a leisurely speed to the United States.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 142]<a name="Page_142" id="Page_142"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>Captains Carden and Decatur—Cruise of the <i>Macedonian</i>—Battle with the +Frigate <i>United States</i>—Decatur's Chivalry.</h3> + + +<p>Before the war broke out between England and the United States the naval +officers naturally were on the best of terms with one another. They +exchanged visits, had dinners together and talked in the most friendly +terms over the relations of their respective countries. Brave men always +feel thus, and no matter how fiercely they have been fighting, they +become friends again as soon as peace is declared.</p> + +<p>You have already been told considerable about Stephen Decatur, one of +the bravest and most chivalrous men that ever drew a sword. At the +breaking out of the War of 1812 he was given command of the frigate +<i>United States</i>, of 44 guns, built in 1798, and one of the finest in the +American navy. While lying at Norfolk, some months before war was +declared, the British frigate <i>Macedonian</i>, of about the same strength, +was in port, and the officers and crews became well acquainted.</p> + +<p>The commander of the <i>Macedonian</i> was Captain John Surman Carden, one of +the finest officers in the <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 143]<a name="Page_143" id="Page_143"></a></span>British service. He and Decatur became fond +of each other and often discussed the probable results of the impending +naval contests, for it was apparent to both that their countries were on +the brink of war. Captain Carden conceded the bravery and skill of the +American officers and seamen, but insisted that they would be at a +disadvantage, because they had not met with the experience of the +Englishmen, who had been engaged in so many wars with European nations.</p> + +<p>The <i>Macedonian</i> was made of oak and was without a superior in the +British navy. In the latter part of September, 1812, she left +Portsmouth, England. She was just off the docks and her crew, 297 in +number, were such as the best officer would have been proud to command. +The discipline was as near perfection as possible, Captain Carden being +one of the severest of disciplinarians. His business was to look out for +French merchantmen and warships, though as it was known that war had +been declared with the United States, it was deemed probable that +Captain Carden would have a chance of testing the mettle of her naval +officers and crews.</p> + +<p>There were two American vessels that Captain Carden was specially +anxious to meet. One was the <i>Essex</i>, which was playing havoc among the +English shipping (and of which I shall tell you something <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 144]<a name="Page_144" id="Page_144"></a></span>later on), +and the other that of Captain Stephen Decatur, the courteous but brave +naval officer who had displayed so much intrepidity in the war with +Tripoli and had insisted to Carden that the American sailors were the +match of the English anywhere.</p> + +<p>While at Madeira Captain Carden learned that the <i>Essex</i> had sailed from +the Delaware and was expected to cruise in the neighborhood of the +Canary Islands. The Englishman turned southward and was within a few +days' sail of the islands when, on the 25th of October, the man at the +masthead reported a sail. As it approached it was carefully scrutinized +and found to be a frigate bearing down on the <i>Macedonian</i>.</p> + +<p>Convinced that she was an enemy, Captain Carden at once issued the +command to clear for action. The most thorough preparations were made +and officers were stationed with orders to shoot down the first man who +flinched from his duty. On board the ship were a number of American +seamen, who began speculating among themselves as to whether the +approaching frigate was a Frenchman or belonged to their own country. +They were in a trying position, for they were patriotic and would have +given anything in the world to escape firing upon their countrymen, but +there was no help for it. Such a rigid disciplinarian as Captain Carden +would listen to no <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 145]<a name="Page_145" id="Page_145"></a></span>protests from them, and, should the stranger prove +to be an American, it would be a choice between helping to fight her or +being shot down by their own officers.</p> + +<p>The approaching frigate went through a number of evolutions of such a +rapid and brilliant nature that the Englishmen murmured their +admiration. Through their glasses the officers could see groups of men +on the quarter deck scanning them closely, while glimpses of sailors +were caught as they moved about the deck and of the gun crews standing +quietly at their stations. Then, when there was a change of direction, +parties of marines were observed in her tops, muskets in hand, coolly +awaiting the time when the ships would engage at close quarters.</p> + +<p>While Captain Carden and his officers were in doubt whether the ship was +a French one she gave her colors to the breeze. They were the Stars and +Stripes of the American Republic. One of the finest of its frigates had +thrown down the gage of battle to as superb a frigate as belonged to the +British navy.</p> + +<p>Since all doubt of her nationality was dispelled, one of the American +seamen walked resolutely to Captain Carden, saluted and told him that he +and his companions had no wish to fight the flag of their country. In +reply the officer ordered him back to his station and with notice that +if the request was re<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 146]<a name="Page_146" id="Page_146"></a></span>peated he would be shot. Sad to say, the sailor +who made his wish known was one of the first killed in battle.</p> + +<p>The two ships now began exchanging shots, but the distance was too great +for any damage on either side. A little after 9 o'clock on that bright +sunshiny Sunday morning they were close enough for the wonderful +marksmanship of the American to display itself. The first shot that +found the <i>Macedonian</i> entered through the starboard bulwark and killed +the sergeant of marines. A minute later the mizzen topmast was sundered, +and, cluttered with sails, yards and rigging, it fell into the maintop, +where it hung suspended, liable to fall at any moment and crush those +beneath.</p> + +<p>The fire of the American became frightfully destructive. It seemed as if +every shot splintered some part of the rigging or hull and killed and +wounded men right and left. The exasperating feature of this awful +business was that neither Captain Carden nor his aids, who were +directing operations from the quarter deck, could discover any +corresponding damage on the American ship. Her mizzen topgallant mast +had been carried away, but it looked as if all the other shots sent in +her direction sped past without harm. She was wrapped in an immense +volume of <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 147]<a name="Page_147" id="Page_147"></a></span>smoke made by her own broadsides, and through it constantly +shot tongues of crimson flame, while the roar of the rapidly discharged +guns was incessant.</p> + +<p>Now and then a rift appeared in the billows of vapor, through which the +Stars and Stripes were seen fluttering, while the men worked as coolly +at their guns as if going through manœuvres in time of peace. Finally +the smoke became so dense that the Americans were unable to see through +it. Ceasing firing for a few minutes, the frigate moved far enough +forward to pass from under the impenetrable blanket of vapor and then +renewed the battle with more terrific effect than before. Her firing was +so rapid that several times Captain Carden believed the incessant flame +indicated she was on fire. The report was spread among his men to +encourage them, but no such good fortune came to the Englishmen.</p> + +<p>One of the men on board the <i>Macedonian</i> gave the following graphic +account of his experience:</p> + +<p>"Our men kept cheering with all their might. I cheered with them, though +I confess I scarcely knew what for. Certainly there was nothing very +inspiriting in the aspect of things. Grape shot and canister were +pouring through our portholes like leaden hail. The large shot came +against the ship's side, shaking her to the very keel, and passing +through her timbers <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 148]<a name="Page_148" id="Page_148"></a></span>and scattering terrific splinters, which did more +appalling work than the shot itself. A constant stream of wounded men +were being hurried to the cockpit from all quarters of the ship. My +feelings were pretty much as I suppose every one else felt at such a +time. That men are without thought when they stand among the dying and +dead is too absurd an idea to be entertained. We all appeared cheerful, +but I know that many a serious thought ran through my mind. Still, what +could we do but keep up a semblance at least of animation? To run from +our quarters would have been certain death from the hands of our own +officers; to give way to gloom or show fear would do no good and might +brand us with the name of cowards and insure certain defeat."</p> + +<p>In the desperate hope of warding off defeat, Captain Garden now ordered +his helm aport and directed that boarders be called. The response was +prompt, for the British sailor fights with unsurpassable heroism, but at +the critical moment the forebrace was carried away, the ship was thrown +into the wind and exposed to a raking fire. The American instantly +seized the advantage and swept the decks with murderous destructiveness. +In a brief time the <i>Macedonian</i> was completely disabled. Her rigging +was in tatters and splinters and her hull had been pierced <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 149]<a name="Page_149" id="Page_149"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 150]<a name="Page_150" id="Page_150"></a></span>by more +than a hundred shot, many of which struck between wind and water.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 602px;"> +<img src="images/152.png" width="602" height="400" alt="BATTLE BETWEEN THE "UNITED STATES" AND THE "MACEDONIAN."" title="BATTLE BETWEEN THE "UNITED STATES" AND THE "MACEDONIAN."" /> +<span class="caption">BATTLE BETWEEN THE "UNITED STATES" AND THE "MACEDONIAN."</span> +</div> + +<p>Finally the American ceased firing and drew off to make the few repairs +that were necessary. During the lull Captain Carden called his surviving +officers around him for council. There was indeed but one thing to do, +and it was agreed to surrender. As the American was returning, +therefore, to resume her appalling work the English colors were hauled +down. The victor lay to and lowered a boat, under charge of a +lieutenant, who, as he climbed aboard, gave his name and that of the +American 44-gun frigate as the <i>United States</i>, Captain Stephen Decatur. +The <i>United States</i>, whose crew numbered 478, had 5 killed and 7 +wounded, while the 297 of the <i>Macedonian</i> lost 36 killed and 68 +wounded.</p> + +<p>So it was that the old friends settled the question over which they had +argued many times. When the English officer came aboard of the <i>United +States</i> and offered his sword to Decatur the latter said: "I cannot +receive the sword of a man who has defended his ship with such bravery."</p> + +<p>The chivalrous nature of Decatur was shown in a private letter in which +he wrote: "One-half of the satisfaction arising from this victory is +destroyed in seeing the mortification of poor Carden, who deserved +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 151]<a name="Page_151" id="Page_151"></a></span>success as much as we did who had the good fortune to obtain it." +Everything possible was done to alleviate the sufferings of the +prisoners. The private property of the officers and seamen was returned +or its equivalent in money. In a letter from Captain Carden to Captain +Decatur he expressed his feelings and added: "I have much gratitude to +express to you, my dear sir, for all your kindnesses, and all my +officers feel it equally with myself. If ever we should turn the tables +we will endeavor, if possible, to improve on your unusual goodness."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 152]<a name="Page_152" id="Page_152"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>Occasional American Defeats as Well as Victories—Captain Decatur's +Misfortune—The <i>Chesapeake</i> and <i>Shannon</i>.</h3> + + +<p>You would gain a wrong impression if my account of the leading naval +events in the War of 1812 were made up wholly of American victories. It +was inevitable that our gallant officers and men should meet with some +defeats. In order, therefore, to give as true an idea as possible of +those times I shall devote this chapter to telling about some events +which went the wrong way.</p> + +<p>Enough has been related concerning Stephen Decatur to show that he was +the most prominent of our naval leaders in our last war with Great +Britain. He entered into the work with the same dauntless enthusiasm he +showed whenever it was his privilege to serve his country, and his +capture of the <i>Macedonian</i> was one of the most brilliant exploits of +the many that took place during those memorable years.</p> + +<p>In order to understand my use of the words "captain" and "commodore," it +is necessary to explain that at the time to which I now refer the latter +rank was different from what it is to-day. The commodore of a squadron +was the highest ranking officer and <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 153]<a name="Page_153" id="Page_153"></a></span>he might be lower than a captain. +Thus "Commodore" Perry, who won the remarkable victory on Lake Erie, was +promoted from that rank to "captain."</p> + +<p>Another interesting fact may be named. The Stars and Stripes used in +that war was slightly different in pattern from the present, for, +instead of containing thirteen stripes, as it did at the close of the +Revolution and as it does to-day, it had fifteen. The first law of +Congress bearing on this point was to add a stripe for every new State +admitted to the Union, but after two had come in and others were making +ready it became evident that before long the pattern of the beautiful +emblem would be spoiled if the rule were followed. So the increase in +the number of stripes stopped and remained fifteen for a few years after +the close of the war, even though new States had been admitted. Then the +law was changed so as to provide that the increase of States should be +shown by the stars in the blue field, while the stripes should always +remain thirteen in number, typical of the original colonies of the +Revolution.</p> + +<p>It was decided early in the war to send a squadron consisting of the +<i>President</i>, Captain Stephen Decatur, and the sloops of war <i>Peacock</i>, +Captain Warrington, and <i>Hornet</i>, Lieutenant Biddle, and the storeship +<i>Tom Bowline</i> on a cruise in the Indian <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 154]<a name="Page_154" id="Page_154"></a></span>Ocean. This squadron was to +rendezvous at Tristan d'Acunha, but failed to do so, for a reason that +has been stated in the account of the exploits of the <i>Hornet</i> and +<i>Peacock</i>.</p> + +<p>Captain Decatur lay in the harbor of New York with his vessels and found +himself so closely blockaded by the British squadron that it was +impossible for the Americans to sail in company. He sent out the two +ships named, and, on the night of January 14, 1815, when the blockading +squadron had been driven to the south by a gale, he sailed down the +Narrows, hoping to get to sea before it returned. There was good reason +to expect success, but misfortune speedily came. The beacon lights had +been removed and early in the evening the pilot ran the ship aground +just before reaching Sandy Hook. It required two hours of the hardest +kind of work to get her off. The <i>President</i> was not very seaworthy at +the start, and the efforts to reach deep water so injured her that it +was necessary to return to the city for repairs, but the strong contrary +wind prevented and she was driven over the bar.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the blockading squadron had come back and, early the next +morning, Decatur had four of them in full pursuit. He put on every +stitch of canvas, threw overboard everything that could be spared <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 155]<a name="Page_155" id="Page_155"></a></span>and +wet his sails, but the <i>President</i> was so badly crippled from having run +aground that, despite all that was done, she steadily lost ground. The +<i>Endymion</i> led the pursuers and soon drew up within range, her position +such that Decatur could not reply to the shots which began to injure his +ship and kill and wound his crew.</p> + +<p>He formed a desperate scheme that was characteristic of him. The +<i>Endymion</i> was so far in advance of the other pursuers that there was a +possibility of turning about and capturing her. Then, by transferring +the American crew to her, the worthless <i>President</i> could be abandoned +and swift flight be made in the <i>Endymion</i>, which had already +demonstrated her superior speed.</p> + +<p>The great risk in this attempt (for no one among the Americans doubted +their ability to overcome the other crew) was that before the capture +could be accomplished the other vessels would come up and Decatur be +assailed by an overwhelming force, but he did not hesitate. He explained +his plan to his men and they responded with cheers. No commander was +ever more beloved by his crew than Decatur, and they were ready to +follow him to the death, for he was always their leader and the foremost +in personal danger.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 156]<a name="Page_156" id="Page_156"></a></span>Since every minute was valuable, Decatur put about and made for the +<i>Endymion</i> with the intention of engaging her at close quarters. But the +British vessel suspected his purpose, for she also turned, and, being +much the superior sailer, was able to hold a safe distance between the +two. It was an exasperating disappointment, but Decatur opened with a +heavy fire, hoping to disable his antagonist before the arrival of the +others.</p> + +<p>A furious engagement followed, in which Decatur lost several of his most +valuable officers and was himself painfully wounded by flying splinters. +But the American guns were served with perfect precision and the +<i>Endymion</i> was so broken and shattered by the fire that after two and a +half hours she was incapable of further resistance. She would have +surrendered had the time been sufficient for Decatur to enforce the +demand, but the other blockaders were hurrying up and placed the +American again in grave danger. He crowded on all sail once more, but +the scurrying clouds which gave him a chance of escaping were swept from +the sky and the bright moon revealed him so plainly to his pursuers that +they rapidly overtook the <i>President</i>. A running fight followed, but the +<i>President</i> was overmatched in every respect. In his official report +Decatur said: "Two <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 157]<a name="Page_157" id="Page_157"></a></span>fresh ships of the enemy, the 38-gun frigates +<i>Pomone</i> and <i>Tenedos</i>, had come up. The <i>Pomone</i> had opened fire on the +port bow, within musket shot, the other, about two cables' length +astern, taking a raking position on our quarter, and the rest, with the +exception of the <i>Endymion</i>, within gunshot. Thus situated, with about +one-fifth of my crew killed and wounded, my ship crippled and a more +than fourfold force opposed to me, without a chance of escape, I deemed +it my duty to surrender."</p> + +<p>The British senior officer of the squadron to whom Decatur offered his +sword showed his appreciation of the American's gallantry and of his +chivalrous treatment of Captain Carden, when the situations were +reversed, by handing the weapon back to Decatur with the remark that he +was proud to return the sword of an officer who had defended his ship so +nobly.</p> + +<p>Shortly after this misfortune news reached this country of the signing +of a treaty of peace, though several encounters took place on the ocean +before the tidings could reach the various ships.</p> + +<p>Turning back to the earlier part of the war, mention must be made of +another American hero, James Lawrence, who was born in Burlington, N.J., +in 1781 and was active in the war with Tripoli. He <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 158]<a name="Page_158" id="Page_158"></a></span>was commander of the +<i>Hornet</i> when she captured the <i>Peacock</i> in an engagement which lasted +only fifteen minutes, with the loss of one American killed and two +wounded. He was given the command of the frigate <i>Chesapeake</i>, which was +repairing in Boston harbor. The ship had gained the reputation of being +unlucky, and, having already passed through several accidents, Lawrence +assumed command with extreme reluctance.</p> + +<p>Among the blockading vessels of the enemy outside of Boston was the +<i>Shannon</i>, commanded by Captain Philip Bowes Vere Broke. She was one of +the most efficient ships in the British navy, carried 38 guns and had a +crew of 330 men, all well disciplined and skilled in firing guns and in +fighting, while Broke himself probably had no superior as an officer. +That he was brave was proven not only by his sending a challenge to +Lawrence, inviting him to come out and fight him, but by his conduct +during the battle.</p> + +<p>Captain Lawrence sailed out of Boston harbor before Broke's challenge +reached him. He had learned that a single frigate had presumed to +blockade the port, and, having been ordered to sail as soon as possible, +he made unwise haste in venturing to give the <i>Shannon</i> battle, even +though one cause was the wish to leave the port before other blockaders +appeared.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 159]<a name="Page_159" id="Page_159"></a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 320px;"> +<img src="images/162.png" width="320" height="400" alt="CAPTAIN JAMES LAWRENCE." title="CAPTAIN JAMES LAWRENCE." /> +<span class="caption">CAPTAIN JAMES LAWRENCE.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 160]<a name="Page_160" id="Page_160"></a></span>The crew of the <i>Chesapeake</i> was inferior in every respect to that of +the enemy, except that it contained ten more men. The majority had been +newly enlisted and contained many foreigners, landsmen, and +objectionable sailors. They were not only unaccustomed to the +ship—though they knew of its reputation as an unlucky one—but were +unacquainted with one another and nearly all were strangers to the +officers. The best of these were absent from illness and other causes. +Worse than all, many were in a maudlin state of drunkenness when the +<i>Chesapeake</i> started out with flags flying to engage the well-manned +<i>Shannon</i>.</p> + +<p>On the way down the bay some of the <i>Chesapeake's</i> crew impudently +notified Lawrence that they would not fight unless they received the +prize money earned a short time before. It was a humiliating situation +for the young commander, but he was virtually in the face of the enemy +and he issued prize checks to the malcontents. Well aware of the +character of the foe he was about to encounter, he must have looked upon +the meeting with foreboding. Maclay uses these impressive words:</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 577px;"> +<img src="images/164.png" width="577" height="400" alt="THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE "CHESAPEAKE" AND THE "SHANNON."" title="THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE "CHESAPEAKE" AND THE "SHANNON."" /> +<span class="caption">THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE "CHESAPEAKE" AND THE "SHANNON."</span> +</div> + +<p>"The calm deliberation with which the American and English commanders +went out to seek each other's life and the earnestness with which they +urged their <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 161]<a name="Page_161" id="Page_161"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 162]<a name="Page_162" id="Page_162"></a></span>officers and men to steep their hands in the blood of +their fellow beings form one of the sombre pictures of naval history. +Lawrence was the youngest son of John Lawrence, Esquire, +counselor-at-law at Burlington, N.J., and was the second in command at +the celebrated capture of the <i>Philadelphia</i> in the harbor of Tripoli. +Broke was the descendant of an ancient family which had lived in Broke +Hall, England, over three hundred and fifty years and for four hundred +years at Leighton. Both were men in the prime of manhood, Lawrence in +his thirty-second year and Broke in his thirty-seventh. Both were models +of chivalry and manly grace; both were held in the highest estimation in +their profession. Lawrence had just taken an affectionate farewell of +his two sons and an hour later was urging his men to "<i>Peacock</i> them! +<i>Peacock</i> them!" Broke a short time before had committed his wife to +God's mercy and soon afterward was urging his crew to 'Kill the men! +kill the men!' Both were men of the kindliest feelings and most tender +affections; both acknowledged the justice of the cause for which the +Americans were contending, yet with steady determination they went out +at the head of their ships' companies to take each other's life. A few +hours afterward, when Captain Broke fell on the <i>Chesapeake's</i> decks +fainting and <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 163]<a name="Page_163" id="Page_163"> +</a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 164]<a name="Page_164" id="Page_164"></a> +</span>covered with his own blood, his lieutenants, on loosening +his clothes, found a small blue silk case suspended around his neck. It +contained a lock of his wife's hair."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 572px;"> +<img src="images/166.png" width="572" height="400" alt="DEATH OF CAPTAIN LAWRENCE." title="DEATH OF CAPTAIN LAWRENCE" /> +<span class="caption">DEATH OF CAPTAIN LAWRENCE.</span> +</div> + +<p>Lawrence, in accordance with his chivalrous nature, disdained to seek +any unfair advantage, his purpose being to engage in what is called a +fair yardarm and yardarm fight. It was toward the close of the first day +of summer, with thousands crowding the hills and points of advantage and +peering at the ships through glasses, that the battle opened by the fire +of the <i>Shannon</i>. Great damage was inflicted and much execution done by +the return broadside of the <i>Chesapeake</i>. The first fire severely +wounded Lawrence in the leg, but he refused to go below. Then the firing +became so close and rapid that half the American officers were killed or +wounded. The most frightful confusion that can be imagined followed. +When Lawrence formed his men to board after the two vessels had fouled +the bugler could not be found, whereupon Captain Broke led his own men +upon the deck of the <i>Chesapeake</i>.</p> + +<p>It was at this critical moment that Lawrence was fatally wounded and +carried below. He kept calling out his commands while in the cockpit to +fight harder and to keep the guns going. His last words, often +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 165]<a name="Page_165" id="Page_165"></a></span><span class='pagenum'> +[Pg 166]<a name="Page_166" id="Page_166"></a></span>repeated in his delirium, were +"<i>Don't give up the ship!</i>" and they +formed the motto of the American navy for many years afterward.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 549px;"> +<img src="images/168.png" width="549" height="400" alt="THE OFFICERS OF THE "CHESAPEAKE" OFFERING THEIR SWORDS." title="THE OFFICERS OF THE "CHESAPEAKE" OFFERING THEIR SWORDS." /> +<span class="caption">THE OFFICERS OF THE "CHESAPEAKE" OFFERING THEIR SWORDS.</span> +</div> + +<p>In the wild, savage fighting, where everything was so mixed that an +American lieutenant joined the British boarders under the impression +that they were his own men, Captain Broke was fearfully wounded, though +he afterward recovered. The <i>Chesapeake</i>, with a loss of 47 killed and +99 wounded to 24 killed and 59 wounded of the enemy, became the prize of +the <i>Shannon</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 167]<a name="Page_167" id="Page_167"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>David Porter—A Clever Feat—Numerous Captures by the <i>Essex</i>—Her +Remarkable Cruise in the Pacific—Her Final Capture.</h3> + + +<p>David Porter was born in 1780 and died in 1842. He came from a seafaring +family, and, entering the navy at an early age, did gallant service in +the war with France and Tripoli. He was the father of David Dixon +Porter, who, on account of his brilliant record in the war for the +Union, was made vice-admiral in 1866 and admiral in 1870.</p> + +<p>The elder Porter was appointed captain of the <i>Essex</i> at the beginning +of the War of 1812, and, leaving New York, started on a cruise after the +British 36-gun <i>Thetis</i>, which was on her way to South America with a +large amount of specie aboard. She took several unimportant prizes, and, +failing to meet the <i>Thetis</i>, turned northward and on the night of July +10, 1812, sighted a fleet of merchantmen.</p> + +<p>The night was cloudy and dark and Porter with a great deal of cleverness +pushed his way among the vessels without his identity being suspected. +He had drawn in his guns, hidden most of his men and done all he could +to give the <i>Essex</i> the appearance of <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 168]<a name="Page_168" id="Page_168"></a></span>being an inoffensive merchantman. +His object was to learn whether the escort was too powerful to be +attacked. He opened conversation with the captain of one of the vessels, +who, unsuspicious of his identity, informed him that the fleet was +carrying a thousand soldiers from Barbados to Quebec, and that the +convoying vessel was the <i>Minerva</i>, a 32-gun frigate. In addition, +several of the merchantmen were heavily armed.</p> + +<p>Captain Porter's next act was still more audacious. He glided forward +among the fleet and hailed the captain of a second vessel, but the +latter became suspicious, and was on the point of signalling to the +escort the appearance of a stranger among them, when Porter thrust out +the muzzles of twenty cannon and warned him that if he failed to keep +perfect silence and follow in his wake he would blow him out of the +water. The English captain obeyed, and Porter extricated his prize with +such astonishing skill that not a vessel took the alarm. When a safe +point was reached, Porter found that his prize was a brig with about two +hundred British soldiers on board.</p> + +<p>Having succeeded so well, Porter again returned to the fleet for another +capture. But by this time day was breaking and the character of his +vessel was discovered. It being useless to attempt further dis<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 169]<a name="Page_169" id="Page_169"></a></span>guise, he +cleared for action and offered the <i>Minerva</i> battle. The captain, +however, deemed it his duty to remain with his convoy, and continued his +course to Quebec, while Porter headed southward, afterward restoring his +prize to its owners for a liberal ransom.</p> + +<p>Captain Porter had become so clever in disguising his vessel as a +merchantman that some days later he lured the British 16-gun ship-sloop +<i>Alert</i> to attack him. In the space of eight minutes the <i>Alert</i> was so +helplessly crippled that her captain surrendered. The <i>Essex</i> did not +suffer the slightest injury and no men were killed on either vessel.</p> + +<p>The <i>Essex</i> had now five hundred prisoners aboard, and they formed an +element of serious danger, for they began plotting among themselves to +capture the ship from the Americans and turn her over to the enemy. +Captain Porter was a severe disciplinarian, and one of his practices was +to have the alarm of fire sounded at all hours of the day or night, that +his crew might be taught the successful way of fighting the ever-present +danger. To make such training perfect, he occasionally started a fire in +the hatches.</p> + +<p>The leader in the conspiracy to seize the ship fixed upon a night to +make the attempt, and his friends were on the alert to join him the +moment he gave <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 170]<a name="Page_170" id="Page_170"> +</a></span>the signal. In one of the hammocks was sleeping a +midshipmite only eleven years old, but, young as he was, he was a hero. +Pistol in hand, the plotter tiptoed up beside the hammock to learn +whether the boy was asleep. The little fellow was never wider awake in +his life; but he kept his eyes closed and breathed regularly, so as to +deceive the scoundrel, who slipped away to lead his companions in their +murderous uprising.</p> + +<p>The instant the man disappeared the boy midshipman sprang out of his +hammock, crept to the cabin and told Captain Porter what he had seen. +That officer ran into the berth deck and loudly shouted "<i>Fire</i>!" The +finely disciplined crew promptly answered the call, and going to the +main hatch, were speedily armed and received their orders from Captain +Porter. The plotters were overawed and the rebellion nipped in the bud.</p> + +<p>Thus the <i>Essex</i> was saved by the wits of a boy only eleven years old. +The name of that boy was David Glasgow Farragut, and he became the +greatest naval officer of the American navy. Of course I shall have more +to tell you about him later on.</p> + +<p>Determined to rid himself of the dangerous prisoners, Captain Porter +placed them on board the <i>Alert</i> and sent them to Nova Scotia on parole. +In a cruise <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 171]<a name="Page_171" id="Page_171"></a></span>of sixty days he made nine captures, recaptured five +privateers and merchantmen, and arrived in the Delaware early in +September.</p> + +<p>He sailed again in the latter part of October with the smallest frigate +in the navy, but with a full complement of officers and men. Among the +former, it need hardly be said, was young Midshipman Farragut. The first +port at which he stopped was Port Praya, where the Portuguese governor +showed them much courtesy. In December the <i>Essex</i> crossed the equator, +and soon after overhauled a British brig of war, which strained every +effort to escape. The two manœuvred for position, but the <i>Essex</i> +proved her superiority, and, after a volley of musketry, which killed +one man, the <i>Nocton</i>, as she proved to be, hauled down her flag. She +carried only 10 guns and 31 men, but had $50,000 in specie on board. +Captain Porter placed an officer and crew in charge of the prize, with +instructions to make the nearest American port. While striving to do so +he was captured by the British frigate <i>Belvidera</i>.</p> + +<p>Captain Porter's instructions were to meet the <i>Constitution</i> and +<i>Hornet</i>, which were cruising in that part of the world. He made +continued efforts to do so, and frequently got on their track, but +finally had to give it up. Then Captain Porter formed the bold <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 172]<a name="Page_172" id="Page_172"></a></span>plan of +doubling Cape Horn and entering the Pacific ocean.</p> + +<p>This venture was more dangerous than would be supposed, for all the +South American countries on that side of the continent were dominated by +Great Britain, and in entering the vast expanse the American knew he +would meet plenty of enemies and not a solitary friend. Like an army +when it invades a country, however, he determined to live off the enemy. +He knew that scores of English vessels were in the Pacific, and all +Porter had to do was to capture them. He had had sufficient experience +at that sort of work to give him confidence, and he liked the business.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, it was the most dangerous season of the year for doubling +the Horn, which is always attended with peril. The <i>Essex</i> was caught in +a tempest that lasted for three days, and was so terrific that the +stoutest hearted sailors quailed. The escape of the gallant little ship +could not have been narrower, and she suffered great damage, but finally +the dreaded extremity of South America was weathered, and in the +beginning of March, 1813, the <i>Essex</i> sailed into the calmer water of +the Pacific, where no armed American vessel had ever before penetrated.</p> + +<p>The first halt was made off the island of Mocha, where a hunting party +secured a number of hogs, <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 173]<a name="Page_173" id="Page_173"></a></span>which were salted down for future use. +Captain Porter wished to keep secret his presence in that part of the +world until after he had secured a number of prizes, but the condition +of his vessel compelled him to put into Valparaiso, where he learned +that Chili had begun her war of independence against Spain.</p> + +<p>A sail which was sighted displayed the Spanish colors, and, believing +her to be one of the vessels that had been preying upon American +commerce in the Pacific, Captain Porter hoisted the British flag. The +stranger approached and sent an armed boat to the <i>Essex</i>. It was +immediately sent back with orders for the Peruvian cruiser to come under +the lee of the <i>Essex</i>. This was done, and she was compelled to strike. +Upon the demand of Porter, her captain gave a list of all the vessels, +so far as he could remember, that were cruising in the Pacific. Then the +arms, ammunition and spars of the captive were thrown overboard and she +was allowed to go.</p> + +<p>From that time forward the captures made by the <i>Essex</i> were so numerous +that the full story would be monotonous. The swiftest and best of the +captured cruisers were fitted out with crews and added to the American +vessel, until Captain Porter had under his command seven ships, carrying +80 guns and 340 men, in addition to nearly a hundred prisoners. Still +more <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 174]<a name="Page_174" id="Page_174"></a></span>were added, and the cruise of the <i>Essex</i> and her companions in +that part of the world became very much like a picnic.</p> + +<p>A number of powerful British frigates were searching for the <i>Essex</i>, +which had wrought such prodigious mischief. Porter sailed for the +Marquesas Islands, reaching them in the latter part of October. There he +landed, built a fort and made the repairs of which his vessel stood in +sore need.</p> + +<p>The work accomplished by Captain Porter was almost beyond computation. +He literally destroyed English commerce in the Pacific, for none of the +vessels not captured dared leave port, and the American merchant ships +were protected. The play being over, he craved more serious business. He +therefore set out to hunt up some of the British cruisers that were +trying to hunt him up.</p> + +<p>In February, 1814, the <i>Essex</i> and the <i>Essex Junior</i>, as one of the +newly manned prizes had been christened, entered Valparaiso, where they +learned that the 36-gun frigate <i>Phoebe</i> was in the neighborhood +searching for them. Captain Porter gave a reception to the officials of +Valparaiso, and the next morning, while half of the crew were ashore, +the <i>Essex Junior</i> signalled from the offing that two British frigates +were in sight. They came into port, the <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 175]<a name="Page_175" id="Page_175"></a></span>captain of the <i>Phoebe</i> +exchanging, compliments with Porter, they being old acquaintances; but, +all the same, each was distrustful of the other, and both maintained +what may be termed a position of armed neutrality.</p> + +<p>For six weeks the two frigates blockaded Porter. Learning then that +other ships were expected, Porter determined to get to sea. In the +attempt, his vessel was completely disabled by a storm. Despite the +neutrality of the port, the two British frigates attacked him, keeping +beyond range of the <i>Essex's</i> short guns and thus rendering her +perfectly powerless to help herself. The <i>Essex</i> was pounded at long +range until 58 of her men were killed and 66 wounded, when, to save her +officers and crew from annihilation, she surrendered.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 176]<a name="Page_176" id="Page_176"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>Oliver Hazard Perry—Prompt and Effective Work—"We Have Met the Enemy +and They Are Ours"—Death of Perry.</h3> + + +<p>Oliver Hazard Perry was born in Rhode Island in 1785, and entered the +American navy as midshipman when fourteen years old, under his father, +Captain Christopher Raymond Perry, who commanded the 28-gun ship +<i>General Greene</i>, which did good service in the war against France. The +son also served on the <i>Constellation</i> in the Tripolitan war, and +afterward gave his attention to ordnance.</p> + +<p>The surrender of Detroit by General William Hull at the opening of the +war gave the British control of the Territory of Michigan and Lake Erie. +They had formed the formidable plan of extending the Dominion of Canada +along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to the Gulf of Mexico, thus +inserting an immense wedge between the United States and the great West, +which has since become so important a part of our country. The only way +of blocking this far-reaching and dangerous scheme was for the Americans +to regain control of Lake Erie, and to young Perry was assigned the +seemingly almost impossible task.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 177]<a name="Page_177" id="Page_177"></a></span>At the little town of Erie, Perry began the construction of his fleet, +and pushed it with such vigor, in the face of every sort of obstacle, +that early in July, 1813, he had ten vessels ready for sea, but only +enough men to man one of them. The end of the month made the total three +hundred, but he determined to get to sea on the first opportunity. +Outside was a powerful blockading squadron, and the water in the lake +was so low that it was not until the 4th of August that he was able to +get all his vessels over the bar. They comprised the <i>Scorpion</i>, +<i>Ariel</i>, <i>Lawrence</i> (flagship), <i>Caledonia</i>, <i>Niagara</i>, <i>Somers</i>, +<i>Porcupine</i>, <i>Tigress</i> and <i>Trippe</i>. The total guns carried were 54, +with a force of 490 men.</p> + +<p>The British squadron consisted of six vessels, with an aggregate of 63 +guns and 502 men. They were under the command of Commander Robert H. +Barclay, who had fought under Nelson at Trafalgar, and in another battle +lost an arm. It was less than three months before that the dying +Lawrence had uttered the appeal, "Don't give up the ship!" and Perry +hoisted a flag with the words displayed in large letters. As it floated +in the breeze from his vessel it was received with enthusiastic cheers.</p> + +<p>It was on the 10th of September, 1814, that the two squadrons met at the +western end of Lake Erie. <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 178]<a name="Page_178" id="Page_178"></a></span>When a mile apart, the <i>Detroit</i>, the British +flagship, fired a shot to test the distance. It ricochetted past the +<i>Lawrence</i>. A few minutes later she fired a second shot, which smashed +into the starboard bulwarks of the <i>Lawrence</i> and sent a cloud of +splinters flying. The reply to these was a 32-pounder from the +<i>Scorpion</i>. Then the firing became more rapid, the enemy possessing the +advantage at long range.</p> + +<p>Most of the shots from the British vessels were directed against Perry's +flagship, which suffered considerably. He therefore made sail to get to +close quarters. His ship and the <i>Scorpion</i> and <i>Ariel</i> drew +considerably ahead of the rest of the fleet. As a consequence they +received the main fire of the enemy, which soon became concentrated on +the <i>Lawrence</i>, that was gallantly fighting against overwhelming odds. +Moreover, she was at a hopeless disadvantage with her short guns, and +soon became a wreck, with a large number of her men killed or wounded.</p> + +<p>Gradually the boats drifted nearer and the Americans were able to make +use of their short guns and small arms. Perry's clothing was torn by +splinters and two musket balls passed through his hat. The battle +continued for more than two hours with the utmost desperation, during +which the scenes on the <i>Lawrence</i> were too frightful to be described. +Finally <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 179]<a name="Page_179" id="Page_179"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 180]<a name="Page_180" id="Page_180"></a></span>the wrecked flagship began drifting helplessly out of action, +when Perry determined to transfer his flag to the <i>Niagara</i>.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 598px;"> +<img src="images/182.png" width="598" height="400" alt="COMMODORE PERRY AT THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE." title="COMMODORE PERRY AT THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE." /> +<span class="caption">COMMODORE PERRY AT THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE.</span> +</div> + +<p>With his broad pennant folded over his arm, and accompanied by a younger +brother and four seamen, he stepped into the small boat, which began +pulling in the direction of the <i>Niagara</i>. The thick smoke concealed +them for a time, but it soon lifted, and Barclay aimed a shot at the +boat. He said in his official report that he saw the shot strike the +boat, whereupon Perry took off his coat and plugged the hole with it. +But for the temporary veil the American commander could not have made +half the brief distance between the <i>Lawrence</i> and the <i>Niagara</i>. As it +was, however, he reached the latter without a scratch. He hoisted his +pennant and the flag bearing the immortal words of the gallant Lawrence. +Then an officer was sent in a boat to communicate the orders of the +Commodore to the other vessels. This was hardly done when Perry saw with +the keenest distress the surrender of the <i>Lawrence</i>. Such submission +was inevitable, for almost every man on board was either killed or +wounded and every gun on the engaged side was disabled. The English +crews broke into cheers, believing the battle won, but they could not +take possession of the <i>Lawrence</i>, which drifted out of range.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 181]<a name="Page_181" id="Page_181"></a></span>Captain Barclay now made an attempt to change his line of battle with a +view of bringing his other broadsides into action. The line became +broken and entangled, observing which, Perry took instant advantage of +it. The <i>Niagara</i>, passing through the disorganized squadron, raked the +vessels fore and aft, while the other American vessels promptly +followed, and added to the confusion of the enemy and the dreadful +destruction on board. The Americans were now at close quarters and able +to do their best work, and so dreadful was it that fifteen minutes later +a white handkerchief was waved at the end of a boarding-pike on one of +the boats as a signal of surrender.</p> + +<p>Firing ceased, and in the smoke and confusion two of the enemy's boats +darted away in an attempt to escape; but they were followed and brought +back. Determined to honor the <i>Lawrence</i>, Perry now had himself rowed to +the wreck, drifting some distance away in charge of the few that had +survived the awful conflict. Perry took his position aft and with calm +dignity received the surrender. As the defeated officers approached and +presented their swords in turn, he told each to retain the weapon, +accompanying the remark with words of compliment for the bravery he had +displayed.</p> + +<p>The loss of the Americans was 27 killed and 96 <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 182]<a name="Page_182" id="Page_182"></a></span>wounded, and that of the +British 41 killed and 94 wounded. Perry showed every possible kindness +to the suffering prisoners, who expressed their gratitude. Commander +Barclay displayed conspicuous bravery throughout the battle and was +twice wounded, one of his injuries depriving him of the use of his +single remaining arm.</p> + +<p>From what was stated at the beginning of this chapter, it will be seen +that this battle was one of the most important of the war. Not only was +it a glorious victory of itself, the occasion being the first time in +England's history that she surrendered a whole squadron, but it settled +a much more momentous matter. The British General Proctor was waiting +with his army on the Canadian shore ready to be carried across the lake +by the English fleet, in the event of their being successful, and +pressing his invasion of Ohio, which would have been an almost fatal +blow to our country.</p> + +<p>On the Ohio shore General Harrison was waiting with an American force to +invade Canada, if Perry gained a victory. Hardly had the surrender been +made when the commandant, using his cap for a desk and the back of an +old letter for paper, pencilled the despatch which has become famous: +"We have met the enemy and they are ours—two ships, two <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 183]<a name="Page_183" id="Page_183"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 184]<a name="Page_184" id="Page_184"></a></span>brigs, one +schooner and one sloop," which he sent by messenger to General Harrison.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 596px;"> +<img src="images/186.png" width="596" height="400" alt="THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE." title="THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE." /> +<span class="caption">THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE.</span> +</div> + +<p>In the following month Harrison invaded Canada, with Proctor retreating +before him, and accompanied by the famous Indian, Tecumseh, and several +hundred of his warriors. Proctor halted near the Moravian Towns, where a +battle was fought October 5, in which the British and Indians were +decisively defeated. The Indian confederacy was destroyed and all danger +of the invasion of Ohio ended.</p> + +<p>Master-Commandant Perry's victory caused his promotion to the rank of +captain, and Congress awarded him a gold medal, besides suitably +rewarding his officers and men. After the war he was sent into southern +waters to help suppress piracy, which had become very troublesome. While +engaged on this duty he was seized with yellow fever, and died August +24, 1819, just as his ship reached Port of Spain, Trinidad.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 185]<a name="Page_185" id="Page_185"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>A Hero of the Olden Days—Cruise of the <i>Constitution</i>—Her Capture of +the <i>Cyane</i> and <i>Levant</i>—Reminiscences of Admiral Stewart—His Last +Days.</h3> + + +<p>During the early days of President Lincoln's administration, before the +firing upon Fort Sumter by the Confederates, the all-absorbing question +was as to whether or not the fort should be reinforced by the +Government. A good many opposed, because it was known that the attempt +would bring on a conflict, and, if war was to come, each was anxious +that the other side should strike the first blow.</p> + +<p>It was amid those times of excitement, doubt and trouble that Commodore +Charles Stewart left his modest home near Bordentown, N.J., and went by +train to Washington. From the station he made his way straight to the +White House and sent in his name to President Lincoln. As usual, the +Executive had a swarm of visitors, but he directed the distinguished +caller to be admitted at once. As the tall, sad-faced man rose from his +chair he towered fully two feet above the diminutive form of the naval +officer in his blue swallow-tail, who took the proffered hand, and, +after a few conventional words, looked up and said in his brisk manner:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 186]<a name="Page_186" id="Page_186"></a></span>"Mr. President, I'll reinforce Fort Sumter."</p> + +<p>"You, Commodore! We are just discussing the question."</p> + +<p>"There's no need of discussing it; it must be done! Give me the men and +ships—there won't be many required—and I'll do it."</p> + +<p>The President saw that his caller was in earnest, and he respected him +too highly to indulge in anything like jesting.</p> + +<p>"I am inclined to think as you do, Commodore, but—"</p> + +<p>"But <i>what</i>?" impatiently interrupted the veteran.</p> + +<p>"You have already done so much for your country that it seems only fair +that we should give the younger men a chance."</p> + +<p>"Younger men! What's the matter with me? I'm not old enough yet to need +a cane."</p> + +<p>"I observe that; you are wonderfully spry for one of your years. Let me +see, what <i>is</i> your age?"</p> + +<p>"Not quite eighty-four."</p> + +<p>"Why, you are still a young man; but the trouble is, Commodore, we have +so many that are still younger, that they are plaguing the life out of +me; I don't see how I can refuse them, but I shall be grateful to have +the benefit of your counsel any time you are willing to give it."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 187]<a name="Page_187" id="Page_187"></a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 639px;"> +<img src="images/190.png" width="639" height="400" alt="THE BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER." title="THE BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER." /> +<span class="caption">THE BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 188]<a name="Page_188" id="Page_188"></a></span>"Counsel be hanged! We have had too much <i>talk</i>; it's time for actions, +and I demand that you give me a chance with the rest."</p> + +<p>With that inimitable tact for which President Lincoln was noted, he +succeeded in soothing the ruffled feelings of the Commodore (soon +afterward made an admiral), but the old gentleman was not quite +satisfied, when he bade the President good-by, without having obtained +the opportunity to re-enter the active service of his country.</p> + +<p>This little anecdote, which is authentic, may serve to introduce my last +references to one of the most remarkable naval heroes of our country. If +his fire, vigor and patriotism burned so brightly in 1861, little need +be said in way of explanation of its nature when he was less than forty +years of age.</p> + +<p>Captain Stewart came back from a cruise in the West Indies in the spring +of 1814, and found the <i>Constitution</i>, "Old Ironsides," closely +blockaded by a powerful British squadron. That remarkable frigate had +already won such a reputation that the enemy were determined she should +not get to sea again. They held her locked in the port for months, but +despite their unceasing vigilance, Captain Stewart, who was a consummate +seaman, slipped out in December and sailed away.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 189]<a name="Page_189" id="Page_189"></a></span></p> +<p>He made several captures, and the frigates of the enemy began an +industrious search for him, while all the lesser craft strained every +nerve to keep out of his way. On the 20th of February, 1815, when off +the coast of South America, he gave chase to two of the enemy's vessels, +one of which proved to be the <i>Cyane</i> and the other the <i>Levant</i>. The +two together carried 55 guns and 313 men, while the <i>Constitution</i> had +51 guns and a crew of 456 men. The <i>Cyane</i> was properly a frigate, and +she being at the rear, Stewart opened fire from the long guns of his +port battery. The response from the starboard guns of the enemy was +prompt, and for a time the cannonade was deafening. The <i>Constitution</i> +gave most of her attention to the rear ship. The smoke around the +American becoming so dense as to cloud the vision, Stewart slipped +forward and quickly delivered a double-shotted broadside. Before it +could be repeated the other ship attempted to gain a raking position +across the stern of the <i>Constitution</i>. By a splendid manœuvre, +Stewart defeated the purpose, and, placing himself abreast the rear +ship, delivered another destructive broadside before the more sluggish +enemy comprehended their danger. He maintained his tremendous fire for a +time, when he observed the other ship luffing across his course to +secure a raking posi<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 190]<a name="Page_190" id="Page_190"></a></span>tion, whereupon, with the same unsurpassable +seamanship that he had shown from the first, he crossed the wake of the +foremost ship and obtained a raking position himself. Before the vessel +could extricate itself Stewart raked her twice. Then the second ship +repeated the attempt of its consort, but Stewart not only defeated her, +but again laid the <i>Constitution</i> so as to rake her.</p> + +<p>In the manœuvring the two ships drew up side by side, and, the enemy +opening with the port battery, Stewart replied with his starboard guns. +The fire of the American was so amazingly accurate and effective that in +a short time the enemy hoisted a light and fired a gun in token of +surrender. The battle occurred in the early hours of evening.</p> + +<p>Upon sending an officer to take possession, it was found that the +captured vessel was the English 32-gun frigate <i>Cyane</i>. It took an hour +to transfer and secure the prisoners, when the <i>Constitution</i> started +after the other ship, which was some distance away, engaged in repairing +her rigging. Seeing the American approaching, and not knowing what fate +had befallen her consort, the Englishman gallantly bore down to meet his +formidable enemy. The two vessels passed each other and exchanged +broadsides, but with another display of masterly seamanship Stew<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 191]<a name="Page_191" id="Page_191"></a></span>art, +before the other was aware of her danger, crossed her wake and raked +her.</p> + +<p>This startling experience convinced the Englishman that he had met his +master and he crowded on all sail in the desperate effort to escape. The +<i>Constitution</i> was immediately after her, and by ten o'clock secured a +position from which to deliver another of her terrible broadsides, +seeing which the enemy surrendered. She proved to be the British sloop +of war <i>Levant</i>, of 21 guns.</p> + +<p>In this battle the <i>Constitution</i> had 4 killed and 10 wounded, while on +the <i>Cyane</i> and <i>Levant</i> 35 were killed and 42 wounded. Of all the +battles in which this famous ship was engaged, there was none more +remarkable than this. When Stewart advanced to the attack he believed +both his enemies were frigates. The manner in which he baffled every +effort of the two to rake him, while he repeatedly raked them, was one +of the many proofs that the American navy contained no finer seaman than +he. The grand old <i>Constitution</i> seemed to anticipate every wish of her +commander and responded with a promptness that could not have been +surpassed. The discipline of the crew was perfect, and, after all, +therefore, it is little wonder that one of the last acts of the famous +ship was the most brilliant of them all.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 192]<a name="Page_192" id="Page_192"></a></span>It is stated by Richard Watson Gilder that when Captain Stewart was +talking with the respective captains of the <i>Cyane</i> and <i>Levant</i> in his +own cabin, the two fell into a dispute, each charging the other with +failing to do the right thing during the engagement, and insisting that +if it had been done they would not have been defeated. Stewart sat +amused and interested until he saw they were becoming angry, when he +interfered.</p> + +<p>"Now, gentlemen," said he, "there's no need of your growing warm over +this affair; no matter what evolutions you made, or what you did, the +end would have been the same. If you don't believe it, I will put each +of you back on your ship with the same crews and we'll fight it all over +again."</p> + +<p>Neither of the gentlemen was prepared to accept this proposal, and there +can be no doubt that Captain Stewart was warranted in his declaration, +and his prisoners knew it.</p> + +<p>Stewart started for home with his prizes, and early in March anchored in +Port Praya. While there, three powerful British frigates approached, +which, through a series of singular coincidences, were blockading Boston +at the time the <i>Constitution</i> made her escape some months before. They +were anxious, above everything else, to capture the most dreaded <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 193]<a name="Page_193" id="Page_193"></a></span>ship +in the American navy. Stewart knew that his only chance was to get away +before they shut him in, for the experience of the <i>Essex</i> at Valparaiso +proved that the neutrality of no port would protect an American cruiser.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, he lost no time in getting to sea, leaving with the utmost +haste and signalling to the <i>Cyane</i> and <i>Levant</i> to follow. They obeyed, +and were handled with such skill that all got to sea, with the squadron +in hot pursuit. The chase was continued for a long time, with the +remarkable result that both the <i>Constitution</i> and <i>Cyane</i> safely +reached Boston, while the <i>Levant</i> was recaptured—a small reward for +the exertions of the British squadron.</p> + +<p>Maclay says: "In this brilliant cruise Captain Stewart proved himself an +officer of rare ability. His action with the <i>Cyane</i> and <i>Levant</i>, and +his masterly escape from the British squadron, called for all the +qualities of a great commander, while his unhesitating attack on what +appeared, in the heavy weather, to be two frigates, the beautiful style +in which the <i>Constitution</i> was put through the most difficult +manœuvres, and the neatness with which he captured a superior force, +have ranked him as one of the most remarkable naval officers of his day. +Congress awarded him a sword and gold medal."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 194]<a name="Page_194" id="Page_194"></a></span>It happened one day, when I was talking with Admiral Stewart at his +home, that he showed me a Toledo sword which had been presented to him +by the King of Spain, because of his rescue of a Spanish ship, drifting +helplessly in mid ocean, with the captain and all the crew dead or +prostrated by yellow fever.</p> + +<p>The blade of the weapon, although quite plain and ordinary looking, of +course was very valuable, but the hilt was so rough and crude that I +expressed my surprise.</p> + +<p>"I supposed that when a king makes a present of a sword," I said, "that +the hilt is generally of a more costly pattern than that."</p> + +<p>"So it is," replied Stewart, accepting it from me and playfully making a +few lightning-like passes in the air just to show that he had not +forgotten how to handle the weapon; "that was a very handsome sword when +it came to me, and I could not accept it until authorized by Congress. +During my fight with the <i>Cyane</i> and <i>Levant</i> I was walking back and +forth with this sword under my arm, the hilt slightly projecting in +front of my chest, when a grapeshot slipped it off, as it grazed me. The +hilt which it now has was put there by my gunner."</p> + +<p>"Were you ever wounded in battle?" I asked. <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 195]<a name="Page_195" id="Page_195"></a></span>"I was struck only once, +and it amounted to nothing. It was in the same battle. A pigeon became +so frightened by the smoke and racket that it flew hither and thither, +and finally perched on my shoulder. While there a musket ball struck its +claw at the junction of the toes with the leg, and entered my shoulder. +The resistance it met was so tough that it saved my shoulder from being +shattered; except for that, the hurt must have proved serious, but it +did not bother me at all."</p> + +<p>The Admiral, still loosely holding the weapon in his hand, turned his +faded eyes toward the window and gazed out over the snow. Those eyes +seemed to look backward over the vista of forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, +eighty years, and must have recalled the many stirring scenes in which +he had taken part, as well as the faces of the brave fellows, like +himself, who had gone from earth long ago, leaving him alone. Then the +old veteran, still erect and with the fires of patriotism glowing in his +brave heart, softly murmured:</p> + +<p>"I have been more fortunate than I deserve; strange that I should be the +only one left, but it cannot be for long."</p> + +<p>And yet he lived for seven more years. Then, when a scirrhus cancer +appeared on his tongue, a <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 196]<a name="Page_196" id="Page_196"></a></span>skilful surgeon told him it could be easily +removed and need cause him no trouble.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said the Admiral, who was then past ninety, "I've lived long +enough; let it alone."</p> + +<p>He died a few months later, and, as has been stated, was in his +ninety-second year.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 197]<a name="Page_197" id="Page_197"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>Captures Made After the Signing of the Treaty of Peace—The +Privateers—Exploit of the <i>General Armstrong</i>—Its Far-Reaching Result.</h3> + + + + +<p>The treaty of peace between Great Britain and the United States was +signed December 24, 1814, at the city of Ghent, in Belgium. Had the +submarine telegraph been known at that time, or had we possessed our +ocean greyhounds, a good deal of blood-shed would have been saved, and +the most important victory of the whole war would not have been gained. +General Jackson won his famous triumph at New Orleans—still celebrated +in all parts of the country—January 8, 1815; the <i>President</i> was +captured by a British fleet, January 15; Captain Stewart captured the +<i>Cyane</i> and <i>Levant</i>, February 20; the <i>Hornet</i> took the <i>Penguin</i>, +March 23, and the <i>Peacock</i> captured the <i>Nautilus</i>, in a distant part +of the world, June 30. That was the last of hostilities between the two +countries, and let us pray that it will be the last for all time to +come.</p> + +<p>In the account of the naval exploits of the War of 1812, I have confined +myself to those of the regular cruisers of the United States, but in no +other war <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 198]<a name="Page_198" id="Page_198"></a></span>in which we were engaged did the privateers play so prominent +a part. These vessels were usually schooners or brigs of 200 or 300 +tons, with crews varying from 75 to 100 men. They left all of our +principal ports, many of the swiftest and most effective going from +Baltimore, but twenty-six were fitted out in New York alone in the +summer of 1812. Probably the whole number engaged was about six hundred. +Of the four hundred British prizes captured in the second year of the +war, four-fifths were taken by privateers. A favorite cruising ground +was the West Indies, but some of the vessels ventured across the ocean +and displayed a degree of boldness that recalled the days of Paul Jones. +Among the most famous were the <i>Reindeer</i>, <i>Avon</i> and <i>Blakeley</i>, built +in a few weeks, near Boston, in 1814. They were so large and well +equipped that more than once they attacked and defeated British +warships.</p> + +<p>Some of the privateers which left Charleston, Bristol and Plymouth were +nothing but pilot boats, carrying twenty or thirty men each, who gave +their attention to the West Indies. They were often obliged to deplete +their crews to that extent in order to man their prizes that barely +enough were left to manage their own ships. In those days all, of +course, were sailing vessels, and they carried nothing in the shape <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 199]<a name="Page_199" id="Page_199"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 200]<a name="Page_200" id="Page_200"></a></span>of +armor. Their guns were cannon, loading at the muzzle and firing solid +shot. The most effective of these was the "Long Tom," which was +generally mounted on a pivot forward, and used in firing upon a fleeing +vessel.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/202.png" width="400" height="514" alt="GENERAL ANDREW JACKSON." title="GENERAL ANDREW JACKSON." /> +<span class="caption">GENERAL ANDREW JACKSON.</span> +<h4><i>Afterward President of the United States</i></h4> +</div> + +<p>The most famous achievement was that of the privateer <i>General +Armstrong</i>, which carried nine long guns, the largest being 24-pounders, +or "long nines." She sailed with a large crew, which was depleted to +ninety on account of the number in charge of the prizes captured. Her +commander was Captain Samuel C. Reid, born in Connecticut in 1783, and +died in 1861. It was he who designed the accepted pattern of the United +States flag, with its thirteen stripes and one star for each State. The +fifteen-striped flag, which it has been stated was carried through the +War of 1812, remained the pattern until 1818, when the change referred +to was made.</p> + +<p>While engaged upon one of his successful cruises, Captain Reid put into +the harbor of Fayal, one of the Azores, to provision his ship. He was +thus employed when Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, of England, reached the +same port and on the same errand. He had with him three vessels: the +flagship <i>Plantagenet</i>, 74 guns; the frigate <i>Rotan</i>, 38 guns, and the +brig <i>Carnation</i>, 18 guns. This powerful squadron was <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 201]<a name="Page_201" id="Page_201"></a></span>manned by 2,000 +men, and was on the way to New Orleans with the purpose of occupying the +city.</p> + +<p>When the British admiral discovered the American privateer within the +harbor, he placed his own vessels so as to prevent its escape. Captain +Reid did not think the enemy would attack him, since the harbor was +neutral, but the previous experience of his countrymen warned him that +it was not safe to count upon the British respecting the laws of war +when there was an opportunity to destroy one of the pests of the ocean. +He cleared his decks and made every preparation against attack, and it +was well he did so.</p> + +<p>It was not long before he observed several boats, crowded with men, +leave the <i>Plantagenet</i> and row toward him. This was on the 26th of +September. There being no doubt of their hostile purpose, Captain Reid +several times warned them off, but they paid no attention to him. He +then fired upon the boats, and a number of the crews were killed and +wounded. This was a sort of reception they had not counted upon, and the +boats turned about and hastily rowed back to the flagship.</p> + +<p>"We have got to fight," said Captain Reid to his men; "they will attack +us again to-night, and things will be lively."</p> + +<p>There was no thought of surrender on the part of <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 202]<a name="Page_202" id="Page_202"></a></span>the Americans, though, +as will be noted, they were threatened by a force more than twenty times +as numerous as their own. They sent their valuables ashore and disposed +of everything, as if not a man expected to emerge from the fight alive. +All were cool and confident, and the dauntless courage of the commander +inspired every one around him.</p> + +<p>Night settled over the harbor, and by and by the sounds of oars showed +the enemy were approaching again. Through the gloom seven boats, +containing two hundred men, loomed into view, coming straight for the +<i>General Armstrong</i>. Each carried a carronade, with which they opened +fire on the privateer. The reply of the latter was so well directed and +effective that three of the boats were sunk and their crews left +struggling in the water. The cries that sounded across the harbor left +no doubt of the effect of the fire of the American.</p> + +<p>The four remaining boats were not frightened off, but, rowing with might +and main, reached the side of the vessel and began clambering on board. +They were enraged, and as their heads rose above the gunwales they +shouted, "No quarter!"</p> + +<p>"No quarter!" replied the Americans, discharging their pistols in their +faces and pressing them back into the water with their pikes. The +assailants dis<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 203]<a name="Page_203" id="Page_203"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 204]<a name="Page_204" id="Page_204"></a></span>played great bravery and made desperate efforts to board +the privateer; but the Americans needed not the incentive of the warning +that no quarter would be given to fight with all the vigor and skill at +their command. The struggle was a furious one, but in the end the +British were so decisively defeated that only two of the boats returned +to the ships. The others, filled with dead and wounded, drifted ashore.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 581px;"> +<img src="images/206.png" width="581" height="400" alt="BRITISH ATTACK ON SULLIVAN ISLAND." title="BRITISH ATTACK ON SULLIVAN ISLAND." /> +<span class="caption">BRITISH ATTACK ON SULLIVAN ISLAND.</span> +</div> + +<p>[(<i>Our Last Naval Engagement with England</i>.)]</p> + +<p>In this brief but terrific struggle there were only two Americans killed +and seven wounded, while the enemy acknowledged a loss of thirty-four +killed and eighty-six wounded, the former including the leader of the +expedition.</p> + +<p>Admiral Cochrane was so incensed by the rough treatment his men had +received that he determined to throw neutrality to the winds and destroy +the defiant privateer. Nothing more was attempted that evening, but in +the morning the <i>Carnation</i> advanced to the attack of the <i>General +Armstrong</i>. This gave the latter a chance to bring its Long Tom into +play, and it was served with such unerring accuracy that not a shot +missed. Before the brig could come to close quarters she was so crippled +that she was obliged to withdraw.</p> + +<p>The three ships now closed in. It would have been folly to fight them. +So Captain Reid scuttled his <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 205]<a name="Page_205" id="Page_205"></a></span>ship, lowered his boats and rowed ashore. +The enemy were disposed to follow him thither, but he and his men took +refuge in an old stone fortress and dared the Englishmen to do so. Upon +second thought they decided to leave the Americans to themselves.</p> + +<p>This wonderful exploit was celebrated in song, one stanza of which ended +thus:</p> + + +<p>"From set of sun till rise of morn, through the long September night, +Ninety men against two thousand, and the ninety won the fight;</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 17.5em;">In the harbor of Fayal the Azore."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>While the victory of itself was one of the most remarkable of which +there is any record, it resembled that of Perry on Lake Erie in its +far-reaching consequences. Admiral Cochrane found his ships so crippled +that he returned to England to refit. He then sailed for New Orleans, +which he reached a few days after it had been occupied by General +Jackson. But for the delay caused by his fight with Captain Reid he +would have shut out General Jackson from the city and prevented his +winning the most glorious land victory of the whole war.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 206]<a name="Page_206" id="Page_206"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="LESSER_WARS" id="LESSER_WARS"></a>LESSER WARS</h2> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + + +<h3>Resentment of the Barbary States—The War with Algiers—Captain +Decatur's Vigorous Course—His Astonishing Success as a Diplomat.</h3> + + +<p>It was not alone in our wars with the leading nations that the American +navy won glory. Wherever there arose a demand for its work, its +patriotism, skill and bravery were instant to respond.</p> + +<p>England had its hands full during the early years of the nineteenth +century in combating Napoleon Bonaparte and other nations with which she +became embroiled. Had she been wise and treated the United States with +justice, she would have saved herself the many humiliations received at +our hands. She is another nation to-day, but it was wholly her fault +that her "children" on this side of the ocean were forced to strike for +the defence of their rights in the Revolution and the War of 1812.</p> + +<p>In the account of our war with Tripoli it has been shown that the young +American navy performed bril<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 207]<a name="Page_207" id="Page_207"></a></span>liant service. The Barbary States took +naturally to piracy, and Great Britain, by securing immunity for her +vessels through the payment of tribute, also secured a virtual monopoly +of the commerce of the Mediterranean. Her policy was a selfish one, for +she believed the United States was too weak to send any effective +warships into that part of the world. The story of Tripoli convinced her +of the mistake of this belief.</p> + +<p>The Barbary States were sour over their defeat, and, when the War of +1812 broke out, they eagerly seized the occasion to pick a quarrel with +us. The Dey of Algiers opened the ball by insisting that $27,000 should +be paid him, the same being past due (under the old treaty providing for +tribute from the United States), owing to the difference in the methods +of computing time by the two countries. Since our war with England +prevented the sending of any force to the Mediterranean at that time, +the consul complied and the blackmail was handed to the Dey.</p> + +<p>This concession only whetted the barbarian's appetite, and his next step +was to order the consul to leave the country, since he was not honest +enough to make his residence in the Dey's dominions congenial to the +latter. About that time the Dey received a <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 208]<a name="Page_208" id="Page_208"></a></span>present of valuable naval +stores from England, and he lost no time in sending out his corsairs to +prey upon American commerce.</p> + +<p>Tripoli and Tunis were not so active, but believing the British boast +that they would sweep the American navy from the seas, they allowed the +warships of that nation to recapture several prizes that the American +privateers had sent into their ports. Their sympathies were wholly with +England and against the United States, which they hated with an +intensity natural to their savage nature.</p> + +<p>The United States bided its time. No sooner had the War of 1812 closed +than our Government decided to give its attention to Algiers, whose +defiant Dey had not only refused to allow his American prisoners to be +ransomed, but had insolently declared that he meant to add a good many +more to them.</p> + +<p>Hardly had the treaty with England been proclaimed when two squadrons +were ordered into Algerian waters. The first was under the command of +Captain William Bainbridge and assembled at Boston, and the second, +under Captain Stephen Decatur, was organized at New York. Decatur was +the first to get under way, sailing on May 20 with a squadron consisting +of ten vessels, mounting 210 guns. He had under his direct command +nearly all <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 209]<a name="Page_209" id="Page_209"></a></span>the seamen who had served under him and survived the last +war.</p> + +<p>It may seem that Decatur had an easy task before him, but Maclay shows +that the force against which he sailed was really the stronger. It +consisted of 5 frigates, 6 sloops of war and 1 schooner—all carrying +360 guns, which exceeded those of the American squadron by 50 per cent. +The Algerian admiral was the terror of the Mediterranean. He had risen +from the lowest to the highest rank by his indomitable valor and skill. +He once captured by boarding in broad daylight a Portuguese frigate +within sight of Gibraltar. He had performed other valiant exploits; his +ships were well equipped and manned, and the crews trained in modern +warfare.</p> + +<p>In addition, the city of Algiers was so strongly fortified that Lord +Nelson declared that twenty-five ships of the line would not be more +than enough to capture it. As Decatur drew near the Portugal coast he +made guarded inquiries as to the whereabouts of the Algerian squadron. +He used the utmost care to prevent his presence from becoming known to +the enemy, and finally heard that which led him to believe the Moorish +admiral had passed through the Straits of Gibraltar and entered the +Mediterranean. At Gibraltar Decatur saw several boats hurrying off <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 210]<a name="Page_210" id="Page_210"></a></span>to +Algiers to warn his enemy of his danger. He made sail up the +Mediterranean, hoping to beat the despatch boats. The admiral's flagship +was descried, and, still striving to avert suspicion, the American ships +worked gradually toward him. Before they could get within range the +Moorish admiral took the alarm, and, crowding on every stitch of canvas, +made a resolute effort to escape. He handled his ship with great skill, +and Decatur feared he would succeed in reaching some neutral port or +elude him in the night, which was near at hand.</p> + +<p>A hot chase followed, and the Turks soon opened on the American flagship +and wounded several men, but Decatur reserved his fire until able to +deliver one of his fearful broadsides. A shot literally cut the Moorish +admiral in two. A few minutes later a second broadside was fired, but no +signal of surrender was made, and the men in the tops continued firing +until the American marines picked them off. Seeing there was no escape +for the enemy, and wishing to save the unnecessary shedding of blood, +Decatur took a position off the frigate's bow, whereupon she made a +vigorous effort to escape.</p> + +<p>In doing this, she headed directly for the 18-gun brig <i>Epervier</i>, which +was in danger of being run down; but the plucky master-commandant, John +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 211]<a name="Page_211" id="Page_211"></a></span>Downes, backed and filled away with wonderful skill, chased the flying +frigate, delivered nine diminutive broadsides and compelled the Turk to +strike his colors.</p> + +<p>Upon taking possession of the prize it was found that 30 had been killed +and there were 406 prisoners. On the <i>Guerriere</i> 3 had fallen and 11 +were wounded by the fire of the enemy.</p> + +<p>Believing that the rest of the Algerian squadron would make haste to +their home port, Decatur hastened thither with the view of cutting them +off. If the Dey refused to come to terms, he intended to blockade the +squadron and bombard the city. It was on the 28th of June, 1815, that +the American fleet appeared off Algiers, and the commander signalled a +request for the Swedish consul to come aboard. He came out a few hours +later, accompanied by the Algerian captain of the port. When Decatur +proved by the testimony of one of the native prisoners that their +admiral had been killed and his ship and a second one captured, the +officer was astounded, and so alarmed that he asked the American +commander on what terms he would make peace.</p> + +<p>Decatur was prepared for this question, and produced a letter to the Dey +from the President of the United States, in which it was declared that +the only <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 212]<a name="Page_212" id="Page_212"></a></span>conditions upon which peace could be made was the full and +final relinquishment by Algiers of all claim to tribute in the future, +and the guarantee that American commerce would not be molested. The +captain, like all Orientals, began to quibble to gain time, asking that +the commissioners should land and conduct the negotiations on shore. +Decatur replied that they must be negotiated on board the <i>Guerriere</i> +and nowhere else.</p> + +<p>The next day the Moorish captain returned with full powers to negotiate. +Decatur now notified him that, in addition to the terms already named, +every American prisoner must be given up without ransom, and the value, +to the last penny, of their stolen property restored. Other minor +demands were added, all of which were within the province of Decatur, +who had been clothed with full authority to make peace. The captain +asked for a truce that he might lay the terms before the Dey. This was +denied. Then he asked for a delay of three hours.</p> + +<p>"Not three minutes," replied Decatur; "if the remaining ships of your +squadron appear before the treaty is signed, or before every American +prisoner is on board this ship, I will capture every one of them."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/216.png" width="400" height="535" alt="CAPTAIN BAINBRIDGE AND THE DEY OF ALGIERS." title="CAPTAIN BAINBRIDGE AND THE DEY OF ALGIERS." /> +<span class="caption">CAPTAIN BAINBRIDGE AND THE DEY OF ALGIERS.</span> +</div> + +<p>The Moor was thoroughly cowed by the aggressive <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 213]<a name="Page_213" id="Page_213"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 214]<a name="Page_214" id="Page_214"></a></span>American, and, +promising to do all he could to secure the consent of the Dey, he was +hastily rowed ashore. It was understood that if the Dey agreed to the +terms the captain would return in the boat with a white flag displayed +at the bow.</p> + +<p>He had been gone but a short time when an Algerian ship of war was +discovered, crowded with soldiers and approaching. Decatur instantly +cleared for action, and had started to meet the enemy, when the port +captain was observed approaching as rapidly in his boat as his men could +row, and with the white signal fluttering from the bow. All the +Americans, including Decatur, were disappointed, but as he had promised, +he waited until the boat was within hail. Then he called out to know +whether the treaty was signed. He was told that it was, and in a short +time the prisoners were brought alongside and delivered to their +rescuers. Wan, emaciated and hollow-eyed from their long and bitter +imprisonment, they wept tears of joy and kissed the American flag that, +coming so many thousand miles, had brought them deliverance.</p> + +<p>Thus in two weeks after the arrival of the American squadron in Algerian +waters, every demand of its Government was complied with, and a treaty +of peace made on terms dictated by its gallant and faithful +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 215]<a name="Page_215" id="Page_215"></a></span>representative. It will be admitted that Stephen Decatur proved himself +one of the most successful diplomats as well as intrepid and skilful of +commanders.</p> + +<p>He now proceeded to Tunis and notified the Dey that he would give him +twelve hours in which to pay $46,000 for allowing the seizure of +American prizes in his port during the late war. The Dey paid it. The +next call of the American commander was on the Bashaw of Tripoli, who, +although he blustered a good deal, was compelled to hand over $25,000 +for a similar breach of the law.</p> + +<p>Among the vessels of the American squadron were three—the <i>Guerriere</i>, +<i>Macedonian</i>, and the <i>Peacock</i>—which had been captured from Great +Britain during the late war. This fact gave peculiar point to the +reproof of the Dey's prime minister to the British consul: "You told us +that the Americans should be swept from the seas in six months by your +navy, and now they make war upon us with some of your own vessels which +they took from you."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 216]<a name="Page_216" id="Page_216"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>Piracy in the West Indies—Its Cause—Means by Which It Was Wiped +Out—Piracy in the Mediterranean.</h3> + + +<p>We hear little of pirates in these days, but for ten years or more after +the close of the War of 1812 the West Indies were infested by them. Our +Government saw that in self-defense they must be wiped out, for they +grew bolder with every month and made it unsafe for our commerce in +those waters.</p> + +<p>Where did they come from and what gave rise to the ocean nuisances? +About the time named Spain was the mistress of most of the South +American countries. When she discovered America through Columbus, and +for a long period afterward, she was one of the greatest maritime +nations in the world. Like England at the present time, she had colonies +in all parts of the globe, and had she not been so cruel and unwise in +the treatment of her dependencies, would still have retained a great +deal of her former greatness and power; but she is one of the few +nations that never learn from experience, and a short time after our +second war with Great Britain her South American colonies began +revolting against her, and one by one they gained their independence.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 217]<a name="Page_217" id="Page_217"></a></span>Among the most powerful of the rebelling provinces were Buenos Ayres +and Venezuela; and, taking lesson from the success of our privateers, +they sent out many swift sailing, well-armed vessels to prey upon +Spanish commerce. They did their work so effectively that by and by they +extended their attacks to the vessels of all nations. Nothing being done +for a time to check them, they grew rapidly in numbers and audacity, +until, as has been stated, the West Indies swarmed with the pests. The +men living along the coast found buccaneering so profitable that they +gave up their peaceful pursuits and became free-booters of the sea. Like +the Spaniards themselves, they were ferocious, and generally murdered +the crews of the captured vessels and then divided the plunder among +themselves.</p> + +<p>Seeing that something must be done to check these intolerable outrages, +our Government gave the task, in 1819, to Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero +of Lake Erie. His work was more difficult than would be supposed, for, +in addition to destroying the pirates, he had to avoid offending the +countries named, with whom we wished to maintain friendly relations. +They sent out regular cruisers that had the same right to prey upon +Spanish commerce that our privateers had to attack English ships when we +were at war with <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 218]<a name="Page_218" id="Page_218"></a></span>their country. Some of these cruisers secretly engaged +in piracy; many that flew the black flag, in the presence of those who +could not defend themselves, claimed to be authorized privateers at +other times and carried forged commissions. They were treacherous, cruel +and merciless to the last degree.</p> + +<p>It will be seen, therefore, that the task assigned to Captain Perry +required quick decision, courage and discretion. He possessed all those +qualities in a high degree, and, in the performance of his duty, reached +the mouth of the Orinoco in July, 1815, in command of three powerful +ships. The following extract from his journal will give a vivid idea of +the discomforts which he and his men underwent in the performance of +their work:</p> + +<p>"The sun, as soon as it shows itself in the morning, strikes almost +through you. Mosquitoes, sand flies and gnats cover you, and as the sun +gets up higher it becomes entirely calm and the rays pour down a heat +that is insufferable. The fever that it creates, together with the +irritation caused by the insects, produces a thirst which is insatiable, +to quench which we drink water at a temperature of eighty-two degrees. +About four o'clock in the afternoon a rain squall, accompanied by a +little wind, generally takes place. It might be supposed that this would +cool the air, but not <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 219]<a name="Page_219" id="Page_219"></a></span>so, for the steam which arises as soon as the sun +comes out makes the heat still more intolerable. At length night +approaches and we go close inshore and anchor. Myriads of mosquitoes and +gnats come off to the vessel and compel us to sit over strong smoke +created by burning oakum and tar, rather than endure their terrible +stings, until, wearied and exhausted, we go to bed to endure new +torments. Shut up in the berth of a small cabin, if there is any air +stirring, not a breath of it can reach us. The mosquitoes, more +persevering, follow us and annoy us the whole night by their noise and +bites until, almost mad with heat and pain, we rise to go through the +same trouble the next day."</p> + +<p>Perry sailed three hundred miles up the Orinoco and was undaunted by the +fact that the dreaded yellow fever soon appeared among his men. He was +seized with the terrible disease and died on the 24th of August. He was +buried with the highest civic and military honors at Trinidad, many +British officers who had fought against him on Lake Erie showing their +respect for his bravery and an appreciation of his kindness to them when +they were prisoners of war. His remains were afterward removed to +Newport, Rhode Island, where a magnificent monument was erected to his +memory.</p> + +<p>The untimely death of this naval hero before he <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 220]<a name="Page_220" id="Page_220"></a></span>had time to complete +his work encouraged the West Indian pirates and they became more +audacious than before. In the autumn of 1821 several naval vessels were +sent thither by our Government. They did vigorous work, capturing and +destroying a number of piratical vessels, but there were too many of +them, and they were spread over too extended a space to be wiped out by +a few captures. In the following year a still more powerful squadron +went to the West Indies under the command of Captain James Biddle, who +did such valiant service in the War of 1812. A good many buccaneers were +destroyed, including several leaders of the buccaneers whose atrocious +deeds had long made their names a terror. In one of these attacks +Lieutenant William H. Allen, of the schooner <i>Alligator</i>, was killed by +a musket ball. His gallantry in the fight between the <i>Argus</i> and +<i>Pelican</i> in the war with Great Britain sent a thrill of admiration +through the country and brought him well-merited promotion.</p> + +<p>You have not forgotten the wonderful cruise of Captain David Porter in +the <i>Essex</i>, when he entered the Pacific Ocean and caused such havoc +among the British shipping. He was appointed commander of the West India +forces and arrived off Porto Rico in March, 1823. He was provided, in +addition to his <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 221]<a name="Page_221" id="Page_221"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 222]<a name="Page_222" id="Page_222"></a></span>warships, with a number of barges, furnished with +twenty oars apiece, and which were indispensable in following the +pirates up the shallow creeks and into the shoal waters where the +vessels could not go.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 682px;"> +<img src="images/224.png" width="682" height="400" alt="OUR FLEET IN THE BALTIC." title="OUR FLEET IN THE BALTIC." /> +<span class="caption">OUR FLEET IN THE BALTIC.</span> +</div> + +<p>Captain Porter was discreet but impatient with injustice. When one of +his schooners was fired into by the Porto Rican authorities he promptly +demanded an explanation, which was given. The most important incident of +his service occurred in the autumn of 1824 and is known as the "Foxardo +Affair."</p> + +<p>In October of that year the storehouse of the American consul at St. +Thomas was broken into and robbed of much valuable property which there +was reason to believe had been carried to the small port at the eastern +end of Porto Rico known as Foxardo. Lieutenant Platt, of the <i>Beagle</i>, +anchored off the town and asked the help of the authorities in capturing +the criminals and recovering the property. The officer was treated with +the grossest discourtesy. Having landed in civilian clothes, the +authorities accused him of being an impostor and ordered him to show his +commission. The Lieutenant produced it, whereupon they declared it a +forgery and arrested him on the charge of being a pirate. After he and a +midshipman who accompanied him had been insulted repeatedly they were +allowed to leave.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 223]<a name="Page_223" id="Page_223"></a></span>When Captain Porter learned of this outrage he entered the harbor with +several of his vessels and sent a letter to the alcalde or governor, +notifying him that he had one hour in which to send an explanation of +his action. While waiting for the return of the flag of truce Captain +Porter saw one of the shore batteries getting ready to fire upon him. +Instantly, he sent a detachment, which captured the battery and spiked +the guns. Then Captain Porter landed, and, after spiking another +battery, made his way to the town. By and by the alcalde and captain of +the port appeared and made such profuse and humble apologies that the +officer could not refuse to accept them, and returned to his ship.</p> + +<p>Such is a truthful account of the incident as it occurred. It would seem +that there was nothing in the course of the gallant naval officer that +deserved censure. One of his officers had been insulted and he compelled +the offenders to make a suitable apology. Fearing with good reason a +treacherous attack from the batteries on shore, he spiked their guns. +But when the news reached our Government Captain Porter was ordered +home, tried by court martial and sentenced to be suspended from the +service for six months. Feeling himself unjustly treated, Captain Porter +resigned and entered the Mexican navy, where <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 224]<a name="Page_224" id="Page_224"></a></span>he remained until 1829. In +that year Andrew Jackson became President of the United States. He had +been through trying and stormy times himself and would never submit to +insult from any man or nation. He appointed Porter consul general at +Algiers. He afterward became minister to Turkey and died March 28, 1843.</p> + +<p>Captain Lewis Warrington succeeded Porter in the West Indies and +followed out his aggressive policy. The buccaneers were hunted down +without cessation and nest after nest broken up until, at the close of +1825, piracy in those waters was practically suppressed. For several +years, however, a squadron was maintained there and more than once its +services were needed, but the work was completed and since then no +trouble in that quarter of the world of the nature described has plagued +either ourselves or any other nation.</p> + +<p>Even in the Mediterranean our navy had similar work to do. While little +Greece was making so gallant a struggle for freedom against Turkey a +number of her vessels played the rôle of pirate and attacked ships of +other nations. Among others, an English brig had been seized, but +Lieutenant Lewis M. Goldsborough, after a furious fight, recaptured the +vessel. Lieutenant John A. Carr singled out the Greek cap<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 225]<a name="Page_225" id="Page_225"></a></span>tain and in +the fierce hand-to-hand conflict killed him. Lieutenant +Goldsborough—who afterward became rear-admiral—received the thanks of +several of the Mediterranean powers for his assistance in ridding the +waters of the pirates who, though few in number, became exceedingly +troublesome.</p> + +<p>It was by such prompt, vigorous and brave measures that the American +navy compelled the respect not only of civilized but of barbarous +peoples in all parts of the world. This fact is proven by a remarkable +occurrence, not often mentioned in history, the particulars of which are +given in the next chapter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 226]<a name="Page_226" id="Page_226"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>The Qualla Battoo Incident.</h3> + + +<p>Qualla Battoo is the name of a small Malay town, which stood on the +northwestern coast of Sumatra. In the month of February, 1831, the +<i>Friendship</i>, a trading vessel from Salem, Mass., lay at anchor off the +town, taking on board a cargo of pepper. Her captain, Mr. Endicott, and +crew numbered fifteen men. There being no harbor, the vessel was about +half a mile from shore. The day was oppressively hot and no one on the +<i>Friendship</i> put forth more exertion than was absolutely necessary. Even +the swarthy natives seemed to languish in the flaming heat and displayed +less vigor in bringing out the pepper in their boats than they did when +the sun beat down upon them with its usual rigor.</p> + +<p>Captain Endicott understood the treacherous nature of the Malays, and he +and his crew kept sharp watch of those who were given the management of +the vessel's boats, owing to the difficult character of the coast which +made such a course necessary.</p> + +<p>The trade in pepper was almost the only one in which Qualla Battoo +engaged. Captain Endicott, <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 227]<a name="Page_227" id="Page_227"></a></span>his second mate and four seamen were on +shore at the trading station, a little way up the river, superintending +the weighing of the pepper. The first mate and the rest of the crew +waited on the vessel to receive and stow away the cargo. The work had +hardly begun when a suspicious proceeding caught the eye of Captain +Endicott.</p> + +<p>The first boat, after receiving its load, passed the short distance +necessary down the river to the sea, where, instead of rowing directly +out to the ship, it turned up the coast and took on board more men. The +Captain concluded the crew needed this additional help to work their way +through the heavy surf. But, not wholly satisfied, he told two of his +men to go nearer the shore, keep their eyes on the boat and report to +him anything that looked wrong.</p> + +<p>Captain Endicott, from his position, was unable to catch the full +significance of the first action of the natives in charge of the +outgoing boat, for, instead of taking on board more help, the whole +unarmed party stepped ashore and twice as many fully armed warriors took +their places. They carefully concealed their weapons and the Americans +on the vessel made the same mistake as their captain in believing they +were merely the additions necessary to help work the craft through the +surf.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 228]<a name="Page_228" id="Page_228"></a></span>They tied fast to the gangway and most of them climbed over the side +with their daggers hidden in their clothing. The mate would have stopped +them, but they pretended not to understand his words and acted as if +interested in the appearance of the guns and rigging. Their conduct was +so natural that the mate and his men gave their whole attention to +taking the pepper on board and stowing it away. The mate was absorbed in +his work, when suddenly several Malays sprang with lightning-like +quickness at him and buried their daggers in his back. He turned and +attempted to defend himself, but was quickly despatched. Five men rushed +to the help of the mate, but they were unarmed and outnumbered four to +one. Two were quickly killed and three made prisoners. The other four +seamen sprang overboard and swam for land. They saw that the beach was +lined with warriors waiting for them. Accordingly they turned to one +side and swam several miles to a promontory, where they were safe for +the time.</p> + +<p>Seeing that their friends had gained possession of the ship, several +boatloads of natives rowed out to it, took possession, plundered and +then tried to run it ashore, that they might break out the metal work at +their leisure.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the two seamen stationed near shore by <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 229]<a name="Page_229" id="Page_229"></a></span>the captain saw what +had taken place and ran back to him with the alarming news. He instantly +ordered all into the second boat and hurried down the river, hoping to +reach the vessel in time to recapture it. The boat was pursued by the +natives along the bank, but it managed to reach the mouth of the river, +where it would have perished in the surf but for the help of a friendly +member of an adjoining tribe, who sprang from his armed coasting +schooner and swam to their assistance. He helped them through the surf, +and, when confronted by the native armed boats, made such threats and +flourishes with his sword (none of the Americans being armed) that he +kept the miscreants at bay and the white men succeeded in reaching the +open sea.</p> + +<p>Seeing that it would be sure death to go to the vessel, the boat was +rowed to a small town about twenty miles distant, where the occupants +found three American merchant vessels. The officers and crews were +enraged upon learning what had taken place, and, although it was night, +they made sail at once for Qualla Battoo, reaching it next day. In reply +to the demand that the <i>Friendship</i> should be returned, the insolent +Rajah told them to take her if they could. The three ships moved as +close to shore as was safe and opened fire with such guns as they had. +All <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 230]<a name="Page_230" id="Page_230"></a></span>merchant vessels carried some kind of armament against pirates in +that part of the world. Impatient with the delay involved in recapturing +the <i>Friendship</i>, by attacking at long range, as it may be called, three +boats were filled with armed men who rowed straight for the vessel. It +was swarming with armed natives, who kept up a vicious but ill directed +fire, the result of which was the sailors rowed the faster, eager to get +close enough to punish the miscreants for their murderous work.</p> + +<p>When they were almost to the ship the Malays sprang overboard and swam +frantically for land. Captain Endicott regained possession of his +vessel, and, upon examination, found it had been rifled from stem to +stern. Among the plunder taken away was $12,000 in specie. Altogether +the loss was $40,000 to the owners of the ship and the captain was +compelled to give up his voyage and return home.</p> + +<p>It took a long time for news to travel in those days, but it finally +reached the United States, where Andrew Jackson happened to be +President. He immediately ordered the 44-gun frigate <i>Potomac</i> to that +out of the way corner of the world, with instructions to punish the +guilty parties concerned in the outrage. Captain Downes lost no time in +getting under way and arrived off Qualla Battoo in February, 1832, just +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 231]<a name="Page_231" id="Page_231"></a></span>a year after the treacherous attack upon the <i>Friendship</i>.</p> + +<p>Anxious to prevent his errand becoming known so that he might surprise +the Malays, Captain Downes disguised his ship as a merchantman, closing +his ports and taking every precaution possible. He displayed the Danish +colors, still maintaining the guise of a merchantman, and sent a boat's +crew to take soundings along shore. The natives on the beach displayed +so hostile a disposition that no landing was made, and, having gained +the necessary information, the boat returned to the frigate. Captain +Downes then informed them that the expedition would leave the ship at +midnight.</p> + +<p>A strong armed force in several boats secretly rowed to land at the time +named, but day was approaching when they reached the beach, where the +men landed under the guidance of the former second mate of the +<i>Friendship</i> and started inland. One division turned to the left to +attack the fort at the northern end of the town. The Malays received +them with a brisk discharge of cannon, muskets, javelins and arrows. +But, returning the fire, the Americans burst open the gate of the +stockade, fought hand to hand with the fierce Malays and drove them out +of the open space into the citadel. There they were at<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 232]<a name="Page_232" id="Page_232"></a></span>tacked with the +same impetuosity, but they fought like tigers, and it was not until +twelve had been killed and a great many wounded that they were overcome. +The Rajah in command, after a desperate defence in which he wounded +several Americans, was finally despatched.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the fort in the middle of the town had been attacked by +the other division and carried after a bloody fight in which a marine +was killed and a number wounded. But the strongest fort of all stood on +the bank of the river near the beach. There the Rajah of Qualla Battoo, +who was the real author of the attack on the <i>Friendship</i>, had gathered +a large force of his best warriors and announced that he would fight to +the death.</p> + +<p>The strength of the force which marched against the fort was eighty-five +men. One of the officers who took part in this attack said: "The natives +were brave and fought with a fierceness bordering on desperation. They +would not yield while a drop of their savage blood warmed their bosoms +or while they had strength to wield a weapon, fighting with that +undaunted firmness which is the characteristic of bold and determined +spirits and displaying such an utter carelessness of life as would have +been honored in a better cause. Instances of the bravery of these +peo<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 233]<a name="Page_233" id="Page_233"></a></span>ple were numerous, so much so that were I to give the detail of each +event my description would probably become tiresome."</p> + +<p>The barricades stoutly resisted the fire. Leaving a force to engage the +fort in front, Lieutenant Shubrick led a body of sailors through the +woods to the rear with the 6-pounder which had been brought from the +frigate. When they reached their position they came upon three heavily +armed schooners, swarming with warriors, awaiting a chance to take part +in the fight. Shubrick promptly opened upon them with his cannon, +followed by a destructive fire of musketry, which sent the Malays +leaping overboard and into the woods. They succeeded, however, in +warping one of the schooners beyond range.</p> + +<p>The Americans now being at the front and rear of the fort, a +simultaneous attack was made. The gate was wrenched from its fastenings, +but the first American who tried to enter was killed and three others +badly wounded. Undaunted the remainder of the assailants rushed through +and drove the defenders to a high platform, where they made their final +stand. The other stockade was in flames, which were burning so fast that +the Americans themselves were in danger from them. The little cannon was +brought into play from a neighboring elevation and poured canis<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 234]<a name="Page_234" id="Page_234"></a></span>ter and +grape into the Malays. Meanwhile the Americans, who had performed their +part so well, came up and joined in the attack on the main fort. The +Malays, still fighting, shrieked out their defiant cries. In the ardor +of the assault the little cannon was too heavily loaded and dismounted. +Amid the wild confusion the flames of the second fort reached the +magazine and the whole structure blew up with a tremendous explosion.</p> + +<p>The cannon being useless, Lieutenant Shubrick ordered a general assault +upon the citadel, and it was made with a resistless rush. The men +scrambled upon the platform, in the face of the swarthy wild cats, and +despatched them in a whirlwind fashion. The work being apparently +completed, the bugle was sounded for retreat and the Americans returned +to the beach. On the way they were fired upon by another fort for which +they had searched without being able to find it. Returning the fire, the +Americans charged through the jungle and after another desperate fight +it was captured, most of the garrison slain and the remainder sent +scurrying through the woods.</p> + +<p>The roll call revealed that two Americans had been killed and eleven +wounded. All were gently lifted into the boats and carried to the ship. +A moderate <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 235]<a name="Page_235" id="Page_235"></a></span>estimate made 100 of the Malays killed and fully double the +number wounded.</p> + +<p>Captain Downes now brought his long 32-pounders to bear and opened a +bombardment of Qualla Battoo which spread destruction and death among +the natives. Many were killed and others sent scurrying in terror to the +jungle. Toward the close of the day white flags were displayed and the +firing ceased. Immediately after a boat was sent out by the remaining +rajahs, with a white flag fluttering at the bow. On coming aboard the +messengers were presented to Captain Downes and they humbly prayed that +he would stop the firing of his big guns, which were killing all their +people. He promised to do so on their pledge never again to molest an +American. He assured them that if they ever did his country would send +larger and more terrible ships across the ocean that would lay their +towns in ashes and slay hundreds of their men. The subsequent history of +that quarter of the world leaves no doubt that the impressive warning of +Captain Downes produced the best of results, for Sumatra has never +required any further attention from our navy.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 236]<a name="Page_236" id="Page_236"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3>Wilkes's Exploring Expedition.</h3> + + +<p>Perhaps my young readers have wondered over the same fact that used to +puzzle me when a boy. While the civilized world was interested, as it +has been for hundreds of years, in trying to reach the Pole, and the +nations were constantly sending expeditions to search for it, to be +followed by others to hunt for the expeditions and then by others to +look up those that were hunting for the others and so on, all these +efforts were confined to the North Pole. Everybody seemed to have +forgotten that there is also a South Pole, which is not a mile further +from the equator than the North Pole.</p> + +<p>Of course there was good reason for all this. There is a great deal of +land in the north, while the unbroken ocean seas stretch away from the +South Pole for hundreds and thousands of miles in every direction and +the prodigious masses and mountains of ice make it impossible to get +anywhere near it. Our daring explorers are continually edging further +north, and doubtless within a few years the Pole will be reached, but +there appears no prospect of the South Pole being seen for many a year +to come.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 237]<a name="Page_237" id="Page_237"></a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 329px;"> +<img src="images/240.png" width="329" height="400" alt="CAPTAIN CHARLES WILKES." title="CAPTAIN CHARLES WILKES." /> +<span class="caption">CAPTAIN CHARLES WILKES.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 238]<a name="Page_238" id="Page_238"></a></span></p> +<p>Lieutenant Charles Wilkes was born in 1798 and died in 1877. He entered +the American navy at an early age and in 1838 was made commander of the +squadron which spent four years in sailing through the Pacific, along +its American coasts and in the Antarctic regions.</p> + +<p>Before giving an account of this memorable scientific expedition, let me +add a little more information concerning this distinguished naval +officer, since this is the only chapter which contains any reference to +him. He was made a captain in 1855. In the month of November, 1861, +while in command of the steamer <i>San Jacinto</i>, he stopped the British +ship <i>Trent</i> and forcibly took off the two Confederate commissioners, +Mason and Slidell, who were on their way respectively to England and +France to secure their aid for the Southern Confederacy.</p> + +<p>Captain Wilkes was highly applauded for his act by his countrymen, but +England was very indignant. It was an illegal proceeding on his part, +since the deck of a ship is the same as the soil of the country whose +flag she flies. Our Government was compelled to disavow his action and +restore the commissioners to English custody.</p> + +<p>In the War for the Union Captain Wilkes commanded the James River +squadron, was made commodore in 1862 and was retired in 1864 and made +rear-admiral on the retired list.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 239]<a name="Page_239" id="Page_239"></a></span></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 240]<a name="Page_240" id="Page_240"></a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/242.png" width="400" height="567" alt="THE "SAN JACINTO" STOPPING THE "TRENT."" title="THE "SAN JACINTO" STOPPING THE "TRENT."" /> +<span class="caption">THE "SAN JACINTO" STOPPING THE "TRENT."</span> +</div> + +<p>The scientific expedition of which Lieutenant Wilkes was given command +was intended, to quote the words of Congress, "for the purpose of +exploring and surveying the southern ocean, as well to determine the +existence of all doubtful islands and shoals as to discover and +accurately fix the position of those which lie in or near the track of +our vessels in that quarter and may have escaped the observation of +scientific navigators."</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Wilkes sailed from Hampton Roads on the 19th of August, 1838, +his flagship being the 18-gun sloop-of-war <i>Vincennes</i>, the 18-gun +sloop-of-war <i>Peacock</i>, the 12-gun brig-of-war <i>Porpoise</i>, the storeship +<i>Relief</i>, the tender <i>Sea Gull</i> and the tender <i>Flying Fish</i>. Since one +of the main objects was scientific research, the expedition was provided +with a philologist, naturalists, conchologists, mineralogist, botanist, +draughtsmen and a horticulturist.</p> + +<p>A halt for a week was made at the Madeira Islands, when the ships headed +southward, reaching Rio Janeiro late in November. In January, 1839, they +halted at Orange Harbor, Terra del Fuego, and made it their base of +operations. On the 25th of February Lieutenant Wilkes, in the +<i>Porpoise</i>, accompanied by <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 241]<a name="Page_241" id="Page_241"></a></span>the <i>Sea Gull</i>, started for the South Pole. +On the 1st of March considerable ice and snow were encountered and an +island sighted, but the men could not land because of the surf. The next +day the Ashland Islands were discovered and soon after the two vessels +reached Palmersland. The following is the account of Lieutenant Wilkes:</p> + +<p>"It was a day of great excitement to all, for we had ice of all kinds to +encounter, from the iceberg of huge quadrangular shape, with its +stratified appearance, to the sunken and deceptive masses that were +difficult to perceive before they were under the bow. I have rarely seen +a finer sight. The sea was literally studded with these beautiful +masses, some of pure white, others showing all shades of the opal, +others emerald green and occasionally, here and there, some of deep +black. Our situation was critical, but the weather favored us for a few +hours. On clearing these dangers we kept off to the south and west under +all sail, and at 9 P.M. we counted eight large islands. Afterward the +weather became so thick with mist and fog as to render it necessary to +lie to till daylight, before which time we had a heavy snowstorm. A +strong gale now set in from the southwest; the deck of the brig was +covered with ice and snow and the weather became exceedingly damp and +cold. The men were <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 242]<a name="Page_242" id="Page_242"></a></span>suffering not only from want of sufficient room but +from the inadequacy of the clothing."</p> + +<p>Naturally the further south they penetrated the greater became their +danger from the increasing fields of ice and icebergs. The <i>Peacock</i> and +<i>Flying Fish</i> left Orange Harbor on the same day with the <i>Porpoise</i> and +<i>Sea Gull</i>. They were separated by a gale and the <i>Peacock</i> was +continually beset by icebergs. Every rope and the deck, spars and +rigging were thickly coated with ice. Some days later the <i>Flying Fish</i> +was met and she reported that she had penetrated to the parallel of 70 +degrees. There was imminent danger of being frozen in, and, as they were +short of provisions, they sailed northward. The <i>Flying Fish</i> reached +Orange Harbor in April, while the <i>Peacock</i> continued on to Valparaiso, +where the storeship <i>Relief</i> was found. In May the other members of the +squadron arrived at the port, with the exception of the <i>Sea Gull</i>, +which was never heard of again.</p> + +<p>The squadron now crossed the Pacific, reaching Sydney, New South Wales, +in the latter part of November. There, after consulting with his +officers, Lieutenant Wilkes decided to make another Antarctic cruise. +The <i>Flying Fish</i> proved so unseaworthy that, after passing through a +violent storm, she was <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 243]<a name="Page_243" id="Page_243"></a></span>obliged to return to port and took no further +part in the enterprise.</p> + +<p>Once more among the ice fields, the ships were menaced by danger from +every side. Some of the escapes were of the most thrilling nature. One +of the ships barely missed being crushed by hundreds of tons of ice +which fell from the top of an overhanging iceberg. The weather was +intensely cold and the snow and fine sleet which were whirled +horizontally through the air cut the face like bird shot.</p> + +<p>The <i>Vincennes</i> prowled along the edge of the Antarctic Continent as far +as 97 degrees east, when Lieutenant Wilkes headed northward and arrived +at Sydney in March, 1840, and found the <i>Peacock</i> at anchor. The +<i>Porpoise</i> reached 100 degrees east and 64 degrees 65 minutes south when +she turned her prow away from the inhospitable solitude and in March +arrived at Auckland Isle.</p> + +<p>The following summer was spent in exploring the islands of the Southern +Archipelago. A party was engaged in a launch and cutter, when a tempest +compelled them to run into a bay of the Fiji group for shelter. While +working its way back the cutter ran upon a reef and was attacked by the +natives. The ammunition of the Americans was wet and they abandoned the +cutter and returned to the <i>Vincennes</i>.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 244]<a name="Page_244" id="Page_244"></a></span>Since these natives needed a lesson, Lieutenant Wilkes landed a force +and burned the native village. A few days later an exploring party was +again attacked while trying to trade with the natives. The men were +forced to retreat to their boats, under a hot fire, many of the savages +using muskets with no little skill. Reinforcements were landed and the +savages put to flight, but in the fighting Midshipman Underwood and +Henry Wilkes were mortally hurt and a seaman dangerously wounded.</p> + +<p>Matters had now assumed so serious a shape that a detachment of seventy +officers and men landed at another point on the island and marched upon +the nearest village, laying waste the crops as they advanced. When the +village was reached it was found to be defended by a strong stockade, +with a trench inside, from which the crouching natives could fire +through loopholes, while outside of the stockade was a deep ditch of +water. Feeling their position impregnable, the savages flourished their +weapons and uttered tantalizing whoops at the white men. The whoops +quickly changed when the cabins within the stockade were set on fire by +a rocket. The natives fled, leaving the village to be burned to ashes. +The Americans pushed hostilities so aggressively that on the following +day the islanders sued for peace.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 245]<a name="Page_245" id="Page_245"></a></span>The squadron next sailed to the Hawaiian Islands, where several months +were spent in exploration. Then the coast of Oregon was visited and the +<i>Peacock</i> suffered wreck at the mouth of the Columbia. Doubling the Cape +of Good Hope, the expedition reached New York in June, 1842, having been +gone nearly four years and having sailed more than 30,000 miles.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 246]<a name="Page_246" id="Page_246"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_WAR_FOR_THE_UNION" id="THE_WAR_FOR_THE_UNION"></a>THE WAR FOR THE UNION</h2> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>A New Era for the United States Navy—Opening of the Great Civil +War—John Lorimer Worden—Battle Between the <i>Monitor</i> and +<i>Merrimac</i>—Death of Worden.</h3> + + +<p>The War for the Union ushered in a new era for the American navy. Steam +navigation had been fully established some years before. As all my +readers no doubt know, the first successful steamboat in this country +was the <i>Clermont</i>, made by Robert Fulton, which ascended the Hudson in +the summer of 1807. The average speed of the pioneer boat was about five +miles an hour, so that the trip occupied more than thirty hours. This +great invention was a novelty, and, like many others of a similar +nature, it required considerable time for it to come into use. The first +western steamboat was built at Pittsburg in 1811. It gave an impetus to +river navigation by steam, and before long the boats were ploughing the +principal streams of the country. The first steamer to cross the +Atlantic was the <i>Savannah</i>, which made <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 247]<a name="Page_247" id="Page_247"></a></span>the voyage in 1819, but ocean +navigation was not fairly begun until 1838, when the <i>Sirius</i> and <i>Great +Western</i> made the voyage from England to the United States. It is a +noteworthy fact that one of the greatest of English scientists, after +demonstrating that ocean navigation by steam was impossible, was a +passenger on the <i>Great Western</i> on her first trip across the Atlantic.</p> + +<p>When the great Civil War burst upon the country the National Government +not only failed to comprehend the gigantic nature of the struggle, but +was almost wholly unprepared for it. The navy consisted of 90 vessels, +of which only 42 were in commission, while 21 were unfit for service, +and of those in commission there were but 11, carrying 134 guns, that +were in American waters. The remainder were scattered over the waters of +the globe, such being the policy of President Buchanan's Secretary of +the Navy, who, like the Secretary of War and other members of the +Presidential Cabinet, were secessionists who did all they could to pave +the way for the establishment of the Southern Confederacy.</p> + +<p>On the authority of Maclay, the total number of officers of all grades +in the navy on August 1, 1861, was 1,457, in addition to whom an immense +volunteer force was called for and 7,500 volunteer officers <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 248]<a name="Page_248" id="Page_248"></a></span>were +enrolled before the close of the war. Three hundred and twenty-two +officers resigned from the United States navy and entered that of the +seceding States, of which 243 were officers of the line. The 7,600 +sailors in the navy at the opening of the war was increased to 51,500 +before the close of hostilities.</p> + +<p>In a work of this nature the difficulty is to select the most striking +and interesting incidents from the scores that formed a part of the War +for the Union. One of the many heroes who was brought into prominence +was John Lorimer Worden, who was born in Dutchess County, N.Y., March +12, 1818. He entered the navy when sixteen years old and became a +lieutenant in 1840. His services in the Mexican War were unimportant and +he was a first lieutenant of the Brooklyn Navy Yard when the Civil War +broke out.</p> + +<p>In the month of April, 1861, when a conflict was inevitable, the +Government was anxious to send dispatches to Captain Adams commanding +the fleet at Pensacola, who was waiting for orders to reinforce with two +companies of artillery, that post being in danger of capture by the +Confederates. The dispatches intrusted to Lieutenant Worden were orders +for such reinforcements to be made.</p> + +<p>It was so delicate and dangerous a duty, since Wor<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 249]<a name="Page_249" id="Page_249"></a></span>den was compelled to +make his way through the South which was aflame with secession +excitement, that he committed the dispatches to memory and then +destroyed them. He applied to General Bragg in command of the +Confederate forces in that neighborhood for permission to make a verbal +communication from the Secretary of War to Captain Adams. Permission was +given, and, going on board, Worden delivered his message like a boy +reciting his piece at school. Captain Adams gave him a written +acknowledgment of the receipt of the dispatches, adding that the orders +of the Government would be carried out.</p> + +<p>Having thus cleverly eluded the suspicious watchfulness of the +authorities, Lieutenant Worden started for home, but when near +Montgomery, Ala., then the capital of the Confederacy, he was arrested, +taken from the train and thrown into prison. This was on the order of +General Bragg, who discovered how he had been outwitted, and the prompt +reinforcement prevented the capture of Fort Pickens, for which Bragg had +made every preparation. The post was held by the Unionists throughout +the war and was the only one south of Mason and Dixon's line so held.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Worden was kept a prisoner until the 13th of the following +November, when, his health having broken down, he was exchanged and sent +North. <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 250]<a name="Page_250" id="Page_250"></a></span>There he remained, slowly regaining his strength until March, +1862, when it fell to his lot to become a leading actor in one of the +most famous naval engagements in all history.</p> + +<p>When war had fully begun the Union forces in charge of the Norfolk Navy +Yard saw they were not strong enough to prevent its capture by the +Confederates, who were arming for that purpose. They therefore set fire +to the numerous and valuable shipping there. Among the vessels scuttled +and sunk was the steam frigate <i>Merrimac</i>, at that time the finest +vessel in the service. In truth, she went down so quickly that very +little damage was done to her. The Confederates raised her, fastened a +huge iron snout or prow at the front, cut down her deck and encased her +with railroad iron, which sloped at an angle of forty-five degrees, and +was smeared on the outside with grease and tallow. Her enormous weight +made her draw more than twenty feet of water and when she was moving +slowly through the bay or river her appearance suggested the mansard +roof of a vast house. From what has been said it will be noted that the +<i>Merrimac</i> was a genuine ironclad, something which had never been heard +of before.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 581px;"> +<img src="images/254.png" width="581" height="400" alt="BLOCKADE RUNNER—THE "MONITOR"—CAPTAIN ERICSSON." title="BLOCKADE RUNNER—THE "MONITOR"—CAPTAIN ERICSSON." /> +<span class="caption">BLOCKADE RUNNER—THE "MONITOR"—CAPTAIN ERICSSON.</span> +</div> + +<p>Regular news of the building of the <i>Merrimac</i> (called the <i>Virginia</i> by +the Confederates) was tele<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 251]<a name="Page_251" id="Page_251"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 252]<a name="Page_252" id="Page_252"></a></span>graphed to Washington by friends of the +Government. The authorities felt some uneasiness, but were far from +suspecting the terrible power for destructiveness possessed by the +monster. Captain Ericsson, the famous Swedish inventor, was constructing +on Long Island an ironclad about one-fourth the size of the <i>Merrimac</i>, +and he was urged to all possible speed in its completion. He kept his +men busy night and day and had it finished a day or two before the +completion of the <i>Merrimac</i>.</p> + +<p>The <i>Merrimac</i> carried ten guns, which fired shells and had a crew of +300 men, under the command of Commodore Franklin Buchanan, a former +officer of the United States navy. Late in the forenoon of March 8, +1862, a column of black smoke rising over the Norfolk Navy Yard gave +notice that the <i>Merrimac</i> had started out at last on her mission of +destruction and death. As the enormous craft forged into sight it was +seen that she was accompanied by three gunboats ready to give what help +they could.</p> + +<p>Five Union vessels were awaiting her in Hampton Roads. They were the +steam frigates <i>Minnesota</i> and <i>Roanoke</i> and the sailing frigates +<i>Congress</i>, <i>Cumberland</i> and <i>St. Lawrence</i>, all of which immediately +cleared for action. Turning her frightful front toward the <i>Cumberland</i>, +the <i>Merrimac</i> swept down <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 253]<a name="Page_253" id="Page_253"></a></span>upon her in grim and awful majesty. The +<i>Cumberland</i> let fly with her terrific broadsides, which were powerful +enough to sink the largest ship afloat, but the tons of metal hurled +with inconceivable force skipped off the greased sides of the iron roof +and scooted away for hundreds of yards through the startled air.</p> + +<p>The prodigious broadsides were launched again and again, but produced no +more effect than so many paper wads from a popgun. The iron prow of the +<i>Merrimac</i> crashed through the wooden walls of the <i>Cumberland</i> as if +they were cardboard, and, while her crew were still heroically working +their guns, the <i>Cumberland</i> went down, with the red flag, meaning "no +surrender," flying from her peak. Lieutenant Morris succeeded in saving +himself, but 121 were lost out of the crew of 376.</p> + +<p>Having destroyed the <i>Cumberland</i>, the <i>Merrimac</i> now made for the +<i>Congress</i>, which had been vainly pelting her with her broadsides. The +<i>Congress</i> was aground and so completely at the mercy of the <i>Merrimac</i>, +which raked her fore and aft, that every man would have been killed had +not the sign of surrender been displayed. As it was, her commander and +100 of the crew were slain by the irresistible fire of the tremendous +ironclad.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 254]<a name="Page_254" id="Page_254"></a></span>By this time the fearful spring afternoon was drawing to a close and +the <i>Merrimac</i> labored heavily back to Sewall's Point, intending to +return on the morrow and continue her work of destruction.</p> + +<p>The news of what the <i>Merrimac</i> had done was telegraphed throughout the +South and North. In the former it caused wild rejoicing and raised hope +that before the resistless might of the new ironclad the North would be +compelled to make terms and save her leading seacoast cities from +annihilation by acknowledging the Southern Confederacy. The national +authorities were thrown into consternation. At a special meeting of the +President's Cabinet Secretary of War Stanton expressed his belief that +the <i>Merrimac</i> would appear in front of Washington and compel the +authorities to choose between surrender and destruction, and that the +principal seaports would be laid under contribution.</p> + +<p>But at that very time the hastily completed <i>Monitor</i> was speeding +southward under the command of Lieutenant Worden, who had risen from a +sick bed to assume the duty which no one else was willing to undertake. +Her crew numbered 16 officers and 42 men, with Lieutenant S. Dana Green +as executive officer. Her voyage to Hampton Roads was difficult and of +the most trying nature to the officers and crew, who <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 255]<a name="Page_255" id="Page_255"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 256]<a name="Page_256" id="Page_256"></a></span>were nearly +smothered by gas. The boat would have foundered had not the weather been +unusually favorable, but she reached Hampton Roads on the night of March +8 and took a position beside the <i>Minnesota</i>, ready and eager for the +terrific fray of the morrow. The <i>Monitor</i> carried two 11-inch Dahlgren +guns and fired solid shot.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 675px;"> +<img src="images/258.png" width="675" height="400" alt="THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE "MERRIMAC" AND "MONITOR."" title="THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE "MERRIMAC" AND "MONITOR."" /> +<span class="caption">THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE "MERRIMAC" AND "MONITOR."</span> +</div> + +<p>When the <i>Merrimac</i> steamed back the <i>Monitor</i> moved out from her +position and boldly advanced to meet her. The huge monster and smaller +craft, whose appearance suggested the apt comparison of a cheese box on +a raft, silently drew near each other until within a hundred yards, when +the smaller opened with a shot to which the larger replied. The battle +was now between two ironclads. If the shots of the <i>Monitor</i> glanced +harmlessly off of the <i>Merrimac</i> those of the latter were equally +ineffective against the <i>Monitor</i>. The latter had the advantage of being +so much smaller that many of the shells of the <i>Merrimac</i> missed her +altogether. Those which impinged against the pilot house or turret did +no harm, while the lesser boat was able to dart here and there at will, +dodging the <i>Merrimac</i> and ramming her when she chose, though such +tactics accomplished nothing. All attempts to run down the <i>Monitor</i> +were vain. The novel battle continued for four <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 257]<a name="Page_257" id="Page_257"></a></span>hours, when the +<i>Merrimac</i>, unable to defeat her nimble antagonist, steamed back to +Norfolk and the strange contest—the first between ironclads—was over.</p> + +<p>The <i>Monitor</i> had proven her inestimable value and was held in reserve +by the Government for future emergencies. But the first battle between +the two proved the last. Some months later, when the Union troops +advanced upon Norfolk, the <i>Merrimac</i> was blown up to prevent her +falling into the hands of the Federals, while at the close of the year +the <i>Monitor</i> foundered in a gale off Cape Hatteras.</p> + +<p>This fight marked an era in the history of naval warfare. The days of +wooden vessels were numbered. All nations saw that their warships to be +effective must be ironclad, and the reader does not need to be reminded +that such is the fact to-day respecting the navy of every civilized +nation.</p> + +<p>During this memorable fight a shell from the <i>Merrimac</i> lifted the iron +plate of the pilot house of the <i>Monitor</i> and disabled Lieutenant Worden +by driving the fragments into his face, while he was peering out of the +peep-hole. He was compelled to give way to Lieutenant Green, who handled +the little ironclad throughout the remainder of the fight.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Worden never fully recovered from <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 258]<a name="Page_258" id="Page_258"></a></span>the injuries received in +his fight with the <i>Merrimac</i>. As soon as he was able to take an active +command he asked the privilege of doing so. In charge of the <i>Montauk</i>, +of the South Atlantic blockading squadron, he destroyed, while under a +heavy fire, the Confederate steamer <i>Nashville</i> and participated in the +unsuccessful attack upon Charleston. He received the thanks of Congress +and was promoted to be a commander for his services with the <i>Monitor</i>. +From 1870 to 1874 he was superintendent of the Naval Academy at +Annapolis, becoming commodore in 1868, rear admiral in 1872 and was +retired in 1886. It was said that he never was without pain from the +injuries received in the battle with the <i>Merrimac</i> until his death, +October 18, 1897.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 259]<a name="Page_259" id="Page_259"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<h3>Two Worthy Sons—William D. Porter—The Career of Admiral David Dixon +Porter.</h3> + + +<p>The reader will not forget the exploits of Captain David Porter, in +command of the <i>Essex</i> in the War of 1812. Contrary to the rule that +great men never have great sons, Captain Porter left two boys who +possessed the same remarkable qualities as himself and one of whom +became more famous than his gallant father.</p> + +<p>The eldest of his sons was William D., who was born in New Orleans in +1809, but was educated in the North and was appointed to the navy when +fourteen years old. He was placed in command of a cumbrous ironclad +constructed from a ferryboat at the beginning of the war and named the +<i>Essex</i>, in honor of the famous cruiser with which his father played +havoc with the shipping of Great Britain in the Pacific. In the attack +on Fort Henry, in February, 1862, the <i>Essex</i>, while doing effective +service, had her boiler pierced by a shot from the enemy, with appalling +consequences. Porter was scalded and knocked senseless and twenty-nine +officers and men were disabled or killed by the escaping steam.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 260]<a name="Page_260" id="Page_260"></a></span>Later, when he had fully recovered, he was placed in command of the +<i>Essex</i>, which was repaired and greatly improved. The Confederates had +completed a more terrible ironclad than the <i>Merrimac</i>, which they named +the <i>Arkansas</i>. Manned by brave officers and crew, it came down the +Yazoo into the Mississippi, and, secure in her fancied invulnerability, +challenged the whole Union fleet which was assisting in the siege of +Vicksburg. In the furious engagement that followed Captain Porter, with +the <i>Essex</i>, succeeded in destroying the ironclad. He rendered his +country other valuable service, but his health gave way, and, while in +the East for medical attendance, he died in the City of New York at the +age of fifty-three.</p> + +<p>The more famous son of Captain Porter was David Dixon, who was born in +Chester, Pa., in 1813. He entered Columbia College, Washington, when +only eleven years old, but left it in 1824 to accompany his father on +his cruise in the West Indies to break up piracy in those waters. When, +two years later, Captain Porter entered the Mexican navy he appointed +his son a midshipman. He acquitted himself gallantly in more than one +fight with the Spanish cruisers. While still a mere boy he was made a +midshipman in the United States navy. As a lieutenant he <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 261]<a name="Page_261" id="Page_261"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 262]<a name="Page_262" id="Page_262"></a></span>saw plenty of +active service in the war with Mexico, and, at the beginning of the +Civil War, was one of our most trusted officers. In command of the +<i>Powhatan</i> he covered the landing of the reinforcements for Fort Pickens +just in time to save its capture by Confederates.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/264.png" width="400" height="513" alt="DAVID DIXON PORTER." title="DAVID DIXON PORTER." /> +<span class="caption">DAVID DIXON PORTER.</span> +</div> + +<p>One of the most important captures of the war was that of New Orleans, +in the spring of 1862. The naval forces were under the command of +Admiral Farragut, while Commander Porter had charge of the mortar fleet. +The principal defences below the city were Forts Jackson and St. Philip. +In approaching them Porter had his ships dressed out with leaves and +branches of trees, the clever disguise proving an effectual protection +from a very destructive fire.</p> + +<p>The furious bombardment lasted for several days and nights. The river +was spanned by a boom of logs, which it was necessary to break through +that the vessels might reach the city above. This was done, Porter +protecting the expedition which effected it. When the situation of the +forts became hopeless his demand for their surrender was accepted and an +officer came on board under a flag of truce to complete the +negotiations.</p> + +<p>While Porter and his visitor were conversing an <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 263]<a name="Page_263" id="Page_263"></a></span>officer came forward +with the information that the immense floating battery <i>Louisiana</i>, of +four thousand tons burden and carrying sixteen heavy guns, had been set +on fire, as Admiral Cervera did with his ships a generation later, when +his escape was cut off from Santiago.</p> + +<p>"Such an act is anything but creditable to you," remarked Porter, +addressing the Confederate commander.</p> + +<p>"I am not responsible for the acts of the naval officers," replied the +visitor.</p> + +<p>The explanation was reasonable, and without any excitement, Commander +Porter renewed the conversation respecting the surrender, but a few +minutes later the officer again approached.</p> + +<p>"The ropes which held the floating battery to the bank have been burned +and she is drifting down stream toward us."</p> + +<p>"Are her guns loaded and is there much ammunition aboard?" asked Porter +of the Confederate commander.</p> + +<p>"I suppose the guns are loaded, but I know nothing about naval matters +here," was the reply.</p> + +<p>Just then the heated cannon began firing their huge charges, which, +though without aim, were likely to do injury to the Union vessels toward +which the battery <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 264]<a name="Page_264" id="Page_264"></a></span>was floating. Besides, the magazine was stored with +powder and the impending explosion could not fail to be disastrous.</p> + +<p>"If you do not mind it," said Porter, addressing the visitor, "we will +continue our negotiations."</p> + +<p>In referring to this incident, the Admiral said:</p> + +<p>"A good Providence, which directs the most important events, sent the +battery off toward Fort St. Philip, and, as it came abreast of that +formidable fort, it blew up with a force which scattered the fragments +in all directions, killing one of their own men in the fort, and when +the smoke cleared off it was nowhere to be seen, having sunk immediately +in the deep water of the Mississippi. The explosion was terrific and was +seen and heard for many miles up and down the river. Had it occurred +near the vessels, it would have destroyed every one of them."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 693px;"> +<img src="images/268.png" width="693" height="400" alt="GUN AND MORTAR BOATS ON THE MISSISSIPPI." title="GUN AND MORTAR BOATS ON THE MISSISSIPPI." /> +<span class="caption">GUN AND MORTAR BOATS ON THE MISSISSIPPI.</span> +</div> + +<p>After the fall of New Orleans Porter was sent to Ship Island to await +the attack that was in contemplation upon New Orleans. He was recalled +by Admiral Farragut to aid him in the siege of Vicksburg. In passing the +batteries Porter had three of his vessels disabled and twenty-nine men +killed and wounded. The capture of that last Confederate stronghold on +the Mississippi was a severe and tedious task, but General Grant, with +that bulldog tenac<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 265]<a name="Page_265" id="Page_265"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 266]<a name="Page_266" id="Page_266"></a></span>ity for which he was famous, held on until the 4th +of July, 1863, when General Pemberton, the Confederate commander, +surrendered his whole garrison of more than 20,000 men. In thus opening +the Mississippi all the way to the Gulf the navy rendered invaluable +assistance. Porter's aid was so important and his conduct so gallant +that he received the thanks of Congress and was created a full rear +admiral, his commission dating from July 4, 1863. In a public dispatch +the Secretary of the Navy said, addressing Admiral Porter: "To yourself, +your officers and the brave and gallant sailors who have been so fertile +in resources, so persistent and so daring under all circumstances, I +tender, in the name of the President, the thanks and congratulations of +the whole country on the fall of Vicksburg."</p> + +<p>One of the most disastrous expeditions of the Civil War was that which +was undertaken by General N.P. Banks, in the spring of 1864. His +ostensible purpose was to complete the conquest of Texas and Louisiana, +but there is good reason to believe that the famous Red River expedition +was little more than a huge cotton speculation. Immense quantities were +stored along the river and could it have been secured would have been +worth many hundred thousand dollars to the captors. The charge has been +made, with <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 267]<a name="Page_267" id="Page_267"></a></span>apparent reason, that several Confederate leaders were +concerned in the "deal," seeing as they did, that the end of the +Confederacy was at hand. The trouble, however, was that other +Confederates like General Dick Taylor did all they could to defeat the +purpose of General Banks and they succeeded to perfection.</p> + +<p>The Union commander had an army of 30,000 men with which he began the +ascent of the Red River. He captured Fort de Russy March 14 and then +marched against Shreveport. His forces were strewn along for miles, with +no thought of danger, when at Sabine Cross Roads they were furiously +attacked by General Dick Taylor and routed as utterly as was the first +advance upon Manassas in July, 1861. The demoralized men were rallied at +Pleasant Hill, where they were again attacked and routed by Taylor. +Banks succeeded at last in reaching New Orleans, where he was relieved +of his command.</p> + +<p>When Porter had waited a short time at the appointed place of meeting +for Banks's army a messenger reached him with news of that General's +defeat and his hurried retreat. Porter saw that it would not do for him +to delay an hour. He had had great difficulty in getting his fifty +vessels up the narrow stream, whose current was falling so rapidly that +it already <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 268]<a name="Page_268" id="Page_268"></a></span>appeared impossible to get the fleet past the snags and +shoals to the point of safety two hundred miles below.</p> + +<p>Improving every moment and under a continual fire from the shore, Porter +managed to descend something more than half way down the river to Grand +Ecore, where he found Banks and his demoralized army. Porter advised the +commander to remain where he was until the spring rains would enable the +fleet to ascend the river again, but Banks was too frightened to do +anything but retreat, and he kept it up until he arrived at New Orleans.</p> + +<p>The river fell so rapidly that all the fleet would have been stranded +above the falls but for the genius of Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Bailey, +of Wisconsin, a military engineer who accompanied Banks's expedition. +Under his direction several thousand men were set to work, and, at the +end of twelve days, they had constructed a series of wing dams, through +which the vessels were safely floated into the deeper water below the +falls. This accomplished their deliverance from what otherwise would +have been certain destruction. Porter pronounced the exploit of Bailey +the greatest engineering feat of the whole war. One of the Admiral's +most pleasing traits was his appreciation of the services of his +assistants. He complimented Bailey in glowing terms in his official +report, <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 269]<a name="Page_269" id="Page_269"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 270]<a name="Page_270" id="Page_270"></a></span>secured his promotion to brigadier-general and presented him +with a sword which cost nearly a thousand dollars.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 554px;"> +<img src="images/272.png" width="554" height="400" alt="BREAKING THROUGH THE DAMS ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER." title="BREAKING THROUGH THE DAMS ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER." /> +<span class="caption">BREAKING THROUGH THE DAMS ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.</span> +</div> + +<p>Porter was now transferred to the North Atlantic Squadron and commanded +the powerful naval contingents in the two attacks on Fort Fisher, +December, 1864, and January, 1865. In the latter Porter and General +Terry succeeded in capturing the last important sea fortress belonging +to the Confederates. Porter was promoted to be vice-admiral in 1866 and +admiral in 1870. He was superintendent of the naval academy until 1869, +and died in Washington, February 13, 1891, one day before the death of +General Sherman.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 271]<a name="Page_271" id="Page_271"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<h3>Charles Stuart Boggs—His Coolness in the Presence of Danger—His +Desperate Fight Below New Orleans—His Subsequent Services.</h3> + + +<p>When the gallant Lawrence, mortally wounded on the <i>Chesapeake</i>, was +dying, he called out in his delirium, "Don't give up the ship!" thus +furnishing a motto that has served times without number for the American +navy. Among the mourning relatives left by Lawrence was a married +sister, Mrs. Boggs, who lived in New Brunswick, N.J., where a son was +born to her in January, 1811, and named Charles Stuart.</p> + +<p>It was probably the admiration formed for his heroic uncle which led the +boy to determine to follow in his footsteps, for he was appointed a +midshipman when fifteen years old, and saw active service in the +Mediterranean against the Greek pirates, to which reference has been +made in a previous chapter. He was made lieutenant in 1833. One of the +most marked traits in young Boggs was his perfect coolness in times of +peril and his instant perception of the best thing to do. The following +incident will illustrate this remarkable power on his part, which <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 272]<a name="Page_272" id="Page_272"></a></span>was +united to a gentleness of disposition that made one wonder at his daring +and intrepidity.</p> + +<p>During the war with Mexico Lieutenant Boggs was ordered to the steamer +<i>Princeton</i>, which took a leading part in the bombardment of the Castle +of St. Juan de Ulloa and of Tampico. The brig <i>Truxton</i> unfortunately +ran aground on the bar of Tuspan River and had to be surrendered to the +Mexicans. The <i>Princeton</i> was ordered to destroy her. Anchoring near the +wreck, a boat was manned and placed in charge of Lieutenant Boggs, to +whom the work of destruction was intrusted.</p> + +<p>The boat had nearly reached the stranded vessel when it was caught in +one of the tropical tempests, which sometimes appear with cyclonic +suddenness in that part of the world. It was impossible to board the +wreck, and equally impossible to get back to the <i>Princeton</i>. A powerful +current set in toward shore, in which direction the gale was blowing. +The combined efforts of the sturdy rowers could not check the progress +of the boat, which perhaps would have been the right course to take but +for an alarming discovery.</p> + +<p>On the beach a company of Mexican soldiers were drawn up with a field +piece, making ready to annihilate the little American company, as they +could do <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 273]<a name="Page_273" id="Page_273"></a></span>without the slightest difficulty before the gallant sailors +could land and make a charge. Here was a dilemma indeed. Nothing could +extricate the boat and its crew from their peril and not a man could +raise a finger to help himself.</p> + +<p>There was only one person who saw the only possible thing to do. +Lieutenant Boggs ordered the single white shirt in the party to be torn +up, tied on the end of a boathook and displayed as a flag of truce. +Then, by his directions, the men rowed with all speed straight for the +enemy, who were thus disarmed of their hostile purpose. Walking up to +the leader of the company, the lieutenant explained that he had been +sent to destroy the <i>Truxton</i>, but had been driven ashore against his +will. He hastened to explain to the officer that he had no intention of +attacking the town, but he should do so if any one tried to prevent his +destruction of the stranded vessel.</p> + +<p>When the insignificance of the American party is remembered, there was +something amusing in this; but the Mexican officer not only gave his +promise, but entertained his visitors until the gale was over. Then the +<i>Truxton</i> was fired and Boggs returned to his ship.</p> + +<p>He was on the Pacific coast when the Civil War broke out, serving as +inspector of lighthouses. Chafing under idleness, he petitioned the +Government to <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 274]<a name="Page_274" id="Page_274"></a></span>give him active employment afloat. His wish was granted +and he was placed in command of the <i>Varuna</i>, a passenger steamer, +purchased by the Government and changed into a gunboat. Admiral Farragut +was making his preparations to attack New Orleans, and the <i>Varuna</i> was +added to his fleet. She was a very swift but frail craft, a fact which +led Farragut to grant Boggs' request to be allowed to run ahead of the +position that had been assigned him.</p> + +<p>In order to get up all the steam possible, the pork among the ship's +store was flung into the blazing furnace under the boilers. The craft +went through the water at a tremendous speed, and upon coming opposite +the forts, Boggs fired his starboard battery and then ordered grape and +canister to be used as rapidly as possible. Work had hardly begun when +the Confederate gunboats appeared on every hand. With the same coolness +that he had shown when driven ashore in Mexico, the command was given +for the guns to be fired "on both sides." Indeed, there were so many +targets that it would have been about as difficult to miss as to hit +one.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 622px;"> +<img src="images/278.png" width="622" height="400" alt="ATTACK ON ROANOKE ISLAND—LANDING OF THE TROOPS." title="ATTACK ON ROANOKE ISLAND—LANDING OF THE TROOPS." /> +<span class="caption">ATTACK ON ROANOKE ISLAND—LANDING OF THE TROOPS.</span> +</div> + +<p>The <i>Varuna</i> did terrific work, her gunners displaying fine markmanship. +The formidable craft <i>Governor Moore</i> had detected her in the early +morning light, and steaming after her, fired a shot when <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 275]<a name="Page_275" id="Page_275"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 276]<a name="Page_276" id="Page_276"></a></span>only a +hundred yards away, but missed. The <i>Varuna</i> replied, killing and +wounding men on the <i>Governor Moore</i> at every shot. One of the enemy's +shot, however, raked the <i>Varuna</i>, killing four men and wounding nine. +Another struck the <i>Varuna's</i> pivot gun and killed and wounded a number +more. Then the <i>Governor Moore</i> rammed the <i>Varuna</i> twice in quick +succession.</p> + +<p>But while the Confederate was doing so, Boggs planted three 8-inch +shells into his antagonist, which set her on fire and compelled her to +drop out of action. Her loss had been heavy and her engines were so +battered that her commander ran her ashore, where she was burned to the +water's edge.</p> + +<p>Out of the misty light burst the <i>Stonewall Jackson</i> and rammed the +<i>Varuna</i> on the port side, repeating the blow with a viciousness that +stove in the vessel below the water line; but the <i>Varuna</i> swung the ram +ahead until her own broadside guns bore, when she planted several 5-inch +shells into the <i>Stonewall Jackson</i>, which set her on fire and caused +her to drift ashore.</p> + +<p>But the <i>Varuna</i> had been mortally hurt and was sinking fast. To quote +the words of Commodore Boggs: "In fifteen minutes from the time the +<i>Varuna</i> was struck by the <i>Stonewall Jackson</i>, she was <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 277]<a name="Page_277" id="Page_277"></a></span>on the bottom, +with only her topgallant forecastle out of the water."</p> + +<p>But those were exceedingly lively minutes for the <i>Varuna</i> and the other +craft in her neighborhood. Commander Boggs turned her prow toward shore +and crowded all steam, firing his guns as the water rose about the +trucks. When the last shell left the side of the sinking vessel the +current had reached the mouth of the piece, and some of it was blown out +like mist with the shrieking missile.</p> + +<p>The moment the bow of the <i>Varuna</i> struck the bank a chain cable was +fastened around the trunk of a tree, so as to prevent her from sliding +into deep water as she went down and taking the wounded and dead with +her. This was a precaution which would not have occurred to every man in +the situation of Commander Boggs.</p> + +<p>The daring conduct of this officer brought a tribute from one of our +poets, which contains the stanzas:</p> + +<p> +"Who has not heard of the dauntless <i>Varuna</i>?<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Who shall not hear of the deeds she has done?</span><br /> +Who shall not hear while the brown Mississippi<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rushes along from the snow to the sun?</span><br /> +<br /> +"Five of the rebels like satellites round her,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Burned in her orbit of splendor and fear,</span><br /> +One like the Pleiad of mystical story<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Shot terror-stricken beyond her dread sphere."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 278]<a name="Page_278" id="Page_278"></a></span>When Boggs' native city heard of his gallant conduct it voted him a +sword, and the State of New Jersey did the same. He came North and was +appointed to the command of the blockading squadron off Wilmington. He +would have preferred active service, and finally his health broke down +under the exposure and fatigue to which he was subjected, and he was +compelled to return home to recruit. Upon his recovery, he was appointed +to duty in New York, but the war ended without his having another +opportunity to distinguish himself in the service of his country. He +died a few years after the close of hostilities.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 279]<a name="Page_279" id="Page_279"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<h3>John Ancrum Winslow—His Early Life and Training—The Famous Battle +Between the <i>Kearsarge</i> and <i>Alabama</i>.</h3> + + +<p>A few weeks ago I had as guests at my house two young men who were +graduates of the West Point Military Academy in 1889. One was my son, at +present an instructor in the Academy, and the other was E. Eveleth +Winslow, of the corps of engineers, who had the honor of being graduated +at the head of his class. During the course of the conversation I asked +Captain Winslow whether he was a relative of the late Commodore John +Ancrum Winslow, commander of the <i>Kearsarge</i> in her famous fight with +the <i>Alabama</i>.</p> + +<p>"He was my grandfather," replied my friend, with a glow of pride.</p> + +<p>It was a pleasant bit of information, but it made me realize how the +years are passing. It seems but a short time ago that the country was +electrified by the news of the great battle, off Cherbourg, France, +which sent to the bottom of the ocean the most destructive cruiser the +Southern Confederacy ever launched. And here was the grandson of the +hero of that fight, already thirty years of age, with the <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 280]<a name="Page_280" id="Page_280"></a></span>hair on his +crown growing scant. <i>Tempus fugit</i> indeed.</p> + +<p>The name Winslow is a distinguished one in the annals of our country, +and especially in Massachusetts, the State from which Captain Winslow +hails. He is the ninth generation from John Winslow, brother of Edward +Winslow, Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, and the founder, as may +be said, of Plymouth Rock itself. John A. Winslow, the subject of this +sketch, however, was a Southerner by birth, being a native of +Wilmington, North Carolina, where he was born November 19, 1811. His +mother belonged to the famous Rhett family of the fiery State of South +Carolina. The father had gone to Wilmington from Boston, to establish a +commercial house, four years before the birth of the son, who was sent +North to be educated. At the age of sixteen he entered the navy, and saw +a good deal of dangerous service in the extirpation of the West Indian +pirates. The exciting experience was exactly to the liking of young +Winslow, whose life more than once was placed in great peril.</p> + +<p>After an extended cruise in the Pacific, he returned east in 1833, and +was promoted to past midshipman. His service was of an unimportant +character for a number of years, the rank of lieutenant <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 281]<a name="Page_281" id="Page_281"></a></span>coming to him +in 1839. His conduct was so gallant in the war with Mexico that he was +publicly complimented by Commodore Matthew C. Perry, a younger brother +of the Lake Erie hero, and given the choice of vessels belonging to the +fleet.</p> + +<p>A curious incident is mentioned by his biographer. He went with the +division which set out to capture Tampico, but the city surrendered +without a fight upon the approach of the boats. He remained several +weeks and then went back to the fleet at Vera Cruz. One of the vessels +had been capsized in a squall, and the captain was occupying Winslow's +room, and continued to share it until other arrangements could be made. +The name of this visitor was Raphael Semmes, afterward the commander of +the <i>Alabama</i>. The history of our navy is full of such strange +occurrences. When the furnace blast of secession swept over the country, +the most intimate friends—in many cases brothers—became the deadliest +of enemies. For a time two flags were flung to the breeze in the United +States, and the men who fought under each were among the bravest of the +brave, for they were all <i>Americans</i>.</p> + +<p>In 1855 Winslow was made a commander and was engaged in various duties +until the breaking out of the Civil War. He hurried to Washington <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 282]<a name="Page_282" id="Page_282"></a></span>and +applied for active service. Captain Foote was busy fitting out a +flotilla at St. Louis, and Winslow was sent to join him. The work +involved great labor and difficulty, and Winslow's aid was invaluable, +although far from congenial. The task of blazing away at the guerrillas +in the bushes and woods along shore, of raking the muddy rivers and +streams for torpedoes, and of managing the awkward, nondescript craft, +was not to the liking of the naval officer, accustomed to the free air +of the deep, blue ocean. Finally his request to be transferred to sea +service was granted, and in the early part of 1863 he was placed in +command of the <i>Kearsarge</i>.</p> + +<p>This sloop of war had a crew of 163 men, carried two 11-inch pivot guns, +four short 32-pounders and one rifled 30-pounder, the total shot weight +of the seven guns being 430 pounds. In this place it may be well to give +the statistics of the <i>Alabama</i>, since the two vessels were so +intimately associated in history. The Confederate cruiser carried one +100-pounder Blakely gun, one 8-inch shell gun and six long 32-pounders, +the eight guns having a total of 360 pounds shot weight, while the crew +consisted of 149 men, of mixed nationalities, nearly all of them being +Englishmen.</p> + +<p>England at that time was less friendly to the <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 283]<a name="Page_283" id="Page_283"></a></span>United States than she +has since become, and she gave most unfair help to the Southern +Confederacy by aiding to fit out and man cruisers for it. When the war +was over she was compelled to pay a good round sum for her dishonest +course, and was taught a lesson she is not likely soon to forget. These +cruisers wrought immense havoc among our shipping, and Commander Winslow +was sent into European waters in quest of them. He was specially anxious +to meet the <i>Florida</i>, and followed her from the coast of South America +to that of England and France. The governments of those two countries +threw every possible obstacle in his way. The French pilots were +forbidden to serve the <i>Kearsarge</i>, and Captain Winslow had to be his +own pilot—something he was well able to do because of his familiarity +with the coasts.</p> + +<p>Finding the <i>Florida</i> in Brest, he blockaded the port. It was in the +depth of winter and the shore was dangerous, but Winslow did his duty so +well that the <i>Florida</i> dared not poke her nose outside, until he was +compelled, because of shortness of provisions, to steam over to Cadiz to +obtain them. He made all haste to return, but when he arrived the +<i>Florida</i> had slipped out and was gone.</p> + +<p>There was no telling to what part of the world she had fled, and Captain +Winslow sailed to Calais, where <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 284]<a name="Page_284" id="Page_284"></a></span>he learned that the rebel +<i>Rappahannock</i> was awaiting a chance to put to sea. He held her there +for two months, when a French pilot purposely ran the <i>Kearsarge</i> into +the piers along shore. It was done by prearrangement with the officers +of the <i>Rappahannock</i>, in order to give the latter a chance to put to +sea. The indignant Winslow drove all the French pilots off his ship, and +by vigorous work got her off by daylight the next morning. Meanwhile the +<i>Rappahannock</i>, which had greatly overstayed her time, was ordered by +the French authorities to leave. Winslow heard of this, and, without +waiting for some of his men and officers who were on shore, he moved out +of the harbor. When the commander of the <i>Rappahannock</i> saw the +<i>Kearsarge</i> once more off the port of Calais, he knew it was all up and +dismantled his ship.</p> + +<p>There was one Confederate scourge that had been roaming the seas for +months which Captain Winslow was anxious, above all others, to meet; +that was the <i>Alabama</i>, commanded by his former room-mate, Captain +Raphael Semmes. The <i>Kearsarge</i>, like many other vessels of the United +States, had been hunting here and there for the ocean pest, but it +seemed impossible to bring her to bay.</p> + +<p>On Sunday morning, June 12, 1864, the <i>Kearsarge</i> was lying off the town +of Flushing, Holland, <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 285]<a name="Page_285" id="Page_285"></a></span>with many of the officers and men ashore, and +with everything wearing the appearance of a protracted rest for the +crew. Some hours later, however, a gun was fired as a signal for every +member of the ship's company to come aboard at once. The cause of this +sudden awaking was a telegram from Minister William L. Dayton, at Paris, +notifying Captain Winslow that the <i>Alabama</i> had arrived at Cherbourg. +On Tuesday, Winslow appeared off the fort, and saw the cruiser within, +with her Stars and Bars floating defiantly in the breeze. Had Captain +Winslow followed, he would have been compelled by law to remain +twenty-four hours after the departure of the <i>Alabama</i>, so he took a +station outside, determined that the cruiser should not escape him +again.</p> + +<p>In this case, however, the precaution was unnecessary, for Semmes had +made up his mind to fight the National vessel. He had been charged with +cowardice in running away from armed ships, and he had destroyed and +captured so many helpless merchantmen that he felt something was due to +retrieve his reputation. A comparison of the crews and armaments of the +<i>Kearsarge</i> and <i>Alabama</i> will show that they were pretty evenly +matched, though the slight numerical superiority of the Union ship was +emphasized by the fact that her men were almost wholly <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 286]<a name="Page_286" id="Page_286"></a></span>American, while +those of Semmes, as already stated, were nearly all English.</p> + +<p>Shortly after the arrival of Captain Winslow the following challenge was +brought out to him:</p> + + +<div class="blockquot" /> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Confederate Steamer</span> <i>Alabama</i>,<br /> +<span class="smcap">Cherbourg</span>, June 14, 1864.<br /> +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>:—I hear that you were informed by the United States +Consul that the <i>Kearsarge</i> was to come to this port solely for the +prisoners landed by me, and that she was to depart in twenty-four +hours. I desire you to say to the United States Consul that my +intention is to fight the <i>Kearsarge</i> as soon as I can make the +necessary arrangements. I hope these will not detain me more than +till to-morrow evening, or next morning, at the farthest. I beg she +will not depart before I am ready to go out.</p> + +<p>I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant</p> + +<div><p> +<span class="smcap">R. Semmes</span>, <i>Captain</i>.<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<p>This note, though couched in seemingly courteous language, contained the +most aggravating sort of sting, in the hope expressed that the +<i>Kearsarge</i> would not leave until the <i>Alabama</i> was ready to go out, and +the intimation—undoubtedly false—that the sole business of the Union +vessel was to take charge of the prisoners brought thither by the +Confederate. Captain Winslow had not spent months in hunting over the +globe for such a chance as this to let it slip.</p> + +<p>The <i>Alabama</i> was among friends. She had the <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 287]<a name="Page_287" id="Page_287"></a></span>sympathies of the +thousands, who hoped to see the Yankee ship sunk by the fearful +commerce-destroyer. Excursion trains were run from Paris and other +points to Cherbourg, and among the vast multitude who gathered on shore +on that warm, hazy Sunday morning—June 19—to witness the coming +battle, it may be doubted whether there were a score who wished to see +the <i>Kearsarge</i> win.</p> + +<p>The respective captains were brave men and good officers. Both had +declared that, if they ever met, the battle would not end until one of +the ships went to the bottom, and each knew that the other would keep +his word. Such a thing as surrender was not thought of by either.</p> + +<p>Semmes was confident of his ability to sink the <i>Kearsarge</i>. Being a +Roman Catholic, and unable to attend service, he requested a friend to +go to mass and have it offered up for him, which was done. His +accumulated sixty chronometers were sent ashore, and the motto displayed +by his ship was "<i>Aide toi et Dieu t'aidera</i>," meaning, "Help yourself +and God will help you," another version of the old adage, "God helps +them that help themselves."</p> + +<p>The church chimes were sending out their mellow notes on the warm summer +air when the <i>Alabama</i> began slowly steaming out of the harbor. She was +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 288]<a name="Page_288" id="Page_288"></a></span>cheered by the sympathetic thousands, who heard the drums beating to +quarters, and fervently prayed that their favorite might return +victorious.</p> + +<p>Winslow neglected nothing in the way of preparation. While calmly +confident, his experience had taught him that such a contest is often +decided by a chance shot, and he knew that the doom of one of the ships +would be sealed before the set of sun. Having done all he could, he +committed everything to the God of battles, content to abide by His +will, whatever it might be.</p> + +<p>It was about ten o'clock that Winslow, with his glass pointed toward +shore, saw the head of the <i>Alabama</i> coming round the point of the mole, +some three miles distant. He immediately beat to quarters. The +<i>Couronne</i> accompanied the <i>Alabama</i> to the limits of French waters, and +then turned back. The English yacht <i>Deerhound</i> had hurried down from +Caen, upon being telegraphed of the impending fight, and the owner, with +his family on board, followed the <i>Alabama</i> at the risk of receiving a +stray shot that would wind up the career of the pleasure craft and all +on board.</p> + +<p>Some time before Captain Winslow had arranged his sheet chains for a +distance of fifty feet amidships and over the side of his vessel, +extending six feet <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 289]<a name="Page_289" id="Page_289"></a></span>down. They were intended as an additional protection +to his machinery, and the practice is common among warships. The chains +were secured by marline to eyebolts protected with one-inch boards. This +natural precaution was the foundation for Captain Semmes' charge that +the <i>Kearsarge</i> was partly armored. During the fight this part of the +ship was hit only twice, so that the protection, if it be considered +such, bore an unimportant part in the battle itself.</p> + +<p>Captain Winslow was determined that no question about neutral waters +should be raised. Accordingly, as the <i>Alabama</i> approached, he steamed +out to sea, as if running away from his antagonist. Another object he +had in mind was to prevent the <i>Alabama</i>, in case she was crippled, from +escaping by running into the harbor.</p> + +<p>When the <i>Kearsarge</i> had reached a point some seven miles from land, she +swung around and made directly for the <i>Alabama</i>, although such a course +exposed her to the raking broadsides of the enemy. Reading his purpose, +Semmes slowed his engines and sheered off, thus presenting his starboard +battery to the <i>Kearsarge</i>. When the vessels were about a mile apart, +the jets of fire and smoke from the side of the <i>Alabama</i>, followed by +the reverberating boom of her <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 290]<a name="Page_290" id="Page_290"></a></span>cannon, showed that she had fired her +first broadside. It did only trifling damage to the rigging of the +<i>Kearsarge</i>. A second and part of a third broadside were delivered, with +no perceptible effect. All the time, under a full head of steam, Winslow +was rushing toward his enemy for the death grapple. Still in peril of +being raked, he now sheered when half a mile distant and fired his +broadside of five-second shells, at the same time endeavoring to pass +under the <i>Alabama's</i> stern, but Semmes defeated the manœuvre by also +sheering his vessel. The effort of each was now to keep his starboard +broadside presented to the other, the attempt causing the two ships to +describe an immense circle, the diameter of which steadily decreased, +until it was barely a third of a mile.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes after the opening of the battle the spanker gaff of the +<i>Alabama</i> and the ensign were brought down by the fire of the +<i>Kearsarge</i>, whose crew burst into cheers, but the Confederates quickly +hoisted the colors to their mizzen. When the two ships were within a +third of a mile of each other the fire became terrible; but from the +first that of the <i>Kearsarge</i> was more accurate and did vast damage. +This was impressively shown by the fact that although the <i>Kearsarge</i> +fired only 173 shots during <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 291]<a name="Page_291" id="Page_291"></a></span>the fight, nearly every one struck the +<i>Alabama</i>, which fired 370, of which only 28 landed.</p> + +<p>One of the <i>Alabama's</i> 60-pound Blakely shells passed through the +bulwarks of the <i>Kearsarge</i>, and, bursting on the quarter deck, wounded +three men, of whom William Gowin was mortally hurt. When carried to the +surgeon, the intensely suffering man smiled. "We are whipping the +<i>Alabama</i>," he said, "and I am willing to give my life for such a +victory."</p> + +<p>Another Confederate shell burst in the hammock nettings and started a +fire, which was easily extinguished. A third lodged in the sternpost, +but failed to explode. Had it done so, its effect would have been +terrific. The damage done by the other shells was insignificant.</p> + +<p>A far different story was told on the Confederate cruiser. Winslow's +instructions to his gunners were to fire slowly and to make every shot +tell, and they did so. The men on the <i>Alabama</i> stripped to their shirts +and drawers and fired rapidly, as if the only thing to do was to work +the guns without taking pause to aim. Crashing planks and timber and +exploding shells seemed to be all about them. A single shot from the +<i>Kearsarge</i> killed and wounded eighteen men and disabled a gun. Another +burst in the coal bunks and cluttered up the engine room. Death and +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 292]<a name="Page_292" id="Page_292"></a></span>destruction raged on every hand, and still the terrible <i>Kearsarge</i> +kept working nearer, the dearest wish of Winslow being to get to close +quarters.</p> + +<p>The ships had described seven circles about each other and were starting +on the eighth, when Winslow, all alive and eagerness, saw the <i>Alabama</i> +set her fore trysail and two jibs and start for shore. That meant that +it was all up with her, and her captain's only hope now was to get into +the harbor of Cherbourg. Winslow ran across her bow and was on the point +of raking her, when the <i>Alabama's</i> flag came down. Uncertain whether +this was an accident, and suspecting a ruse by which the enemy expected +to reach shore, now only two miles off, Winslow stopped firing, but held +himself ready to open again. A white flag was displayed, and he began +preparations to render assistance to his defeated antagonist. Just then, +however, the <i>Alabama</i> fired again, upon which Winslow answered with +several shots, when the white flag was run up for the second time.</p> + +<p>The doom of the <i>Alabama</i> had overtaken her at last. She was fast +settling, and while the only two serviceable boats of the <i>Kearsarge</i> +were hurrying to the relief of the crew, the famous cruiser threw her +prow high in air and slid stern foremost into the depths of the +Atlantic.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 293]<a name="Page_293" id="Page_293"></a></span>In the midst of the wild confusion a boat from the <i>Alabama</i>, under +charge of the English master's mate, came alongside, announcing that the +<i>Alabama</i> had surrendered and begging for help. On the promise of this +man to return, Winslow allowed him to go back to the aid of the drowning +crew, but instead of keeping his pledge, he took refuge on the yacht +<i>Deerhound</i>, which was circling about and doing all it could for the +struggling wretches in the water. Among those picked up was Captain +Semmes, who had flung his sword into the sea and leaped overboard as his +ship was going down. He was suffering from a painful wound in the hand, +and when helped on board of the <i>Deerhound</i> was in an exhausted +condition. The captain of the yacht, after picking up thirty-nine men, +including a number of officers, instead of delivering them to Captain +Winslow, as he was in honor bound to do, edged away from the scene, and, +putting on all steam, did not pause until he reached Southampton. The +<i>Kearsarge</i> picked up the men that remained and took them into +Cherbourg.</p> + +<p>In this famous battle the <i>Kearsarge</i> had only 1 killed and 2 wounded, +while Semmes lost 40 killed and 70 taken prisoners. The Confederate +commander and his sympathizing British friends offered all sorts of +excuses for his defeat. Some of <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 294]<a name="Page_294" id="Page_294"></a></span>them were ingenious, but none was the +true one. The cause of the sinking of the <i>Alabama</i> was the same as that +which gave us so many wonderful naval victories in the War of 1812. Our +vessels were manned by Americans, while the <i>Alabama</i> was really an +English ship, armed with English guns and manned and fought by an +English crew: there's the truth in a nutshell.</p> + +<p>Captain Winslow received the promotion to the grade of a commodore which +he had so gallantly won. He died in 1873. It was a source of regret +throughout the country that on the night of February 2, 1894, the +<i>Kearsarge</i> was wrecked off Roncador Reef, while on a voyage from +Port-au-Prince, Hayti, to Bluefields, Nicaragua. None of her crew was +drowned, but the vessel itself was lost, despite every effort to save +her.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 295]<a name="Page_295" id="Page_295"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + + +<h3>An Unexpected Preacher—Andrew Hull Foote—His Character and Early +Career—His Brilliant Services in the War for the Union.</h3> + + +<p>One Sunday morning early in the Civil War a large assemblage had +gathered in a prominent church in a Western city for the purpose of +worship. But the hour for opening the services came and passed and the +preacher, the one indispensable individual, did not appear. The auditors +became uneasy. No one knew the cause of his absence and no word came +from the parsonage, which was at some distance from the church. When the +congregation were about to break up and pass out a stranger, sitting +near the front, quietly arose, walked up the pulpit steps, gave out the +opening hymn, led in prayer and preached a sermon which impressed all by +its plain, practical truths. He held the attention of the people from +the opening to the close, and among the listeners were more than one who +felt that the unexplained absence of the regular pastor had resulted in +a gain, though a brief one, for them.</p> + +<p>Naturally there was no little curiosity to learn the name of the +stranger. When approached by some <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 296]<a name="Page_296" id="Page_296"></a></span>of the leading brethren at the close +of the services, he modestly said he was Captain Foote of the United +States navy. He occasionally preached, when there seemed to be a call +for such work on his part, but preaching was not his profession, and he +would not have thought of entering the pulpit had he not seen that it +was a choice between doing so and allowing the congregation to go home.</p> + +<p>Andrew Hull Foote was born in New Haven, Conn., September 12, 1806. He +belonged to a prominent family, his father, Samuel A. Foote, having +served in Congress for several terms, as United States Senator, and as +Governor of his State. The son received the best educational training +and was subjected to the strict religious discipline characteristic of +the Puritan families of old New England. His romantic nature was deeply +stirred by the accounts of the naval exploits of his countrymen in the +War of 1812, and he set his heart upon entering the navy. His mother +opposed, but, when she saw it was useless, wisely yielded. His father's +influence readily procured him the appointment of midshipman, and he was +directed to report on the schooner <i>Grampus</i>, under the command of +Lieutenant (afterward Admiral) Gregory.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/300.png" width="400" height="499" alt="ANDREW HULL FOOTE." title="ANDREW HULL FOOTE." /> +<span class="caption">ANDREW HULL FOOTE.</span> +</div> + +<p>The <i>Grampus</i> went to the West Indies in quest of <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 297]<a name="Page_297" id="Page_297"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 298]<a name="Page_298" id="Page_298"></a></span>pirates, but never +found any. Young Foote was then transferred to the sloop of war +<i>Peacock</i>, which had made such a glorious record in the last war with +Great Britain, his next transfer being to the frigate <i>United States</i>, +the flagship of Commodore Isaac Hull, who won the famous victory over +the <i>Guerriere</i> in August, 1812.</p> + +<p>The cruise lasted three years, and Foote returned to New York in the +spring of 1837. He made a visit to his home, when he was once more +ordered to the West Indies.</p> + +<p>About this time he was brought under religious influence. He read his +Bible and spent many hours in prayer, and finally yielded completely to +God. He made his mother inexpressibly happy by sending her the glad +news, and thenceforward throughout his stirring life he was one of the +most humble, devout and consecrated of Christians.</p> + +<p>Like Havelock, he did an amount of good among those placed under his +charge, the full extent of which can never be known in this world. While +on duty at the Naval Asylum in Philadelphia he persuaded the men to give +up their grog rations and sign a pledge of total abstinence, and when +executive officer on the <i>Cumberland</i> he did the same thing with its +crew. He was a voluntary chaplain and gave a <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 299]<a name="Page_299" id="Page_299"></a></span>religious address on the +berth deck every Sunday evening to those who wished to listen.</p> + +<p>Disease of the eyes incapacitated him for duty for a long time, and he +was much disappointed that he was not permitted to take any part in the +Mexican war. One of his most practical temperance addresses was that, +while engaged off the coast of Africa in suppressing the slave trade, he +persuaded the men under him on the <i>Perry</i>, of which he was the +commander, to give up the use of liquor. Although exposed to one of the +most pestilential climates in the world, he did not lose a man.</p> + +<p>At the breaking out of the Civil War he was in command of the Brooklyn +Navy Yard. He was overwhelmed with work for a time, and was glad when, +early in the autumn of 1861, he was ordered to the West to help in the +building of an inland navy on the Mississippi.</p> + +<p>Captain Foote worked with the tremendous energy which he threw into +every task, and succeeded in getting together seven boats, four of which +were partly protected by armor. At the beginning of February, 1862, he +started from Cairo to ascend the Tennessee, his objective point being +Fort Henry, though the Confederates were deceived into thinking it was +Columbus, on the Mississippi. He asked the <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 300]<a name="Page_300" id="Page_300"></a></span>Government for more men with +which to man additional boats, but they were not furnished, and he went +forward with such as he could get.</p> + +<p>On the night preceding the attack on Fort Henry the little fleet +anchored abreast of the army under General Grant, which was encamped on +the bank. The night was cold and tempestuous, but the morning dawned +keen and clear, and no time was lost in preparing the flotilla for the +attack on the fort. He intimated to General Grant that he must not +linger if he wished to cut off the retreat of the enemy. Grant assured +him he would be on time to put his army in motion.</p> + +<p>Fort Henry stood on a bend in the river, which it commanded for a long +distance up and down stream. Foote placed his boats behind an island a +mile below the fort, with a view of avoiding the long range rifles of +the Confederates, which were liable to cripple the gunboats before they +could get into close action. The wooden vessels halted upon coming in +view of the fort, and the ironclads, as they were called, moved slowly +up stream abreast of one another, firing their bow guns in answer to the +shots of the rebels. The latter had had the time to practice to acquire +the exact range, while the boats had yet to find it. They fired slowly +and with such accuracy that the infantry <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 301]<a name="Page_301" id="Page_301"></a></span>stationed outside of the works +hastily fled, though the gunners bravely remained at their posts.</p> + +<p>Foote opened fire when not quite a mile from the fort. His instructions +were to fire slowly and with care, the result of which was that guns +were continually dismounted and the earth and sandbags sent flying in +every direction. It was while the attack was being pressed in this +vigorous fashion that a shell pierced the boiler of the <i>Essex</i>, +commanded by Lieutenant Porter, and caused so many deaths, as has been +related in a preceding chapter.</p> + +<p>This appalling accident was a serious loss to Captain Foote, for Porter +was doing inestimable service when thus driven out of action, but the +daring commander pressed forward in the face of the murderous fire, +encouraged by the visible results of his shots, which were playing +frightful havoc against the defences of the fort. Tilghman, the +Confederate commander, displayed great bravery, fighting until every one +of his guns was dismounted. Then, finding himself powerless to offer +further resistance, he hauled down his flag. Firing immediately ceased +on the part of the Union flotilla, and Foote sent a boat ashore to take +possession.</p> + +<p>Despite General Grant's usual promptness, he did not arrive in time to +intercept the flight of the garri<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 302]<a name="Page_302" id="Page_302"></a></span>son. As a consequence the prisoners +surrendered, including General Tilghman and his staff, numbered less +than a hundred. The others fled overland to Fort Donelson, only to be +compelled to surrender shortly afterward to Grant in what proved to be +the first great Union victory of the war.</p> + +<p>The severity of this battle is shown by the fact that Foote's ship was +struck 31 times, the <i>Essex</i> 15, and the <i>Carondelet</i> 6. The total +number of killed, wounded and missing was 48. The success was so +decisive that Foote was applauded throughout the North, sharing the +well-earned honors with General Grant, whose successful career is known +to every boy in the land.</p> + +<p>Foote now steamed down the river to Cairo and began the ascent of the +Cumberland, to assist General Grant, who was marching overland to the +attack on Fort Donelson. Dauntless as was the courage of the naval +leader, he knew his task was a hopeless one. He had not only lost the +<i>Essex</i>, but Fort Donelson was greatly superior in strength to Fort +Henry. The water assault, however, was deemed a military necessity, and +he did not hesitate.</p> + +<p>On February 14 he advanced resolutely to the attack with his two wooden +gunboats and four partial ironclads. The tremendous land batteries +opened on <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 303]<a name="Page_303" id="Page_303"></a></span>this weak force the moment it came within range, and the +results were of the most destructive nature. As usual, the chief +attention was given to the flagship, which was struck again and again by +the flying shot and shell. Undismayed by the awful tempest, Foote pushed +steadily onward, cool, calm, hopeful and prepared for the worst.</p> + +<p>His pilot was a brave man, but under the frightful fire he began to show +a nervousness that caught the eye of Foote. Walking up to him, he placed +his hand in a kindly manner on his shoulder and spoke encouragingly to +him. While he was doing so, the poor fellow was torn into pieces by a +shot, and the captain himself was badly wounded in the foot by a flying +splinter. Paying no heed to the bleeding member, he limped about the +boat, swept by the iron hail, and gave his orders as coolly as before. +But the shot that killed the pilot also smashed the wheel, and the +unmanageable boat began drifting down stream. The tiller ropes of +another boat were also cut about the same time, and she also floated +helplessly with the current. The Confederates increased their fire, and +the other two boats, also greatly damaged, followed the flagship, and +the ferocious fight that had lasted more than an hour was over, with the +Union flotilla badly repulsed.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 304]<a name="Page_304" id="Page_304"></a></span>The flagship had been struck 59 times, and 54 had been killed and +wounded on the different ships; but Foote would have maintained the +fight, with a fair probability of success, but for the destruction of +his steering gear.</p> + +<p>Grant and Foote now formed a plan for the capture of Nashville, but on +the eve of starting were stopped by a telegraphic order from General +Halleck not to allow the gunboats to go further up the river than +Clarksville. Foote was greatly disappointed, and, absolutely certain of +capturing the city, telegraphed for permission to do so, but it was +refused. Thus he was left no alternative but to return to Cairo.</p> + +<p>While there, he learned that the Confederate force occupying Columbus +had evacuated the town and fortified themselves on Island No. 10. They +numbered about 8,000 and were under the command of General Mackall, from +Beauregard's army. Foote transferred his flag to the ironclad <i>Benton</i> +and advanced against the powerful works that had been erected on the +island. The bombardment was continued for three weeks, without +inflicting serious damage, and there was little prospect of capturing +the place from the river, when General Pope arrived with a large land +force; but to reach the fort it was necessary for <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 305]<a name="Page_305" id="Page_305"></a></span>him to get his troops +across the river, and he had not a single transport to use for that +purpose.</p> + +<p>Pope's arrival below made it necessary to send a gunboat down to him, +for until that was done he could make no movement against the rebel +force there. The all-important question was whether any one of the +gunboats could run the terrific gauntlet of the batteries that lined the +shore. It looked as if the attempt must result in the inevitable +destruction of any craft before half the distance could be accomplished. +At a council of the officers it was agreed that it was too hazardous to +try to run one of the gunboats past the batteries. Such was the opinion +of every man except Henry Walke, commander of the <i>Carondelet</i>, who +volunteered to try the seemingly impossible task. Captain Foote +reluctantly gave his consent.</p> + +<p>It was understood that Walke was to make the attempt on the first rainy +or foggy night. In the event of success, he was to coöperate with Pope, +and, when he moved, to assist in the attack on the fortifications. +Captain Foote closed his instructions to his faithful aide with the +following impressive words:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><br /><p>On this delicate and somewhat hazardous service to which I assign +you I must enjoin upon you the importance of keeping your lights +secreted in the hold or put out, keep<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 306]<a name="Page_306" id="Page_306"></a></span>ing your officers and men +from speaking at all, when passing the forts, above a whisper, and +then only on duty, and of using every other precaution to prevent +the rebels suspecting that you are dropping below their batteries.</p> + +<p>If you successfully perform this duty assigned to you, which you +so willingly undertake, it will reflect the highest credit upon you +and all belonging to your vessel, and I doubt not but that the +government will fully appreciate and reward you for a service +which, I trust, will enable the army to cross the river and make a +successful attack in the rear, while we storm the batteries in +front of this stronghold of the rebels.</p> + +<p>Commending you and all who compose your command to the care and +protection of God, who rules the world and directs all things, I +am, respectfully, your obedient servant,</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">A.H. Foote.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>P.S.—Should you meet with disaster, you will, as a last resort, +destroy the steam machinery, and, if possible, to escape, set fire +to your gunboat, or sink her, and prevent her falling into the +hands of the rebels.<br /><br /></p></div> + +<p>The night selected—April 4—was rainy and of inky blackness, relieved +by vivid flashes of lightning. No precaution that could be thought of +was neglected. Chains were twisted around the pilot-house and other +vulnerable parts, and wood was piled against the boilers, with which the +hose was connected, to make the jets of steam available to repel +boarders. On one side was lashed a boat loaded with pressed hay, while a +barge of coal was fastened on the side furthest from the dangerous +batteries, and the escape steam was led into the paddle-wheel house in +order to muffle <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 307]<a name="Page_307" id="Page_307"></a></span>the sound. Among the fully armed crew were twenty of +the most expert sharpshooters in the army.</p> + +<p>It was about ten o'clock when the <i>Carondelet</i> swung round in the stream +and started on its fearful race. The fleet fairly held its breath, as +officers and men listened and peered down the river in the tempestuous +darkness. Now and then the zigzagging lightning gave a momentary glimpse +of the craft moving away, but the straining eye and ear caught no sight +or sound.</p> + +<p>But when the <i>Carondelet</i> was close to the batteries a blaze suddenly +shot up several feet above the chimneys. The soot had caught fire and +the reflection was thrown far out on the water. The engineer immediately +opened the flue caps and all was darkness again. So quickly did this +singular glow come and vanish that it must have been mistaken by the +sentinels for a part of the lightning display, for it caused no alarm; +but the turning of the escape steam into the paddle-box had allowed the +soot to get dry, and they flamed up a second time. Though extinguished +as promptly as before, the sentinels knew something was wrong and +signalled to the batteries below that one of the boats of the enemy was +approaching.</p> + +<p>It was useless to attempt concealment any longer. Walke ordered the +engine ahead at full speed and ran <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 308]<a name="Page_308" id="Page_308"></a></span>close to the shore nearest the +batteries, that their shot might pass over him. Aside from the enemy, +this was dangerous work, for there was no telling into what obstruction +the boat would dash. A man stood at the front with lead and line, +quietly calling out in a guarded voice the soundings, which were +repeated by a second man on deck, who forwarded the report aft to Walke, +standing beside the pilot.</p> + +<p>All the time the rain was falling in torrents. Suddenly a dazzling gleam +showed the pilot he was speeding straight for a shoal under the guns of +the Confederate battery.</p> + +<p>"Hard aport!" commanded the captain, and the heavy craft barely missed +the island, past which it shot at the highest speed. The lightning +flashes helped the <i>Carondelet</i> in more than one way. It not only gave +the pilot the necessary knowledge to avoid running aground, but confused +the Confederate gunners, who sent most of their shots over the boat, +which was not struck once during its remarkable run down the +Mississippi. Two shots had entered the barge at her side, but not a man +was hurt. The boat was received with wild cheers by the expectant +soldiers, who, while hoping for the best, feared the worst.</p> + +<p>It had been agreed between Walke and Captain <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 309]<a name="Page_309" id="Page_309"></a></span>Foote that in case the +former was successful, he was to make it known by firing minute guns. +The captain was listening intently, when through the rain and darkness +the welcome signals reached his ears, and he thanked God that all had +come out so well.</p> + +<p>Now that General Pope had received the transport for which he longed, +Captain Foote breathed freely and prepared to give what help he could in +the attack upon the rebel fortifications; but, to his surprise, Pope +sent an urgent request that a second boat should be sent to him on the +next night, adding that the success of the whole movement depended upon +a compliance with this request.</p> + +<p>Foote replied that it would be as safe to run the batteries at midday as +on a clear night; for a vessel had to pass not only seven batteries, but +be kept "head on" to a battery of eleven guns, at the upper part of +Island No. 10, and to pass within 300 yards of it. In deference to +Pope's earnest request, Captain Foote consented to prepare another boat, +but would not permit it to start until the night was favorable.</p> + +<p>The second night was similar to the one described, and Lieutenant +Thompson, in charge of the <i>Pittsburg</i>, started down the river at two +o'clock in the morning. Although exposed to the same fire as the +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 310]<a name="Page_310" id="Page_310"></a></span><i>Carondelet</i>, he was equally fortunate, and ran the gauntlet with the +same good fortune.</p> + +<p>The passage of these two ironclads sealed the fate of Island No. 10, for +Pope could now cross the river, and, by taking position in the rear of +the Confederate works, cut off the supplies of the garrison. The +crossing was made and the enemy's batteries silenced. On the 8th the +island was surrendered to Captain Foote and General Pope, including the +garrison of 5,000 men.</p> + +<p>Captain Foote's next move was to Fort Pillow. All this time he was +suffering so severely from the wound in his foot that it affected his +spirits, usually buoyant and hopeful. Another disturbing cause was the +continual interference of General Halleck, who prevented several +movements that Foote knew must have resulted in important successes.</p> + +<p>His health continued to decline till finally the day came when he was +compelled to ask for a leave of absence. He went to his brother's home +in Cleveland, where his condition caused great solicitude throughout the +country. Afflictions crowded upon him. He returned to his home, which +was shadowed by the death of his bright boy at the age of fourteen +years. A few months later two of his daughters died. How hollow sounded +the praises of his countrymen when <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 311]<a name="Page_311" id="Page_311"></a></span>his head was bowed with such +overwhelming sorrow! He had been made rear admiral, and, though still +weak, was by his own request assigned to the command of the North +Atlantic squadron. He went to New York to complete his preparations, but +while there succumbed to his illness, and died at the Astor House, June +26, 1863.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 312]<a name="Page_312" id="Page_312"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>A Man Devoid of Fear—William Barker Cushing—Some of His Exploits—The +Blowing Up of the <i>Albemarle</i>—His Sad Death.</h3> + + +<p>If ever man lived who knew not the meaning of fear, he was William +Barker Cushing, born in Wisconsin in 1842. He entered the Naval Academy +in 1857, remained four years, received his appointment from the State of +New York, but claiming Pennsylvania as his residence. He was wild and +reckless, and resigned in March, 1861, when even his closest friends saw +little hope of his success in life.</p> + +<p>Many heroes are referred to as fearless, but that man is reckoned brave +who knows the full extent of the danger facing him, and yet does not +hesitate to meet it; but Cushing was a youth who really seemed to love +danger for its own sake, and never flinched while death was on every +hand, but went unhesitatingly forward, when it would have been no +reflection upon his courage had he turned about and run.</p> + +<p>The breaking out of the Civil War offered so fascinating a field for him +that he could not resist the temptation. The Secretary of the Navy +always had a tender spot in his heart for the daring fellow, and <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 313]<a name="Page_313" id="Page_313"></a></span>when +Cushing promised that if he would give him a chance he would prove +himself worthy of the Secretary's confidence, that official consented +and attached him to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. At the very +first opportunity Cushing displayed the wonderful personal intrepidity +which was soon to make him the most famous naval officer of his age.</p> + +<p>In the expedition against Franklin, Va., in the autumn of the year, he +was placed in command of the gunboat <i>Ellis</i>, and showed such skill and +bravery that he was recommended by the acting admiral to the Navy +Department. Some weeks later he steamed into New River Inlet, with the +object of capturing Jacksonville and destroying the salt works. He was +successful, secured three vessels and drove the enemy from two pieces of +artillery with which they were firing on him at short range. All was +going well, but while still close to the abandoned works Cushing's +little steamer ran aground, and, despite every effort, he could not work +her free.</p> + +<p>He saw it was useless to try to get the boat off. He therefore took +everything out of her, excepting the pivot gun and ammunition, and, +placing them on board one of the captured schooners, ordered the crew to +leave. Knowing the enemy would soon return in overwhelming numbers, he +asked for six volunteers <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 314]<a name="Page_314" id="Page_314"></a></span>to stay with him and fight with the single gun +to the last. The response was prompt, for his daring spirit was +infectious, and he instructed the others, in the event of him and his +comrades being attacked, to make no attempt to help them.</p> + +<p>Just as he anticipated, the Confederates opened upon the doomed steamer +at daylight, firing from so many different points that the defenders +were helpless. As fast as the gun could be loaded, it was pointed here, +there and everywhere, for, no matter in what direction it was aimed, it +was pretty sure to hit some of the enemy; but a single gun against a +score could accomplish nothing, and the lieutenant had to decide whether +to remain, with the certainty of every man being shot to pieces, of +surrendering, or of rowing in an open boat for more than a mile through +the murderous fire. With scarcely a moment's hesitation, he resolved +upon the last plan, which looked as suicidal as remaining on the +steamer.</p> + +<p>The gun was loaded to the muzzle and trained upon the enemy, so as to go +off when heated, the steamer set on fire in several places, and, +dropping into the smaller boat, the men pulled with might and main for +the schooner. Fortune favors the brave, and they reached it in safety, +and soon after arrived at Beaufort.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 315]<a name="Page_315" id="Page_315"></a></span>This exploit won for Cushing the commendation of the Navy Department +for "his courage, coolness and gallantry."</p> + +<p>His restless spirit would not allow him to remain idle. He was +continually engaging in some daring enterprise, in which it must not be +supposed he displayed nothing more than headlong recklessness. That +quality was supplemented by coolness and skill, without which he never +could have attained the remarkable success that attended his career.</p> + +<p>Among the numerous achievements the following will serve as an +illustration of the young man's disposition:</p> + +<p>Lieutenants Lamson and Cushing had command of a number of gunboats that +were sent to the aid of General Peck, stationed at Norfolk. In the +latter part of April it was learned that a Union boat had been decoyed +ashore by the display of a white handkerchief and then fired upon. The +angered Cushing asked for and received the privilege of retaliating for +this treacherous act. In charge of seven boats, manned by ninety +sailors, he set out and landed under the protection of the fire of the +vessels. Leaving a part of his force to protect the boats, he started +inland, taking a 12-pounder howitzer with him.</p> + +<p>His objective point was a village three miles away, <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 316]<a name="Page_316" id="Page_316"></a></span>where several +hundred cavalry were stationed. Advancing boldly, he drove in the +pickets, and coming across a span of mules hitched to a cart, he tied +the rope of the howitzer to the rear, lashed the animals to a gallop and +went clattering into the village to the loud shouts of "Forward, double +quick!"</p> + +<p>Just as they entered the formidable body of cavalry were discerned, +galloping down the street toward them, swinging their sabres and +shouting at the top of their voices. In a twinkling the howitzer was +unlimbered, and the charge of grape which was poured into the +approaching horsemen was supplemented by a volley of musketry. The +racket terrified the mules, which broke into a gallop, dragging the cart +and ammunition after them, and never paused until they were among the +ranks of the enemy. With a shout, Cushing was after them, followed by +his men, and mules and ammunition were recovered in a twinkling. By this +time the demoralized cavalry had fled, and Cushing, after retaining +possession of the village until dusk, leisurely made his way back to the +boats.</p> + +<p>The war having proven the immeasurable value of ironclads of the +<i>Merrimac</i> type, the Confederates strained every nerve to build them, +often succeeding under the most trying conditions. One of the most +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 317]<a name="Page_317" id="Page_317"></a></span>formidable of these craft was the <i>Albemarle</i>, upon which work was +begun early in 1863, at Edward's Ferry, several miles up the Roanoke +River. Iron was so scarce that the country was scoured for miles in +every direction for bolts, bars and metal. As stated by Maclay, the keel +was laid in an open cornfield, and an ordinary blacksmith's outfit +formed the plant for building; but the makers persevered and completed a +craft 122 feet over all, with 45 feet beam and drawing 8 feet of water. +The casemate was 60 feet long, constructed of massive timbers, covered +with 4-inch planking, over which were placed two layers of 2-inch iron. +The motive power was furnished by twin screws operated by engines of 200 +horse-power each. Her armament consisted of an Armstrong 100-pounder in +the bow and another in the stern, the casemate being so pierced that the +guns could be used at broadside or quarter.</p> + +<p>At midnight, April 19, 1864, the <i>Albemarle</i> gave a proof of her +prodigious power of destruction. On the preceding two days the +Confederates had made a determined attack on Plymouth, held by the Union +forces, and the ironclad now set out to render assistance. The wooden +gunboats <i>Miami</i> and <i>Southfield</i> offered just the sort of targets the +monster fancied. Under a full head of steam, the <i>Albemarle</i> rammed <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 318]<a name="Page_318" id="Page_318"></a></span>her +iron beak clean into the fire room of the <i>Southfield</i>. The latter was +skewered upon the projection and began slowly sinking. The snout was so +entangled with the <i>Southfield</i> that the victim could not be shaken off, +and as she sank she carried her foe with her. The bow of the ironclad +dipped below the surface, and a most extraordinary and inglorious end +seemed inevitable, when the <i>Southfield</i> touched bottom, rolled over and +freed itself from the bow of the ram, which popped up again.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the <i>Miami</i> was pounding the iron hide of the monster, which +shed the missiles as the <i>Merrimac</i> shed the broadsides from the +<i>Cumberland</i> and <i>Congress</i>. When only a few feet from the <i>Albemarle</i>, +Lieutenant Flusser, standing directly behind a gun of the <i>Miami</i>, let +fly with a heavy shell, which, striking the armor of the <i>Albemarle</i>, +was shivered into a thousand fragments, most of which rebounding, +instantly killed the officer and wounded a dozen men. The <i>Miami</i> +retreated, and the next day Plymouth surrendered to the Confederates.</p> + +<p>In May, the <i>Albemarle</i> steamed down into the Sound and attacked the +Union gunboats, which made a heroic defence. The monster received +broadside after broadside and was repeatedly rammed, but suffered no +material damage, while she killed 4, wound<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 319]<a name="Page_319" id="Page_319"></a></span>ed 25 and caused the scalding +of 13, through piercing the boiler of one of her assailants.</p> + +<p>It will be seen that this ironclad had become a formidable menace to the +Union arms, not only in the immediate neighborhood, but further north. +It was the intention of her commander to clear out the fleets at the +mouth of the river, and then make an excursion up the coast, somewhat +like that which Secretary Stanton once believed the <i>Merrimac</i> was about +to undertake. General Grant was pressing his final campaign against +Richmond, and the <i>Albemarle</i> threatened to interfere with his plans, +for if she made the diversion of which she was capable, she was likely +to postpone indefinitely the wind up of the war.</p> + +<p>Ah, if some daring scheme could be perfected for destroying the +<i>Albemarle</i>! What a feat it would be and how vast the good it would +accomplish! There was one young officer in the American navy who +believed the thing could be done, and he volunteered to undertake it.</p> + +<p>Well aware that the Unionists would neglect no means of blowing up the +<i>Albemarle</i>, the Confederates used every possible precaution. At the +wharf in Plymouth, where she was moored, a thousand soldiers were on +guard, and her crew, consisting of sixty men, were alert and vigilant. +To prevent the ap<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 320]<a name="Page_320" id="Page_320"></a></span>proach of a torpedo boat, the ram was surrounded by a +boom of cypress logs, placed a considerable distance from the hull, and +a double line of sentries was stationed along the river. What earthly +chance was there under such conditions of any possible harm coming to +her?</p> + +<p>The picket boat in which Lieutenant Cushing undertook to destroy the +rebel ram was built at New York under his supervision, and taken to +Norfolk by way of the canals, and thence to Albemarle Sound again by +canal. He made his preparations with great care, and on the night of +October 27, which was dark and stormy, he started in his picket boat. He +was accompanied by eight men and the following officers: Acting Ensign +William L. Howarth, Acting Master's Mates Thomas S. Gay and John +Woodman, Acting Assistant Paymaster Francis H. Swan, Acting Third +Assistant Engineers Charles L. Steever and William Stotesbury.</p> + +<p>Cushing took in tow a small cutter, in which he intended to capture the +Confederate guard, that was in a schooner anchored near the wrecked +<i>Southfield</i>, and prevent their sending up an alarm rocket as a warning +to the sentinels above of the approach of danger. He stationed himself +at the stern, his plan being to land a little way below the ram and +board <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 321]<a name="Page_321" id="Page_321"></a></span>her from the wharf. A sudden dash promised her capture by +surprise, when she could be taken down stream. If this scheme could not +be carried out, he intended to blow her up with a torpedo as she lay at +the dock.</p> + +<p>The launch crept along the river bank as silently as an Indian canoe +stealing into a hostile camp. The distance to be passed was fully eight +miles, and the peril began almost from the moment of starting. The +necessary commands were spoken in whispers, and the waiting men scarcely +moved as they peered into the deep gloom and listened to the almost +inaudible rippling of the water from the bow. Speed was reduced as they +drew near Plymouth, in order to lessen the soft clanking of the engine +or the motion of the screw.</p> + +<p>They were still a mile below Plymouth when the shadowy outlines of the +wrecked <i>Southfield</i> loomed dimly to view. The Confederates had raised +her so that her hurricane deck was above the surface. Within a few yards +of the wreck a schooner was anchored containing a guard of twenty men +with a field piece and rocket, provided for precisely such danger as now +drew near. But on this night, of all others, the sentinels were dozing, +for had they been vigilant they must have seen the little craft whose +crew saw theirs <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 322]<a name="Page_322" id="Page_322"></a></span>and were on the <i>qui vive</i> to board on the instant of +discovery.</p> + +<p>The good fortune encouraged all hands, and as the schooner and wreck +melted into the darkness the launch swept around a bend in the river and +caught the glimmer of the camp fires along the banks, partly +extinguished by the falling rain. Still creeping cautiously on, the +outlines of the prodigious ram gradually assumed form in the gloom. It +looked as if the surprise would be complete, when a dog, more watchful +than his masters, began barking. He had discovered the approaching +danger, and the startled sentinels challenged, but no reply was made. A +second challenge bringing no response, several muskets flashed in the +night. Other dogs joined in barking, alarm rattles were sprung and wood +flung upon the fires, which, flaring up, threw their illumination out on +the river and revealed the launch and cutter. The hoarse commands of +officers rang out, and the soldiers, springing from sleep, caught up +their guns and rushed to quarters.</p> + +<p>Amid the fearful din and peril Cushing cut the tow line and ordered the +cutter to hasten down the river and capture the guard near the +<i>Southfield</i>. At the same moment he directed the launch to go ahead at +full speed. He had changed his plan. Instead of <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 323]<a name="Page_323" id="Page_323"></a></span>landing he determined +to blow up the ram. When close to it he learned for the first time of +the cordon of logs which surrounded the <i>Albemarle</i>, but, believing they +were slippery enough from remaining long in the water to be passed, he +sheered off, made a sweep of a hundred yards and again charged under +full steam for the obstruction.</p> + +<p>As he drew near the guards fired a volley which riddled Cushing's coat +and tore off the sole of his shoe.</p> + +<p>At the same moment he heard the vicious snapping of the primers of the +huge guns, which showed they had missed fire.</p> + +<p>"Leave the ram!" he shouted. "We're going to blow you up!"</p> + +<p>The Confederates, however, did not follow the advice and the launch +fired her howitzer. Then she glided over the slimy logs and paused in +front of the muzzle of a loaded cannon which could be almost reached +with the outstretched hand. Still cool and self-possessed amid the +horrible perils, Cushing stood erect, lowered the torpedo spar, shoved +it under the overhang, waited a moment for it to rise until he felt it +touch the bottom of the ram, when he gave a quick, strong pull on the +trigger line. A muffled, thunderous explosion followed, an immense +column of water <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 324]<a name="Page_324" id="Page_324"></a></span>rose in the air and the tremendous tipping of the +<i>Albemarle</i> showed she had received a mortal hurt.</p> + +<p>It was accomplished at the critical second, for the rifled gun, filled +with 100 pounds of canister and pointed at the launch ten feet away, was +immediately discharged. The careening of the ram deviated the aim just +enough to prevent the crew from being blown to fragments, but confident +that not a man could escape, the Confederates twice called upon their +assailants to surrender, and several did so, but Cushing was not among +them. With the same marvelous coolness he had displayed from the first +he took off his coat and shoes, flung his sword and revolver aside and +shouted:</p> + +<p>"Every man save himself!"</p> + +<p>Then he leaped into the water and began swimming with might and main +down stream, the bullets skipping all about him, but he soon passed +beyond sight and was still swimming when he heard a plashing near him. +It was made by one of the acting master's mates, John Woodman, who was +exhausted. Cushing helped him until he himself had hardly an ounce of +strength left, when he was obliged to let go, and the poor fellow, +calling good-by, sank from sight.</p> + +<p>When unable to struggle longer, Cushing let his feet drop and they +touched bottom. He managed to <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 325]<a name="Page_325" id="Page_325"></a></span>reach land, where he sank down so worn +out that he lay motionless until daylight. Then he crawled into a swamp, +where he remained hidden until a friendly negro appeared, who extended +every possible kindness to him. From him Cushing learned that the +<i>Albemarle</i> had been destroyed and was at the bottom of the river. It +was thrilling news, and the following night, after he had thoroughly +rested and been fed by his dusky friend, he moved down the river, found +a skiff and in it made his way to the fleet, bringing the first news of +the success of an exploit which it is safe to say has never been +surpassed in the history of our navy. Even the captain of the +<i>Albemarle</i> declared that "a more gallant thing was not done during the +war."</p> + +<p>While conceding to Lieutenant Hobson the full credit for his daring +achievement in sinking the <i>Merrimac</i> in the channel of Santiago harbor, +on June 3, 1898, it was by no means the equal of that of Lieutenant +Cushing, thirty-four years before.</p> + +<p>For his superb work Cushing received a vote of thanks from Congress and +was promoted to the rank of lieutenant commander. He led a division of +sailors in the second and what proved to be the successful attack upon +Fort Fisher, in January, 1865. It was a desperate fight and none +displayed more heroism <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 326]<a name="Page_326" id="Page_326"></a></span>than the young officer who had destroyed the +<i>Albemarle</i>.</p> + +<p>Hon. J.T. Headley, the biographer of Cushing, in an article written +immediately after the close of the Civil War, used these words: "Still a +young man, he has a bright future before him, and if he lives will +doubtless reach the highest rank in the navy. Bold, daring and +self-collected under the most trying circumstances—equal to any +emergency—never unbalanced by an unexpected contingency, he possesses +those great qualities always found in a successful commander. No man in +our navy, at his age, has ever won so brilliant a reputation, and it +will be his own fault if it is not increased until he has no superior."</p> + +<p>And yet Commander Cushing's reputation was not increased nor was it +through any fault of his own. It was not long after the war that his +friends were pained to observe unmistakable signs of mental unsoundness +in the young hero. These increased until his brain was all askew, and he +died in an insane asylum in 1874.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 327]<a name="Page_327" id="Page_327"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + +<h3>The Greatest of Naval Heroes—David Glasgow Farragut.</h3> + + +<p>David Glasgow Farragut was the greatest naval hero of modern times. +There are many honored names connected with the American navy, but his +towers above them all. The highest honors that his country could give +were freely bestowed upon him and no one will deny that he earned them +all.</p> + +<p>His father, although a native of Minorca, came to this country in 1776 +and lost no time in joining the ragged, starving patriots in their +struggle for independence. His skill and gallantry won him the rank of +major. When the war ended he settled on the western frontier, near +Knoxville, Tenn., where at a place called Campbell's Station his son +David was born in 1801. When only nine years old he was appointed +midshipman under Captain David Porter, the heroic commander of the +<i>Essex</i>. Captain Porter and Major Farragut were old friends, to which +fact was due the privilege extended to a lad of such tender years.</p> + +<p>In the sketch of Captain Porter the reader will recall the incident in +which young Farragut learned <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 328]<a name="Page_328" id="Page_328"></a></span>of the conspiracy among the 500 prisoners +on board the <i>Essex</i>, and, by giving his commander warning, prevented +the capture of the ship by the savage plotters.</p> + +<p>The boy was on the <i>Essex</i> when, disabled and helpless, she was pounded +into a surrender by two British ships while in the harbor of Valparaiso, +in January, 1814. It was one of the most sanguinary battles of the war, +when the decks ran with blood and the dead and dying were stretched on +every hand. Amid the terrible carnage the boy Farragut conducted himself +with such coolness and bravery that he was specially complimented by +Captain Porter in his report. Although wounded, he stood unflinchingly +to his guns, winning the admiration of the grim heroes around him and +demonstrating the wonderful qualities which later were to raise him to +the position of the foremost naval hero of the age.</p> + +<p>Peace came, and, although Farragut was in continual service, promotion +was slow. He became lieutenant in 1825, commander in 1841 and captain in +1851. His first wife, whom he married in Norfolk, became an invalid and +did not live long. His second wife was also a native of Norfolk. Thus he +was not only a Southerner himself, but his wife was a native of that +section. When, therefore, civil war came and <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 329]<a name="Page_329" id="Page_329"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 330]<a name="Page_330" id="Page_330"></a></span>it became fashionable for +people to express secession sentiments, it was taken for granted that +Farragut would cast his fortunes with the South; but upon being +approached he indignantly replied: "I would see every man of you damned +before I would raise my hand against that flag!" Being told that it +would be unsafe for him to remain in the South, he added that he wanted +only two hours to find another place of residence. He moved away at once +and with his wife and only son took up his home on the Hudson near +Tarrytown.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/332.png" width="400" height="481" alt="COMMODORE DAVID GLASGOW FARRAGUT." title="COMMODORE DAVID GLASGOW FARRAGUT." /> +<span class="caption">COMMODORE DAVID GLASGOW FARRAGUT.</span> +</div> + +<p>Being a stranger in that neighborhood, he was regarded with suspicion. +He was fond of taking long walks, and it is said that some of the people +suspected that he belonged to a gang of plotters who intended to cut the +Croton Aqueduct, but the quiet man was simply awaiting the summons of +his country to serve her in any capacity possible.</p> + +<p>The call came in the spring of 1861, when he was about threescore years +old. His duty was that of serving on the board appointed by Congress to +retire superannuated officers from the active service. This duty +completed, he was appointed to the command of the expedition organized +for the capture of New Orleans. He sailed from Hampton Roads on the 3d +of February, 1862, in the flagship <i>Hartford</i> and arrived <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 331]<a name="Page_331" id="Page_331"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 332]<a name="Page_332" id="Page_332"></a></span>seventeen +days later at Ship Island, the place of rendezvous. There he set to work +to make his arrangements for the great task which was wholly different +from any that had ever engaged his attention. But how well he completed +this grand work, he being the real supervisor and superintendent, has +been referred to in a previous chapter and is told in every history of +our country.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 623px;"> +<img src="images/334.png" width="623" height="400" alt="CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS—ATTACK ON FORT PHILIP." title="CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS—ATTACK ON FORT PHILIP." /> +<span class="caption">CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS—ATTACK ON FORT PHILIP.</span> +</div> + +<p>The skill and courage displayed by Farragut in the capture of New +Orleans attracted national attention and added greatly to his +reputation. In the latter part of June he ran the batteries of +Vicksburg, but notified the Government that though he could go up and +down the river as he chose and silence the batteries when he pleased, no +substantial good would result unless a land force of ten or twelve +thousand men attacked the town from the rear. It was this plan which +brought about the capture of Vicksburg by General Grant and the opening +of the Mississippi River. Farragut, who had been made rear admiral, +afforded great aid in taking Port Hudson and cleaning out all rebel +fortifications along the Father of Waters.</p> + +<p>This immense work having been accomplished, the Government now gave its +attention to Mobile, another of the Confederate strongholds in the +South. The <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 333]<a name="Page_333" id="Page_333"></a></span>campaign arranged was to attack it with a land force under +the command of Generals Canby and Granger and a naval force under +Farragut. In January, 1864, he made a reconnaissance of Mobile Bay and +informed the Government that if it would supply him with a slight +additional force he would attack and capture it at once. He knew that +the defences were being strengthened every day and repeatedly urged that +he be furnished with the means of making an immediate assault. But the +ill-advised and disastrous expedition of Banks up the Red River took +away the available troops and the appeal of Farragut remained unheeded +until the summer was well advanced.</p> + +<p>By that time the defences of Mobile were well nigh impregnable. Fort +Gaines, on Dauphin Island, had a garrison of 864 men and mounted three +10-inch columbiads, four 32-pounder rifled guns and twenty smoothbore +guns of 32, 24 and 18-pound calibres. The principal pass to Mississippi +Sound was commanded by Fort Powell, with one mounted 10-inch gun, one +8-inch columbiad and four rifled guns. The main fortification was Fort +Morgan, whose heavy guns were placed in three tiers. It mounted seven +10-inch, three 8-inch and twenty-two 32-pounder smoothbore guns and two +8-inch, two 6.5-inch and four 5.82-inch rifled guns. The exterior +batteries <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 334]<a name="Page_334" id="Page_334"></a></span>were also heavily armed and the garrison numbered 640 men. +The bay was filled with skilfully placed torpedoes, some of them of +stupendous size and power and sufficient, it would seem, if properly +handled, to destroy all the navies of the world.</p> + +<p>All arrangements being completed, the signal for the advance was hoisted +at daylight, August 5, 1864. The Union fleet consisted of 21 wooden +vessels and 6 ironclads. The wooden vessels sailed in pairs, the larger +on the starboard, so that if either was disabled the other could carry +it along. Farragut's intention was to lead with the flagship <i>Hartford</i>, +but he reluctantly allowed the <i>Brooklyn</i> to take that post, since she +carried four chase guns to the <i>Hartford's</i> one and was provided with an +ingenious apparatus for picking up torpedoes. It was contended further +that the flagship would be the special target of the enemy, a fact that +was likely to cripple her and prevent the employment of the +all-important signals. The last argument bore no weight with Farragut, +who replied that she would be the chief target anyway, no matter what +the position, and exposure to fire was one of the penalties of rank in +the navy. The monitors were to advance in single file, slightly in +advance of the wooden ships, the <i>Tecumseh</i>, Commander Tunis A.M. +Craven, in the lead.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 335]<a name="Page_335" id="Page_335"></a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/338.png" width="400" height="462" alt="IN MOBILE BAY." title="IN MOBILE BAY." /> +<span class="caption">IN MOBILE BAY.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 336]<a name="Page_336" id="Page_336"></a></span>In this order the slow advance was begun and at a few minutes past +seven the <i>Tecumseh</i> fired the first gun. The forts waited twenty +minutes when they replied, and the <i>Brooklyn</i> responded with two +100-pounder Parrot rifles. Under the protection of Fort Morgan nestled +the Confederate rams and ironclads, which directed their fire +principally at the wooden vessels. The great battle was opened.</p> + +<p>The enemy's gunboats and the ram <i>Tennessee</i> moved out from behind the +fort and continued firing at the wooden boats, giving principal +attention, as was expected, to the flagship, which was struck several +times. She soon began returning the fire, still advancing, and +repeatedly drove the gunners from the water batteries, but they +immediately returned and kept bravely at work.</p> + +<p>Smokeless powder was unknown in those days, and, as the vapor enfolded +the ships, Farragut kept stepping up the rigging almost unconsciously +until he was so high that he was clinging to the futtock shrouds. He had +his spyglass in one hand and kept raising it to his eyes. Captain +Percival Drayton had been closely watching the Admiral and now became +alarmed, lest some damage to the ropes should cause him to fall +overboard. He told Signal Quartermaster Knowles to climb the rigging and +secure Farragut <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 337]<a name="Page_337" id="Page_337"></a></span>to the shrouds. He obeyed and passed a lead line to one +of the forward shrouds and then drew it around the Admiral to the after +shroud and made it fast. Feeling the faithful officer at work, the +Admiral looked down kindly at him and said: "Never mind me, I am all +right." But Knowles persisted and did not descend until he had completed +his work.</p> + +<p>By and by the increasing smoke made it necessary for the commander to +ascend still higher, in order to maintain a clear view of the battle. He +untied the fastenings, and, climbing to the futtock shrouds, passed the +rope once more around his body several times and tied the end to the +rigging. The picture of Admiral Farragut thus lashed to the rigging has +been seen thousands of times in the histories of the Civil War.</p> + +<p>While in this perilous position he signalled for closer order. The +bombardment of the fort was terrific and produced great effect. +Commander Craven, with the <i>Tecumseh</i>, singled out the ram <i>Tennessee</i>, +under the command of Admiral Franklin Buchanan, who had charge of the +<i>Merrimac</i> on the first day of her fight with the <i>Monitor</i>. Both were +ironclads and Buchanan was as anxious to fight Craven as the latter was +to fight him. Craven, fearing his adversary would retreat, pressed +forward so eagerly <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 338]<a name="Page_338" id="Page_338"></a></span>that he paid no attention to the torpedoes over +which his hull was continually scraping. One or more of these suddenly +exploded, the front dipped and the <i>Tecumseh</i> plunged bow foremost to +the bottom of the bay, carrying with her 93 men out of a crew of 114.</p> + +<p>This appalling disaster was accompanied by a touching incident. When the +<i>Tecumseh</i> was diving downward Commander Craven and the pilot +instinctively started for the opening through which only one man could +pass at a time. They reached the foot of the ladder at the same moment. +"You first," said Craven, halting. The pilot just succeeded in +scrambling out, when the <i>Tecumseh</i> went down, taking her heroic captain +with her.</p> + +<p>The terrible occurrence was witnessed by friends and foes. A boat was +quickly lowered from the <i>Metacomet</i> and sent to the relief of the +survivors. It passed within a hundred yards of Fort Morgan, which could +have easily blown it out of the water. But General Page, the Confederate +commandant, knowing her errand, gave the order not to harm the boat, +which was on its way to save drowning men. His soldiers broke into +cheers, but he sternly stopped them, with the advice to wait till the +<i>Hartford</i> was sunk. The boat picked up ten men and officers, while four +swam to the beach and were made prisoners.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 339]<a name="Page_339" id="Page_339"></a></span></p> +<p>When the lull was over Farragut headed his ship for the fort, +signalling to the remainder of the fleet, which followed close after +him. When warned of the torpedoes the wrathful Admiral came near adding +a little profanity to his contemptuous opinion of them as he passed on. +Wheeling, he launched his whole broadside at the fort, then delivered a +second at the <i>Tennessee</i> and headed for the gunboats <i>Selma</i>, <i>Gaines</i> +and <i>Morgan</i>, all of which were raking him. Casting off his consort, the +<i>Metacomet</i>, he sent her after the <i>Selma</i>, and, after a hot chase, she +captured her. The other two took to shallow water under the guns of the +fort.</p> + +<p>The ships, having passed the latter, were about to anchor when the +<i>Tennessee</i> was perceived coming straight for the fleet, with the +intention of attacking it. Farragut signalled to the vessels to run her +down and ordered the pilot of the <i>Hartford</i> to drive her with full +speed at the ironclad. The <i>Monongahela</i> was the first to reach the +monster, struck her fairly, and, swinging around, let fly with a +broadside of 11-inch shot, which dropped harmlessly from her mailed +side. Undaunted, the <i>Monongahela</i> rammed her again, though she received +ten times as much damage as she inflicted. The <i>Lackawanna</i> passed +through a somewhat similar experience but a gunner drove a 9-inch <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 340]<a name="Page_340" id="Page_340"></a></span>shell +into one of the shutters, which was shattered and forced within the +casemate. The crews were so close that they taunted each other through +the portholes and even hurled missiles across the brief intervening +space.</p> + +<p>At this juncture the <i>Hartford</i> arrived, charging full speed upon the +ram, which so shifted its position that the blow was a glancing one. +Recoiling, the flagship delivered its most tremendous broadside, doing +no harm, while the <i>Hartford</i> itself was pierced again and again by the +exploding shells which strewed her deck with dead and dying. Nothing +daunted, Farragut prepared to ram once more, when his ship was badly +injured by an accidental blow from the <i>Lackawanna</i>. But Farragut, +seeing that she still floated, called for a full head of steam that he +might deliver a blow that was likely to send his own ship to the bottom.</p> + +<p>By this time the slower going monitors had arrived and were getting in +their fine work. The <i>Tennessee's</i> smokestack was shot away, her stern +port shutter was disabled, making the gun useless, while her steering +chains were smashed. Like a stag beset by a pack of hounds, she was +brought to her knees. The white flag was raised, and the sorely battered +<i>Tennessee</i> became the captive of the Union fleet. The <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 341]<a name="Page_341" id="Page_341"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 342]<a name="Page_342" id="Page_342"></a></span>forts were +passed and the victory of Mobile Bay was secure.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 592px;"> +<img src="images/344.png" width="592" height="400" alt=":" title="" /> +<span class="caption">:</span> +</div> + +<p>But it had cost dearly. In addition to the men lost on the <i>Tecumseh</i>, +there had been 25 killed and 28 wounded on the <i>Hartford</i>, 11 killed and +43 wounded on the <i>Brooklyn</i>, the total of all, including those lost on +the <i>Tecumseh</i>, being 145 killed and 170 wounded. The Confederate loss +was 12 killed, 20 wounded and 280 prisoners.</p> + +<p>Fort Powell was subjected to a severe bombardment that afternoon and on +the following night was abandoned and blown up. Fire being opened on +Fort Gaines, it also surrendered. Fort Morgan, the only fort in the +possession of the enemy, surrendered August 23, before an attack of the +navy and the land forces under General Granger from New Orleans.</p> + +<p>Soon after this splendid victory Admiral Farragut went North, where he +was received with all possible honors. The war ending soon after, his +inestimable services came to a close. That no reward might be lacking, +the office of vice-admiral was specially created for him in December, +1864, and that of admiral in 1866. He died in 1870.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 343]<a name="Page_343" id="Page_343"></a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_SPANISH-AMERICAN_WAR" id="THE_SPANISH-AMERICAN_WAR"></a>THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR</h2> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + +<h3>The Movement Against Cuba—The Destruction of Cervera's Fleet—Admiral +Sampson—Admiral Schley—"Fighting Bob" Evans—Commodore John C. +Watson—Commodore John W. Philip—Lieutenant Commander Richard +Wainwright.</h3> + + +<p>Since the war with Spain was undertaken for the liberation of Cuba from +the most frightful atrocities that mind can conceive, it was natural +that the chief attention of our Government should be directed to the +expulsion of the Spaniards from that island. Neither the Ladrones nor +Philippines entered into the question; but, inasmuch as they were +valuable possessions of Spain, their conquest was a natural and +effective blow against the nation with which we were at war.</p> + +<p>In view of what subsequently occurred, we can smile at the general +uneasiness and fear which prevailed in this country at the opening of +hostilities regarding the fleets of Spain. She was known to have a +formidable navy and a great many believed it was superior to our own. +There was no telling where <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 344]<a name="Page_344" id="Page_344"></a></span>it would strike the first blow. Boston, New +York, Philadelphia, Washington and other seaboard cities made powerful +preparations against the dread fleet, which in truth was no more to be +feared than the ferryboats on the North River, and yet but for the +preparations referred to it is more than probable we should have +suffered.</p> + +<p>The most formidable fleet was under the command of Admiral Cervera. Our +own squadrons were engaged for weeks in hunting for it, and it was +reported in a dozen different places. Finally it was learned that it had +taken refuge in the harbor of Santiago, the city of that name being +besieged by the land forces under General Shafter. Immediately the +American fleet of Admiral Sampson blockaded the ships of the enemy, +determined to hold it powerless inside the broad harbor, for it +followed, as a matter of course, that so long as it was bottled up there +it could do nothing to help Spain.</p> + +<p>No one could know his weakness better than the Spanish Admiral. He had +fine ships and fine guns, but his crews were undisciplined. They were +wretched marksmen and in no respect to be compared with our gunners, who +demonstrated in the War of 1812 that they have no equals in the whole +world. Knowing all this, Admiral Cervera was loth to ven<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 345]<a name="Page_345" id="Page_345"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 346]<a name="Page_346" id="Page_346"></a></span>ture out of +the harbor of Santiago, and the days and weeks passed in idleness while +the monotonous blockade continued.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/348.png" width="400" height="547" alt="ADMIRAL CERVERA." title="ADMIRAL CERVERA." /> +<span class="caption">ADMIRAL CERVERA.</span> +</div> + +<p>It was the fear that the Spanish ships would make a dash on some dark, +stormy night and escape that led to one of the most striking and +brilliant exploits of the war. That is the sinking of the collier +<i>Merrimac</i> in the channel of the harbor by Lieutenant Richmond Pearson +Hobson, on the night of June 3. That the effort was not wholly +successful does not detract from the glory of the brave men who went +unflinchingly to what looked like almost certain death.</p> + +<p>The companions of Lieutenant Hobson in this remarkable achievement were +Osborn Deignan, George F. Phillips, Francis Kelly, George Charette, +Daniel Montague, J.C. Murphy and Randolph Clausen. The last named was +not one of the original six chosen, but he had been at work on the +<i>Merrimac</i> preparing her for the attempt and hid himself away on the +lumbersome craft and they were obliged to take him.</p> + +<p>As soon as the Spaniards discovered the approach of the <i>Merrimac</i>, in +the darkness, they opened upon her with their batteries from both +shores, and she was subjected to a fire which it would seem must riddle +her like a sieve and kill every man. But under the direction of the +cool-headed and daring Lieutenant <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 347]<a name="Page_347" id="Page_347"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 348]<a name="Page_348" id="Page_348"></a></span>the collier was swung into the right +position, and, but for the shooting away of the rudder, would have been +sunk directly across the channel, which would have been effectively +blocked. The position of the wreck as a consequence was diagonal and +left the passage partly open.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/350.png" width="400" height="488" alt="LIEUTENANT RICHMOND PEARSON HOBSON." title="LIEUTENANT RICHMOND PEARSON HOBSON." /> +<span class="caption">LIEUTENANT RICHMOND PEARSON HOBSON.</span> +</div> + +<p>Having accomplished as nearly as possible the perilous task the brave +party were obliged to remain clinging to a raft until morning, when the +Spaniards discovered and made them prisoners. Admiral Cervera himself +helped to take Hobson out of the water and was so filled with admiration +of the extraordinary daring of himself and companions that he sent a +flag of truce to Admiral Sampson with the welcome news that all the men +were safe in his hands. They were confined first in Morro Castle and +later in the city of Santiago. They were treated with the respect their +heroism deserved and on July 6 were exchanged for a number of prisoners +held by our forces.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 384px;"> +<img src="images/352.png" width="384" height="470" alt=":" title="" /> +<span class="caption">:</span> +</div> + +<p>Just one month after this exploit, that is on the morning of July 3, +1898, Admiral Cervera attempted to escape from the harbor of Santiago. +The smoke of his vessels was discerned over the hills, and the watchful +ships outside signalled the fact to the other members of the squadron. A +few minutes later the bow of one of the Spanish steamers came into sight +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 349]<a name="Page_349" id="Page_349"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 350]<a name="Page_350" id="Page_350"></a></span>from behind the Estrella Battery. The <i>Brooklyn</i>, <i>Iowa</i> and <i>Oregon</i>, +some two and a half miles distant, crowded on all steam and headed for +the harbor. The first Spanish cruiser to show itself was the <i>Infanta +Maria Teresa</i>, followed by the <i>Vizcaya</i>, the <i>Almirante Oquendo</i> and +the <i>Cristobal Colon</i>, with the torpedo boats <i>Pluton</i> and <i>Furor</i> +bringing up the rear. The <i>Infanta Maria Teresa</i>, leading the +procession, was the flagship of Admiral Cervera. He sent a shell toward +the American vessels, but, in accordance with the rule, it went wide of +the mark. The <i>Texas</i> opened with her big guns and her companions +quickly joined in the thunderous chorus.</p> + +<p>No sooner were the Spanish ships clear of the harbor than they turned +westward and strained every nerve to escape, firing at their pursuers, +who were equally determined to overtake or destroy them. The <i>Brooklyn</i>, +further away from shore, changed her course so as to follow a parallel +direction, and, as soon as she attained a fair range, opened a +tremendous and well directed fire. The <i>Texas</i>, whose course was +somewhat diagonal, singled out the <i>Vizcaya</i>, and, unable to outspeed +her, pounded her savagely with her shells.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/354.png" width="400" height="470" alt="CAPTAIN JOHN PHILIP, OF THE "TEXAS."" title="CAPTAIN JOHN PHILIP, OF THE "TEXAS."" /> +<span class="caption">CAPTAIN JOHN PHILIP, OF THE "TEXAS."</span> +</div> + +<p>Every movement of the splendid battleship was directed by her Captain, +John W. Philip. The <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 351]<a name="Page_351" id="Page_351"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 352]<a name="Page_352" id="Page_352"></a></span><i>Texas</i> was struck several times, but did not +receive any material damage, while she wrought frightful havoc on the +<i>Vizcaya</i>.</p> + +<p>The <i>Oregon</i>, the finest ship in our navy, which had come more than +14,000 miles from the Pacific coast, was ploughing forward under forced +draught, and, with a tremendous burst of speed, shot past the <i>Texas</i> +and drew up on the <i>Brooklyn</i> in the effort to head off the leading +fugitive, while the <i>Iowa</i> was doing her utmost to maintain her killing +pace and was firing her great guns with splendid precision. Suddenly the +<i>Vizcaya</i> broke into flames and headed for shore. Knowing that she was +doomed, the <i>Brooklyn</i> and <i>Oregon</i> gave her a few parting shots and +kept up their furious pursuit of the <i>Almirante Oquendo</i> and the +<i>Cristobal Colon</i>.</p> + +<p>Just then the torpedo boat destroyers <i>Pluton</i> and <i>Furor</i> were +discovered speeding also to the westward. Lieutenant Commander Richard +Wainwright, who was an officer on the <i>Maine</i> when she was destroyed, +was now in command of the auxiliary cruiser <i>Gloucester</i>, and, without +hesitation, he dashed after the destroyers, though for a part of the +time he received the fire of Morro Castle, the <i>Vizcaya</i> and both of the +dangerous craft he was chasing. But the <i>Gloucester</i> seemed to bear a +charmed life, or, more truthfully <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 353]<a name="Page_353" id="Page_353"></a></span>speaking, the Spanish gunners didn't +know how to shoot.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately for Admiral Sampson, he had gone some miles away to hold a +conference with General Shafter when the Spanish fleet made its attempt +to escape, but he now came up with the <i>New York</i>, eagerly rushing +forward to bear a hand in the fight. The <i>Pluton</i> and <i>Furor</i> fled +before her, while the <i>Indiana</i> shelled the first destroyer so +mercilessly that she turned and headed for the mouth of the harbor, +several miles distant. The vigilant <i>Gloucester</i> joined the <i>Indiana</i> +and one of the destroyers displayed a flag of truce. She was ablaze from +bow to stern and her crew ran her ashore, where she blew up. The second +was also beached and deserted by her crew. Meanwhile the <i>Vizcaya</i> ran +up the white flag and the <i>Texas</i> stopped firing. She, like the <i>Infanta +Maria Teresa</i>, was on fire and her crews could do nothing but take to +the shore in the desperate effort to save themselves.</p> + +<p>The <i>Almirante Oquendo</i> and the <i>Colon</i> were still fleeing for life, +with the <i>Iowa, Oregon, Brooklyn</i> and <i>Texas</i> hard after them. Suddenly +the <i>Almirante Oquendo</i> turned toward shore. The <i>Brooklyn</i> and <i>Oregon</i> +kept after the <i>Cristobal Colon</i>, leaving the <i>Texas</i> to dispose of the +<i>Almirante Oquendo</i>. But <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 354]<a name="Page_354" id="Page_354"></a></span>the latter was in flames and the flag at her +stern was pulled down. The <i>Texas</i> was approaching when the Spanish ship +was torn by a tremendous explosion. The Americans broke into cheers. +Captain Philip threw up his hand and called:</p> + +<p>"Don't cheer, boys; the poor fellows are dying!"</p> + +<p>It was chivalrous and thoughtful on the part of the American commander +and will never be forgotten.</p> + +<p>The <i>Cristobal Colon</i> steamed along the coast with the speed of a race +horse, but the <i>Brooklyn</i>, <i>Texas</i> and <i>Oregon</i> seemed to feel the prick +of the spur and ran as never before and as their captains did not +believe them capable of doing. The <i>Brooklyn</i> gradually drew ahead and +the Spaniard, seeing that escape was out of the question, hauled down +his flag. Thus the victory became complete.</p> + +<p>The news was just in time to help in the universal rejoicing and +celebration of the Fourth of July. The Spanish fleet on the other side +of the globe had been destroyed and now the second fleet was wiped out. +In the former instance not a life was lost and in the latter only one +man was killed on our side, while the loss of the enemy was severe. +Never was a more decisive victory gained by one nation over another in +the whole history of the world.</p> + +<p>All my readers are familiar with the events that <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 355]<a name="Page_355" id="Page_355"></a></span>immediately followed, +but perhaps they would like to know something concerning the naval +heroes who did so much to contribute to the grand naval victory off +Santiago.</p> + +<p>William T. Sampson was born in Palmyra, N.Y., February 9, 1840. He was +the son of an ordinary day laborer and had few early educational +advantages, but he was appointed to the Naval Academy and was graduated +at the head of his class. He was on the frigate <i>Potomac</i>, with the rank +of master, when the war broke out, but was too young to secure a command +during the war. He became a lieutenant in July, 1862, and served with +that rank on the practice ship <i>John Adams</i> at the Naval Academy and on +the ironclad <i>Patapsco</i>. On January 15, 1865, the <i>Patapsco</i> attempted +to force an entrance into the harbor of Charleston, which was one +network of mines. Sampson exposed himself fearlessly and the ship met +with a fearful disaster by being blown up by a submarine mine. Seventy +went down to death as did those on the <i>Maine</i>, while Sampson and more +than a score of others, after being blown a hundred feet through the +air, saved themselves by swimming until they were picked up. Sampson was +commissioned as lieutenant commander in 1866, was at the Naval Academy +from 1868 to 1871, cruised for two years <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 356]<a name="Page_356" id="Page_356"></a></span>in European waters and first +commanded the <i>Alert</i> in 1874. Appointed to the superintendency of the +Naval Academy in 1888, he held the situation for four years.</p> + +<p>With the construction of the new navy, Sampson commanded in turn two +modern ships, the cruiser <i>San Francisco</i> and the battleship <i>Iowa</i>. He +was a close student of ordnance matters, gave special attention to +torpedo work and was chief of the Bureau of Naval Ordnance from 1893 to +1897. There can be no question of his fine ability nor that, had the +opportunity presented, Rear Admiral Sampson, as he had become, would +have proven himself among the foremost officers in our navy. It was a +great personal misfortune that he happened to be absent from the front +of Santiago when the Spanish fleet made its venture, but it must not be +forgotten that, in anticipation of such action, he had planned the +battle that was fought by the American ships.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 607px;"> +<img src="images/360.png" width="607" height="400" alt="VIEW OF CHARLESTON HARBOR, SHOWING THE SUNKEN VESSELS." title="VIEW OF CHARLESTON HARBOR, SHOWING THE SUNKEN VESSELS." /> +<span class="caption">VIEW OF CHARLESTON HARBOR, SHOWING THE SUNKEN VESSELS.</span> +</div> + +<p>Winfield Scott Schley was born in Frederick, Md., October 9, 1839, and +was graduated from the Naval Academy at the beginning of the Civil War. +After brief service on the storeship <i>Potomac</i> he was promoted to master +in 1861, and served on the <i>Winona</i>, of the West Gulf blockading +squadron, 1862-63. He there gained a taste of real war and performed a +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 357]<a name="Page_357" id="Page_357"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 358]<a name="Page_358" id="Page_358"></a></span>number of exploits which proved his coolness and daring. He received +honorable mention for his services in the engagements which led to the +capture of Port Hudson. He was commissioned lieutenant in July, 1862, +and was executive officer of the <i>Wateree</i> from 1864 to 1865, having +been made lieutenant commander in July, 1866, after which he spent three +years again at the Naval Academy, serving as instructor of modern +languages.</p> + +<p>Admiral Schley has done brilliant service outside of what is generally +considered the routine duty of his profession. When he was in Eastern +waters in 1864 he landed 100 men, who protected the American consulate +when threatened during a native insurrection among the natives of the +Chin-Chi Islands. His most famous exploit was the rescue of the Greely +Arctic expedition. In 1881 Lieutenant Adolphus W. Greely commanded an +expedition of twenty-five men, which established an observation station +at the farthest point in the polar regions then attained. The +expedition, when in a starving condition and with only seven men alive, +was rescued at Cape Sabine, Grinnell Land, in 1884 by Captain Schley. He +was rewarded for this service by a gold medal from Congress and promoted +by President Arthur to chief of the Bureau of Equipment and made captain +in 1888.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 359]<a name="Page_359" id="Page_359"></a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/362.png" width="400" height="458" alt="COMMODORE WINFIELD SCOTT SCHLEY." title="COMMODORE WINFIELD SCOTT SCHLEY." /> +<span class="caption">COMMODORE WINFIELD SCOTT SCHLEY.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 360]<a name="Page_360" id="Page_360"></a></span>After resigning this position Captain Schley commanded the cruiser +<i>Baltimore</i>, which bore the remains of Ericsson, the great Swedish +inventor, to his native land, whose king presented Schley with a gold +medal in recognition of this service. He won the commendation of the +Navy Department for his tactful success in settling threatened trouble +over the stoning of a number of American sailors from the <i>Baltimore</i> by +a party of Chilians at Valparaiso. Commodore Schley is a fine tactician, +possesses a winning personality and his work with the <i>Brooklyn,</i> off +Santiago, on July 3, was neither more nor less than his friends expected +of him.</p> + +<p>Robley D. Evans, known everywhere as "Fighting Bob," was born in +Virginia in 1846. When his father died he made his home with his uncle +in Washington, D.C., where he attended Gonzaga College. In 1859 a +Congressional Representative from Utah appointed him to the Naval +Academy. It was necessary for the boy to take up a nominal residence in +that distant territory, and on the journey thither and back he +encountered many personal dangers through all of which he conducted +himself with the pluck and bravery which afterward distinguished him in +the service of his country. He entered the academy in 1860 and upon his +graduation became a midshipman <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 361]<a name="Page_361" id="Page_361"></a></span><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 362]<a name="Page_362" id="Page_362"></a></span>and ensign, first on the frigate +<i>Powhatan</i>, and before he had attained his majority took part in the +desperate assault on Fort Fisher. He was stretched on the ground, +dreadfully wounded and with so many dead men piled upon him that he +barely escaped suffocation. He was wounded twice in the body and shot +through both legs. It seemed scarcely possible for him to live, and he +lay in the hospital for months. But when a surgeon prepared to amputate +one of his legs Evans, who had managed to procure a revolver, warned him +that upon his first attempt to do so he would shoot him. The leg was +saved, but Evans was lamed for life.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/364.png" width="400" height="470" alt="CAPTAIN ROBLEY D. EVANS, OF THE "IOWA."" title="CAPTAIN ROBLEY D. EVANS, OF THE "IOWA."" /> +<span class="caption">CAPTAIN ROBLEY D. EVANS, OF THE "IOWA."</span> +</div> + +<p>As soon as he was able to get about he applied for active service and +his application was granted. He was engaged in various duties and in +October, 1891, he arrived in command of the <i>Yorktown</i> at Valparaiso, +directly after the attack of a mob of Chilians upon the sailors of the +<i>Baltimore</i>. When some of the refugees fled for safety to the <i>Yorktown</i> +and the Chilians demanded their surrender "Fighting Bob" replied that he +would defend them until the <i>Yorktown</i> went to the bottom. Some time +later the captain's launch was stoned, for the Chilians hated the +Americans as intensely as did the Spaniards. Captain Evans placed a +rapid fire gun in the bow of the <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 363]<a name="Page_363" id="Page_363"></a></span>launch, filled her with armed men and +went ashore. Hunting out the authorities, he notified them that if any +more stones were thrown at his launch he would make life a burden for +every Chilian within reach of the Yorktown's guns. The launch was not +stoned again.</p> + +<p>It is a mistaken though general impression of "Fighting Bob" that he is +simply a headlong and reckless fighter. Such is far from being the case, +for he is deliberate, thoughtful and tactful. He is a fine scholar, +possesses a thorough knowledge of international law and is simply +resolute in protecting the rights of himself and countrymen. This was +proven by his conduct when in charge of the American fleet in the Bering +Sea, placed there to prevent the illegal killing of seals. There was a +good deal of friction at that time between this country and England and +had Captain Evans been the reckless "scrapper" that many supposed he +could not have failed to involve us in trouble with that country. There +was not a word of censure upon his course. Out of 108 vessels engaged in +the illegal trade he captured 98 and of the several hundred seals +unlawfully killed he captured every one. Like all the other officers and +sailors who took part in the destruction of Cervera's fleet, he was +energetic, skilful, brave and chivalrous, for when <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 364]<a name="Page_364" id="Page_364"></a></span>Captain Eulate, of +the captured <i>Vizcaya</i>, offered his sword to the Captain of the <i>Iowa</i> +that gentleman kindly waved him back and told him to keep the weapon he +had used so well.</p> + +<p>Captain Evans does not like the name "Fighting Bob", for he feels he has +no more claim to the distinction than the rest of his associates. Many +of the stories told of his roughness of speech and profanity are not +true, though it cannot be denied that he has a habit of expressing +himself very vigorously when his feelings are stirred. By his own +request, Captain Evans was relieved, September 15, 1898, of the command +of the <i>Iowa</i>, he having served more than his regular term of sea +service. At present he is a member of the Board of Inspection and +Survey.</p> + +<p>John C. Watson was born in Frankfort, Ky., August 24, 1842, and is a +member of one of the leading families of the State. He entered the Naval +Academy at the age of fourteen and was graduated near the head of his +class in June, 1860. He was a midshipman on the <i>Susquehanna</i> in Europe, +at the breaking out of the war, and was made master in August, 1861.</p> + +<p>It is proof of the worth of the man that he was assigned as navigator of +the flagship <i>Hartford</i>, commanded by the lion-hearted Farragut. He +became <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 365]<a name="Page_365" id="Page_365"></a></span>lieutenant in June, 1862, and flag lieutenant to Farragut in +January, 1864.</p> + +<p>The reader of these pages has learned something of the great battles of +New Orleans, Mobile Bay, Vicksburg and Port Hudson. Watson took part in +all of them and none acquitted himself better. In a letter to his son, +Admiral Farragut wrote: "I am almost as fond of Watson as I am of your +own dear self." In his report of the battle of Mobile Bay, where Watson +was wounded, Farragut wrote: "Lieutenant Watson has been brought to your +attention in former times. He was on the poop attending to the signals +and performed his duty, as might be expected, thoroughly. He is a scion +worthy of the noble stock he springs from, and I commend him to your +attention."</p> + +<p>A squadron of invincible power was made up for Watson in the summer of +1898, with which it was intended Commodore Watson should pay a hostile +visit to the coast of Spain. But for the signing of the peace protocol, +that visit under its gallant and distinguished commander would have +proved one that the decrepit monarchy would remember to the end of time.</p> + +<p>Captain John W. Philip, promoted to the rank of commodore for his superb +work with the <i>Texas</i> off Santiago, is brave, modest, devout and fond of +practi<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 366]<a name="Page_366" id="Page_366"></a></span>cal joking. He is genial, exceedingly popular with his associates +and men and one of the finest officers in the navy. The little incident +well illustrates his character, when, in the midst of the wild rejoicing +of his men over the destruction of the Spanish fleet, he checked them +with the words: "Don't cheer, boys; the poor fellows are dying!"</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Commander Richard Wainwright performed an unequalled exploit +when in command of the <i>Gloucester</i>, formerly the yacht <i>Corsair</i>, he +wiped out the two torpedo boat destroyers <i>Pluton</i> and <i>Furor</i>. At the +time of that exploit he was only forty-eight years old and the youngest +man of his grade in the navy. He is a fine officer and is a son of the +late Commodore Wainwright, who died in the service of his country during +the Civil War. Like many of our naval heroes, he seems to inherit his +fine fighting qualities, though it would not be far from the truth to +say that such is the rightful heritage of every American soldier and +sailor.</p> + +<p>[THE END.]</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/370.png" width="300" height="499" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<div class="figright" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/371.png" width="300" height="496" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/372.png" width="300" height="491" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<div class="figright" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/373.png" width="300" height="496" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/374.png" width="300" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<div class="figright" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/375.png" width="300" height="498" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/376.png" width="300" height="489" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<div class="figright" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/377.png" width="300" height="497" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/378.png" width="300" height="495" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<div class="figright" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/379.png" width="300" height="494" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/380.png" width="300" height="498" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<div class="figright" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/381.png" width="300" height="496" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/382.png" width="300" height="499" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Dewey and Other Naval Commanders +by Edward S. 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/dev/null +++ b/17253.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7921 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Dewey and Other Naval Commanders, by Edward S. Ellis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Dewey and Other Naval Commanders + +Author: Edward S. Ellis + +Release Date: December 8, 2005 [EBook #17253] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEWEY AND OTHER NAVAL COMMANDERS *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Paul Ereaut and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +[Illustration: ADMIRAL GEORGE DEWEY, U.S.N.] + + +DEWEY + +AND OTHER + +NAVAL COMMANDERS. + + +BY + +EDWARD S. ELLIS, A.M. + +Author of "A History of the World," "The People's Standard History +of the United States," "A History of the State of New York," "Deerfoot +Series," "Log Cabin Series," Etc. + + +NEW YORK + +HURST & COMPANY + +PUBLISHERS + +Copyright, 1899, + +BY + +JOHN HOVENDON. + + + + +CONTENTS. Page. + +Introduction 5 + + CHAPTER I. + +Admiral George Dewey--The Birth and Boyhood of +George Dewey. 7 + + + CHAPTER II. + +Dewey in the War for the Union. 17 + + + CHAPTER III. + +Dewey in the War with Spain. 35 + + + CHAPTER IV. + +The Revolutionary Battles--Birth of the American +Navy--The Privateers--Capture of New Providence, in +the Bahamas--Paul Jones--A Clever Exploit--A +Skilful Escape--Fine Seamanship--An Audacious +Scheme. 52 + + + CHAPTER V. + +A Daring Attempt by Captain Paul Jones--Why It +Failed--A Bold Scheme--Why It Did Not Succeed--The +Fight Between the _Ranger_ and _Drake_. 63 + + + CHAPTER VI. + +One of the Most Memorable Sea Fights Ever Known--The +Wonderful Exploit of Captain Paul Jones. 71 + + + CHAPTER VII. + +Our Naval War with France--The Tribute Paid to the +Barbary States by Christian Nations--War Declared +Against the United States by Tripoli--Bainbridge, +Decatur, Stewart, Dale and Preble. 88 + + + CHAPTER VIII. + +The First Serious Engagement--Loss of +the _Philadelphia_--The Scheme of Captain +Bainbridge--Exploit of Lieutenant Decatur. 97 + + + CHAPTER IX. + +Bombardment of Tripoli--Treacherous Act of a Turkish +Captain--A Quick Retribution at the Hands of Captain +Decatur. 108 + + + CHAPTER X. + +The Bomb Ketch--A Terrible Missile--Frightful +Catastrophe--Diplomacy in Place of War--Peace. 114 + + + CHAPTER XI. + +The War of 1812--Cause of the War of 1812--Discreditable +Work of the Land Forces--Brilliant Record of the +Navy--The _Constitution_--Captain Isaac Hull--Battle +Between the _Constitution_ and _Guerriere_--Winning +a Wager. 122 + + + CHAPTER XII. + +Jacob Jones--The _Wasp_ and the _Frolic_--James +Biddle--The _Hornet_ and the _Penguin_--A +Narrow Escape. 133 + + + CHAPTER XIII. + +Captains Carden and Decatur--Cruise of the +_Macedonian_--Battle with the Frigate _United +States_--Decatur's Chivalry. 142 + + + CHAPTER XIV. + +Occasional American Defeats as Well as Victories--Captain +Decatur's Misfortune--The _Chesapeake_ and _Shannon_. 152 + + + CHAPTER XV. + +David Porter--A Clever Feat--Numerous Captures by +the _Essex_--Her Remarkable Cruise in the Pacific--Her +Final Capture. 167 + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +Oliver Hazard Perry--Prompt and Effective Work--"We Have +Met the Enemy and They Are Ours"--Death of Perry. 176 + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +A Hero of the Olden Days--Cruise of the +_Constitution_--Her Capture of the _Cyane_ and +_Levant_--Reminiscences +of Admiral Stewart--His Last Days. 185 + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +Captures Made After the Signing of the Treaty of +Peace--The Privateers--Exploit of the _General +Armstrong_--Its Far-Reaching Result. 197 + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +Lesser Wars--Resentment of the Barbary States--The +War with Algiers--Captain Decatur's Vigorous +Course--His Astonishing Success as a Diplomat. 206 + + +CHAPTER XX. + +Piracy in the West Indies--Its Cause--Means by Which +It Was Wiped Out--Piracy in the Mediterranean. 216 + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +The Qualla Battoo Incident. 226 + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +Wilkes's Exploring Expedition. 236 + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +The War for the Union--A New Era for the United +States Navy--Opening of the Great Civil War--John +Lorimer Worden--Battle Between the _Monitor_ +and _Merrimac_--Death of Worden. 246 + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +Two Worthy Sons--William D. Porter--The Career of +Admiral David Dixon Porter. 259 + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +Charles Stewart Boggs--His Coolness in the Presence +of Danger--His Desperate Fight Below New Orleans--His +Subsequent Services. 271 + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +John Ancrum Winslow--His Early Life and +Training--The Famous Battle Between the _Kearsarge_ +and _Alabama_. 279 + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +An Unexpected Preacher--Andrew Hull Foote--His +Character and Early Career--His Brilliant Services +in the War for the Union. 295 + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +A Man Devoid of Fear--William Barker Cushing--Some +of His Exploits--The Blowing Up of the +_Albemarle_--His Sad Death. 312 + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +The Greatest of Naval Heroes--David Glasgow Farragut. 327 + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +The Spanish-American War--The Movement Against +Cuba--The Destruction of Cervera's Fleet--Admiral +Sampson--Admiral Schley--"Fighting Bob" Evans--Commodore +John C. Watson--Commodore John +W. Philip--Lieutenant Commander Richard Wainwright. 343 + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +I purpose telling you in the following pages about the exploits of the +gallant men who composed the American Navy, beginning with the +Revolution and ending with the story of their wonderful deeds in our +late war with Spain. You can never read a more interesting story, nor +one that will make you feel prouder of your birthright. While our +patriot armies have done nobly, it is none the less true that we never +could have become one of the greatest nations in the world without the +help of our heroic navy. Our warships penetrated into all waters of the +globe, and made people, whether barbarous or civilized, respect and fear +the Stars and Stripes. + +This is due in a great measure to the bravery of our naval heroes, who +did not fear to meet Great Britain, the "mistress of the seas," when her +navy outnumbered ours one hundred to one. England is now our best +friend, and no doubt will always remain so. Never again can there be war +between her and us, and it will not be strange that one of these days, +if either gets into trouble, the American and English soldiers will +"drink from the same canteen," which is another way of saying they will +fight side by side, as they did a short time ago in Samoa. All the +same, our brethren across the ocean are very willing to own that we +fought them right well. Indeed, they think all the more of us for having +done so. You know that one brave man always likes another who is as +brave as himself, just as Northerners and Southerners love each other, +and are all united under one flag, which one side defended and the other +fought against, through long years, terrible years from 1861 to 1865. + +The decks of no ships have ever been trodden by braver men than our +American sailors. There are no more heroic deeds in all history than +those of Paul Jones, Porter, Hull, Decatur, Perry, Cushing, Farragut, +Worden, Dewey, Schley, Evans, Philip, Hobson and scores of others, who +have braved what seemed certain death for the glory of our flag. Many +gave up their lives in its defence, and their names form one of the +proudest and most cherished heritages that can descend to a grateful +country. + +So, I repeat, I am sure you will be interested and instructed in +learning the story of the heroes who have done so much for us; and their +example cannot fail to inspire you with loftier heroism, greater +devotion, and deeper resolve to do all you can for our favored land, +which is the fairest that ever sun shone upon. + +E.S.E. + + + + +ADMIRAL GEORGE DEWEY. + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE BIRTH AND BOYHOOD OF GEORGE DEWEY. + + +The name of Vermont recalls the gallant "Green Mountain Boys," who +proved their sturdy patriotism not only in the Revolution, but before +those stormy days broke over the land. In the colonial times the section +was known as the "New Hampshire Grants," and was claimed by both New +York and New Hampshire, but Vermont refused to acknowledge the authority +of either, even after New York, in 1764, secured a decision in her favor +from King George, and set vigorously to work to compel the settlers to +pay a second time for their lands. The doughty pioneers would have none +of it, and roughly handled the New York officers sent thither. In 1777 +Vermont formally declared her independence and adopted a State +constitution. Then, since the Revolution was on, Ethan Allen and the +rest of the "Green Mountain Boys" turned in and helped whip the +redcoats. That being done, Vermont again asserted her independence, +compelled New York to recognize it in 1789, and she was admitted to the +Union in 1791. + +It was away back in 1633 that the first Englishman bearing the name of +Dewey arrived in Massachusetts with a number of other emigrants. They +settled in Dorchester, and in 1636 Thomas Dewey, as he was named, +removed to Windsor, Connecticut, where he died in 1648, leaving a widow +and five children. Following down the family line, we come to the birth +of Julius Yemans Dewey, August 22, 1801, at Berlin, Vermont. He studied +medicine, practiced his profession at Montpelier, the capital, and +became one of the most respected and widely known citizens of the State. +He was married three times, and by his first wife had three sons and one +daughter. The latter was Mary, and the sons were Charles, Edward, and +George, the last of whom became the famous Admiral of the American navy +and the hero of the late war between our country and Spain. He was born +in the old colonial house of Dr. Dewey, December 26, 1837. + +George was a good specimen of the mischievous, high-spirited and +roystering youngster, who would go to any pains and run any risk for the +sake of the fun it afforded. This propensity was carried to such an +extent that the youth earned the name of being a "bad boy," and there is +no use of pretending he did not deserve the reputation. He gave his +parents and neighbors a good deal of anxiety, and Dr. Dewey, who knew +how to be stern as well as kind, was compelled more than once to +interpose his authority in a way that no lad is likely to forget. + +Dr. Dewey was a man of deep religious convictions. In middle life he +gave up the practice of medicine and founded the National Life Insurance +Company, to whose interests he devoted his time and ability, and met +with a good degree of success. George was gifted by nature with rugged +health, high spirits and indomitable pluck and fearlessness. None could +surpass him in running, leaping, swimming and in boyish sports. He was +fond of fishing and of rough games, and as a fighter few of his years +could stand in front of him. In numerous athletic trials he was +invariably the victor, and it must be admitted that he loved fighting as +well as he liked playing ball or fishing. He gave and received hard +knocks, and even at that early age showed evidence of the combative, +aggressive courage that became so marked a feature of his manhood. + +An incident is related by Z.K. Pangborn, the well known editor of New +Jersey, who took charge of the Montpelier school, in which George Dewey +was a pupil. The school was notorious for the roughness of a number of +its pupils, who had ousted more than one instructor and welcomed the +chance to tackle a new one. Master Dewey was the ringleader of these +young rebels, and chuckled with delight when the quiet-looking, +ordinary-sized teacher sauntered down the highway to begin his duties in +the schoolroom. + +At the time of the gentleman's appearance George was sitting astride of +a big limb in a tree at the side of the road, his pockets bulging with +stones, which he was hurling with unpleasant accuracy at every one who +came within range. Several youngsters were howling from having served as +targets to the urchin up the tree, and as soon as Mr. Pangborn saw how +things were going he shouted to Dewey to stop his sport. The boy replied +by advising the teacher to go to the hottest region named in works on +theology, and, descending the tree, led several young scamps in an +attack upon the instructor. There was a lively brush, in which it cannot +be said that either party was the victor. + +A drawn battle is always unsatisfactory to two armies, and George +determined to have it out in the schoolroom with the teacher, who, +expecting the struggle, had prepared for it and was as eager as the +boys for the fight. As before, Dewey was the leader in the attack on +the pedagogue, who was wiry, active, and strong. He swung his rawhide +with a vigor that made Dewey and the others dance, but they pluckily +kept up the assault, until the instructor seized a big stick, intended +to serve as fuel for the old-fashioned stove, and laid about him with an +energy that soon stretched the rebels on the floor. + +Then how he belabored them! As fast as one attempted to climb to his +feet he was thumped back again by the club that continually whizzed +through the air, and if a boy tried to stay the storm by remaining +prone, the instructor thumped him none the less viciously. Indeed, +matters had got to that point that he enjoyed the fun and was loath to +let up, as he felt obliged to do, when the howling rebels slunk to their +seats, thoroughly cowed and conquered. + +George Dewey was the most battered of the lot and made a sorry sight. In +fact, he was so bruised that his teacher thought it prudent to accompany +him to his home and explain to his father the particulars of the affray +in school. Mr. Pangborn gave a detailed history of the occurrence, to +which Dr. Dewey listened gravely. When he understood everything, he +showed his good sense by thanking the teacher for having administered +the punishment, asking him to repeat it whenever the conduct of his son +made it necessary. + +This chastisement marked a turning point in the boy's career. He did a +good deal of serious thinking throughout the day, and saw and felt his +wrongdoing. He became an attentive, obedient pupil, and years after, +when grown to manhood, he warmly thanked Mr. Pangborn for having +punished him with such severity, frankly adding: "I believe if you +hadn't done so I should have ended my career in the penitentiary." + +Dr. Dewey wished to give George a career in the army, and he sent him to +Norwich University, a military training school, in order to fit him for +the Military Academy at West Point. George's tastes, however, were for +the navy, and after much pleading with his father he brought him to his +way of thinking. The utmost that Dr. Dewey could do was to secure the +appointment of his son as alternate, who, as may be understood, secures +the appointment only in the event of the principal failing to pass the +entrance examination. In this case the principal would have passed +without trouble, and, to quote an ordinary expression, George Dewey +would have been "left," had not the mother of the other boy interposed +at the critical moment. Under no circumstances would she allow her son +to enter the navy. He was compelled to give up all ambition in that +direction and to take up the study of theology. At this writing he is a +popular preacher, who will always believe it was a most providential +thing for our country that turned him aside from blocking the entrance +of George Dewey to the Naval Academy at Annapolis. + +Our hero entered the institution September 23, 1854. It did not take him +long to discover that the institution, like that at West Point, is +controlled by the most rigid discipline possible. No stricter rules can +be devised than those that prevail at the two institutions. I have heard +it said by a West Point graduate that a cadet cannot sit down and +breathe for twenty-four hours without violating some rule. The fact that +a few men do escape being "skinned"--that is, punished for derelictions +of duty--does not prove that they have not committed any indiscretions, +but that they have escaped detection. + +Hard, however, as was the road for Dewey to travel, he never shrank or +turned aside, for he knew the same path had been traveled by all who had +gone before him, and he reasoned that what man had done man could do, +and he did it. + +It will be noted that the future Admiral entered the Naval Academy at a +stirring period in the history of our country, over which the coming +Civil War already cast its awful shadow, and, as the months and years +passed, the shadow darkened and grew more portentous until the red +lightning rent the clouds apart and they rained blood and fire and woe +and death. + +At the Annapolis Academy the lines between the cadets from the North and +the South were sharply drawn. They reflected the passions of their +sections, and, being young and impulsive, there were hot words and +fierce blows. As might be supposed, George Dewey was prominent in these +affrays, for it has been said of him that there was never a fight in his +neighborhood without his getting into the thickest of it. + +One day a fiery Southerner called him a dough-face, whereupon Dewey let +go straight from the shoulder and his insulter turned a backward +somersault. Leaping to his feet, his face aflame with rage, he went at +the Green Mountain Boy, who coolly awaited his attack, and they +proceeded instantly to mix it up for some fifteen minutes in the most +lively manner conceivable. At the end of that time the Southerner was so +thoroughly trounced that he was unable to continue the fight. + +It was not long before Dewey had a furious scrimmage with another +cadet, whom he soundly whipped. He challenged Dewey to a duel, and Dewey +instantly accepted the challenge. Seconds were chosen, weapons provided +and the ground paced off. By that time the friends of the two parties, +seeing that one of the young men, and possibly both, were certain to be +killed, interfered, and, appealing to the authorities of the +institution, the deadly meeting was prevented. These incidents attest +the personal daring of Admiral Dewey, of whom it has been said that he +never showed fear of any living man. Often during his stirring career +was the attempt made to frighten him, and few have been placed in so +many situations of peril and come out of them alive, but in none did he +ever display anything that could possibly be mistaken for timidity. He +was a brave man and a patriot in every fibre of his being. + +A youth can be combative, personally brave and aggressive, and still be +a good student, as was proven by the graduation of Dewey, fifth in a +class of fourteen. As was the custom, he was ordered to a cruise before +his final examination. He was a cadet on the steam frigate _Wabash_, +which cruised in the Mediterranean squadron until 1859, when he returned +to Annapolis and, upon examination, took rank as the leader of his +class, proof that he had spent his time wisely while on what may be +called his trial cruise. He went to his old home in Montpelier, where he +was spending the days with his friends, when the country was startled +and electrified by the news that Fort Sumter had been fired on in +Charleston harbor and that civil war had begun. Dewey's patriotic blood +was at the boiling point, and one week later, having been commissioned +as lieutenant and assigned to the sloop of war _Mississippi_, he hurried +thither to help in defence of the Union. + +The _Mississippi_ was a sidewheel steamer, carrying seventeen guns, and +was destined to a thrilling career in the stirring operations of the +West Gulf squadron, under the command of Captain David Glasgow Farragut, +the greatest naval hero produced by the Civil War, and without a +superior in all history. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +DEWEY IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION. + + +No one needs to be reminded that the War for the Union was the greatest +struggle of modern times. The task of bringing back to their allegiance +those who had risen against the authority of the National Government was +a gigantic one, and taxed the courage and resources of the country to +the utmost. In order to make the war effective, it was necessary to +enforce a rigorous blockade over three thousand miles of seacoast, open +the Mississippi river, and overcome the large and well-officered armies +in the field. The last was committed to the land forces, and it proved +an exhausting and wearying struggle. + +Among the most important steps was the second--that of opening the +Mississippi, which being accomplished, the Southwest, from which the +Confederacy drew its immense supplies of cattle, would be cut off and a +serious blow struck against the armed rebellion. + +The river was sealed from Vicksburg to the Gulf of Mexico. At the former +place extensive batteries had been erected and were defended by an army, +while the river below bristled with batteries and guns in charge of +brave men and skilful officers. + +While General Grant undertook the task of reducing Vicksburg, Captain +Farragut assumed the herculean work of forcing his way up the +Mississippi and capturing New Orleans, the greatest commercial city in +the South. Knowing that such an attack was certain to be made, the +Confederates had neglected no precaution in the way of defence. Ninety +miles below the city, and twenty miles above its mouth, at the +Plaquemine Bend, were the forts of St. Philip and Jackson. The former, +on the left bank, had forty-two heavy guns, including two mortars and a +battery of four seacoast mortars, placed below the water battery. Fort +Jackson, besides its water battery, mounted sixty-two guns, while above +the forts were fourteen vessels, including the ironclad ram _Manassas_, +and a partially completed floating battery, armored with railroad iron +and called the _Louisiana_. New Orleans was defended by three thousand +volunteers, most of the troops formerly there having been sent to the +Confederate army in Tennessee. + +The expedition against New Orleans was prepared with great care, and so +many months were occupied that the enemy had all the notice they could +ask in which to complete their preparations for its defence. The Union +expedition consisted of six sloops of war, sixteen gunboats, twenty +mortar schooners and five other vessels. The _Mississippi_, upon which +young Dewey was serving as a lieutenant, was under the command of +Melanethon Smith. The land troops numbered 15,000, and were in charge of +General Benjamin F. Butler, of Massachusetts. + +Farragut arrived in February, 1862, nearly two months after the +beginning of preparations to force the river. When everything was in +readiness the fleet moved cautiously up stream, on April 18, and a +bombardment of Forts St. Philip and Jackson was opened, which lasted for +three days, without accomplishing anything decisive. Farragut had +carefully studied the situation, and, confident that the passage could +be made, determined it should be done, no matter at what cost. On the +night of the 23d his vessels were stripped of every rope and spar that +could be spared, the masts and rigging of the gunboats and mortar +vessels being trimmed with the limbs of trees, to conceal their identity +from the Confederate watchers. + +At two o'clock in the morning the signal was hoisted on the _Hartford_, +Captain Farragut's flagship, and the fleet started in single line to run +the fearful gauntlet. The _Cayuga_ led, the _Pensacola_ followed, and +the _Mississippi_ was third. The rebels had huge bonfires burning on +both shores, and as the _Pensacola_ came opposite the forts they opened +their furious fire upon her. + +A good deal of uneasiness prevailed in the Union fleet regarding the +rebel rams. It was known they were formidable monsters, which the +Confederates believed could smash and sink the whole Union squadron. +While it was known that much was to be feared from the forts, it was the +ironclads that formed the uncertain factor and magnified the real danger +in many men's minds. + +The _Mississippi_ was hardly abreast of Fort St. Philip when the dreaded +_Manassas_ came plunging down the river out of the gloom at full speed, +and headed directly for the _Mississippi._ She was not seen until so +close that it was impossible to dodge her, and the ironclad struck the +steamer on the port side, close to the mizzenmast, firing a gun at the +same time. Fortunately the blow was a glancing one, though it opened a +rent seven feet long and four inches deep in the steamer, which, being +caught by the swift current on her starboard bow, was swept across to +the Fort Jackson side of the river, so close indeed that her gunners and +those in the fort exchanged curses and imprecations. + +[Illustration: SHELLING FORTS PHILIP AND JACKSON.] + +The passage of the forts by the Union vessels forms one of the most +thrilling pictures in the history of the Civil War. The _Hartford_, like +all the vessels, was subjected to a terrible fire, was assailed by the +Confederate ironclads, and more than once was in imminent danger of +being sent to the bottom. Following with the second division, Captain +Farragut did not reply to the fire of the forts for a quarter of an +hour. He hurled a broadside into St. Philip and was pushing through the +dense smoke when a fire-raft, with a tug pushing her along, plunged out +of the gloom toward the _Hartford's_ port quarter. She swerved to elude +this peril and ran aground close to St. Philip, which, recognizing her +three ensigns and flag officer's flag, opened a savage fire, but luckily +most of the shot passed too high. + +There was no getting out of the way of the fire-raft, which, being +jammed against the flagship, sent the flames through the portholes and +up the oiled masts. The perfect discipline of the crew enabled them to +extinguish the fire before it could do much damage, and the _Hartford_ +succeeded in backing into deep water and kept pounding Fort St. Philip +so long as she was in range. + +Without attempting to describe the battle in detail, we will give our +attention to the _Mississippi_. Within an hour and a quarter of the +time the leading vessel passed the forts, all had reached a safe point +above, where they engaged in a furious fight with the Confederate +flotilla, the smaller members of which were soon disabled or sunk. + +[Illustration: THE "HARTFORD"--FARRAGUT'S FLAGSHIP.] + +Meanwhile the ironclad _Manassas_ had been prowling at the heels of the +Union squadron, but being discovered by the _Mississippi_, the steamer +opened on her with so destructive a fire that the ram ran ashore and the +crew scrambled over the bows and escaped. The _Mississippi_ continued +pounding her until she was completely wrecked. The loss of the Union +fleet was thirty-seven killed and one hundred and forty-seven wounded, +while the Confederate land forces had twelve killed and forty wounded. +The Confederate flotilla must have lost as many men as the Unionists. +Having safely passed all obstructions, Captain Farragut steamed up to +the river to New Orleans, and the city surrendered April 25, formal +possession being taken on May 1. + +It will be admitted that Lieutenant Dewey had received his "baptism of +fire." + +It is the testimony of every one who saw him during the turmoil of +battle that he conducted himself with the coolness and courage of a +veteran. At no time during the passage of the forts and the desperate +fighting with the Confederate flotilla above did he display the first +evidence of nervousness or lack of self-possession. + +[Illustration: IRONCLADS ON THE MISSISSIPPI.] + +The next engagement in which Lieutenant Dewey took part was the attempt +by Farragut to pass the battery of nineteen guns, mounted on the +hundred-foot high bluff of Port Hudson, on a bend of the Mississippi, +below Vicksburg. The position was the most difficult conceivable to +carry from the river, because of the plunging shots from the enormous +guns on the bluff above. + +Captain Farragut had no thought of reducing these batteries, which would +have been impossible with a fleet double the strength of his, but he +wished to get his vessels past in order to blockade the river above the +bend. The attempt was made on the night of March 14, 1863, with the +_Hartford_ in the lead, and followed by the _Richmond_, _Monongahela_ +and _Mississippi_, with the smaller boats. The first three boats had as +consorts the _Albatross_, _Kineo_ and _Genessee_. Captain Mahan, in "The +Gulf and Inland Waters," gives the following vivid description of this +historical incident: + +"As they drew near the batteries, the lowest of which the _Hartford_ had +already passed, the enemy threw up rockets and opened their fire. +Prudence, and the fact of the best water being on the starboard hand, +led the ships to hug the east shore of the river, passing so close under +the Confederate guns that the speech of the gunners and troops could be +distinguished. Along the shore, at the foot of the bluffs, powerful +reflecting lamps, like those used on locomotives, had been placed to +show the ships to the enemy as they passed, and for the same purpose +large fires, already stacked on the opposite point, were lit. The fire +of the fleet and from the shore soon raised a smoke which made these +precautions useless, while it involved the ships in a danger greater +than any from the enemy's guns. Settling down upon the water in a still, +damp atmosphere, it soon hid everything from the eyes of the pilots. The +flagship leading had the advantage of pushing often ahead of her own +smoke; but those who followed ran into it and incurred a perplexity +which increased from van to rear. At the bend of the river the current +caught the _Hartford_ on her port bow, sweeping her around with her head +toward the batteries, and nearly on shore, her stern touching the ground +slightly; but by her own efforts and the assistance of the _Albatross_ +she was backed clear. Then, the _Albatross_ backing and the _Hartford_ +going ahead strong with the engine, her head was fairly pointed up the +stream, and she passed by without serious injury. Deceived possibly by +the report of the howitzers in her top, which were nearly on their own +level, the Confederates did not depress their guns sufficiently to hit +her as often as they did the ships that followed her. One killed and two +wounded is her report; and one marine fell overboard, his cries for help +being heard on board the other ships as they passed by, unable to save +him." + +If the capture of the batteries was impossible, their passage was almost +equally so. The _Richmond_ was so badly injured that she was compelled +to turn down stream, having suffered a loss of three killed and fifteen +wounded, while the _Monongahela_ had six killed and twenty-one wounded +before she was able to wrench herself loose from where she had grounded +and drift out of range. + +Now came the _Mississippi_, whose tragic fate is graphically told by +Admiral Porter in his "Naval History of the Civil War": + +"The steamship _Mississippi_, Captain Melancthon Smith, followed in the +wake of the _Monongahela_, firing whenever her guns could be brought to +bear. At 11:30 o'clock she reached the turn which seemed to give our +vessels so much trouble, and Captain Smith was congratulating himself on +the prospect of soon catching up with the flag officer, when his ship +grounded and heeled over three streaks to port. + +"The engines were instantly reversed and the port guns run in in order +to bring her on an even keel, while the fire from her starboard battery +was reopened on the forts. The engines were backed with all the steam +that could be put upon them, and the backing was continued for thirty +minutes, but without avail. + +"It was now seen that it would be impossible to get the ship afloat. + +"Captain Smith gave orders to spike the port battery and throw the guns +overboard, but it was not done, for the enemy's fire was becoming so +rapid and severe that the Captain deemed it judicious to abandon the +ship at once in order to save the lives of the men. + +"While preparations were being made to destroy the ship, the sick and +wounded were lowered into boats and conveyed ashore, while the men at +the starboard battery continued to fight in splendid style, firing at +every flash of the enemy's guns. The small arms were thrown overboard, +and all possible damage was done to the engine and everything else that +might prove of use to the enemy. + +"The ship was first set on fire in the forward storeroom, but three +shots came through below her water-line and put out the flames. She was +then set afire in four places aft, and when the flames were well under +way, so as to make her destruction certain, Captain Smith and his first +lieutenant (George Dewey) left the ship, all the officers and crew +having been landed before. + +"The _Mississippi_ was soon ablaze fore and aft, and as she was now +relieved of a great deal of weight--by the removal of her crew and the +destruction of her upper works--she floated off the bank and drifted +down the river, much to the danger of the Union vessels below. But she +passed without doing them any injury, and at 5:30 o'clock blew up and +went to the bottom." + +When the time came for the crew to save themselves as best they could, +all sprang overboard and struck out for shore. A little way from the +blazing steamer a poor sailor was struggling hard to save himself, but +one arm was palsied from a wound, and he must have drowned but for +Dewey, who swam powerfully to him, helped him to a floating piece of +wreckage and towed him safely to land. + +The lieutenant was now transferred to one of the gunboats of Admiral +Farragut's squadron and engaged in patrol duty between Cairo and +Vicksburg. + +[Illustration: GUNBOATS PASSING BEFORE VICKSBURG.] + +The latter surrendered to General Grant July 4, 1863, and the river was +opened from its source to the Gulf. Early in 1864 the lieutenant was +made executive officer of the gunboat _Agawam_, and when attached to the +North Atlantic squadron, took part in the attack on Fort Fisher, one of +the strongest of forts, which, standing at the entrance of Cape Fear +river, was so efficient a protection to Wilmington that the city became +the chief port in the Confederacy for blockade runners. Indeed, its +blockade was a nullity, despite the most determined efforts of the Union +fleet to keep it closed. The Confederate cruisers advertised their +regular days for departure, and they ran upon schedule time, even women +and children taking passage upon the swift steamers with scarcely a fear +that they would not be able to steam in and out of the river whenever +the navigators of the craft chose to do so. + +The first attempt against Fort Fisher was in the latter part of +December, 1864, but, though the fleet was numerous and powerful, and the +greatest gallantry was displayed, the attack was unsuccessful. General +Butler, in command of the land troops, after a careful examination of +the Confederate works, pronounced capture impossible and refused to +sacrifice his men in a useless attack. Nevertheless the attempt was +renewed January 12, when General Alfred Terry had charge of the land +forces. The garrison made one of the bravest defences of the whole war, +and the hand-to-hand fight was of the most furious character. It lasted +for five hours, when the fort was obliged to surrender, the garrison of +2,300 men becoming prisoners of war. It was in this fearful struggle +that Ensign "Bob" Evans, who was with the naval force that charged up +the unprotected beach, was so frightfully wounded that it was believed +he could not live. When the surgeon made ready to amputate his shattered +leg, Bob, who had secured possession of a loaded revolver, swore he +would shoot any man who touched the limb with such purpose. Perforce he +was left alone, and in due time fully recovered, though lamed for life. + +Lieutenant Dewey was one of the most active of the young officers in the +attack on Fort Fisher, and conducted himself with so much bravery and +skill, executing one of the most difficult and dangerous movements in +the heat of the conflict, that he was highly complimented by his +superior officers. + +But peace soon came, and a generation was to pass before his name was +again associated with naval exploits. In March, 1865, he was promoted to +the rank of lieutenant-commander and assigned to duty on the +_Kearsarge_, the vessel that acquired undying glory for sinking the +_Alabama_, off Cherbourg, France, during the previous July. Early in +1867 he was ordered home from the European station and assigned to duty +at the Kittery Navy Yard, at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. + +While at this station he became acquainted with Miss Susan B. Goodwin, +daughter of the "war Governor" of New Hampshire. She was an accomplished +young woman, to whom the naval officer was married, October 24, 1867. +Their all too brief wedded life was ideally happy, but she died December +28, 1872, a few days after the birth of a son, named George Goodwin, in +honor of his grandfather. + +From 1873 to 1876 Dewey was engaged in making surveys on the Pacific +coast; he commanded the _Juniata_ on the Asiatic squadron in 1882-83, +and the following year was made captain and placed in charge of the +_Dolphin_, one of the original "white squadron." Next came service in +Washington as Chief of the Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting, as member +of the Lighthouse Board and president of the Board of Inspection and +Survey (he being made commodore February 28, 1896), until 1897, when he +was placed in command of the Asiatic squadron, much against his will. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +DEWEY IN THE WAR WITH SPAIN. + + +While engaged with his duties in Washington, Commodore Dewey found his +close confinement to work had affected his health. Naturally strong and +rugged, accustomed to the ozone of the ocean and toned up by the variety +of the service, even in times of peace, the monotony of a continual +round of the same duties told upon him, and his physician advised him to +apply for sea service. He knew the counsel was wise and he made +application, which was granted. + +Assistant Secretary of War Theodore Roosevelt, after a careful study of +the record of the different naval commanders, was convinced that George +Dewey deserved one of the most important commands at the disposal of the +Government. The impetuous official was certain that war with Spain was +at hand, and that one of the most effective blows against that tyrannous +power could be struck in the far East, where the group of islands known +as the Philippines constituted her most princely possessions. + +The assignment, as has been stated, was not pleasing to Dewey, because +he and others believed the real hard fighting must take place in +European or Atlantic waters. We all know the uneasiness that prevailed +for weeks over the destination of the Spanish fleet under Admiral +Cervera. Dewey wanted to meet him and do some fighting that would recall +his services when a lieutenant in the Civil War, and he saw no chance of +securing the chance on the other side of the world, but Roosevelt was +persistent, and, against the wishes of the Naval Board, he obtained his +assignment as flag officer of the Asiatic squadron. + +Commodore Dewey felt that the first duty of an officer is to obey, and +after a farewell dinner given by his friends at the Metropolitan Club in +Arlington, he hurriedly completed his preparations, and, starting for +Hong Kong, duly reached that port, where, on January 3, 1898, he hoisted +his flag on the _Olympia_. + +The official records show that the _Olympia_ was ordered home, but +Roosevelt, in a confidential dispatch of February 25, directed Commodore +Dewey to remain, to prepare his squadron for offensive operations, and, +as soon as war broke out with Spain, to steam to the Philippines and hit +the enemy as hard as he knew how. Meanwhile ammunition and supplies were +hurried across the continent to San Francisco as fast as express trains +could carry them, and were sent thence by steamer to Hong Kong, where +they were eagerly received by the waiting Commodore. + +Reverting to those stirring days, it will be recalled that the Queen +Regent of Spain declared war against the United States on April 24, +1898, to which we replied that war had begun three days earlier, when +the Madrid government dismissed our minister and handed him his +passports. Then followed, or rather were continued, the vigorous +preparations on the part of our authorities for the prosecution of the +war to a prompt and decisive end. + +Commodore Dewey's squadron lay at anchor in the harbor of Hong Kong, +awaiting the momentous news from Washington. When it reached the +commander it was accompanied by an order to capture or destroy the +enemy's fleet at Manila. Almost at the same time Great Britain issued +her proclamation of neutrality, the terms of which compelled Dewey to +leave the British port of Hong Kong within twenty-four hours. He did so, +steaming to Mirs Bay, a Chinese port near at hand, where he completed +his preparations for battle, and on the 27th of April steamed out of the +harbor on his way to Manila. + +The city of Manila, with a population numbering about a quarter of a +million, lies on the western side of Luzon, the principal island, with a +magnificent bay in front, extensive enough to permit all the navies of +the world to manoeuvre with plenty of elbow room. The entrance to the +immense bay is seven miles wide and contains two islands, Corregidor and +Caballo, both of which were powerfully fortified, the works containing a +number of modern guns. Torpedoes were stretched across the channel and +the bay abounded with enough mines and torpedoes, it would seem, to blow +any fleet of ironclads to atoms as soon as it dared to try to force an +entrance into the waters. Some twenty miles beyond lay the city of +Manila, and about ten miles to the south was Cavite, constituting the +strongly fortified part of the city proper. + +Of course the Spanish spies were on the watch in Hong Kong, and while +the American squadron was steaming out of the bay the news was +telegraphed to the authorities at Manila, who knew that the real +destination of the enemy was that city. Every effort was made to keep +the matter a secret, but it was impossible, and it soon became known to +everybody that the American "pigs" were coming, and that Manila must +fall, if the Spanish fleet were unable to beat off the enemy. + +The Spaniards proclaimed that they would send every one of the American +vessels to the bottom; but they had made similar boasts before, and +their bombast did not quiet the fears of the people, among whom a panic +quickly spread. Those who were able to do so gathered their valuables +and took refuge on the merchant ships in the harbor and thanked heaven +when they bore them away. Many others fled from the city, but the +majority stayed, grimly determined to be in at the death and accept +whatever fate was in store for them. + +The distance between Hong Kong and Manila is 630 miles, and it needed +only a little figuring on the part of the inhabitants to decide that the +dreaded squadron would be due on the following Saturday evening or early +the next morning, which would be the first of May. The self-confidence +of Admiral Montojo and his officers was almost sublime. All they asked +was a fair chance at the "American pigs." They hoped that nothing would +occur to prevent the coming of the fleet, for the Spaniards would never +cease to mourn if the golden opportunity were allowed to slip from their +grasp. They were not disappointed in that respect. + +It is proper to give at this point the respective strength of the +American and Spanish fleets. The squadron under the command of +Commodore Dewey was as follows: + +_Olympia_--Protected cruiser (flagship), 5,500 tons. Speed, 21.7 knots. +Complement, 450. Armor, protected deck, 2 inches to 4-3/4 inches. Guns, +main battery, four 8-inch, ten 5-inch, rapid-fire; secondary battery, +rapid-fire, fourteen 6-pound, seven 1-pound, four Gatlings, one field +gun and five torpedo tubes. Captain Charles V. Gridley. + +_Baltimore_--Protected cruiser, 4,400 tons. Speed, 20.1 knots. +Complement, 386. Armor, 2-1/2 inches to 4 inches. Guns, main battery, +four 8-inch, six 6-inch, slow-fire; secondary battery, rapid-fire, four +6-pound, two 3-pound, two 1-pound, four 37 MM. Hotchkiss, two Colts, one +field gun and five torpedo tubes. Captain N.M. Dyer. + +_Raleigh_--Protected cruiser, 3,213 tons. Speed, 19 knots. Armor, 1 inch +to 2-1/2 inches. Guns, one 6-inch, rapid-fire, ten 5-inch; secondary +battery, eight 6-pounders, four 1-pounders, and two machine guns. +Complement, 320. Captain J.B. Coghlan. + +_Boston_--Protected cruiser, 3,189 tons. Speed, 15.6 knots. Complement, +270. Armor, 1-1/2 inch deck. Guns, main battery, two 8-inch and six +6-inch rifles; secondary battery, rapid-fire, two 6-pounders and two +3-pounders. Captain F. Wildes. + +_Petrel_--Fourth-rate cruiser, 890 tons. Speed, 13.7 knots. Guns, four +6-inch, two 3-pounder rapid-fire, one 1-pounder, and four machine guns. +Commander E.P. Wood. + +_Concord_--Gunboat, 1,710 tons. Speed, 16.8 knots. Armor, 3/8-inch deck. +Guns, main battery, six 6-inch rifles. Commander Asa Walker. + +_Hugh McCulloch_--Revenue cutter, light battery of rapid-fire guns. + +_Zafiro_--Auxiliary cruiser: supply vessel. + +The vessels under command of Admiral Montojo were the following: + +_Reina Cristina_--Cruiser (flagship). Built in 1887, iron, 3,090 tons, +14 to 17.5 knots, according to draught, and a main battery of six +6.2-inch rifles. + +_Castilla_--Cruiser, built in 1881, wood, 3,342 tons, 14 knots, and four +5.9-inch Krupps and two 4.7-inch Krupps in her main battery. + +_Velasco_--Small cruiser, built in 1881, iron, 1,139 tons, and three +6-inch Armstrongs in her main battery. + +_Don Juan de Austria_--Small cruiser, completed in 1887, iron, 1,152 +tons, 13 to 14 knots, and four 4.7-inch rifles in her main battery. + +_Don Antonio de Ulloa_--Small cruiser, iron, 1,152 tons. Four 4.7-inch +Hontoria guns; two 2.7-inch, two quick-firing; two 1.5-inch; five muzzle +loaders. + +Gunboats _Paragua_, _Callao_, _Samar_, _Pampagna_, and _Arayat_, built +1881-6, steel, 137 tons, 10 knots, and each mounting two quick-firing +guns. + +Gunboats _Mariveles_ and _Mindoro_, built in 1886 and 1885, iron, 142 +tons, 10 knots, each mounting one 2.7-inch rifle and four machine guns. + +Gunboat _Manileno_, built in 1887, wood, 142 tons, 9 knots, and mounting +three 3.5-inch rifles. + +Gunboats _El Cano_ and _General Lezo_, built in 1885, iron, 528 tons, 10 +to nearly 12 knots, and each mounting three 3.5-inch rifles. + +Gunboat _Marquis Del Duero_, built in 1875, iron, 500 tons, 10 knots, +and mounting one 6.2-inch and two 4.7-inch rifles. + + * * * * * + +Through the bright sunshine and when the stars twinkled in the sky or +the full moon rode overhead, the American ships steamed to the southeast +across the heaving China Sea. The Stars and Stripes fluttered in the +breeze and there was a feeling of expectancy on board the grim engines +of war, that had laid aside every possible encumbrance, and like +prize-fighters were stripped to the buff and eager for battle. + +The run was a smooth one, and as the sun was sinking in the sky +Commodore Dewey, peering through his glass, caught the faint outlines of +Corregidor Island, and dimly beyond the flickering haze revealed the +Spanish fleet in the calm bay. The Commodore had been in that part of +the world before, and while waiting at Hong Kong had gathered all the +knowledge possible of the defences of Manila. He knew the fort was +powerfully fortified and the bay mined, and knowing all this, he +remembered the exclamation of his immortal instructor in the science of +war, the peerless Farragut, when he was driving his squadron into Mobile +Bay. Recalling that occurrence, Commodore Dewey joined in spirit in +repeating the words: + +"D---- the torpedoes!" + +It was still many miles to the entrance, and night closed in while the +squadron was ploughing through the sea that broke in tumbling foam at +the bows and spread far away in snowy wakes at the rear. All lights were +put out, the full moon again climbed the sky and the shadowy leviathans +plunged through the waters straight for the opening of the bay, guarded +by the fort and batteries, with the Spanish fleet beyond, defiantly +awaiting the coming of the American squadron. + +Suddenly from Corregidor Island the darkness was lit up by a vivid +flash, a thunderous boom traveled across the bay, and the heavy shot +tore its way screaming over the _Raleigh_, quickly followed by a second, +which fell astern of the _Olympia_ and _Raleigh_. The Spaniards had +discovered the approach of the squadron. The _Raleigh_, _Concord_, and +_Boston_ replied; all the shots being fired with remarkable accuracy. + +One may imagine the consternation in Manila when the boom of those guns +rolled in from the bay, for none could mistake its meaning. Women and +children ran to the churches and knelt in frenzied prayer; men dashed to +and fro, not knowing what to do, while the Spanish soldiers, who had not +believed the American ships could ever pass the harbor torpedoes and +mines, were in a wild panic when they learned that the seemingly +impossible had been done. To add to the terror, rumors spread that the +ferocious natives were gathering at the rear of the city to rush in and +plunder and kill. + +When at last the morning light appeared in the sky, the Americans saw +tens of thousands of people crowded along the shore, gazing in terror +out on the bay where rode the hostile fleets, soon to close in deadly +battle. Commodore Dewey coolly scanned the hostile vessels, and grasping +the whole situation, as may be said, at a glance, led in the attack on +the enemy. + +While approaching Cavite two mines exploded directly in front of the +_Olympia_. The roar was tremendous and the water was flung hundreds of +feet in the air. Without swerving an inch or halting, Dewey signalled to +the other vessels to pay no attention to the torpedoes, but to steam +straight ahead. It was virtually a repetition of the more emphatic +command of Farragut in Mobile Bay, uttered thirty-four years before. + +The batteries on shore let fly at the ships, and the first reply was +made by Captain Coghlan of the _Raleigh_. The _Olympia_ had led the way +into the harbor, and she now headed for the centre of the Spanish fleet. +Calmly watching everything in his field of vision, and knowing when the +exact moment arrived for the beginning of the appalling work, Commodore +Dewey, cool, alert, attired in white duck uniform and a golf cap, turned +to Captain Gridley and said in his ordinary conversational tone: + +"Gridley, you may fire when ready." + +A series of sharp, crackling sounds followed, like exploding Chinese +crackers, and then the thunderous roars and a vast volume of smoke +rolled over the bay and enveloped the warships that were pouring their +deadly fire into the Spanish vessels. The American ships, in order to +disconcert the aim of the batteries of the enemy, moved slowly in their +terrible ellipses or loops, their sides spouting crimson flame and +answered by the shots of the Spaniards, who fought with a courage +deserving of all praise. The manoeuvring of the American ships led the +breathless swarms on shore to believe they were suffering defeat, and an +exultant telegram to that effect was cabled to Madrid, nearly ten +thousand miles away, where it caused a wild but short-lived rejoicing. + +At half-past seven there was a lull. Commodore Dewey drew off to +replenish his magazines, of whose shortness of supply he had received +disturbing reports. Advantage was taken of the cessation to give the men +breakfast, for it is a well accepted principle that sailors as well as +soldiers fight best upon full stomachs. As the wind blew aside the dense +smoke, it was seen that the _Reina Cristina_, the Spanish flagship, was +in flames. Hardly two hours later the American squadron advanced again +to the attack, and Admiral Montojo was observed to transfer his flag +from the doomed _Reina Cristina_ to the _Isla de Cuba_, which soon after +was also ablaze. Amid the crash and roar of the ponderous guns sounded +the shrieks and cries of mortal agony from the Spanish crews, victims +to the matchless gunnery of the Americans. + +[Illustration: THE "OLYMPIA" IN MANILA BAY.] + +The latter pressed their advantage remorselessly. The _Don Juan de +Austria_ was the centre of the heaviest fire, and suddenly a part of the +deck flew upward in the air, carrying with it scores of dead and +wounded. A shot had exploded one of her magazines, and at the sight of +the awful results Admiral Montojo threw up his arms in despair. The crew +refused to leave the blazing ship, and cursing and praying they went +down with her. Then the _Castilla_ burst into one mass of roaring flame, +and the rest of the defeated fleet skurried down the long narrow isle +behind Cavite. Others dashed up a small creek, where they grounded, and +those that were left ran ashore. By half-past eleven the batteries of +Cavite were silenced, the Spanish fleet was destroyed, and the +victorious Americans broke into ringing cheers. The battle of Manila, +one of the most remarkable in naval annals, was won and Commodore Dewey +took rank among the greatest of all the heroes of the sea. + +What a marvellous record! Of the Spaniards, the dead and wounded +numbered nearly a thousand, while not a single life had been lost by the +American squadron. Several were wounded, but none seriously. No such +victory between ironclads has thus far taken place in the history of +the world. In the face of mines, torpedoes and shore batteries, +Commodore Dewey had won an overwhelming and crushing victory. The power +of Spain in the Philippines was forever destroyed, and another glorious +victory had been added to the long list that illumines the story of the +American navy. + +It was easy for Dewey to compel the surrender of Manila, but with the +prudence that always guides him, he decided that since his force was not +strong enough to occupy and hold the city, to await the arrival of +reinforcements from the United States. They reached Manila the following +August, and, under command of General Wesley Merritt and aided by the +fleet, Manila surrendered, almost at the same hour that the +representatives of Spain and our own officials in Washington signed the +protocol that marked the cessation of war between the two countries. + +Now came long and trying weeks and months to Rear Admiral Dewey, he +having been promoted upon receipt of news of his great victory. Peerless +as was his conduct during offensive operations, it was surpassed in many +respects by his course throughout the exasperating period named. Germany +and France were unfriendly and Aguinaldo treacherous, though Great +Britain and Japan were ardent in their sympathy for the United States. +Germany especially was a constant cause of irritation to Admiral Dewey, +whose patience was often tried to the utmost verge. To his tact, +prudence, self-control, firmness, diplomacy and masterful wisdom were +due the fact that no complication with foreign powers occurred and that +the United States escaped a tremendous war, whose consequences no one +could foresee or calculate. + +Everybody instinctively felt that Admiral Dewey was the real hero of our +war with Spain. The wish was general that he should return home in order +that his countrymen might have opportunity to show their appreciation of +him and to give him fitting honors. + +And nothing could be more repugnant than all this to the naval hero, who +is as modest as he is brave. Besides, he felt that his work was by no +means finished in the far East, for, as has been shown, there was need +of delicate diplomacy, prudence and statesmanship. He asked to be +allowed to stay, and he did so, until, the main difficulty being passed, +and his health feeling the result of the tremendous strain that was +never relaxed, he finally set sail in the _Olympia_ for home, leaving +Hong Kong in May, and, one year after his great victory, proceeding at a +leisurely rate that did not bring him to his native shores until the +cool breezes of autumn. On the long voyage hither he was shown the +highest honors everywhere, and Washington or Lincoln could not have +received more grateful homage than was paid to him by his countrymen, +whom he had served so long, so faithfully and so well. + +Meanwhile, it should be added, that the rank of full Admiral of the +navy, hitherto borne only by David Glasgow Farragut and David Dixon +Porter, was revived and bestowed, in February, 1899, upon George Dewey, +and of the three none has worn the exalted honor more worthily than the +Green Mountain Boy, who has proven himself the born gentleman and +fighter, the thorough patriot and statesman and the Chevalier Bayard of +the American navy. + + + + +THE REVOLUTIONARY BATTLES. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +Birth of the American Navy--The Privateers--Capture of New Providence, +in the Bahamas--Paul Jones--A Clever Exploit--A Skilful Escape--Fine +Seamanship--An Audacious Scheme. + + + +When, on April 19, 1775, the battle of Lexington opened the Revolution +the Colonies did not possess a single ship with which to form the +beginning of a navy. They had for many years been actively engaged in +the coasting trade and some of their vessels did valiant service on the +side of England in the wars against France and Spain. We had a good many +hardy, skilled seamen, who formed the best material from which to man a +navy, and before long Congress undertook the work of building one. That +body ordered the construction of thirteen frigates--one for each +State--and some of these did noble work, but by the close of the war few +of them were left; nearly all had been captured or destroyed. + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES.] + +It was far different with the privateers, which were vessels fitted out +by private parties, under the authority of Congress, to cruise the seas +wherever they chose and capture English vessels wherever they could. +When a prize was taken the lucky officers and crews divided the plunder. +It was a very tempting field for the brave and enterprising Americans +and when, in March, 1776, Congress gave them permission to fit out and +sail privateers, they were quick to use the chance of securing prize +money as it was called. Those swift sailing vessels and their daring +crews sailed out of Salem, Cape Ann, Newburyport, Bristol and other +seacoast towns, and they did not have to hunt long before they found the +richest sort of prizes. In the single year 1776 these privateers +captured 342 British vessels and wrought great havoc among the English +shipping. + +In January, 1778, one of these privateers entered the harbor of New +Providence, in the Bahamas, and captured the fort and a sixteen-gun +man-of-war. Many other valiant exploits were performed and before long +some of the more daring privateers boldly crossed the Atlantic and by +their deeds threw the coast of Great Britain into consternation. + +Among the most remarkable of these naval heroes was a young Scotchman, +not quite thirty years old. + +[Illustration] + +He had been trained in the merchant service and had become a skilful +sailor before he removed to Virginia, where he made his home. He +devotedly loved his adopted country, and, when the war broke out between +the colonies and Great Britain, and the long, hard struggle for +independence began, he was among the very first to offer his services on +the side of liberty. His character was so well known and appreciated +that he was appointed a first lieutenant. I am sure you have all heard +of him, for his name was John Paul Jones, though since, for some reason +or other, he dropped his first name and is generally referred to simply +as Paul Jones. + +His first service was on the _Alfred_, which helped in the capture of +the fort at New Providence, already spoken of. Jones with his own hands +hoisted the first flag displayed on an American man-of-war. It was of +yellow silk, with the device of a rattlesnake, and bore the motto, +"Don't tread on me." + +Jones attracted such favorable attention during this enterprise that on +his return he was made commander of the twelve-ton brig _Providence_ and +was employed for a time in carrying troops from Rhode Island to New +York. Since he was by birth a citizen of Great Britain, which then +insisted that "once a British subject always a British subject," the +English cruisers made determined efforts to capture him. Many of the +officers declared that if they could lay hands on the audacious +freebooter, as they called him, they would hang him at the yard arm. +But, before doing so, they had to catch him, and that proved a harder +task than they suspected. He was chased many times and often fired into, +but the _Providence_ was always swift enough to show a clean pair of +heels to her pursuers and Jones himself was such a fine sailor that he +laughed at their efforts to take him prisoner. + +One of the cleverest exploits of Jones was performed in the autumn of +1776. He saw an American brig returning from the West Indies, heavily +laden with supplies for Washington's army, which was badly in need of +them. A British frigate was in hot pursuit of the American, which was +straining every nerve to escape, but would not have been able to do so +except for Jones, who ran in between the two, and, firing into the +frigate, induced her to let the American go and chase him. Taking +advantage of the chance thus offered, the brig got safely away and then +Jones himself dodged away from the frigate, which thus lost both. + +In the month of October, 1776, Jones was promoted to the rank of captain +and ordered to cruise between Boston and the Delaware. I must tell you +an anecdote which illustrates his wonderful seamanship. + +Some weeks before he was made a captain, and while cruising off Bermuda, +he saw five sail far to the windward and he beat up, doing so carefully +and with the purpose of finding out whether there was a chance for him +to strike an effective blow. He picked out what looked like a large +merchant ship and gave chase. He gained fast, but to his dismay, when he +was quite close, he discovered that instead of a merchant ship he had +almost run into a twenty-eight gun frigate of the enemy. + +Finding he had caught a Tartar, Jones did the only thing left to him. He +hauled off and put on every stitch of sail and the frigate did the same. +She proved the better sailer, and, though she gained slowly, it was +surely, and in the course of a few hours she had approached within +musket shot of the brig's lee quarter. There seemed no possible escape +for Jones, knowing which, he did a remarkable thing. He veered off until +the frigate was almost astern, when he put about dead before the wind, +with every yard of canvas set. + +The Englishman was dumfounded by the daring manoeuvre, which brought +the American within pistol shot, for he did not fire a gun until Jones +was beyond reach of his grape. The pursuit was continued hour after +hour, but the brig was now at her best and finally left her pursuer +hopelessly astern. When the _Providence_ ran into Newport in October she +had captured or destroyed fifteen prizes. + +Jones's bold and skilful seamanship drew attention to him and he was now +given command of the 24-gun ship _Alfred_, while Captain Hacker took +charge of the _Providence_. The two vessels started on a cruise in +company and some days later the _Alfred_ fell in with three British +vessels, and, after a brisk action, captured them all. One proved to be +a transport with 150 men and a large amount of supplies for Burgoyne's +army, which was at that time organizing in Montreal for its notable +campaign through New York, where it was captured by General Gates, at +Saratoga. + +This transport was so valuable that Jones, instead of putting a prize +crew on board, determined to take her into port, and, if in danger of +capture from pursuit, he meant to sink her. It began snowing the +following night and the _Providence_ and _Alfred_ were obliged to +separate. + +Jones was making for Boston when he was discovered by the frigate that +he had outwitted two months before, when the _Providence_ narrowly +escaped capture. Night was closing in and the frigate being to windward, +her outlines were indistinct. Captain Jones ordered his prizes to steer +southward and to pay no attention to the signals displayed on his own +vessel. At midnight he hoisted a toplight and tacked to the west, +knowing the others would continue to the southward as he had directed. +The strategem was successful, for at daylight the frigate was pressing +hard after the _Alfred_, while the prizes had disappeared. The _Alfred_ +eluded her enemy as before, and, upon reaching Boston, Jones found his +captives awaiting him. + +An idea of the effectiveness of the privateers may be gained by the +statement that during the year 1777 nearly 500 vessels were captured by +them. By that time Paul Jones had proven himself to be the finest +officer in the American Navy. He had every quality to make him such. No +one could surpass him in seamanship. He was cool and daring and was +animated by the highest patriotism for his adopted country. Such a man +was sure to be heard of again, as Great Britain learned to her cost. + +France had shown a strong liking for the American colonies from the +first. No doubt this liking was influenced by her hatred of England, for +the nations had been bitter rivals for years. We had sent several +commissioners to Paris, and they did a good deal for our country. The +commissioners had a heavy, single-decked frigate built in Holland, which +was named the _South Carolinian_ and was intended for Paul Jones, but +some difficulties occurred and he was sent to sea in the 18-gun ship +_Ranger_, which left Portsmouth, N.H., at the beginning of November. She +was so poorly equipped that Jones complained, though he did not hesitate +on that account. + +On the way to Nantes, in France, the _Ranger_ captured two prizes, +refitted at Brest, and in April, 1778, sailed for the British coast. +Having made several captures, Captain Jones headed for the Isle of Man, +his intention being to make a descent upon Whitehaven. A violent wind +that night baffled him, and, hoping to prevent his presence in the +section from being discovered, he kept his vessel disguised as a +merchantman. Sailing hither and thither, generally capturing all vessels +that he sighted, he finally turned across to the Irish coast and in the +latter part of the month was off Carrickfergus, where he learned from +some fishermen that the British sloop-of-war _Drake_ was at anchor in +the roads. Jones was exceedingly anxious to attack her, and planned a +night surprise, but again the violent wind interfered and he was forced +to give up the scheme, so well suited to his daring nature. + +This brave man now set out to execute one of the most startling schemes +that can be imagined. Whitehaven at that time was a city of 50,000 +inhabitants and the harbor was filled with shipping. His plan was to +sail in among the craft and burn them all. It seemed like the idea of a +man bereft of his senses, but there was not the slightest hesitation on +his part. Such enterprises often succeed through their very boldness, +and his belief was that by acting quickly he could accomplish his +purpose and strike a blow at England that would carry consternation to +the people and the government. + +Captain Jones had in mind the many outrages committed by British vessels +along our seacoast, for, describing his purpose in a memorial to +Congress, he said his intention was, by one good fire in England of +British shipping, "to put an end to all burnings in America." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +A Daring Attempt by Captain Paul Jones--Why It Failed--A Bold +Scheme--Why It Did Not Succeed--The Fight Between the _Ranger_ and +_Drake_. + + + +Paul Jones waited until midnight. Then, when no one was dreaming of +danger, his men silently pulled away from the _Ranger_ in two boats, one +commanded by himself and the other by Lieutenant Wallingford. It was a +long pull, and when they reached the outer pier of the harbor it was +beginning to grow light in the east. They now parted company, and Jones +directed his men to row for the south side of the harbor, while the +Lieutenant was to make for the north shore. The object of the two was +the same: the burning of the shipping. + +Wallingford reached the north side, and then, strangely enough, gave up +the attempt, his reason being that the candle on which he counted to +start the fire was blown out. The reader must remember that in those +days matches were unknown and the task of relighting had to be done with +the steel, flint and tinder. Though the contrivance is an awkward one, +we cannot help thinking the excuse of the Lieutenant was weak, but the +result was a failure on his part to carry out the important work +assigned to him. + +Captain Jones was a different kind of man. Although day had fully +dawned, he kept his men rowing rapidly. Reaching the south side of the +harbor, he came upon a small fort garrisoned by a few soldiers. Leaping +out of the boat, the American dashed forward, bounded over the walls and +captured the sentinels before they knew their danger. The guns were +spiked and the garrison made prisoners. + +"Set fire to the shipping!" he commanded to his men, while he, with only +a single companion, ran for a second fort some distance away and spiked +the guns in that. Then he hurried back to the first fort and found to +his surprise that the fire had not been started. + +"The candles have given out," was the reply to his angry inquiry. + +It being broad daylight, his men expected him to jump into the boat and +order them to return with all haste to the ship; but, instead of doing +so, he darted into one of the nearest houses, procured some tinder and +candles and began himself the work of destruction. Fixing his attention +upon a large vessel, he climbed quickly aboard and started a fire in her +steerage. To help matters, he flung a barrel of tar over the flames and +in a few minutes they were roaring fiercely. It meant prodigious damage, +for the vessel was surrounded by more than a hundred others, none of +which could move, since they were aground and the tide was out. + +As may be supposed, there was great excitement by that time. The alarm +had been given. Men were running to and fro, and a number hurried toward +the burning ship with the purpose of extinguishing the flames. All the +Americans had entered the small boat and were impatiently awaiting their +commander. Instead of joining them, Jones drew his pistol, and, standing +alone in front of the crowd, kept them back until the fire burst out of +the steerage and began running up the rigging. Backing slowly with drawn +pistol, he stepped into the boat and told his men to row with might and +main for the vessel. + +The instant this was done the crowd rushed forward and by desperate +efforts succeeded in putting out the blaze before it had done much +damage. Then the forts attempted to fire on the Americans, but their +guns were spiked. Some cannon on the ships were discharged at the boats, +but their shots went wild. When the _Ranger_ was reached Captain Jones +made the discovery that one of his men was missing. The reason was +clear. He was a deserter and had been seen by his former comrades +running from house to house and giving the alarm. Such was the narrow +chance by which one of the most destructive conflagrations of British +shipping was averted. + +As may be supposed, this daring act caused alarm throughout England. +Jones was denounced as a freebooter and pirate, and every effort was +made to capture him. Had his enemies succeeded, little mercy would have +been shown the dauntless hero. + +England was very cruel to many of her American prisoners, and Captain +Jones fixed upon a bold and novel plan for compelling her to show more +mercy toward those unfortunate enough to fall into her power. It was to +capture some prominent nobleman and hold him as a hostage for the better +treatment of our countrymen. It must be remembered that Jones was +cruising near his birthplace and when a sailor boy had become familiar +with the Scottish and the English coasts. The _Ranger_ was a fast +vessel, and, as I have shown, Jones himself was a master of seamanship. +It would seem, therefore, that all he had to do was to be alert, and it +need not be said that he and his crew were vigilant at all times. + +The Earl of Selkirk was a Scottish nobleman who had his country seat at +the mouth of the Dee, and Jones made up his mind that he was just the +man to serve for a hostage. At any rate, he could not be put to a +better use and certainly would not suspect the purpose of the American +vessel which, as night was closing in, anchored offshore. Indeed, no one +dreamed that the vessel was the terrible American "pirate," which had +thrown the whole country into terror. + +Fortunately the night was dark and the men rowed to land without being +noticed. The task was an easy one, for there was no one to resist them. +They walked silently through the darkness to the fine grounds, and, +having surrounded the handsome building, the officer in charge of the +party presented himself at the door and made known his startling errand. +He was informed that the Earl was absent. A careful search revealed that +such was the fact, and all the trouble of the Americans went for naught. + +It was a keen disappointment and the party decided to compensate +themselves so far as they could. The Earl was wealthy and the house +contained a great deal of valuable silver plate. A quantity of this was +carried to the _Ranger_. + +Captain Jones was angered when he learned what had been done. He knew +the Earl and Lady Selkirk well and personally liked them both. The +singular scheme he had in mind was solely for the benefit of his adopted +countrymen. + +"I am accused of being a pirate, robber and thief," he exclaimed, "and +you are doing all you can to justify the charges. Every ounce of plate +shall be returned." + +He kept his word. The messengers who took back the silver carried a note +from Captain Jones apologizing to Lady Selkirk for the misconduct of his +men. + +Now, if there was anything which Paul Jones loved it was to fight. It +was simply diversion for him to capture merchantmen or vessels that +could make only a weak resistance, and he longed to give the enemy a +taste of his mettle. It may be said that his situation grew more +dangerous with every hour. His presence was known and a score of +cruisers were hunting for him. + +The British sloop of war _Drake_, which the gale prevented him from +attacking, was still at Carrickfergus, and Jones sailed thither in the +hope of inducing her to come out and fight him. Being uncertain of his +identity, the captain of the _Drake_ sent an officer in a boat to learn +the truth. Captain Jones suspected the errand and skilfully kept his +broadsides turned away until the officer, determined to know his +identity, went aboard. As soon as he stepped on deck he was made a +prisoner and sent below. + +Captain Jones reasoned that the captain of the _Drake_ would miss his +officer after awhile and come out to learn what had become of him. He, +therefore, headed toward the North Channel, the _Drake_ following, with +the tide against her and the wind unfavorable until the mid-channel was +reached, when, to quote Maclay, Paul Jones "in plain view of three +kingdoms, hove to, ran up the flag of the new Republic and awaited the +enemy." + +In reply to the demand of the _Drake's_ captain, Jones gave the name of +his vessel and expressed the pleasure it would give him to engage him in +battle. The American was astern of the _Drake_, and, to show his +earnestness, Captain Jones ordered his helm put up and let fly with a +broadside. The _Drake_ replied and then the battle was on. There was +little manoeuvring, the contest being what is known as a square +yardarm and yardarm fight. + +The comparative strength of the two vessels was as follows: The _Ranger_ +carried 18 guns and 123 men, the _Drake_ 20 guns and 160 men, a number +of the latter being volunteers for the fight, which lasted one hour and +four minutes, at the end of which time the _Ranger_ had lost two killed +and six wounded and the _Drake_ forty-two killed. The latter was so +badly damaged by the well directed fire of the American that the captain +called for quarter. Ceasing her firing, Captain Jones lowered a boat +and sent it to the _Drake_ to take possession. + +As an evidence of the effect of the fire of the _Ranger_, the following +words may be quoted from Jones's official report: "Her fore and +maintopsail yards being cut away and down on the caps, the topgallant +yard and mizzen gaff both hanging up and down along the mast, the second +ensign which they had hoisted shot away and hanging on the quarter +gallery in the water, the jib shot away and hanging in the water, her +sails and rigging cut entirely to pieces, her masts and yards all +wounded and her hull very much galled." + +The damages to the _Ranger_ were so slight they were repaired by the +close of the following day, when she got under sail with her prize. +Despite the swarm of cruisers that were hunting for him, Jones passed +unscathed through North Channel, along the western coast of Ireland and +arrived at Brest, in France, within a month of the day he left the port, +his cruise having been one of the most remarkable in naval history. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +One of the Most Memorable Sea Fights Ever Known--The Wonderful Exploit +of Captain Paul Jones. + + + +I have taken Paul Jones as the highest type of the infant American navy. +There were others who fought with great bravery and did much to aid in +the struggle for American independence, but none combined in such +perfection the qualities of perfect seamanship, cool but dauntless +courage and skill in fighting. + +Of course, no matter how daring our cruisers, they did not always escape +disaster. At the close of the Revolution there had been twenty-four +vessels lost, carrying 470 guns. Several of these met their fate through +shipwreck. Contrast with this the loss of Great Britain, which was 102 +war vessels, carrying in all 2,624 guns. The total vessels of all kinds +captured from the English by our cruisers and privateers was about 800. + +Captain Jones had made so successful a cruise with the _Ranger_ that he +felt, upon returning to Brest, in France, he was entitled to a better +ship. He wrote to Benjamin Franklin, expressing himself plainly on that +point, and the American commissioner, after several months' delay, had a +ship of 40 guns placed under the command of Jones. Her original name was +the _Duras_, but at Jones's request it was changed to the _Bonhomme +Richard_. This was in compliment to Franklin, who was often called "Poor +Richard" by his admiring countrymen, because for many years he had +published "Poor Richard's Almanac," filled with wise and witty sayings. + +This ship was an old Indiaman, in which 42 guns were placed, and the +final number of her crew was 304. The 32-gun frigate _Alliance_, Captain +Landais, was put under the orders of Captain Jones and a third, the +_Pallas_, was bought and armed with thirty guns. A merchant brig and a +cutter were also added to the squadron. It was found very hard to man +these vessels and any other captain than Jones would have given up the +task as an impossible one. It seemed as if about every known nation in +the world was represented and some of the men of the most desperate +character. Maclay says in his "History of the American Navy" that the +muster roll of the _Bonhomme Richard_ showed that the men hailed from +America, France, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, +England, Spain, India, Norway, Portugal, Fayal and Malasia, while there +were seven Maltese and the knight of the ship's galley was from Africa. +The majority of the officers, however, were American. + +[Illustration: BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.] + +This squadron sailed from L'Orient on June 19, 1779. Almost immediately +trouble occurred. Captain Landais, without any show of reason, claimed +that the command, by right of seniority of commission, belonged to him. +On the first night out the _Alliance_ and _Bonhomme Richard_ collided +and were obliged to return to port for repairs. Vexatious delays +prevented the sailing of the squadron until August 14. + +One of the consorts captured an English war vessel in the latter part of +June, but was compelled to abandon her on the appearance of a superior +force of the enemy, and the squadron put into L'Orient for repairs. A +piece of good fortune came to the _Bonhomme Richard_ while in this port. +About a hundred exchanged American prisoners volunteered and did a great +deal to improve the discipline and strengthen the crew of Jones's ship. + +The valiant American, however, met with difficulties that were of the +most exasperating nature. A boat's crew deserted and spread the news of +the arrival of the squadron off the English coast. Captain Landais, +commander of the _Alliance_, refused to obey the signals of the +flagship, and conducted himself so outrageously that Jones more than +suspected his brain was askew. The _Bonhomme Richard_ was old and in bad +condition, but Jones told Benjamin Franklin in a letter that he meant to +do something with her that would induce his Government to provide him +with a better ship. He sailed almost completely around Great Britain, +during which he captured seventeen vessels, most of which were +destroyed though the more valuable were sent into port in charge of +prize crews. + +This depletion of his crew so weakened it that Captain Jones wisely +refrained from remaining long in one place. Doubling Flamborough Head, +he came up with his companions, the _Pallas_ and the _Alliance_, the +latter having been out of his company for a fortnight. + +This was on September 23, 1779. It was near noon, while the American +squadron was chasing a British brigantine and was approaching +Flamborough Head from the south, that a large sail was discovered, +rounding that promontory from the south. Another and another followed, +the astonished Americans counting them until the number had mounted up +to forty-two. + +It was a startling sight, for if these vessels were ships of war nothing +could save the American squadron, or, if most of them were merchantmen, +under a strong escort, the peril of Captain Jones and his crews would be +almost as great. The commander studied the fleet through his glass, +allowing it to come closer and closer and holding himself ready to flee, +should it be necessary to do so. Finally, after a long scrutiny, Jones's +face lit up with exultation. There were only two vessels of war in the +fleet, and he immediately gave the signal for pursuit. + +The _Serapis_, commanded by Captain Pearson, knew that he was confronted +by the redoubtable Paul Jones, and he welcomed a fight with him, for the +British captain was one of the bravest of men. He signalled for the +merchantmen to scatter, and they did so with the utmost haste, while the +frigate with her consort, the _Countess of Scarborough_, boldly advanced +to engage the American squadron. + +It was at this critical moment that the captain of the _Alliance_ once +more showed his insubordination. He refused to obey Jones's signal to +fall to the rear of the _Bonhomme Richard_ and the _Pallas_ for a time +was equally disobedient. Soon, however, she changed her conduct and +gallantly advanced to engage the _Countess of Scarborough_. Captain +Landais, however, sullenly kept out of the battle, and, as we shall +presently learn, did even worse than that. + +Captain Pearson, of the _Serapis_, waited until his convoy was beyond +danger, when he tacked inshore. Fearing he would get away, Jones ran in +between him and the land. It was now growing dark, and it was hard for +the American commander to follow the movements of his enemy. But the +latter was not fleeing, and, although dimly visible to each other, the +two antagonists began cautiously approaching, both on the alert for any +advantage that might present itself. Nothing but the rippling of water +made by the vessels broke the profound, expectant hush that rested upon +both. + +Suddenly from the gloom came the voice of the captain of the _Serapis_: + +"What ship is that?" + +Jones wished to get nearer before opening fire and replied: + +"I do not understand you; speak louder." + +"What ship is that?" repeated the other in a louder voice through his +trumpet. "Answer or I shall fire into you." + +Jones made no reply, knowing that it was useless, but continued to edge +near his antagonist. A minute later both ships discharged a broadside at +the same moment, the gloom being lit up by spouts of crimson flame, +while the thunder "shook the mighty deep" and the sulphurous smoke +rolled slowly upward and drifted through the rigging. Then again came a +minute or so of impressive stillness, while the crews of both looked +around to learn the results of the awful tempest of round shot, grape +and canister of which they had been the targets. + +Sad work, indeed, had been done, for from each vessel rose the cries of +the wounded and dying--cries that inspired their companions to revenge +and caused them to hasten the reloading and firing of the cannon. But +unfortunately the _Bonhomme Richard_ suffered from her own guns as well +as from those of the enemy. On the lower gun deck was an improvised +battery of six 18-pounders, two of which burst, killing most of the men +at work there and tearing away the deck above them. The remainder of the +men refused to serve the other guns, and thus the _Bonhomme Richard_ was +deprived of the services of her heaviest battery, in addition to the +serious loss in dead and wounded. + +Captain Jones forged ahead, crossing his enemy's bow, while the latter +came up on his port quarter. They were within a biscuit's toss of each +other, wrapped in dense smoke, lit up by the jets of flame which were +continuous. Mingled with the terrific booming was the spiteful rattle of +musketry from the tops and yells and cries of the wounded. The decks of +the _Bonhomme Richard_ were slippery with blood, which increased until +the men, as they ran to and fro, splashed in it, like children playing +in a mud puddle, and it was the same on the _Serapis_. It found its +outlet through the scuppers and crimsoned the deep blue of the ocean. + +[Illustration: FIGHT BETWEEN "BONHOMME RICHARD" AND "SERAPIS."] + +Some of the shots from the _Serapis_ pierced the _Bonhomme Richard_ +under the water line, causing her to leak badly. Deprived of his +18-pound guns by reason of the accident mentioned, Jones was forced to +rely upon his 12-pounders. They were worked for all that was in them, +but the whole fourteen were silenced in little more than half an hour +and seven of the quarter deck and forecastle guns were dismounted. She +was left with three 9-pounders, which, being loaded and aimed under the +eye of Jones himself, did frightful execution on the deck of the enemy. + +An hour had passed and the men were fighting furiously, when the full +moon appeared above the horizon and lit up the fearful scene. The +_Serapis_ attempted to cross the bow of the _Bonhomme Richard_, but +miscalculated and the _Bonhomme Richard_ shoved her bowsprit over the +other's stern. In the lull that followed, when each expected his +antagonist to board, Captain Pearson called out: + +"Have you struck?" + +"Struck!" shouted back Jones; "I am just beginning to fight!" + +The _Serapis_ made another effort to get into position to rake the +American, but in the blinding smoke she ran her jibboom afoul of the +starboard mizzen shrouds of the _Bonhomme Richard_. Captain Jones +himself lashed the spar to the rigging, knowing that his only chance was +in fighting at close quarters, but the swaying of the ships broke them +apart. At that instant, however, the spare anchor of the _Serapis_ +caught on the American's quarter and held the two vessels, as may be +said, locked in each other's arms. + +They were so close, indeed, that the English gunners could not raise the +lower port lids, and they blew them off by firing their cannon through +them. The men on each ship in loading were forced to push their rammers +into the ports of the other vessel. The _Bonhomme Richard_ was set on +fire by burning wads, but the flames were speedily extinguished. + +The explosion of the American's lower guns at the opening of the battle +had made her helpless against the corresponding battery of the enemy, +which pounded away until a huge, yawning gap was opened. Some of the +shots went clean through the battered hull and splashed into the water, +hundreds of feet distant. The disadvantage was more than offset by the +concentration of the Americans on the upper deck and in the rigging. The +fire of the _Bonhomme Richard_ became so terrible that every officer and +man of the enemy kept out of sight, observing which an American seaman +crawled out on the main yard, carrying a bucket of hand grenades which +he threw wherever he saw a man. He did this with such excellent aim that +he dropped one through the main hatchway and into the gunroom. It fell +into a heap of powder and produced an explosion that was awful beyond +description, for it killed and wounded thirty-eight men and really +decided the battle. + +At that moment, when it all seemed over, Captain Landais fired a +broadside from the _Alliance_ into the _Bonhomme Richard_. Captain Jones +called to him in God's name to desist, but he circled about the two +ships and fired again and again into his ally, killing and wounding a +number of men and officers. It was believed that the _Alliance_ had been +captured by the enemy and had joined in the attack on the _Bonhomme +Richard_, which was so injured that she began slowly to sink. Having +wrought this irreparable damage, the _Alliance_ drew off and ceased her +murderous work. + +Jones incited his prisoners to desperate pumping by the report that the +_Serapis_ must soon go down and that the only way to save themselves +from drowning was to keep the _Bonhomme_ afloat. An officer ran to the +quarter deck to haul down the colors, but they had been shot away. He +then hurried to the taffrail and shouted for quarter. Jones, being in +another part of the ship, did not hear him. The British commander +mustered his men to board the American, but they were driven back by the +firing from the rigging of the _Bonhomme Richard_. The condition of the +latter could not have been more desperate. She was so mangled that she +began to settle, most of her guns had been disabled, a fire that could +not be checked was already close to her magazine and several hundred +prisoners were stealing here and there, waiting for a chance to strike +from behind. + +[Illustration: OLD-TIME BATTLESHIPS.] + +A deserter had slipped on board of the _Serapis_ in the confusion and +acquainted the commander with the frightful plight of the American. +After firing with renewed ardor for several minutes Captain Pearson +again called to know whether Jones had surrendered. He shouted back a +defiant negative, and, pistol in hand, ordered his men to the guns, +threatening to kill the first one who refused. All knew his temper too +well to hesitate, and the battle was renewed with greater fury than +before. Captain Pearson could not believe the condition of the _Bonhomme +Richard_ as bad as was represented by the deserter. He had lost a great +many men, all his guns were silenced, and, being utterly unable to make +any further defence, he hauled down his flag with his own hands. + +The surrender was just in time to save the _Bonhomme Richard_, which +was in danger of going down and blowing up. The united efforts of both +crews were necessary to extinguish the flames before they reached the +magazine. She was kept afloat through the night, while the wounded and +prisoners were transferred to the _Serapis_. Then the battered and +riddled old hulk plunged downward bow foremost into the depths of the +German Ocean. + +[Illustration: MEDAL PRESENTED BY CONGRESS TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES.] + +This battle has never been surpassed in heroism. Both sides fought with +a bravery that has given the conflict a place by itself in naval +annals, and it will always stand as a proof of the dauntless courage of +the Anglo-Saxon beyond the reach of those of the Latin race. The +_Bonhomme Richard_ had 42 guns and the _Serapis_ 50; the American crew +numbered 304 and the English 320. The killed on each side was 49; the +wounded on the _Bonhomme Richard_ was 116 and on the _Serapis_ 117, +there being a difference of only one in the total of killed and wounded. +The battle lasted three hours and a half. + +The _Countess of Scarborough_ made a gallant resistance for two hours, +when she was so crippled that she was compelled to surrender to the +Frenchman. An investigation into the treacherous conduct of Captain +Landais caused many to believe him insane, though others were convinced +that he was inspired by intense jealousy of Captain Jones. He was +discharged from both the French and American navy. Benjamin Franklin was +among those who believed he deserved punishment for his perfidy. + +The _Serapis_ and _Countess of Scarborough_ were refitted and given to +France, while Captain Jones was placed in command of the _Alliance_. He +was loaded with honors in France, the king presenting him with a gold +sword, and when he sailed for the United States he gave another +exhibition of his superb seamanship by eluding the blockaders that were +waiting for him outside of Texel, running through the Straits of Dover +and then defiantly standing down the English Channel in full view of +more than one of the largest British fleets. He reached the United +States in June, 1780, without mishap. + +Congress gave Captain Jones a vote of thanks, and, had the war +continued, no doubt he would have rendered more brilliant service for +the country he loved so well, but before he could be given a fitting +command hostilities ceased. He had won a world-wide reputation and +accepted the appointment of rear-admiral in the Russian navy, but gained +no opportunity to display his marvelous prowess. He died in Paris in +1792. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +Our Naval War with France--The Tribute Paid to the Barbary States by +Christian Nations--War Declared Against the United States by +Tripoli--Bainbridge, Decatur, Stewart, Dale and Preble. + + + +Now I suspect that if my young readers were asked to name the nations +with which, at one time or another we have been at war, they would not +be likely to include France in the list. All the same, we have had a war +with her, though it was confined to the ocean and there was no formal +declaration on either side. + +A few years after the close of our Revolution one of the most appalling +uprisings in the history of the world took place in France. The kings +and nobility ground the people into the very dust until they were goaded +into revolt, which overturned the throne and was marked by atrocities +that shocked the world. Incredible as it may seem, there were a million +people put to death during the awful days of the Reign of Terror. + +The mad rulers, not satisfied with deluging their own country with +blood, were at war with most of the neighboring nations. They seemed to +wish to array themselves against all mankind and began a system of +action toward us which soon became unbearable. + +They seemed to think we could be scared into paying the rulers immense +sums of money for the privilege of being left alone. They encouraged +their naval officers to capture American vessels, and when we sent +commissioners to France to protest they were coolly told that outrages +upon our commerce would not be stopped until we paid the leaders several +hundred thousand dollars in the way of bribes. Then it was that one of +our commissioners made the memorable reply: "Millions for defence, but +not one cent for tribute." + +Our representatives were driven out of France and the capture of our +vessels by French cruisers continued. So Congress met, cancelled all +treaties with France, formed an army, placed Washington, then an old +man, at the head, formed a new navy and told the men-of-war to go out +and give the insolent nation a lesson she very much needed. + +And France got the lesson. The fighting on the ocean, beginning in 1798, +continued for two years and a half. The French cruisers succeeded in +capturing only one vessel from the American navy, while 84 armed French +ships, mostly privateers, mounting more than 500 guns, were captured by +our vessels. In February, 1801, a treaty of peace was signed with +France, which brought our troubles with her to an end. + +Now, if you will examine your map of Africa, you will notice a group of +countries along the southern coast of the Mediterranean that are known +as the Barbary States. Their names are Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, and +Tripoli. I remember when I was a boy how easy it was to learn the names +of the capitals of those countries, for each one was the same as the +country itself. + +The people of the Barbary States are only half civilized or barbarous, +but they have always had a mighty high opinion of themselves, though it +can hardly be as high to-day as it was a hundred years ago. They looked +upon the "dogs of Christians" as heathen nations, only fitted to be +their slaves, and it must be admitted that it was quite natural they +should hold the leading maritime nations of Europe as well as ourselves +in contempt, for all deserved it. + +The favorite business of those barbarians was playing pirate. Their +corsairs roamed up and down the Mediterranean, eagerly hunting for +Christian merchant vessels, that they might kill the crews and divide +the plunder among themselves. Sometimes, by way of variety, they would +throw their captives into dungeons and then notify the governments to +which they belonged that they would be set free upon the payment of a +large sum of money to their captors. If the government did not choose to +pay the ransom, why their captors would give themselves the pleasure of +putting the prisoners to death. + +Now, it would have been an easy thing for any one of the Christian +nations interested to send a fleet into the Mediterranean, which, +speaking figuratively, would have wiped those miscreants off the face of +the earth; but such an enterprise would have cost a good deal of money, +so, instead of punishing the wretches as they deserved, the countries +paid them a yearly sum of money on their promise not to disturb vessels +when they ran across them. + +So it was that, year after year, we sent a good round gift to those +barbarians. You know our Government is often slow in meeting its +obligations, and it happened now and then we were late in sending our +tribute to the swarthy rulers. When that occurred, the Dey, or Bashaw, +imposed a heavy fine to remind us of the expense of trifling with him. +We meekly bowed our heads, paid it, and tried to be more prompt +afterward. Then, too, the mighty ruler sometimes expressed a wish to +receive naval stores instead of money, and we were happy to oblige him. +Of course, he set his own valuation on what he received, which was +generally about one-half of what they cost our Government, but we made +no complaint. + +It came about that the Dey of Tripoli got the idea into his head that we +were not paying him as much as we did his neighbors. In his impatience, +he decided to give us a lesson as badly needed as it was in the case of +France, to which I have alluded. So he declared war against the United +States. It would be interesting to know what ideas the Dey had of the +Republic on the other side of the Atlantic. + +One good thing resulted from our flurry with France. A number of good +ships had been added to our navy. Better still, many young officers, +brave, skilful and glowing with patriotic ardor, were serving on those +ships. They eagerly welcomed the chance of winning glory. To them the +war with Tripoli offered the very opportunity for which they longed. + +Among these was William Bainbridge, who was born in 1774 and died in +1833. He began life as a sailor at the age of fifteen, and was in +several engagements before he was appointed to the navy in 1798, during +our war with France. + +Another was Stephen Decatur, born in Maryland in 1779 and killed in a +duel with Commodore Barron in 1820. His father was a gallant officer in +the Revolution, and his two sons were among the bravest officers who +ever trod the quarter deck. Both entered the service in 1798, and +Stephen is generally regarded as the best type of the young American +naval officer during the early years of the present century. + +Still another was Charles Stewart, born in Philadelphia in 1778, and, +like those whom I have named, he entered the navy as lieutenant in 1798. +It will always be one of my pleasantest recollections that I was well +acquainted with Stewart, and spent many hours talking with him about the +stirring scenes in which he took part. He lived to be more than ninety +years of age, dying in 1869, and for a good many years occupied a modest +little home, just below Bordentown, New Jersey. When eighty-eight years +old he was as active as a man of half his years. I came upon him one +wintry day, when he was of that age, and found him in the barn, +shoveling corn into a hopper, of which a sturdy Irishman was turning the +crank. The old admiral kept his hired man busy and enjoyed his own work. +He was of small figure, always wore an old-fashioned blue swallow-tail +with brass buttons, took snuff, and would laugh and shake until his +weatherbeaten face was purple over some of his reminiscences of the +early days of the Republic. + +Think of it! He remembered seeing Benedict Arnold burned in effigy in +Philadelphia in 1781; he recalled Paul Jones, and had drunk wine and +talked with Washington. + +Stewart and Decatur were of about the same age, and attended the old +Academy in Philadelphia. They were bosom friends from boyhood. Stewart +told me that Decatur was a good student, but there was hardly a boy in +the school, anywhere near his own age, with whom he did not have a +fight. He would "rather fight than eat," but he was not a bully, and +never imposed upon any one younger or weaker than himself. + +A great many of my talks with old Admiral Stewart related to the war +with Tripoli, which began in 1801 and lasted nearly four years. As you +will learn, Stewart had a great deal to do with that war, and most of +the incidents that follow were told to me by him, a fact which insures +their truthfulness and interest. + +Among others to whom I shall refer was Commodore Richard Dale, who was +born in 1756, and died in 1826. He was older, as you will notice, than +the three whom I have mentioned. As to his bravery, it is enough to say +that he was first lieutenant on the _Bonhomme Richard_ during her +terrible fight under Paul Jones with the _Serapis_, and served with +that wonderful naval hero on the _Alliance_ and the _Ariel_. Had he not +been made of the right stuff he never could have held such a position +when a very young man. + +[Illustration: COMMODORE EDWARD PREBLE.] + +Another hero was Commodore Edward Preble, born in 1761 and died in 1807. +When only sixteen years old he joined a privateer, and at eighteen was +active in the attacks of the _Protector_ on the British privateer +_Admiral Duff_. He was on the _Winthrop_, and fought bravely in the +battle which resulted in the capture of a British armed brig. He was +commissioned lieutenant in 1798, and the year following commanded the +_Essex_. + +From what I have told you, it will be seen that it was a gallant band +that our Government sent into the Mediterranean in 1801 to chastise the +barbarians and compel them to respect the Stars and Stripes. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +The First Serious Engagement--Loss of the Philadelphia--The Scheme of +Captain Bainbridge--Exploit of Lieutenant Decatur. + + +Andrew Sterrett was executive officer of the _Constellation_, which +captured the French frigate _L'Insurgente_, in 1799, and _La Vengeance_, +in 1800. It fell to his lot, while in command of the _Enterprise_, a +vessel of 12 guns, to have the first serious fight in the war with +Tripoli. When off Malta, he met a Tripolitan vessel of 14 guns, and they +fought furiously for two hours, at the end of which time the enemy +hauled down his flag. The Americans left their guns and broke into +cheers, whereupon the Tripolitan fired a broadside. Nothing loath, +Lieutenant Sterrett resumed the battle. The Tripolitans ran in close and +attempted to board, but were repulsed, and, under the fierce fire of the +_Enterprise_, they again hauled down their flag. + +"I guess they mean it this time," remarked Lieutenant Sterrett, but the +words were hardly spoken when the enemy let fly with another broadside. + +As may be supposed, this exhausted the patience of the American +commander. He ordered his men to their guns, and mentally resolved to +finish the job without fail. Circling round his antagonist, he raked her +from stem to stern, shot away the mizzen mast, made a sieve of the hull +and killed and wounded fifty men. He was still at it, when, through the +smoke, he caught sight of the swarthy captain, leaping up and down on +the deck, swinging his arms and shrieking in broken English that he had +surrendered. To show he was in earnest, he flung his colors overboard. + +"Now throw your guns and powder after your flag," shouted Sterrett. + +He was promptly obeyed; and, resolved to take no chances, Sterrett then +compelled him to cut away his masts, after which he was permitted to rig +a jury mast and a single sail. + +"Now go home to your Dey," said his conqueror, "and give him my +compliments." + +Not a man was killed on board the _Enterprise_, though, as has been +shown, the loss of the enemy was severe. + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE.] + +The American squadron in that part of the world was increased, and a +number of engagements took place, with the advantage invariably on the +side of our countrymen. By the opening of 1803 there were nine of our +ships, carrying two hundred and fourteen guns, in the Mediterranean +waters. The fine frigate _Philadelphia_ captured a Moorish cruiser upon +which were found papers signed by the Governor of Tangier authorizing +the commander to destroy American commerce. Commodore Preble sailed into +the harbor and demanded an explanation of the emperor. He denied having +given any such authority to his subordinate, and in making his denial +undoubtedly told a falsehood. Nevertheless, he was so scared that he +signed anew the treaty of 1786, deprived the governor of his commission +and confiscated his estates. + +Captain William Bainbridge was in command of the _Philadelphia_, and was +detailed to help in blockading Tripoli. His companion vessel was sent in +pursuit of a corsair, so that the _Philadelphia_ was left alone to +perform blockade duty. On the last day of October, 1803, Captain +Bainbridge observed a Tripolitan vessel trying to make port. He gave +chase, but the coast was dangerous, abounding with shoals and reefs, +with which the fugitive vessel was familiar, while Captain Bainbridge +had to keep sounding and regulating his speed in accordance with the +degree of danger. + +In the midst of the pursuit, and while every precaution was taken, the +crew, to their dismay, heard a dull, grating sound, whose meaning they +well knew; the bow of the frigate rose six feet out of the water, and +the stoppage was so sudden that nearly every one was thrown off his +feet. + +A hurried examination showed that the _Philadelphia_ was inextricably +fast, and could not be freed until the tide rose. Meanwhile the corsairs +would issue from the harbor near at hand, and, choosing their own +position, batter the frigate to pieces and kill or make prisoners of the +crew. + +Every possible effort was made to release the ship, but she was too +firmly spiked on the jagged reef to be budged, and the dreaded peril +speedily appeared. The Tripolitans soon discovered the plight of the +American, and nine gunboats hurried out from the harbor. Fire was opened +on both sides, but neither was effective, the position of the frigate +preventing an effective aim. The sea drove her higher upon the rocks, +and she careened so much that all the guns became useless. The +Tripolitans, seeing her helplessness, now came closer and increased +their fire. + +There was no help for Captain Bainbridge. Unable to deliver an effective +shot, the enemy could kill every one of his men. He therefore flooded +his magazine, blocked the pumps, bored holes through the bottom of the +ship in order to sink her if his enemies succeeded in releasing her, +and then struck his flag. Distrustful at first, though they ceased +firing, the Tripolitans finally came aboard, plundered the officers and +men of their personal property, and then took them--three hundred and +fifteen in all--to the city, where they were lodged in prison. + +Some days later a powerful northerly wind partly lifted the +_Philadelphia_ off the rocks, and by united efforts her captors +succeeded in getting her into deep water. The holes in the bottom were +plugged, and the guns and anchors that had been thrown overboard in the +shallow water were easily recovered and replaced on the ship. Thus the +Bashaw secured a most valuable prize. + +The disaster gave a serious aspect to the war, for it not only added +material strength to the enemy, but increased their courage and insured +a more determined resistance on their part. While the loss was a severe +one to the American navy, it was not difficult to replace it. + +One day a letter reached Commodore Preble. Apparently it was nothing but +a blank sheet of paper, but knowing that lemon juice had been employed +for ink, the Commodore held it before a flame and brought out the +following, in the handwriting of Bainbridge: + +"Charter a small merchant schooner, fill her with men and have her +commanded by fearless and determined officers. Let the vessel enter the +harbor at night with her men secreted below deck; steer her directly on +board the frigate, and then let the men and officers board, sword in +hand, and there is no doubt of their success. It will be necessary to +take several good rowboats in order to facilitate the retreat after the +enterprise has been accomplished. The frigate in her present condition +is a powerful auxiliary battery for the defence of the harbor. Though it +will be impossible to remove her from her anchorage and thus restore +this beautiful vessel to our navy, yet, as she may and no doubt will be +repaired, an important end will be gained by her destruction." + +Captain Bainbridge had sent several similar letters to Preble, his good +friend, the Swedish consul, being the man who secured their delivery. +The plan suggested by Bainbridge was a good one, for, since it was +impossible to add the _Philadelphia_ to our navy, the next best thing +was to prevent her remaining with that of Tripoli. It may as well be +stated here that the court martial which investigated the particulars of +the loss of the _Philadelphia_ acquitted Captain Bainbridge of all blame +and declared that he had done everything possible under the +circumstances. + +Fortunately, the American squadron succeeded about this time in +capturing a Tripolitan gunboat, which would serve admirably to disguise +the purpose of the Americans. Preble then told Lieutenant Decatur of the +suggestion made by Bainbridge. No sooner was the young lieutenant +acquainted with the plan than he volunteered to lead in the perilous +enterprise. Nothing could have suited the daring fellow better. + +Lieutenant Charles Stewart, who arrived a short time before in the +_Siren_, not knowing of the scheme that had been formed, proposed with +the _Siren's_ men to cut out the _Philadelphia_. Preble informed him the +honor had been given to Decatur. Stewart was disappointed, but expressed +his honest pleasure that the management of the affair was entrusted to +such worthy hands. + +"He is the best man that could have been selected," he said heartily, +"and there isn't a shadow of doubt that he will succeed." + +Every one in the fleet was eager to volunteer, but Decatur selected +sixty-two men, to which were added six officers from the _Enterprise_ +and six from the _Constitution_, with a native pilot. Knowing the daring +nature of Decatur, he was given strict orders not to attempt to cut out +the _Philadelphia_, but to destroy her. + +Late in the day, February 9, 1804, the ketch left Syracuse for Tripoli, +accompanied by the _Siren_, Lieutenant Stewart, to cover the retreat. +The weather became so bad that the attempt had to be postponed, since +the ketch was sure to be dashed to pieces on the rocks. The impatient +crew was compelled to withdraw and wait for a week before the weather +moderated. On the 15th, everything being favorable, the crew of the +ketch bade good-by to their friends and set out on their perilous +mission. + +The night was clear and starlit, and at nine o'clock the ketch was in +full view of the city and its twinkling lights, with the dark shores +crowded with batteries, while far ahead, under the guns of the Bashaw's +castle, lay the _Philadelphia_. The wind fell and the little craft crept +slowly through the water, seemingly into the very jaws of death, until +the outlines of the silent frigate loomed to sight through the gloom. +Following Decatur's guarded orders, the men lay flat on the deck, all +concealing themselves as best they could, while five or six, dressed as +Maltese sailors, lounged about in plain sight. + +The quartermaster at the wheel, obeying the directions of Decatur, +steered so as to foul the _Philadelphia_, from which there suddenly came +a hail. Lieutenant Decatur whispered to the pilot to say they had just +arrived from Malta, and, having lost their anchor, wished to make fast +to the _Philadelphia's_ cables until another could be got from shore. A +brief conversation followed, during which the ketch edged closer, but +the Tripolitans soon discovered the men in the stargleam, and the alarm +was sounded; but with great coolness and haste the ketch was worked into +position and Decatur gave the order to board. + +The eager Americans, with cutlass and boarding pike in hand, dashed +through the gun ports and over the bulwarks. In a twinkling the quarter +deck was cleared and all the Tripolitans on the forecastle were rushed +overboard. The noise brought up a number of Turks from below, but the +moment they saw what was going on they either leaped into the sea or hid +themselves in the hold. They were pursued, and within ten minutes the +frigate was captured, without a shot having been fired or an outcry +made. + +An abundance of combustibles had been brought, and they were now +distributed and fired so effectively that nothing could save the fine +vessel. Then the Americans scrambled back to the ketch, Lieutenant +Decatur being the last to leave the doomed frigate, from which the +dazzling glare lit up the harbor and revealed the smaller boat straining +to get away. The batteries on shore opened fire, but, in their +excitement, they aimed wildly, and no harm was done. Every American +safely reached the _Siren_, waiting anxiously outside. The two made sail +for Syracuse, where Captain Preble was vastly relieved to hear the news. +The ketch was renamed the _Intrepid_, and Decatur, for his daring +exploit, was promoted to the rank of captain and presented with a sword +by Congress. + +The _Philadelphia_ was totally destroyed, and its remains still lie at +the bottom of the harbor of Tripoli. In referring to this exploit, the +great English naval commander, Lord Nelson, said it was "the most bold +and daring act of the age." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +Bombardment of Tripoli--Treacherous Act of a Turkish Captain--A Quick +Retribution at the Hands of Captain Decatur. + + +The Bashaw of Tripoli was not yet subdued. He treated his American +prisoners with greater harshness and refused to believe their nation was +strong enough to bring him to terms. + +On August 3, Commodore (as the senior officer of every squadron was then +called) Preble sailed into the harbor of Tripoli with his fleet and +opened the bombardment of the city. At the same time, several of his +gunboats engaged those of the enemy. Lieutenant James Decatur, brother +of Stephen, made chase of a Tripolitan vessel, reserving his fire until +the two almost touched, when he poured in such a destructive discharge +of musketry and grape that the terrified enemy surrendered. Lieutenant +Decatur sprang aboard of his prize, when, at that instant, the Turkish +commander, a man of massive strength and build, fired his pistol in the +American officer's face and killed him. In the confusion caused by this +treacherous act the enemy's boat got away and started for the city. + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN STEPHEN DECATUR.] + +Meanwhile, Captain Decatur had been doing characteristic work. With +three gunboats he attacked a force three times as numerous as his own. +Impetuously boarding the first craft, after a discharge from his long +boat, he engaged the numerous crew in a furious hand-to-hand struggle, +in which all were made prisoners or forced to leap into the sea to save +themselves. Then Decatur began towing away his prize, when he was told +of the murder of his brother. + +The grief-stricken and enraged captain instantly cast his prize adrift +and started after the "unspeakable Turk." The boat was easily +recognized, and, delivering a destructive fire, the pursuer ran +alongside and the Americans rushed aboard, with Decatur in the lead. The +enormous size and gorgeous uniform of the Turkish captain made him so +conspicuous that Decatur knew him at once, and, rushing forward, lunged +at him with his boarding pike. The Turk must have felt contempt for the +American who dared thus to assail him, for his assailant was but a boy +in size compared to him. He speedily proved his physical superiority +over Decatur, for he not only parried the lunge of the pike, but +wrenched it from his hand. He in turn drove his pike at Decatur's +breast, but his blow was also parried, though its violence broke off the +American's sword at the hilt. The active Turk came again, and his +second blow was only partly turned aside, the point of the pike tearing +through Decatur's coat and inflicting a bad wound in his chest. + +Before the Turk could strike a third time, Decatur ran in, and the two +instantly engaged in a fierce wrestling bout. The American was the most +skilful, but by sheer strength his enormous antagonist threw him to the +deck, and, gripping him by the throat with one hand, he reached down to +draw a small curved knife, known as a yataghan. It was behind the sash +in his waist and directly in front. Decatur threw both legs over the +back of the Turk and pressed him so close that he could not force his +hand between their bodies to reach his weapon. Decatur's pistol was at +his hip. He was able to withdraw it, and he then did the only thing that +could possibly save his life, though the chances were that the act would +hasten his death. + +Reaching over the back of the Turk, he pointed the weapon downward +toward his own breast and pulled the trigger. In most cases the bullet +would have passed through both bodies, but, fortunately, the ball +encountered some obstruction and did not reach the imperiled American. +He shoved off the bulky form, which rolled over on its back, dead. + +It must not be supposed that while this furious hand-to-hand encounter +was under way the respective crews were idle. They, too, were fighting +fiercely, and, closing about the struggling commanders, each side +endeavored to help its own. The crowd surged back and forth and became +mixed in inextricable confusion. One of the Turks saw a chance to help +his captain and made a vicious blow at his opponent with his scimiter. +Reuben James, a sailor, who was so wounded in his arms that he could not +use them, thrust his head forward and received the stroke upon his +skull. The wound was a frightful one, but, beyond dispute, it saved the +life of Decatur, who never forgot the man that had done him this +inestimable service. + +Reuben James was one of the volunteers who helped Decatur destroy the +_Philadelphia_. He recovered from his terrible wound and did excellent +service in the war of 1812. In one battle he was three times wounded +before he would allow his comrades to carry him below. He lived fully +twenty years after the death of his beloved commander, dying at a good +old age, though he was scarred with sabre cuts, wounded times +innumerable by bullets, and compelled to suffer the amputation of a leg. + +The bombardment of Tripoli was less successful than expected. The +shells were of such poor quality that no impression was made on the +defences. All naval operations have proven that, as a rule, ships are +comparatively powerless for aggressive work against forts and batteries +on shore. + +An investigation into the cause of the failure of so many shells sent +into Tripoli brought out several interesting facts. Captain Bainbridge, +who carefully noted the results of the bombardment while a prisoner in +the city, stated that out of forty-eight thrown on one day only one +exploded. It was found that the fuses in many of the bombs had been +choked by lead that was poured into them. This was probably done by +French agents in Sicily. + +At the beginning of hostilities, the Tripolitans placed great reliance +upon their ability to fight at close quarters. Undeniably, they did +better in such position than in handling their ships. They had all the +viciousness of wild cats, and it has been shown how fiercely they fought +in hand-to-hand encounters; but their experience with the Americans +taught them that they were to be dreaded in any situation where their +anger was aroused, and, as a consequence, the Turks became less eager +for tests of individual strength, skill and bravery. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +The Bomb Ketch--A Terrible Missile--Frightful Catastrophe--Diplomacy in +Place of War--Peace. + + +Whenever a war is under way a number of persons on each side are certain +to come forward with ingenious schemes for injuring their opponents, +through improvements upon the accepted methods of conducting +hostilities. So it came about, after the slight success attained in +bombarding Tripoli, that a plan was formulated for creating +consternation in the blockaded city and bringing the defiant Bashaw to +his senses. + +The new scheme was to fix up the _Intrepid_ as a bomb ketch, send her +into the harbor at night and there explode her. While a few had no faith +in the plan, others believed it would cause great destruction and spread +dismay among the Tripolitans. + +In the forward hold were stowed one hundred barrels of gunpowder, and on +the deck above were piled one hundred and fifty shells and a lot of shot +and scrap iron. The plan was to give this floating volcano the +appearance of a blockade-runner. Two small boats were taken along, to be +used by the crews after setting off the fuse that was to blow the ketch +into a million atoms. It will be seen that the task was of the most +dangerous nature conceivable, and yet when Captain Preble called for +volunteers it seemed as if every one was eager to go. + +The command was given to Master-Commandant Richard Somers, who was of +the same age as Decatur and Stewart, and had established a reputation +for coolness and intrepidity in the operations of the fleet. Midshipman +Henry Wadsworth, an uncle of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the poet, was +the second in command. They were accompanied by another midshipman named +Israel, who begged so hard to be allowed to go that he could not be +refused, and ten of the best seamen. + +After waiting for several days, the night of September 4 was found to be +just what was desired. A fog lay like a blanket on the sea, but it was +so clear overhead that the stars shone with brilliant splendor. Before +the start was made, Decatur, Stewart and Somers, all the most intimate +of friends, had a long talk in the cabin of the ketch, no one else being +present. Each felt the gravity of the situation. Somers, though cool and +composed, seemed to feel a presentiment that he would not return. He +took a ring off his finger, and breaking it apart, gave one portion to +Decatur, one to Stewart, and kept the other for himself. He told his +friends what he wished done in case of his death, and they assured him +that every wish should be respected. + +During that last impressive interview Stewart asked Somers what he would +do if discovered and attacked by the enemy. + +"Blow us all up together!" was the instant response; "I shall never be +taken prisoner." + +I may remark here that no writer has recorded this expression of the +gallant Somers, and I give it because Admiral Stewart assured me of its +truth. His recollection of the incident, more than sixty years +afterward, was as vivid as on the succeeding day. Indeed, Stewart, as is +often the case with aged persons, remarked that his memory of +occurrences a half century old was unerring, while of quite recent +incidents it was unreliable. + +It was comparatively early in the evening when the ketch got under way +with a favoring breeze. Stewart, with the _Siren_, by order of Preble, +stood toward the northern passage, through which the ketch was to pass. +His purpose was to remain in as close as was safe, and hold himself +ready to pick up the men as they returned in their boats. Stewart turned +his night glass toward the _Intrepid_ and watched her slowly fading +from sight, until she melted into the gloom and not the slightest trace +of her outlines was discernible. + +Nothing could be more trying than the waiting of the craft outside, for +Somers' own vessel and two small ones were near at hand. The stillness +was so profound that men heard the suppressed breathing of their +comrades. If one moved, he did so on tiptoe. Few words were spoken, and +all in guarded undertones. The rippling of the water against the prows +and cables was an annoyance, and on more than one forehead great drops +of cold perspiration gathered. + +Slowly and painfully the long minutes wore away, until it seemed as if +several hours had passed, when in reality the interval was but a small +part of that period. Every nerve was in this tense state, when suddenly +the boom of a cannon came rolling through the fog from the direction of +the city, followed soon by the rapid firing of artillery. The approach +of the _Intrepid_ had been discovered, and it seemed as if all the +enemy's batteries were blazing away at her. But what of the ketch +itself? + +Stewart, like all the rest, was peering into the black mist, when he saw +a star-like point of light, moving with an up and down motion, in a +horizontal line, showing that it was a lantern carried by a man running +along the deck of a ship. Then it dropped out of sight, as if the bearer +had leaped down a hatchway. For a moment all was profound darkness, and +then an immense fan-like expanse of flame shot far up into the sky, as +if from the crater of a volcano, and was crossed by the curving streaks +of fire made by shells in their eccentric flight. Across the water came +the crashing roar of the prodigious explosion, followed a few moments +later by the sounds of wreckage and bodies as they dropped into the sea. +Then again impenetrable gloom and profound stillness succeeded. The +batteries on shore were awed into silence by the awful sight, and the +waiting friends on the ships held their breath. + +The hope was that Lieutenant Somers and his companions had fired the +fuse and then rowed away in their boats, but as minute followed minute +without the sound of muffled oars from the hollow night reaching the +straining ears, suspense gave way to sickening dread. The vessels moved +to and fro about the entrance, as if the inanimate things shared in the +anxiety that would not allow them to remain still. At intervals a gun +was fired or a rocket sent up to guide the missing ones, but none +appeared. Every man had been killed by the explosion of the ketch. + +Investigations made afterward seemed to establish that Somers was +attacked by three gunboats, and, finding escape impossible, it was he +who ran along the deck, lighted lantern in hand, and deliberately blew +up the _Intrepid_, destroying not only himself and companions, but many +of the enemy. The mangled remains of several bodies were found some days +later and given burial on shore, but not one could be recognized. +Captain Bainbridge and some of his brother officers, who were prisoners +in Tripoli, were allowed to view them. He said: "From the whole of them +being so disfigured, it was impossible to recognize any feature known to +us, or even to distinguish an officer from a seaman." + +In November, Commodore Samuel Barron arrived, and succeeded Captain +Preble in command of the American squadron. He brought with him the +_President_ and _Constellation_, thereby increasing the force to ten +vessels, carrying two hundred and sixty-four guns. + +Having failed to bring the Bashaw to terms by force of arms, the +Americans now resorted to what may be termed diplomacy. The reigning +Bashaw of Tripoli was a usurper, having displaced his elder brother, who +had fled to Upper Egypt. He had a good many friends, who, if they dared, +would have been glad to replace him on his throne. The American consul, +who understood all the particulars, proposed to our government to use +the deposed ruler as an instrument to compel the usurper to make terms. +The Government authorized the consul to go ahead. + +Accordingly, he made his way to Alexandria, sought out the banished +ruler, proposed his plan, and it was eagerly accepted. He furnished the +consul with a cavalry escort, enlisted a number of Greek soldiers, the +party marched a thousand miles across the flaming Barcan desert, and in +April appeared before Derne, one of the seaports of the reigning +monarch, who was also advancing upon the place. With the help of the +American fleet, the town was captured, and, for the first time in its +history, the Stars and Stripes were given to the breeze above a +fortification on the eastern side of the Atlantic. + +By the enlistment of the mongrel population of the neighborhood, the +American consul gathered a formidable force, with which the enemy were +again defeated. Then they boldly set out for Tripoli. + +Meanwhile the usurper was shivering with fear, and was more than ready +to make a treaty of peace with the terrible barbarians from the other +side of the ocean. The treaty was signed on June 2, 1805. The Bashaw, +who had demanded a princely sum for the release of his American +prisoners, was now glad to set them free for $60,000. It was agreed, +furthermore, that no more tribute should be paid, and thus ended all our +troubles with Tripoli. + +These proceedings left the rightful ruler in the lurch. He had been +promised that he should be restored to his throne on condition of +helping the Americans, and he had given the most valuable sort of aid, +but the treaty declared that no assistance should be given him. It was a +gross injustice on the part of our Government, which did no special +credit to itself, when, after the deposed ruler had made a pitiful +appeal to Congress, that body presented him with a beggarly pittance of +$2,400. + + + + +THE WAR OF 1812. + + +CHAPTER XI. + +Cause of the War of 1812--Discreditable Work of the Land +Forces--Brilliant Record of the Navy--The _Constitution_--Captain Isaac +Hull--Battle Between the _Constitution_ and _Guerriere_--Winning a +Wager. + + +Probably no hostilities in which the United States was ever engaged so +abound with stirring, romantic and remarkable exploits as those upon the +ocean in the War of 1812. + +Now, as to the cause of the war between England and our country: Great +Britain was engaged in a tremendous conflict with France, at the head of +which was the greatest military leader of the world, Napoleon Bonaparte. +England needed every soldier and sailor she could get. Some of them +deserted to our ships, so her officers began the practice of stopping +such vessels on the ocean, searching them for deserters, and if found +they were taken away. Sometimes she took Americans, because she knew +they were good seamen, and, to excuse her action, she declared they were +deserters from the British navy. + +[Illustration: IMPRESSING AMERICAN SAILORS.] + +This action was against the law of nations. She had no more right to +molest an American vessel than she had to land a force on our coast, +march inland and search the house of a private family. We protested, but +she paid no attention. It happened more than once that when our vessels +refused to be searched the English fired into them and killed and +wounded some of the American crews. If any nation acted that way toward +England to-day she would declare war at once, and so would any other +nation. + +Finding there was no peaceable way of stopping the unbearable conduct of +Great Britain, our country, in the month of June, 1812, declared war +against her, and it lasted until the early part of 1815. + +There was one feature of that war which it is not pleasant for Americans +to recall. It opened with a cowardly surrender by General William Hull +of Detroit to the English army, and for two years our land forces did +very little to their credit. They set out to invade Canada several +times, but in every instance were beaten. The leading generals were +"poor sticks," quarreled among themselves, and for a time failed to gain +any advantage. The trouble was not with the soldiers. They were among +the best in the world, but their leaders were of no account. By and by, +however, the poor officers were weeded out and good ones took their +places. Then something was accomplished in which we all could feel +pride. + +It was just the other way on the ocean. From the very start our naval +vessels and privateers won the most brilliant of victories. This was the +more remarkable when several facts are kept in mind. Great Britain had +been at war so long that she had the most powerful navy by far in the +world. It numbered one thousand and thirty-six vessels, of which two +hundred and fifty-four were ships-of-the-line, not one of which carried +less than seventy guns of large calibre. This prodigious navy was manned +by one hundred and forty-four thousand sailors, and eighty-five of her +war vessels were on the American coast, equipped and ready for action. + +In amazing contrast to all this, we had only twenty large war vessels +and a number of gunboats that were of little account. The disparity was +so great that our Government, after looking at the situation and +discussing the matter, decided that it would be folly to fight England +on the ocean, and it was decided not to do so. When Captains Stewart and +Bainbridge learned of this decision, they went to President Madison and +his advisers and insisted that the American navy, weak as it was, should +be given a chance of showing what it could do. Consent was finally +given, and then opened the wonderful career of our cruisers and +privateers. + +Among the frigates that had been built during our war with France was +the _Constitution_, which carried 44 guns. She earned the name of being +one of the luckiest ships in the navy, and because of her astonishing +record was named "Old Ironsides." The old hulk of this historical ship +is still carefully preserved in remembrance of her brilliant record, +which in some respects has never been equalled. + +Sailors are superstitious, and the good name which the _Constitution_ +gained made it easy to get all the seamen needed. When you come to look +into the matter you will find that the _Constitution_ was a lucky ship, +because it was always officered by the best men we had, and they were +wise enough to choose the finest crews. + +The captain of the _Constitution_, when the war broke out, was Isaac +Hull, a nephew of General William Hull, who made the cowardly surrender +of Detroit. He was born in Connecticut in 1773, and died in 1843. He was +one of the brilliant young officers who received his commission in 1798, +and was commander of the _Argus_ during the war with Tripoli. He was +made a captain in 1806, and the following year was given command of the +_Constitution_. + +Upon learning that the war had broken out, Captain Hull left the +Chesapeake, with orders to join the squadron under the command of +Captain Rodgers at New York. When off Barnegat, New Jersey, he was +sighted by the blockading squadron of Captain Philip Bowes Vere Broke, +which gave chase. The ingenuity and skill displayed by Captain Hull in +escaping from the enemy, when all escape seemed hopeless, is still +referred to as one of the most remarkable exploits in the history of the +American navy. The chase lasted for more than two days and three nights, +and it is safe to say that very few commanders placed in the situation +of Captain Hull would have been able to save themselves from capture. + +Captain Hull sailed on a cruise from Boston on August 21, just in time +to dodge an order from Washington to remain in port until further +orders. On the afternoon of August 19, when several hundred miles to the +eastward of Halifax, he sighted the British frigate _Guerriere_. Her +commander, Captain James E. Dacres, was an old acquaintance of Hull, and +the two had made a wager of a hat during peace that if they ever met in +battle the other would run. + +The British officer was as anxious as Hull for a fight, and they drew +near each other, both confident of winning the wager made half in jest +a brief time before. + +Great interest attaches to this naval battle, for it was the first of +its kind and a fair test of the respective prowess of ships of and crews +of that nature. The _Constitution_ was somewhat the superior, carrying +55 guns and four hundred and sixty-eight men, while the _Guerriere_ had +49 guns and two hundred and sixty-three men, but all of the latter were +under fine discipline, while most of the Americans were green hands. +Captain Dacres was confident of his superiority, and had no doubt that +when the two frigates met the _Constitution_ would be compelled speedily +to strike her colors. He waited for the American to come up, each having +cleared for action. + +A little after four o'clock the two exchanged broadsides, but they were +so far apart that no damage was done. Dacres manoeuvred for a raking +position, but Hull would not permit it, nor could he obtain one for +himself. There was much wearing and manoeuvring, which prevented the +firing on either side from being effective. Each was wary of the other +and took the utmost pains to prevent his securing any advantage. + +When it became certain that the battle was to be one at close range, +Hull ordered the firing to cease, in order that the fullest preparation +could be made for the next broadside. He knew the skill of his men in +marksmanship, and determined to hold his fire until the most +advantageous position was reached. As he drew near his enemy, the latter +continued firing, and some of her shots were so effective that the crews +cheered. The Americans, most of them barefooted and stripped to the +waist, were standing beside their guns eager and impatient for the order +to fire, but Hull, when appealed to, shook his head. It was a proof of +the fine discipline of the American crew that when they saw two of their +comrades killed by the fire of the enemy, they silently waited without +murmur for the order whose delay they could not comprehend. + +Not until about a hundred feet distant and in the exact position desired +did Captain Hull give the order to fire as the guns bore. To quote +Maclay: "In an instant the frigate belched forth a storm of iron hail +that carried death and destruction into the opposing ship. The effect of +this carefully aimed broadside at short range was terrific. The +splinters were seen to fly over the British frigate like a cloud, some +of them reaching as high as the mizzen top, while the cheers of her men +abruptly ceased and the shrieks and groans of the wounded were heard. +The Americans had struck their first earnest blow, and it was a +staggering one. The Englishman felt its full weight, and perhaps for the +first time realized that this was no child's play." + +The Americans displayed remarkable skill in their gunnery, as it may be +said they have always done. The main yard of the enemy was shot away in +the slings, and hull, rigging and sails were badly mangled. A shot +passing through the mizzenmast close to the deck, added to the stress +from the sails, caused it to break in two and fall over the quarter. One +curious effect of this dragging in the water was to make the wreckage +act like a rudder, bringing her up to the wind in spite of the +opposition of the helm. While the damage on the _Constitution_ was less, +it clogged her action, but she secured a position from which she +delivered two raking broadsides. Then as the vessel see-sawed, the +jibboom of the _Guerriere_ crossed the _Constitution's_ quarter deck. +Both crews made ready to board, but each found the other so fully +prepared that neither attempted it. Meanwhile the riflemen in the +rigging were working with destructive energy. In each of the +_Constitution's_ tops were seven marines, six loading for the seventh, +who was the best marksman. A good many officers were wounded and killed +on both sides. + +[Illustration: THE "CONSTITUTION" AND THE "GUERRIERE."] + +Although the vessels had been lashed together, their lurching broke +them apart, and the Englishman gained a chance to use his broadsides. A +fire broke out on the _Constitution_, but it was quickly extinguished, +and the shot of the American soon made a complete wreck of the enemy. +When it became clear that the _Guerriere_ could make no further +resistance, Captain Hull drew off to repair the damages to his own ship. +Another English frigate was likely to appear at any moment, and she +would make short work of the _Constitution_ in her crippled condition. +It took but a short time to complete the work, when she returned to her +former position beside the wallowing _Guerriere_. A lieutenant was sent +on board to receive the surrender, which Dacres gave with painful +reluctance. When brought to the side of the _Constitution_, Hull +assisted him up the rope ladder. Dacres extended his sword. + +"No" replied Hull, "I will not take it from one who knows so well how to +use it, but I must trouble you to pay me that hat I have won." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +Jacob Jones--The _Wasp_ and the _Frolic_--James Biddle--The _Hornet_ and +the _Penguin_--A Narrow Escape. + + + +I must now tell you something about another gallant young officer who +entered the American navy at the close of the century, when he was +hardly thirty years old. He was Jacob Jones, who lived until 1850. He +was a lieutenant on the _Philadelphia_ for two years, and was with that +frigate when she ran on the rocks in the harbor of Tripoli. He was given +command of the 18-gun sloop of war _Wasp_, which sailed from the +Delaware in October, 1812, and headed eastward, with the intention of +intercepting some of the enemy's merchantmen plying between Great +Britain and the West Indies. + +About a week after sailing he sighted five merchantmen, several of which +were well armed, while all were convoyed by a brig of war. Jones stood +toward them, when the brig signalled to her companions to make all sail +before the wind, while she dropped back to attend to the stranger. The +American came up quite close, and hailing, demanded the name of the +other. For a reply, the brig lowered the Spanish colors, ran up the +British flag, and let fly with a broadside and volley of musketry. + +The _Wasp_ was expecting something of that nature and returned the +compliment, the vessels working nearer each other and firing as rapidly +as possible. The action had hardly begun when the _Wasp_ lost her main +topmast, and a few minutes later the mizzen topgallant mast and the gaff +were shot away. These mishaps so crippled her that she became almost +unmanageable. The _Frolic_, as the enemy was named, was also damaged, +but not so badly as the _Wasp_, but, unfortunately for the _Frolic_, the +heavy sea and the twisting about of the hull threw her into position to +be raked by the _Wasp_, and Captain Jones was quick to seize the +advantage, the vessels being so close that the ramrods were pushed +against each other's sides while the gunners were loading. The sea was +so heavy that the guns of the _Wasp_ frequently dipped under water. + +The intention of the Americans was to board, and Lieutenant James Biddle +held himself and men ready to take instant advantage of the moment the +roll of the sea brought them near enough to do so. + +Captain Jones did not believe himself warranted in boarding, since he +held the advantage of position, and he issued orders for the men to +wait, but their ardor could not be checked. Among his sailors was one +who had been impressed into the British service, where he was brutally +treated. Springing upon his gun, he grasped the bowsprit of the brig, +swung himself upon the spar and ran as nimbly as a monkey to the deck of +the enemy. Imitating his enthusiasm, Lieutenant Biddle and his boarders +took advantage of a favorable lurch at that moment and sprang upon the +deck of the _Frolic_. There, every man stopped and repressed the cheer +that rose to his lips, for the scene was one of the most dreadful that +imagination can picture. + +The quartermaster stood grimly clutching the wheel, a lieutenant, +bleeding from several wounds, was leaning against the companionway, +unable to stand without its support, while all along the deck were +strewn the dead and dying. Silently the victors stepped over the +prostrate forms to the quarter deck, where the officer weakly dropped +his sword to signify his surrender. Lieutenant Biddle walked to where +the colors were still fluttering and pulled them down. A few minutes +later the mainmast and foremast fell. + +Maclay gives the strength of the two vessels as follows: _Wasp_, 18 +guns, _Frolic_, 22; crew of the _Wasp_, 138, of the _Frolic_, 110. On +the _Wasp_ 5 were killed and 5 wounded; on the _Frolic_ 15 were killed +and 47 wounded, the latter being completely riddled. The cause of this +frightful difference in results was brought about by the Americans +discharging their broadsides when their ship was on the downward roll, +the shot landing in the hull of the enemy, while the latter fired on the +rise, her broadsides mainly passing into and through the rigging. + +As soon as Captain Jones learned of the fearful plight of the Frolic he +sent his surgeon on board, and everything possible was done to assist +the sorely smitten enemy. + +The _Wasp_ was so badly injured that Captain Jones gave his attention to +repairing her, and was thus engaged when a sail appeared. It proved to +be the British 74-gun ship of the line _Poictiers_, which, surmising +what had taken place, bore down, took possession of both ships and +carried them to Bermuda. + +This battle, one of the most fiercely contested of the war, naturally +caused much rejoicing throughout the United States. Congress voted +$25,000 to the officers and crew of the _Wasp_ as prize money, and gave +a gold medal to Master-Commandant Jones and a silver one to each of his +officers, while the Legislature of Pennsylvania presented a sword to +Lieutenant James Biddle. + +This gallant young officer is entitled to more notice than has been +given him. He was born in Philadelphia in 1783, and died in 1848. After +his exchange, he was appointed to the command of the _Hornet_, and +sailed from New York in the month of January, 1815, in company with the +_Peacock_ and _Tom Bowline_, but the three became separated, each making +for Tristan d'Acunha, which had been named as the rendezvous of the +squadron under the command of Stephen Decatur. + +This was on the last day of February, and Captain Biddle was about to +drop anchor when a sail appeared, and the _Hornet_ went out to +reconnoitre. The stranger approached as if anxious to fight him, and, +when within musket range, ran up the English flag and fired a shot, to +which the _Hornet_ replied with a broadside. The vessels continued +firing as they drew near each other. The superior aim of the American +speedily crippled the rigging of the other, and, coming together, the +_Penguin_, as the British vessel proved to be, in preparing to board, +succeeded in passing her bowsprit between the main and mizzen rigging of +the _Hornet_ on the starboard quarter. This gave the enemy the +opportunity he seemed to be seeking, but his boarders did not appear. + +The American sailors begged permission of Captain Biddle to board, but +he would not consent, since he wished to hold the advantage already +gained. Just then the heaving sea broke the vessels apart, the _Penguin_ +receiving considerable damage from the forcible rupture. The _Hornet_ +wore round to bring her broadside to bear, and was on the point of +opening fire, when the surviving officer of the _Penguin_ called out +that they surrendered. His condition was so hopeless that no choice was +left to him. + +Captain Biddle ordered his men to stop firing, and, stepping to the +taffrail, asked his enemy if they had struck. The answer was two musket +shots, one aimed at the man at the wheel and the other at Biddle. The +latter was hit on the chin and badly, though not dangerously, wounded, +while the man at the wheel was not struck. The men who fired the +treacherous shots were seen by two American marines, who shot them dead. + +No doubt the action of the Englishmen was unauthorized, and probably was +due to a misunderstanding; but the Americans were so incensed that it +was difficult to restrain them from continuing the firing. The enemy +hailed a second time and called out they had surrendered. + +The strength of the _Hornet_ was 20 guns and 132 men; of the _Penguin_, +19 guns and 128 men. The _Hornet_ had 1 man killed and 11 wounded; the +_Penguin_, 10 killed and 28 wounded. She was so badly shattered that, +after taking out her stores, her captors scuttled her. + +In order to complete our history of the gallant Captain James Biddle it +is necessary to carry the record in advance of some of the incidents +that follow. + +As has been stated, the _Peacock_ and the _Hornet_ had gone to Tristan +d'Acunha in obedience to the orders of Commodore Decatur, to wait for +him and the _President_, but the latter never arrived, for the good +reason that she had been captured by the enemy. Growing tired of +waiting, Biddle and Captain Warrington, of the _Peacock_, started on an +extended cruise, April 13, for the East Indies. + +Doubling the Cape of Good Hope, they met with no incident of note until +the latter part of April, when they sighted a large sail, which they +believed to be a heavily laden East India merchantman. A chase +immediately began. It continued a long time, and the _Peacock_ was +within a few miles, when she made the discovery that the stranger, +instead of being a merchantman, was a ship of the line. Captain +Warrington signalled the startling fact to Biddle, and the two turned to +escape. Since the formidable vessel could not pursue both when they +took different directions, she selected the _Hornet_ for her prize. + +All that Biddle could now hope to do was to out-sail his pursuer. He put +forth every effort known to the most skilful seamanship. When night +closed in, however, the pursuer had perceptibly gained. Since the +weather was perfectly clear and the two were in plain sight of each +other, the enemy could keep up the chase all night. Captain Biddle threw +overboard some of his heavy spars, cut away the sheet anchor and flung +several tons of kentledge into the sea. + +This helped matters somewhat, but the stranger continued slowly to gain, +and secured such a position that Captain Biddle was obliged to go about. +Still he could not shake off the bulldog at his heels, and at daylight +he was near enough to begin barking with the bow guns. Although the shot +did not strike the _Hornet_, Captain Biddle dropped his remaining +anchors into the sea, including six guns, launch, cables, and everything +not absolutely necessary. + +The lightening was so considerable that for the first time the _Hornet_ +began drawing away from her persistent pursuer. At the end of a few +hours, however, he began creeping up again, and Captain Biddle tumbled +overboard all his guns except one, most of his shot, his extra spars, +cutlasses, muskets, forge and bell, and indeed everything of which he +could free himself. Not only that, but the men lay down on the quarter +deck to help trim the ship. + +All in vain. The shot and shell whistled about the _Hornet_, the enemy +came closer, and every American prepared to submit as gracefully as +possible to the inevitable. Captain Biddle addressed his men feelingly, +telling them to show the same restraint in misfortune that they had in +victory, and then the gallant officer coolly awaited the moment when he +should be obliged to haul down his flag to save the lives of his brave +crew. + +But lo! the wind changed to a quarter favorable to the _Hornet_, and it +lasted throughout the night and the next day. The _Hornet_ drew steadily +away from the British ship of the line _Cornwallis_, as she proved to +be, and made her way at a leisurely speed to the United States. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +Captains Carden and Decatur--Cruise of the _Macedonian_--Battle with the +Frigate _United States_--Decatur's Chivalry. + + +Before the war broke out between England and the United States the naval +officers naturally were on the best of terms with one another. They +exchanged visits, had dinners together and talked in the most friendly +terms over the relations of their respective countries. Brave men always +feel thus, and no matter how fiercely they have been fighting, they +become friends again as soon as peace is declared. + +You have already been told considerable about Stephen Decatur, one of +the bravest and most chivalrous men that ever drew a sword. At the +breaking out of the War of 1812 he was given command of the frigate +_United States_, of 44 guns, built in 1798, and one of the finest in the +American navy. While lying at Norfolk, some months before war was +declared, the British frigate _Macedonian_, of about the same strength, +was in port, and the officers and crews became well acquainted. + +The commander of the _Macedonian_ was Captain John Surman Carden, one of +the finest officers in the British service. He and Decatur became fond +of each other and often discussed the probable results of the impending +naval contests, for it was apparent to both that their countries were on +the brink of war. Captain Carden conceded the bravery and skill of the +American officers and seamen, but insisted that they would be at a +disadvantage, because they had not met with the experience of the +Englishmen, who had been engaged in so many wars with European nations. + +The _Macedonian_ was made of oak and was without a superior in the +British navy. In the latter part of September, 1812, she left +Portsmouth, England. She was just off the docks and her crew, 297 in +number, were such as the best officer would have been proud to command. +The discipline was as near perfection as possible, Captain Carden being +one of the severest of disciplinarians. His business was to look out for +French merchantmen and warships, though as it was known that war had +been declared with the United States, it was deemed probable that +Captain Carden would have a chance of testing the mettle of her naval +officers and crews. + +There were two American vessels that Captain Carden was specially +anxious to meet. One was the _Essex_, which was playing havoc among the +English shipping (and of which I shall tell you something later on), +and the other that of Captain Stephen Decatur, the courteous but brave +naval officer who had displayed so much intrepidity in the war with +Tripoli and had insisted to Carden that the American sailors were the +match of the English anywhere. + +While at Madeira Captain Carden learned that the _Essex_ had sailed from +the Delaware and was expected to cruise in the neighborhood of the +Canary Islands. The Englishman turned southward and was within a few +days' sail of the islands when, on the 25th of October, the man at the +masthead reported a sail. As it approached it was carefully scrutinized +and found to be a frigate bearing down on the _Macedonian_. + +Convinced that she was an enemy, Captain Carden at once issued the +command to clear for action. The most thorough preparations were made +and officers were stationed with orders to shoot down the first man who +flinched from his duty. On board the ship were a number of American +seamen, who began speculating among themselves as to whether the +approaching frigate was a Frenchman or belonged to their own country. +They were in a trying position, for they were patriotic and would have +given anything in the world to escape firing upon their countrymen, but +there was no help for it. Such a rigid disciplinarian as Captain Carden +would listen to no protests from them, and, should the stranger prove +to be an American, it would be a choice between helping to fight her or +being shot down by their own officers. + +The approaching frigate went through a number of evolutions of such a +rapid and brilliant nature that the Englishmen murmured their +admiration. Through their glasses the officers could see groups of men +on the quarter deck scanning them closely, while glimpses of sailors +were caught as they moved about the deck and of the gun crews standing +quietly at their stations. Then, when there was a change of direction, +parties of marines were observed in her tops, muskets in hand, coolly +awaiting the time when the ships would engage at close quarters. + +While Captain Carden and his officers were in doubt whether the ship was +a French one she gave her colors to the breeze. They were the Stars and +Stripes of the American Republic. One of the finest of its frigates had +thrown down the gage of battle to as superb a frigate as belonged to the +British navy. + +Since all doubt of her nationality was dispelled, one of the American +seamen walked resolutely to Captain Carden, saluted and told him that he +and his companions had no wish to fight the flag of their country. In +reply the officer ordered him back to his station and with notice that +if the request was repeated he would be shot. Sad to say, the sailor +who made his wish known was one of the first killed in battle. + +The two ships now began exchanging shots, but the distance was too great +for any damage on either side. A little after 9 o'clock on that bright +sunshiny Sunday morning they were close enough for the wonderful +marksmanship of the American to display itself. The first shot that +found the _Macedonian_ entered through the starboard bulwark and killed +the sergeant of marines. A minute later the mizzen topmast was sundered, +and, cluttered with sails, yards and rigging, it fell into the maintop, +where it hung suspended, liable to fall at any moment and crush those +beneath. + +The fire of the American became frightfully destructive. It seemed as if +every shot splintered some part of the rigging or hull and killed and +wounded men right and left. The exasperating feature of this awful +business was that neither Captain Carden nor his aids, who were +directing operations from the quarter deck, could discover any +corresponding damage on the American ship. Her mizzen topgallant mast +had been carried away, but it looked as if all the other shots sent in +her direction sped past without harm. She was wrapped in an immense +volume of smoke made by her own broadsides, and through it constantly +shot tongues of crimson flame, while the roar of the rapidly discharged +guns was incessant. + +Now and then a rift appeared in the billows of vapor, through which the +Stars and Stripes were seen fluttering, while the men worked as coolly +at their guns as if going through manoeuvres in time of peace. Finally +the smoke became so dense that the Americans were unable to see through +it. Ceasing firing for a few minutes, the frigate moved far enough +forward to pass from under the impenetrable blanket of vapor and then +renewed the battle with more terrific effect than before. Her firing was +so rapid that several times Captain Carden believed the incessant flame +indicated she was on fire. The report was spread among his men to +encourage them, but no such good fortune came to the Englishmen. + +One of the men on board the _Macedonian_ gave the following graphic +account of his experience: + +"Our men kept cheering with all their might. I cheered with them, though +I confess I scarcely knew what for. Certainly there was nothing very +inspiriting in the aspect of things. Grape shot and canister were +pouring through our portholes like leaden hail. The large shot came +against the ship's side, shaking her to the very keel, and passing +through her timbers and scattering terrific splinters, which did more +appalling work than the shot itself. A constant stream of wounded men +were being hurried to the cockpit from all quarters of the ship. My +feelings were pretty much as I suppose every one else felt at such a +time. That men are without thought when they stand among the dying and +dead is too absurd an idea to be entertained. We all appeared cheerful, +but I know that many a serious thought ran through my mind. Still, what +could we do but keep up a semblance at least of animation? To run from +our quarters would have been certain death from the hands of our own +officers; to give way to gloom or show fear would do no good and might +brand us with the name of cowards and insure certain defeat." + +In the desperate hope of warding off defeat, Captain Garden now ordered +his helm aport and directed that boarders be called. The response was +prompt, for the British sailor fights with unsurpassable heroism, but at +the critical moment the forebrace was carried away, the ship was thrown +into the wind and exposed to a raking fire. The American instantly +seized the advantage and swept the decks with murderous destructiveness. +In a brief time the _Macedonian_ was completely disabled. Her rigging +was in tatters and splinters and her hull had been pierced by more +than a hundred shot, many of which struck between wind and water. + +[Illustration: BATTLE BETWEEN THE "UNITED STATES" AND THE "MACEDONIAN."] + +Finally the American ceased firing and drew off to make the few repairs +that were necessary. During the lull Captain Carden called his surviving +officers around him for council. There was indeed but one thing to do, +and it was agreed to surrender. As the American was returning, +therefore, to resume her appalling work the English colors were hauled +down. The victor lay to and lowered a boat, under charge of a +lieutenant, who, as he climbed aboard, gave his name and that of the +American 44-gun frigate as the _United States_, Captain Stephen Decatur. +The _United States_, whose crew numbered 478, had 5 killed and 7 +wounded, while the 297 of the _Macedonian_ lost 36 killed and 68 +wounded. + +So it was that the old friends settled the question over which they had +argued many times. When the English officer came aboard of the _United +States_ and offered his sword to Decatur the latter said: "I cannot +receive the sword of a man who has defended his ship with such bravery." + +The chivalrous nature of Decatur was shown in a private letter in which +he wrote: "One-half of the satisfaction arising from this victory is +destroyed in seeing the mortification of poor Carden, who deserved +success as much as we did who had the good fortune to obtain it." +Everything possible was done to alleviate the sufferings of the +prisoners. The private property of the officers and seamen was returned +or its equivalent in money. In a letter from Captain Carden to Captain +Decatur he expressed his feelings and added: "I have much gratitude to +express to you, my dear sir, for all your kindnesses, and all my +officers feel it equally with myself. If ever we should turn the tables +we will endeavor, if possible, to improve on your unusual goodness." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +Occasional American Defeats as Well as Victories--Captain Decatur's +Misfortune--The _Chesapeake_ and _Shannon_. + + +You would gain a wrong impression if my account of the leading naval +events in the War of 1812 were made up wholly of American victories. It +was inevitable that our gallant officers and men should meet with some +defeats. In order, therefore, to give as true an idea as possible of +those times I shall devote this chapter to telling about some events +which went the wrong way. + +Enough has been related concerning Stephen Decatur to show that he was +the most prominent of our naval leaders in our last war with Great +Britain. He entered into the work with the same dauntless enthusiasm he +showed whenever it was his privilege to serve his country, and his +capture of the _Macedonian_ was one of the most brilliant exploits of +the many that took place during those memorable years. + +In order to understand my use of the words "captain" and "commodore," it +is necessary to explain that at the time to which I now refer the latter +rank was different from what it is to-day. The commodore of a squadron +was the highest ranking officer and he might be lower than a captain. +Thus "Commodore" Perry, who won the remarkable victory on Lake Erie, was +promoted from that rank to "captain." + +Another interesting fact may be named. The Stars and Stripes used in +that war was slightly different in pattern from the present, for, +instead of containing thirteen stripes, as it did at the close of the +Revolution and as it does to-day, it had fifteen. The first law of +Congress bearing on this point was to add a stripe for every new State +admitted to the Union, but after two had come in and others were making +ready it became evident that before long the pattern of the beautiful +emblem would be spoiled if the rule were followed. So the increase in +the number of stripes stopped and remained fifteen for a few years after +the close of the war, even though new States had been admitted. Then the +law was changed so as to provide that the increase of States should be +shown by the stars in the blue field, while the stripes should always +remain thirteen in number, typical of the original colonies of the +Revolution. + +It was decided early in the war to send a squadron consisting of the +_President_, Captain Stephen Decatur, and the sloops of war _Peacock_, +Captain Warrington, and _Hornet_, Lieutenant Biddle, and the storeship +_Tom Bowline_ on a cruise in the Indian Ocean. This squadron was to +rendezvous at Tristan d'Acunha, but failed to do so, for a reason that +has been stated in the account of the exploits of the _Hornet_ and +_Peacock_. + +Captain Decatur lay in the harbor of New York with his vessels and found +himself so closely blockaded by the British squadron that it was +impossible for the Americans to sail in company. He sent out the two +ships named, and, on the night of January 14, 1815, when the blockading +squadron had been driven to the south by a gale, he sailed down the +Narrows, hoping to get to sea before it returned. There was good reason +to expect success, but misfortune speedily came. The beacon lights had +been removed and early in the evening the pilot ran the ship aground +just before reaching Sandy Hook. It required two hours of the hardest +kind of work to get her off. The _President_ was not very seaworthy at +the start, and the efforts to reach deep water so injured her that it +was necessary to return to the city for repairs, but the strong contrary +wind prevented and she was driven over the bar. + +Meanwhile the blockading squadron had come back and, early the next +morning, Decatur had four of them in full pursuit. He put on every +stitch of canvas, threw overboard everything that could be spared and +wet his sails, but the _President_ was so badly crippled from having run +aground that, despite all that was done, she steadily lost ground. The +_Endymion_ led the pursuers and soon drew up within range, her position +such that Decatur could not reply to the shots which began to injure his +ship and kill and wound his crew. + +He formed a desperate scheme that was characteristic of him. The +_Endymion_ was so far in advance of the other pursuers that there was a +possibility of turning about and capturing her. Then, by transferring +the American crew to her, the worthless _President_ could be abandoned +and swift flight be made in the _Endymion_, which had already +demonstrated her superior speed. + +The great risk in this attempt (for no one among the Americans doubted +their ability to overcome the other crew) was that before the capture +could be accomplished the other vessels would come up and Decatur be +assailed by an overwhelming force, but he did not hesitate. He explained +his plan to his men and they responded with cheers. No commander was +ever more beloved by his crew than Decatur, and they were ready to +follow him to the death, for he was always their leader and the foremost +in personal danger. + +Since every minute was valuable, Decatur put about and made for the +_Endymion_ with the intention of engaging her at close quarters. But the +British vessel suspected his purpose, for she also turned, and, being +much the superior sailer, was able to hold a safe distance between the +two. It was an exasperating disappointment, but Decatur opened with a +heavy fire, hoping to disable his antagonist before the arrival of the +others. + +A furious engagement followed, in which Decatur lost several of his most +valuable officers and was himself painfully wounded by flying splinters. +But the American guns were served with perfect precision and the +_Endymion_ was so broken and shattered by the fire that after two and a +half hours she was incapable of further resistance. She would have +surrendered had the time been sufficient for Decatur to enforce the +demand, but the other blockaders were hurrying up and placed the +American again in grave danger. He crowded on all sail once more, but +the scurrying clouds which gave him a chance of escaping were swept from +the sky and the bright moon revealed him so plainly to his pursuers that +they rapidly overtook the _President_. A running fight followed, but the +_President_ was overmatched in every respect. In his official report +Decatur said: "Two fresh ships of the enemy, the 38-gun frigates +_Pomone_ and _Tenedos_, had come up. The _Pomone_ had opened fire on the +port bow, within musket shot, the other, about two cables' length +astern, taking a raking position on our quarter, and the rest, with the +exception of the _Endymion_, within gunshot. Thus situated, with about +one-fifth of my crew killed and wounded, my ship crippled and a more +than fourfold force opposed to me, without a chance of escape, I deemed +it my duty to surrender." + +The British senior officer of the squadron to whom Decatur offered his +sword showed his appreciation of the American's gallantry and of his +chivalrous treatment of Captain Carden, when the situations were +reversed, by handing the weapon back to Decatur with the remark that he +was proud to return the sword of an officer who had defended his ship so +nobly. + +Shortly after this misfortune news reached this country of the signing +of a treaty of peace, though several encounters took place on the ocean +before the tidings could reach the various ships. + +Turning back to the earlier part of the war, mention must be made of +another American hero, James Lawrence, who was born in Burlington, N.J., +in 1781 and was active in the war with Tripoli. He was commander of the +_Hornet_ when she captured the _Peacock_ in an engagement which lasted +only fifteen minutes, with the loss of one American killed and two +wounded. He was given the command of the frigate _Chesapeake_, which was +repairing in Boston harbor. The ship had gained the reputation of being +unlucky, and, having already passed through several accidents, Lawrence +assumed command with extreme reluctance. + +Among the blockading vessels of the enemy outside of Boston was the +_Shannon_, commanded by Captain Philip Bowes Vere Broke. She was one of +the most efficient ships in the British navy, carried 38 guns and had a +crew of 330 men, all well disciplined and skilled in firing guns and in +fighting, while Broke himself probably had no superior as an officer. +That he was brave was proven not only by his sending a challenge to +Lawrence, inviting him to come out and fight him, but by his conduct +during the battle. + +Captain Lawrence sailed out of Boston harbor before Broke's challenge +reached him. He had learned that a single frigate had presumed to +blockade the port, and, having been ordered to sail as soon as possible, +he made unwise haste in venturing to give the _Shannon_ battle, even +though one cause was the wish to leave the port before other blockaders +appeared. + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN JAMES LAWRENCE.] + +The crew of the _Chesapeake_ was inferior in every respect to that of +the enemy, except that it contained ten more men. The majority had been +newly enlisted and contained many foreigners, landsmen, and +objectionable sailors. They were not only unaccustomed to the +ship--though they knew of its reputation as an unlucky one--but were +unacquainted with one another and nearly all were strangers to the +officers. The best of these were absent from illness and other causes. +Worse than all, many were in a maudlin state of drunkenness when the +_Chesapeake_ started out with flags flying to engage the well-manned +_Shannon_. + +On the way down the bay some of the _Chesapeake's_ crew impudently +notified Lawrence that they would not fight unless they received the +prize money earned a short time before. It was a humiliating situation +for the young commander, but he was virtually in the face of the enemy +and he issued prize checks to the malcontents. Well aware of the +character of the foe he was about to encounter, he must have looked upon +the meeting with foreboding. Maclay uses these impressive words: + +[Illustration: THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE "CHESAPEAKE" AND THE "SHANNON."] + +"The calm deliberation with which the American and English commanders +went out to seek each other's life and the earnestness with which they +urged their officers and men to steep their hands in the blood of +their fellow beings form one of the sombre pictures of naval history. +Lawrence was the youngest son of John Lawrence, Esquire, +counselor-at-law at Burlington, N.J., and was the second in command at +the celebrated capture of the _Philadelphia_ in the harbor of Tripoli. +Broke was the descendant of an ancient family which had lived in Broke +Hall, England, over three hundred and fifty years and for four hundred +years at Leighton. Both were men in the prime of manhood, Lawrence in +his thirty-second year and Broke in his thirty-seventh. Both were models +of chivalry and manly grace; both were held in the highest estimation in +their profession. Lawrence had just taken an affectionate farewell of +his two sons and an hour later was urging his men to "_Peacock_ them! +_Peacock_ them!" Broke a short time before had committed his wife to +God's mercy and soon afterward was urging his crew to 'Kill the men! +kill the men!' Both were men of the kindliest feelings and most tender +affections; both acknowledged the justice of the cause for which the +Americans were contending, yet with steady determination they went out +at the head of their ships' companies to take each other's life. A few +hours afterward, when Captain Broke fell on the _Chesapeake's_ decks +fainting and covered with his own blood, his lieutenants, on loosening +his clothes, found a small blue silk case suspended around his neck. It +contained a lock of his wife's hair." + +[Illustration: DEATH OF CAPTAIN LAWRENCE.] + +Lawrence, in accordance with his chivalrous nature, disdained to seek +any unfair advantage, his purpose being to engage in what is called a +fair yardarm and yardarm fight. It was toward the close of the first day +of summer, with thousands crowding the hills and points of advantage and +peering at the ships through glasses, that the battle opened by the fire +of the _Shannon_. Great damage was inflicted and much execution done by +the return broadside of the _Chesapeake_. The first fire severely +wounded Lawrence in the leg, but he refused to go below. Then the firing +became so close and rapid that half the American officers were killed or +wounded. The most frightful confusion that can be imagined followed. +When Lawrence formed his men to board after the two vessels had fouled +the bugler could not be found, whereupon Captain Broke led his own men +upon the deck of the _Chesapeake_. + +It was at this critical moment that Lawrence was fatally wounded and +carried below. He kept calling out his commands while in the cockpit to +fight harder and to keep the guns going. His last words, often +repeated in his delirium, were "_Don't give up the ship!_" and they +formed the motto of the American navy for many years afterward. + +[Illustration: THE OFFICERS OF THE "CHESAPEAKE" OFFERING THEIR SWORDS.] + +In the wild, savage fighting, where everything was so mixed that an +American lieutenant joined the British boarders under the impression +that they were his own men, Captain Broke was fearfully wounded, though +he afterward recovered. The _Chesapeake_, with a loss of 47 killed and +99 wounded to 24 killed and 59 wounded of the enemy, became the prize of +the _Shannon_. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +David Porter--A Clever Feat--Numerous Captures by the _Essex_--Her +Remarkable Cruise in the Pacific--Her Final Capture. + + +David Porter was born in 1780 and died in 1842. He came from a seafaring +family, and, entering the navy at an early age, did gallant service in +the war with France and Tripoli. He was the father of David Dixon +Porter, who, on account of his brilliant record in the war for the +Union, was made vice-admiral in 1866 and admiral in 1870. + +The elder Porter was appointed captain of the _Essex_ at the beginning +of the War of 1812, and, leaving New York, started on a cruise after the +British 36-gun _Thetis_, which was on her way to South America with a +large amount of specie aboard. She took several unimportant prizes, and, +failing to meet the _Thetis_, turned northward and on the night of July +10, 1812, sighted a fleet of merchantmen. + +The night was cloudy and dark and Porter with a great deal of cleverness +pushed his way among the vessels without his identity being suspected. +He had drawn in his guns, hidden most of his men and done all he could +to give the _Essex_ the appearance of being an inoffensive merchantman. +His object was to learn whether the escort was too powerful to be +attacked. He opened conversation with the captain of one of the vessels, +who, unsuspicious of his identity, informed him that the fleet was +carrying a thousand soldiers from Barbados to Quebec, and that the +convoying vessel was the _Minerva_, a 32-gun frigate. In addition, +several of the merchantmen were heavily armed. + +Captain Porter's next act was still more audacious. He glided forward +among the fleet and hailed the captain of a second vessel, but the +latter became suspicious, and was on the point of signalling to the +escort the appearance of a stranger among them, when Porter thrust out +the muzzles of twenty cannon and warned him that if he failed to keep +perfect silence and follow in his wake he would blow him out of the +water. The English captain obeyed, and Porter extricated his prize with +such astonishing skill that not a vessel took the alarm. When a safe +point was reached, Porter found that his prize was a brig with about two +hundred British soldiers on board. + +Having succeeded so well, Porter again returned to the fleet for another +capture. But by this time day was breaking and the character of his +vessel was discovered. It being useless to attempt further disguise, he +cleared for action and offered the _Minerva_ battle. The captain, +however, deemed it his duty to remain with his convoy, and continued his +course to Quebec, while Porter headed southward, afterward restoring his +prize to its owners for a liberal ransom. + +Captain Porter had become so clever in disguising his vessel as a +merchantman that some days later he lured the British 16-gun ship-sloop +_Alert_ to attack him. In the space of eight minutes the _Alert_ was so +helplessly crippled that her captain surrendered. The _Essex_ did not +suffer the slightest injury and no men were killed on either vessel. + +The _Essex_ had now five hundred prisoners aboard, and they formed an +element of serious danger, for they began plotting among themselves to +capture the ship from the Americans and turn her over to the enemy. +Captain Porter was a severe disciplinarian, and one of his practices was +to have the alarm of fire sounded at all hours of the day or night, that +his crew might be taught the successful way of fighting the ever-present +danger. To make such training perfect, he occasionally started a fire in +the hatches. + +The leader in the conspiracy to seize the ship fixed upon a night to +make the attempt, and his friends were on the alert to join him the +moment he gave the signal. In one of the hammocks was sleeping a +midshipmite only eleven years old, but, young as he was, he was a hero. +Pistol in hand, the plotter tiptoed up beside the hammock to learn +whether the boy was asleep. The little fellow was never wider awake in +his life; but he kept his eyes closed and breathed regularly, so as to +deceive the scoundrel, who slipped away to lead his companions in their +murderous uprising. + +The instant the man disappeared the boy midshipman sprang out of his +hammock, crept to the cabin and told Captain Porter what he had seen. +That officer ran into the berth deck and loudly shouted "_Fire_!" The +finely disciplined crew promptly answered the call, and going to the +main hatch, were speedily armed and received their orders from Captain +Porter. The plotters were overawed and the rebellion nipped in the bud. + +Thus the _Essex_ was saved by the wits of a boy only eleven years old. +The name of that boy was David Glasgow Farragut, and he became the +greatest naval officer of the American navy. Of course I shall have more +to tell you about him later on. + +Determined to rid himself of the dangerous prisoners, Captain Porter +placed them on board the _Alert_ and sent them to Nova Scotia on parole. +In a cruise of sixty days he made nine captures, recaptured five +privateers and merchantmen, and arrived in the Delaware early in +September. + +He sailed again in the latter part of October with the smallest frigate +in the navy, but with a full complement of officers and men. Among the +former, it need hardly be said, was young Midshipman Farragut. The first +port at which he stopped was Port Praya, where the Portuguese governor +showed them much courtesy. In December the _Essex_ crossed the equator, +and soon after overhauled a British brig of war, which strained every +effort to escape. The two manoeuvred for position, but the _Essex_ +proved her superiority, and, after a volley of musketry, which killed +one man, the _Nocton_, as she proved to be, hauled down her flag. She +carried only 10 guns and 31 men, but had $50,000 in specie on board. +Captain Porter placed an officer and crew in charge of the prize, with +instructions to make the nearest American port. While striving to do so +he was captured by the British frigate _Belvidera_. + +Captain Porter's instructions were to meet the _Constitution_ and +_Hornet_, which were cruising in that part of the world. He made +continued efforts to do so, and frequently got on their track, but +finally had to give it up. Then Captain Porter formed the bold plan of +doubling Cape Horn and entering the Pacific ocean. + +This venture was more dangerous than would be supposed, for all the +South American countries on that side of the continent were dominated by +Great Britain, and in entering the vast expanse the American knew he +would meet plenty of enemies and not a solitary friend. Like an army +when it invades a country, however, he determined to live off the enemy. +He knew that scores of English vessels were in the Pacific, and all +Porter had to do was to capture them. He had had sufficient experience +at that sort of work to give him confidence, and he liked the business. + +Unfortunately, it was the most dangerous season of the year for doubling +the Horn, which is always attended with peril. The _Essex_ was caught in +a tempest that lasted for three days, and was so terrific that the +stoutest hearted sailors quailed. The escape of the gallant little ship +could not have been narrower, and she suffered great damage, but finally +the dreaded extremity of South America was weathered, and in the +beginning of March, 1813, the _Essex_ sailed into the calmer water of +the Pacific, where no armed American vessel had ever before penetrated. + +The first halt was made off the island of Mocha, where a hunting party +secured a number of hogs, which were salted down for future use. +Captain Porter wished to keep secret his presence in that part of the +world until after he had secured a number of prizes, but the condition +of his vessel compelled him to put into Valparaiso, where he learned +that Chili had begun her war of independence against Spain. + +A sail which was sighted displayed the Spanish colors, and, believing +her to be one of the vessels that had been preying upon American +commerce in the Pacific, Captain Porter hoisted the British flag. The +stranger approached and sent an armed boat to the _Essex_. It was +immediately sent back with orders for the Peruvian cruiser to come under +the lee of the _Essex_. This was done, and she was compelled to strike. +Upon the demand of Porter, her captain gave a list of all the vessels, +so far as he could remember, that were cruising in the Pacific. Then the +arms, ammunition and spars of the captive were thrown overboard and she +was allowed to go. + +From that time forward the captures made by the _Essex_ were so numerous +that the full story would be monotonous. The swiftest and best of the +captured cruisers were fitted out with crews and added to the American +vessel, until Captain Porter had under his command seven ships, carrying +80 guns and 340 men, in addition to nearly a hundred prisoners. Still +more were added, and the cruise of the _Essex_ and her companions in +that part of the world became very much like a picnic. + +A number of powerful British frigates were searching for the _Essex_, +which had wrought such prodigious mischief. Porter sailed for the +Marquesas Islands, reaching them in the latter part of October. There he +landed, built a fort and made the repairs of which his vessel stood in +sore need. + +The work accomplished by Captain Porter was almost beyond computation. +He literally destroyed English commerce in the Pacific, for none of the +vessels not captured dared leave port, and the American merchant ships +were protected. The play being over, he craved more serious business. He +therefore set out to hunt up some of the British cruisers that were +trying to hunt him up. + +In February, 1814, the _Essex_ and the _Essex Junior_, as one of the +newly manned prizes had been christened, entered Valparaiso, where they +learned that the 36-gun frigate _Phoebe_ was in the neighborhood +searching for them. Captain Porter gave a reception to the officials of +Valparaiso, and the next morning, while half of the crew were ashore, +the _Essex Junior_ signalled from the offing that two British frigates +were in sight. They came into port, the captain of the _Phoebe_ +exchanging, compliments with Porter, they being old acquaintances; but, +all the same, each was distrustful of the other, and both maintained +what may be termed a position of armed neutrality. + +For six weeks the two frigates blockaded Porter. Learning then that +other ships were expected, Porter determined to get to sea. In the +attempt, his vessel was completely disabled by a storm. Despite the +neutrality of the port, the two British frigates attacked him, keeping +beyond range of the _Essex's_ short guns and thus rendering her +perfectly powerless to help herself. The _Essex_ was pounded at long +range until 58 of her men were killed and 66 wounded, when, to save her +officers and crew from annihilation, she surrendered. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +Oliver Hazard Perry--Prompt and Effective Work--"We Have Met the Enemy +and They Are Ours"--Death of Perry. + + +Oliver Hazard Perry was born in Rhode Island in 1785, and entered the +American navy as midshipman when fourteen years old, under his father, +Captain Christopher Raymond Perry, who commanded the 28-gun ship +_General Greene_, which did good service in the war against France. The +son also served on the _Constellation_ in the Tripolitan war, and +afterward gave his attention to ordnance. + +The surrender of Detroit by General William Hull at the opening of the +war gave the British control of the Territory of Michigan and Lake Erie. +They had formed the formidable plan of extending the Dominion of Canada +along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to the Gulf of Mexico, thus +inserting an immense wedge between the United States and the great West, +which has since become so important a part of our country. The only way +of blocking this far-reaching and dangerous scheme was for the Americans +to regain control of Lake Erie, and to young Perry was assigned the +seemingly almost impossible task. + +At the little town of Erie, Perry began the construction of his fleet, +and pushed it with such vigor, in the face of every sort of obstacle, +that early in July, 1813, he had ten vessels ready for sea, but only +enough men to man one of them. The end of the month made the total three +hundred, but he determined to get to sea on the first opportunity. +Outside was a powerful blockading squadron, and the water in the lake +was so low that it was not until the 4th of August that he was able to +get all his vessels over the bar. They comprised the _Scorpion_, +_Ariel_, _Lawrence_ (flagship), _Caledonia_, _Niagara_, _Somers_, +_Porcupine_, _Tigress_ and _Trippe_. The total guns carried were 54, +with a force of 490 men. + +The British squadron consisted of six vessels, with an aggregate of 63 +guns and 502 men. They were under the command of Commander Robert H. +Barclay, who had fought under Nelson at Trafalgar, and in another battle +lost an arm. It was less than three months before that the dying +Lawrence had uttered the appeal, "Don't give up the ship!" and Perry +hoisted a flag with the words displayed in large letters. As it floated +in the breeze from his vessel it was received with enthusiastic cheers. + +It was on the 10th of September, 1814, that the two squadrons met at the +western end of Lake Erie. When a mile apart, the _Detroit_, the British +flagship, fired a shot to test the distance. It ricochetted past the +_Lawrence_. A few minutes later she fired a second shot, which smashed +into the starboard bulwarks of the _Lawrence_ and sent a cloud of +splinters flying. The reply to these was a 32-pounder from the +_Scorpion_. Then the firing became more rapid, the enemy possessing the +advantage at long range. + +Most of the shots from the British vessels were directed against Perry's +flagship, which suffered considerably. He therefore made sail to get to +close quarters. His ship and the _Scorpion_ and _Ariel_ drew +considerably ahead of the rest of the fleet. As a consequence they +received the main fire of the enemy, which soon became concentrated on +the _Lawrence_, that was gallantly fighting against overwhelming odds. +Moreover, she was at a hopeless disadvantage with her short guns, and +soon became a wreck, with a large number of her men killed or wounded. + +Gradually the boats drifted nearer and the Americans were able to make +use of their short guns and small arms. Perry's clothing was torn by +splinters and two musket balls passed through his hat. The battle +continued for more than two hours with the utmost desperation, during +which the scenes on the _Lawrence_ were too frightful to be described. +Finally the wrecked flagship began drifting helplessly out of action, +when Perry determined to transfer his flag to the _Niagara_. + +[Illustration: COMMODORE PERRY AT THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE.] + +With his broad pennant folded over his arm, and accompanied by a younger +brother and four seamen, he stepped into the small boat, which began +pulling in the direction of the _Niagara_. The thick smoke concealed +them for a time, but it soon lifted, and Barclay aimed a shot at the +boat. He said in his official report that he saw the shot strike the +boat, whereupon Perry took off his coat and plugged the hole with it. +But for the temporary veil the American commander could not have made +half the brief distance between the _Lawrence_ and the _Niagara_. As it +was, however, he reached the latter without a scratch. He hoisted his +pennant and the flag bearing the immortal words of the gallant Lawrence. +Then an officer was sent in a boat to communicate the orders of the +Commodore to the other vessels. This was hardly done when Perry saw with +the keenest distress the surrender of the _Lawrence_. Such submission +was inevitable, for almost every man on board was either killed or +wounded and every gun on the engaged side was disabled. The English +crews broke into cheers, believing the battle won, but they could not +take possession of the _Lawrence_, which drifted out of range. + +Captain Barclay now made an attempt to change his line of battle with a +view of bringing his other broadsides into action. The line became +broken and entangled, observing which, Perry took instant advantage of +it. The _Niagara_, passing through the disorganized squadron, raked the +vessels fore and aft, while the other American vessels promptly +followed, and added to the confusion of the enemy and the dreadful +destruction on board. The Americans were now at close quarters and able +to do their best work, and so dreadful was it that fifteen minutes later +a white handkerchief was waved at the end of a boarding-pike on one of +the boats as a signal of surrender. + +Firing ceased, and in the smoke and confusion two of the enemy's boats +darted away in an attempt to escape; but they were followed and brought +back. Determined to honor the _Lawrence_, Perry now had himself rowed to +the wreck, drifting some distance away in charge of the few that had +survived the awful conflict. Perry took his position aft and with calm +dignity received the surrender. As the defeated officers approached and +presented their swords in turn, he told each to retain the weapon, +accompanying the remark with words of compliment for the bravery he had +displayed. + +The loss of the Americans was 27 killed and 96 wounded, and that of the +British 41 killed and 94 wounded. Perry showed every possible kindness +to the suffering prisoners, who expressed their gratitude. Commander +Barclay displayed conspicuous bravery throughout the battle and was +twice wounded, one of his injuries depriving him of the use of his +single remaining arm. + +From what was stated at the beginning of this chapter, it will be seen +that this battle was one of the most important of the war. Not only was +it a glorious victory of itself, the occasion being the first time in +England's history that she surrendered a whole squadron, but it settled +a much more momentous matter. The British General Proctor was waiting +with his army on the Canadian shore ready to be carried across the lake +by the English fleet, in the event of their being successful, and +pressing his invasion of Ohio, which would have been an almost fatal +blow to our country. + +On the Ohio shore General Harrison was waiting with an American force to +invade Canada, if Perry gained a victory. Hardly had the surrender been +made when the commandant, using his cap for a desk and the back of an +old letter for paper, pencilled the despatch which has become famous: +"We have met the enemy and they are ours--two ships, two brigs, one +schooner and one sloop," which he sent by messenger to General Harrison. + +[Illustration: THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE.] + +In the following month Harrison invaded Canada, with Proctor retreating +before him, and accompanied by the famous Indian, Tecumseh, and several +hundred of his warriors. Proctor halted near the Moravian Towns, where a +battle was fought October 5, in which the British and Indians were +decisively defeated. The Indian confederacy was destroyed and all danger +of the invasion of Ohio ended. + +Master-Commandant Perry's victory caused his promotion to the rank of +captain, and Congress awarded him a gold medal, besides suitably +rewarding his officers and men. After the war he was sent into southern +waters to help suppress piracy, which had become very troublesome. While +engaged on this duty he was seized with yellow fever, and died August +24, 1819, just as his ship reached Port of Spain, Trinidad. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +A Hero of the Olden Days--Cruise of the _Constitution_--Her Capture of +the _Cyane_ and _Levant_--Reminiscences of Admiral Stewart--His Last +Days. + + +During the early days of President Lincoln's administration, before the +firing upon Fort Sumter by the Confederates, the all-absorbing question +was as to whether or not the fort should be reinforced by the +Government. A good many opposed, because it was known that the attempt +would bring on a conflict, and, if war was to come, each was anxious +that the other side should strike the first blow. + +It was amid those times of excitement, doubt and trouble that Commodore +Charles Stewart left his modest home near Bordentown, N.J., and went by +train to Washington. From the station he made his way straight to the +White House and sent in his name to President Lincoln. As usual, the +Executive had a swarm of visitors, but he directed the distinguished +caller to be admitted at once. As the tall, sad-faced man rose from his +chair he towered fully two feet above the diminutive form of the naval +officer in his blue swallow-tail, who took the proffered hand, and, +after a few conventional words, looked up and said in his brisk manner: + +"Mr. President, I'll reinforce Fort Sumter." + +"You, Commodore! We are just discussing the question." + +"There's no need of discussing it; it must be done! Give me the men and +ships--there won't be many required--and I'll do it." + +The President saw that his caller was in earnest, and he respected him +too highly to indulge in anything like jesting. + +"I am inclined to think as you do, Commodore, but--" + +"But _what_?" impatiently interrupted the veteran. + +"You have already done so much for your country that it seems only fair +that we should give the younger men a chance." + +"Younger men! What's the matter with me? I'm not old enough yet to need +a cane." + +"I observe that; you are wonderfully spry for one of your years. Let me +see, what _is_ your age?" + +"Not quite eighty-four." + +"Why, you are still a young man; but the trouble is, Commodore, we have +so many that are still younger, that they are plaguing the life out of +me; I don't see how I can refuse them, but I shall be grateful to have +the benefit of your counsel any time you are willing to give it." + +[Illustration: THE BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER.] + +"Counsel be hanged! We have had too much _talk_; it's time for actions, +and I demand that you give me a chance with the rest." + +With that inimitable tact for which President Lincoln was noted, he +succeeded in soothing the ruffled feelings of the Commodore (soon +afterward made an admiral), but the old gentleman was not quite +satisfied, when he bade the President good-by, without having obtained +the opportunity to re-enter the active service of his country. + +This little anecdote, which is authentic, may serve to introduce my last +references to one of the most remarkable naval heroes of our country. If +his fire, vigor and patriotism burned so brightly in 1861, little need +be said in way of explanation of its nature when he was less than forty +years of age. + +Captain Stewart came back from a cruise in the West Indies in the spring +of 1814, and found the _Constitution_, "Old Ironsides," closely +blockaded by a powerful British squadron. That remarkable frigate had +already won such a reputation that the enemy were determined she should +not get to sea again. They held her locked in the port for months, but +despite their unceasing vigilance, Captain Stewart, who was a consummate +seaman, slipped out in December and sailed away. + +He made several captures, and the frigates of the enemy began an +industrious search for him, while all the lesser craft strained every +nerve to keep out of his way. On the 20th of February, 1815, when off +the coast of South America, he gave chase to two of the enemy's vessels, +one of which proved to be the _Cyane_ and the other the _Levant_. The +two together carried 55 guns and 313 men, while the _Constitution_ had +51 guns and a crew of 456 men. The _Cyane_ was properly a frigate, and +she being at the rear, Stewart opened fire from the long guns of his +port battery. The response from the starboard guns of the enemy was +prompt, and for a time the cannonade was deafening. The _Constitution_ +gave most of her attention to the rear ship. The smoke around the +American becoming so dense as to cloud the vision, Stewart slipped +forward and quickly delivered a double-shotted broadside. Before it +could be repeated the other ship attempted to gain a raking position +across the stern of the _Constitution_. By a splendid manoeuvre, +Stewart defeated the purpose, and, placing himself abreast the rear +ship, delivered another destructive broadside before the more sluggish +enemy comprehended their danger. He maintained his tremendous fire for a +time, when he observed the other ship luffing across his course to +secure a raking position, whereupon, with the same unsurpassable +seamanship that he had shown from the first, he crossed the wake of the +foremost ship and obtained a raking position himself. Before the vessel +could extricate itself Stewart raked her twice. Then the second ship +repeated the attempt of its consort, but Stewart not only defeated her, +but again laid the _Constitution_ so as to rake her. + +In the manoeuvring the two ships drew up side by side, and, the enemy +opening with the port battery, Stewart replied with his starboard guns. +The fire of the American was so amazingly accurate and effective that in +a short time the enemy hoisted a light and fired a gun in token of +surrender. The battle occurred in the early hours of evening. + +Upon sending an officer to take possession, it was found that the +captured vessel was the English 32-gun frigate _Cyane_. It took an hour +to transfer and secure the prisoners, when the _Constitution_ started +after the other ship, which was some distance away, engaged in repairing +her rigging. Seeing the American approaching, and not knowing what fate +had befallen her consort, the Englishman gallantly bore down to meet his +formidable enemy. The two vessels passed each other and exchanged +broadsides, but with another display of masterly seamanship Stewart, +before the other was aware of her danger, crossed her wake and raked +her. + +This startling experience convinced the Englishman that he had met his +master and he crowded on all sail in the desperate effort to escape. The +_Constitution_ was immediately after her, and by ten o'clock secured a +position from which to deliver another of her terrible broadsides, +seeing which the enemy surrendered. She proved to be the British sloop +of war _Levant_, of 21 guns. + +In this battle the _Constitution_ had 4 killed and 10 wounded, while on +the _Cyane_ and _Levant_ 35 were killed and 42 wounded. Of all the +battles in which this famous ship was engaged, there was none more +remarkable than this. When Stewart advanced to the attack he believed +both his enemies were frigates. The manner in which he baffled every +effort of the two to rake him, while he repeatedly raked them, was one +of the many proofs that the American navy contained no finer seaman than +he. The grand old _Constitution_ seemed to anticipate every wish of her +commander and responded with a promptness that could not have been +surpassed. The discipline of the crew was perfect, and, after all, +therefore, it is little wonder that one of the last acts of the famous +ship was the most brilliant of them all. + +It is stated by Richard Watson Gilder that when Captain Stewart was +talking with the respective captains of the _Cyane_ and _Levant_ in his +own cabin, the two fell into a dispute, each charging the other with +failing to do the right thing during the engagement, and insisting that +if it had been done they would not have been defeated. Stewart sat +amused and interested until he saw they were becoming angry, when he +interfered. + +"Now, gentlemen," said he, "there's no need of your growing warm over +this affair; no matter what evolutions you made, or what you did, the +end would have been the same. If you don't believe it, I will put each +of you back on your ship with the same crews and we'll fight it all over +again." + +Neither of the gentlemen was prepared to accept this proposal, and there +can be no doubt that Captain Stewart was warranted in his declaration, +and his prisoners knew it. + +Stewart started for home with his prizes, and early in March anchored in +Port Praya. While there, three powerful British frigates approached, +which, through a series of singular coincidences, were blockading Boston +at the time the _Constitution_ made her escape some months before. They +were anxious, above everything else, to capture the most dreaded ship +in the American navy. Stewart knew that his only chance was to get away +before they shut him in, for the experience of the _Essex_ at Valparaiso +proved that the neutrality of no port would protect an American cruiser. + +Accordingly, he lost no time in getting to sea, leaving with the utmost +haste and signalling to the _Cyane_ and _Levant_ to follow. They obeyed, +and were handled with such skill that all got to sea, with the squadron +in hot pursuit. The chase was continued for a long time, with the +remarkable result that both the _Constitution_ and _Cyane_ safely +reached Boston, while the _Levant_ was recaptured--a small reward for +the exertions of the British squadron. + +Maclay says: "In this brilliant cruise Captain Stewart proved himself an +officer of rare ability. His action with the _Cyane_ and _Levant_, and +his masterly escape from the British squadron, called for all the +qualities of a great commander, while his unhesitating attack on what +appeared, in the heavy weather, to be two frigates, the beautiful style +in which the _Constitution_ was put through the most difficult +manoeuvres, and the neatness with which he captured a superior force, +have ranked him as one of the most remarkable naval officers of his day. +Congress awarded him a sword and gold medal." + +It happened one day, when I was talking with Admiral Stewart at his +home, that he showed me a Toledo sword which had been presented to him +by the King of Spain, because of his rescue of a Spanish ship, drifting +helplessly in mid ocean, with the captain and all the crew dead or +prostrated by yellow fever. + +The blade of the weapon, although quite plain and ordinary looking, of +course was very valuable, but the hilt was so rough and crude that I +expressed my surprise. + +"I supposed that when a king makes a present of a sword," I said, "that +the hilt is generally of a more costly pattern than that." + +"So it is," replied Stewart, accepting it from me and playfully making a +few lightning-like passes in the air just to show that he had not +forgotten how to handle the weapon; "that was a very handsome sword when +it came to me, and I could not accept it until authorized by Congress. +During my fight with the _Cyane_ and _Levant_ I was walking back and +forth with this sword under my arm, the hilt slightly projecting in +front of my chest, when a grapeshot slipped it off, as it grazed me. The +hilt which it now has was put there by my gunner." + +"Were you ever wounded in battle?" I asked. "I was struck only once, +and it amounted to nothing. It was in the same battle. A pigeon became +so frightened by the smoke and racket that it flew hither and thither, +and finally perched on my shoulder. While there a musket ball struck its +claw at the junction of the toes with the leg, and entered my shoulder. +The resistance it met was so tough that it saved my shoulder from being +shattered; except for that, the hurt must have proved serious, but it +did not bother me at all." + +The Admiral, still loosely holding the weapon in his hand, turned his +faded eyes toward the window and gazed out over the snow. Those eyes +seemed to look backward over the vista of forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, +eighty years, and must have recalled the many stirring scenes in which +he had taken part, as well as the faces of the brave fellows, like +himself, who had gone from earth long ago, leaving him alone. Then the +old veteran, still erect and with the fires of patriotism glowing in his +brave heart, softly murmured: + +"I have been more fortunate than I deserve; strange that I should be the +only one left, but it cannot be for long." + +And yet he lived for seven more years. Then, when a scirrhus cancer +appeared on his tongue, a skilful surgeon told him it could be easily +removed and need cause him no trouble. + +"Oh," said the Admiral, who was then past ninety, "I've lived long +enough; let it alone." + +He died a few months later, and, as has been stated, was in his +ninety-second year. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +Captures Made After the Signing of the Treaty of Peace--The +Privateers--Exploit of the _General Armstrong_--Its Far-Reaching Result. + + +The treaty of peace between Great Britain and the United States was +signed December 24, 1814, at the city of Ghent, in Belgium. Had the +submarine telegraph been known at that time, or had we possessed our +ocean greyhounds, a good deal of blood-shed would have been saved, and +the most important victory of the whole war would not have been gained. +General Jackson won his famous triumph at New Orleans--still celebrated +in all parts of the country--January 8, 1815; the _President_ was +captured by a British fleet, January 15; Captain Stewart captured the +_Cyane_ and _Levant_, February 20; the _Hornet_ took the _Penguin_, +March 23, and the _Peacock_ captured the _Nautilus_, in a distant part +of the world, June 30. That was the last of hostilities between the two +countries, and let us pray that it will be the last for all time to +come. + +In the account of the naval exploits of the War of 1812, I have confined +myself to those of the regular cruisers of the United States, but in no +other war in which we were engaged did the privateers play so prominent +a part. These vessels were usually schooners or brigs of 200 or 300 +tons, with crews varying from 75 to 100 men. They left all of our +principal ports, many of the swiftest and most effective going from +Baltimore, but twenty-six were fitted out in New York alone in the +summer of 1812. Probably the whole number engaged was about six hundred. +Of the four hundred British prizes captured in the second year of the +war, four-fifths were taken by privateers. A favorite cruising ground +was the West Indies, but some of the vessels ventured across the ocean +and displayed a degree of boldness that recalled the days of Paul Jones. +Among the most famous were the _Reindeer_, _Avon_ and _Blakeley_, built +in a few weeks, near Boston, in 1814. They were so large and well +equipped that more than once they attacked and defeated British +warships. + +Some of the privateers which left Charleston, Bristol and Plymouth were +nothing but pilot boats, carrying twenty or thirty men each, who gave +their attention to the West Indies. They were often obliged to deplete +their crews to that extent in order to man their prizes that barely +enough were left to manage their own ships. In those days all, of +course, were sailing vessels, and they carried nothing in the shape of +armor. Their guns were cannon, loading at the muzzle and firing solid +shot. The most effective of these was the "Long Tom," which was +generally mounted on a pivot forward, and used in firing upon a fleeing +vessel. + +[Illustration: GENERAL ANDREW JACKSON.] + +(_Afterward President of the United States_.) + +The most famous achievement was that of the privateer _General +Armstrong_, which carried nine long guns, the largest being 24-pounders, +or "long nines." She sailed with a large crew, which was depleted to +ninety on account of the number in charge of the prizes captured. Her +commander was Captain Samuel C. Reid, born in Connecticut in 1783, and +died in 1861. It was he who designed the accepted pattern of the United +States flag, with its thirteen stripes and one star for each State. The +fifteen-striped flag, which it has been stated was carried through the +War of 1812, remained the pattern until 1818, when the change referred +to was made. + +While engaged upon one of his successful cruises, Captain Reid put into +the harbor of Fayal, one of the Azores, to provision his ship. He was +thus employed when Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, of England, reached the +same port and on the same errand. He had with him three vessels: the +flagship _Plantagenet_, 74 guns; the frigate _Rotan_, 38 guns, and the +brig _Carnation_, 18 guns. This powerful squadron was manned by 2,000 +men, and was on the way to New Orleans with the purpose of occupying the +city. + +When the British admiral discovered the American privateer within the +harbor, he placed his own vessels so as to prevent its escape. Captain +Reid did not think the enemy would attack him, since the harbor was +neutral, but the previous experience of his countrymen warned him that +it was not safe to count upon the British respecting the laws of war +when there was an opportunity to destroy one of the pests of the ocean. +He cleared his decks and made every preparation against attack, and it +was well he did so. + +It was not long before he observed several boats, crowded with men, +leave the _Plantagenet_ and row toward him. This was on the 26th of +September. There being no doubt of their hostile purpose, Captain Reid +several times warned them off, but they paid no attention to him. He +then fired upon the boats, and a number of the crews were killed and +wounded. This was a sort of reception they had not counted upon, and the +boats turned about and hastily rowed back to the flagship. + +"We have got to fight," said Captain Reid to his men; "they will attack +us again to-night, and things will be lively." + +There was no thought of surrender on the part of the Americans, though, +as will be noted, they were threatened by a force more than twenty times +as numerous as their own. They sent their valuables ashore and disposed +of everything, as if not a man expected to emerge from the fight alive. +All were cool and confident, and the dauntless courage of the commander +inspired every one around him. + +Night settled over the harbor, and by and by the sounds of oars showed +the enemy were approaching again. Through the gloom seven boats, +containing two hundred men, loomed into view, coming straight for the +_General Armstrong_. Each carried a carronade, with which they opened +fire on the privateer. The reply of the latter was so well directed and +effective that three of the boats were sunk and their crews left +struggling in the water. The cries that sounded across the harbor left +no doubt of the effect of the fire of the American. + +The four remaining boats were not frightened off, but, rowing with might +and main, reached the side of the vessel and began clambering on board. +They were enraged, and as their heads rose above the gunwales they +shouted, "No quarter!" + +"No quarter!" replied the Americans, discharging their pistols in their +faces and pressing them back into the water with their pikes. The +assailants displayed great bravery and made desperate efforts to board +the privateer; but the Americans needed not the incentive of the warning +that no quarter would be given to fight with all the vigor and skill at +their command. The struggle was a furious one, but in the end the +British were so decisively defeated that only two of the boats returned +to the ships. The others, filled with dead and wounded, drifted ashore. + +[Illustration: BRITISH ATTACK ON SULLIVAN ISLAND.] + +(_Our Last Naval Engagement with England_.) + +In this brief but terrific struggle there were only two Americans killed +and seven wounded, while the enemy acknowledged a loss of thirty-four +killed and eighty-six wounded, the former including the leader of the +expedition. + +Admiral Cochrane was so incensed by the rough treatment his men had +received that he determined to throw neutrality to the winds and destroy +the defiant privateer. Nothing more was attempted that evening, but in +the morning the _Carnation_ advanced to the attack of the _General +Armstrong_. This gave the latter a chance to bring its Long Tom into +play, and it was served with such unerring accuracy that not a shot +missed. Before the brig could come to close quarters she was so crippled +that she was obliged to withdraw. + +The three ships now closed in. It would have been folly to fight them. +So Captain Reid scuttled his ship, lowered his boats and rowed ashore. +The enemy were disposed to follow him thither, but he and his men took +refuge in an old stone fortress and dared the Englishmen to do so. Upon +second thought they decided to leave the Americans to themselves. + +This wonderful exploit was celebrated in song, one stanza of which ended +thus: + + +"From set of sun till rise of morn, through the long September night, +Ninety men against two thousand, and the ninety won the fight; + + In the harbor of Fayal the Azore." + +While the victory of itself was one of the most remarkable of which +there is any record, it resembled that of Perry on Lake Erie in its +far-reaching consequences. Admiral Cochrane found his ships so crippled +that he returned to England to refit. He then sailed for New Orleans, +which he reached a few days after it had been occupied by General +Jackson. But for the delay caused by his fight with Captain Reid he +would have shut out General Jackson from the city and prevented his +winning the most glorious land victory of the whole war. + + + + +LESSER WARS. + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +Resentment of the Barbary States--The War with Algiers--Captain +Decatur's Vigorous Course--His Astonishing Success as a Diplomat. + + +It was not alone in our wars with the leading nations that the American +navy won glory. Wherever there arose a demand for its work, its +patriotism, skill and bravery were instant to respond. + +England had its hands full during the early years of the nineteenth +century in combating Napoleon Bonaparte and other nations with which she +became embroiled. Had she been wise and treated the United States with +justice, she would have saved herself the many humiliations received at +our hands. She is another nation to-day, but it was wholly her fault +that her "children" on this side of the ocean were forced to strike for +the defence of their rights in the Revolution and the War of 1812. + +In the account of our war with Tripoli it has been shown that the young +American navy performed brilliant service. The Barbary States took +naturally to piracy, and Great Britain, by securing immunity for her +vessels through the payment of tribute, also secured a virtual monopoly +of the commerce of the Mediterranean. Her policy was a selfish one, for +she believed the United States was too weak to send any effective +warships into that part of the world. The story of Tripoli convinced her +of the mistake of this belief. + +The Barbary States were sour over their defeat, and, when the War of +1812 broke out, they eagerly seized the occasion to pick a quarrel with +us. The Dey of Algiers opened the ball by insisting that $27,000 should +be paid him, the same being past due (under the old treaty providing for +tribute from the United States), owing to the difference in the methods +of computing time by the two countries. Since our war with England +prevented the sending of any force to the Mediterranean at that time, +the consul complied and the blackmail was handed to the Dey. + +This concession only whetted the barbarian's appetite, and his next step +was to order the consul to leave the country, since he was not honest +enough to make his residence in the Dey's dominions congenial to the +latter. About that time the Dey received a present of valuable naval +stores from England, and he lost no time in sending out his corsairs to +prey upon American commerce. + +Tripoli and Tunis were not so active, but believing the British boast +that they would sweep the American navy from the seas, they allowed the +warships of that nation to recapture several prizes that the American +privateers had sent into their ports. Their sympathies were wholly with +England and against the United States, which they hated with an +intensity natural to their savage nature. + +The United States bided its time. No sooner had the War of 1812 closed +than our Government decided to give its attention to Algiers, whose +defiant Dey had not only refused to allow his American prisoners to be +ransomed, but had insolently declared that he meant to add a good many +more to them. + +Hardly had the treaty with England been proclaimed when two squadrons +were ordered into Algerian waters. The first was under the command of +Captain William Bainbridge and assembled at Boston, and the second, +under Captain Stephen Decatur, was organized at New York. Decatur was +the first to get under way, sailing on May 20 with a squadron consisting +of ten vessels, mounting 210 guns. He had under his direct command +nearly all the seamen who had served under him and survived the last +war. + +It may seem that Decatur had an easy task before him, but Maclay shows +that the force against which he sailed was really the stronger. It +consisted of 5 frigates, 6 sloops of war and 1 schooner--all carrying +360 guns, which exceeded those of the American squadron by 50 per cent. +The Algerian admiral was the terror of the Mediterranean. He had risen +from the lowest to the highest rank by his indomitable valor and skill. +He once captured by boarding in broad daylight a Portuguese frigate +within sight of Gibraltar. He had performed other valiant exploits; his +ships were well equipped and manned, and the crews trained in modern +warfare. + +In addition, the city of Algiers was so strongly fortified that Lord +Nelson declared that twenty-five ships of the line would not be more +than enough to capture it. As Decatur drew near the Portugal coast he +made guarded inquiries as to the whereabouts of the Algerian squadron. +He used the utmost care to prevent his presence from becoming known to +the enemy, and finally heard that which led him to believe the Moorish +admiral had passed through the Straits of Gibraltar and entered the +Mediterranean. At Gibraltar Decatur saw several boats hurrying off to +Algiers to warn his enemy of his danger. He made sail up the +Mediterranean, hoping to beat the despatch boats. The admiral's flagship +was descried, and, still striving to avert suspicion, the American ships +worked gradually toward him. Before they could get within range the +Moorish admiral took the alarm, and, crowding on every stitch of canvas, +made a resolute effort to escape. He handled his ship with great skill, +and Decatur feared he would succeed in reaching some neutral port or +elude him in the night, which was near at hand. + +A hot chase followed, and the Turks soon opened on the American flagship +and wounded several men, but Decatur reserved his fire until able to +deliver one of his fearful broadsides. A shot literally cut the Moorish +admiral in two. A few minutes later a second broadside was fired, but no +signal of surrender was made, and the men in the tops continued firing +until the American marines picked them off. Seeing there was no escape +for the enemy, and wishing to save the unnecessary shedding of blood, +Decatur took a position off the frigate's bow, whereupon she made a +vigorous effort to escape. + +In doing this, she headed directly for the 18-gun brig _Epervier_, which +was in danger of being run down; but the plucky master-commandant, John +Downes, backed and filled away with wonderful skill, chased the flying +frigate, delivered nine diminutive broadsides and compelled the Turk to +strike his colors. + +Upon taking possession of the prize it was found that 30 had been killed +and there were 406 prisoners. On the _Guerriere_ 3 had fallen and 11 +were wounded by the fire of the enemy. + +Believing that the rest of the Algerian squadron would make haste to +their home port, Decatur hastened thither with the view of cutting them +off. If the Dey refused to come to terms, he intended to blockade the +squadron and bombard the city. It was on the 28th of June, 1815, that +the American fleet appeared off Algiers, and the commander signalled a +request for the Swedish consul to come aboard. He came out a few hours +later, accompanied by the Algerian captain of the port. When Decatur +proved by the testimony of one of the native prisoners that their +admiral had been killed and his ship and a second one captured, the +officer was astounded, and so alarmed that he asked the American +commander on what terms he would make peace. + +Decatur was prepared for this question, and produced a letter to the Dey +from the President of the United States, in which it was declared that +the only conditions upon which peace could be made was the full and +final relinquishment by Algiers of all claim to tribute in the future, +and the guarantee that American commerce would not be molested. The +captain, like all Orientals, began to quibble to gain time, asking that +the commissioners should land and conduct the negotiations on shore. +Decatur replied that they must be negotiated on board the _Guerriere_ +and nowhere else. + +The next day the Moorish captain returned with full powers to negotiate. +Decatur now notified him that, in addition to the terms already named, +every American prisoner must be given up without ransom, and the value, +to the last penny, of their stolen property restored. Other minor +demands were added, all of which were within the province of Decatur, +who had been clothed with full authority to make peace. The captain +asked for a truce that he might lay the terms before the Dey. This was +denied. Then he asked for a delay of three hours. + +"Not three minutes," replied Decatur; "if the remaining ships of your +squadron appear before the treaty is signed, or before every American +prisoner is on board this ship, I will capture every one of them." + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN BAINBRIDGE AND THE DEY OF ALGIERS.] + +The Moor was thoroughly cowed by the aggressive American, and, +promising to do all he could to secure the consent of the Dey, he was +hastily rowed ashore. It was understood that if the Dey agreed to the +terms the captain would return in the boat with a white flag displayed +at the bow. + +He had been gone but a short time when an Algerian ship of war was +discovered, crowded with soldiers and approaching. Decatur instantly +cleared for action, and had started to meet the enemy, when the port +captain was observed approaching as rapidly in his boat as his men could +row, and with the white signal fluttering from the bow. All the +Americans, including Decatur, were disappointed, but as he had promised, +he waited until the boat was within hail. Then he called out to know +whether the treaty was signed. He was told that it was, and in a short +time the prisoners were brought alongside and delivered to their +rescuers. Wan, emaciated and hollow-eyed from their long and bitter +imprisonment, they wept tears of joy and kissed the American flag that, +coming so many thousand miles, had brought them deliverance. + +Thus in two weeks after the arrival of the American squadron in Algerian +waters, every demand of its Government was complied with, and a treaty +of peace made on terms dictated by its gallant and faithful +representative. It will be admitted that Stephen Decatur proved himself +one of the most successful diplomats as well as intrepid and skilful of +commanders. + +He now proceeded to Tunis and notified the Dey that he would give him +twelve hours in which to pay $46,000 for allowing the seizure of +American prizes in his port during the late war. The Dey paid it. The +next call of the American commander was on the Bashaw of Tripoli, who, +although he blustered a good deal, was compelled to hand over $25,000 +for a similar breach of the law. + +Among the vessels of the American squadron were three--the _Guerriere_, +_Macedonian_, and the _Peacock_--which had been captured from Great +Britain during the late war. This fact gave peculiar point to the +reproof of the Dey's prime minister to the British consul: "You told us +that the Americans should be swept from the seas in six months by your +navy, and now they make war upon us with some of your own vessels which +they took from you." + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +Piracy in the West Indies--Its Cause--Means by Which It Was Wiped +Out--Piracy in the Mediterranean. + + +We hear little of pirates in these days, but for ten years or more after +the close of the War of 1812 the West Indies were infested by them. Our +Government saw that in self-defense they must be wiped out, for they +grew bolder with every month and made it unsafe for our commerce in +those waters. + +Where did they come from and what gave rise to the ocean nuisances? +About the time named Spain was the mistress of most of the South +American countries. When she discovered America through Columbus, and +for a long period afterward, she was one of the greatest maritime +nations in the world. Like England at the present time, she had colonies +in all parts of the globe, and had she not been so cruel and unwise in +the treatment of her dependencies, would still have retained a great +deal of her former greatness and power; but she is one of the few +nations that never learn from experience, and a short time after our +second war with Great Britain her South American colonies began +revolting against her, and one by one they gained their independence. + +Among the most powerful of the rebelling provinces were Buenos Ayres +and Venezuela; and, taking lesson from the success of our privateers, +they sent out many swift sailing, well-armed vessels to prey upon +Spanish commerce. They did their work so effectively that by and by they +extended their attacks to the vessels of all nations. Nothing being done +for a time to check them, they grew rapidly in numbers and audacity, +until, as has been stated, the West Indies swarmed with the pests. The +men living along the coast found buccaneering so profitable that they +gave up their peaceful pursuits and became free-booters of the sea. Like +the Spaniards themselves, they were ferocious, and generally murdered +the crews of the captured vessels and then divided the plunder among +themselves. + +Seeing that something must be done to check these intolerable outrages, +our Government gave the task, in 1819, to Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero +of Lake Erie. His work was more difficult than would be supposed, for, +in addition to destroying the pirates, he had to avoid offending the +countries named, with whom we wished to maintain friendly relations. +They sent out regular cruisers that had the same right to prey upon +Spanish commerce that our privateers had to attack English ships when we +were at war with their country. Some of these cruisers secretly engaged +in piracy; many that flew the black flag, in the presence of those who +could not defend themselves, claimed to be authorized privateers at +other times and carried forged commissions. They were treacherous, cruel +and merciless to the last degree. + +It will be seen, therefore, that the task assigned to Captain Perry +required quick decision, courage and discretion. He possessed all those +qualities in a high degree, and, in the performance of his duty, reached +the mouth of the Orinoco in July, 1815, in command of three powerful +ships. The following extract from his journal will give a vivid idea of +the discomforts which he and his men underwent in the performance of +their work: + +"The sun, as soon as it shows itself in the morning, strikes almost +through you. Mosquitoes, sand flies and gnats cover you, and as the sun +gets up higher it becomes entirely calm and the rays pour down a heat +that is insufferable. The fever that it creates, together with the +irritation caused by the insects, produces a thirst which is insatiable, +to quench which we drink water at a temperature of eighty-two degrees. +About four o'clock in the afternoon a rain squall, accompanied by a +little wind, generally takes place. It might be supposed that this would +cool the air, but not so, for the steam which arises as soon as the sun +comes out makes the heat still more intolerable. At length night +approaches and we go close inshore and anchor. Myriads of mosquitoes and +gnats come off to the vessel and compel us to sit over strong smoke +created by burning oakum and tar, rather than endure their terrible +stings, until, wearied and exhausted, we go to bed to endure new +torments. Shut up in the berth of a small cabin, if there is any air +stirring, not a breath of it can reach us. The mosquitoes, more +persevering, follow us and annoy us the whole night by their noise and +bites until, almost mad with heat and pain, we rise to go through the +same trouble the next day." + +Perry sailed three hundred miles up the Orinoco and was undaunted by the +fact that the dreaded yellow fever soon appeared among his men. He was +seized with the terrible disease and died on the 24th of August. He was +buried with the highest civic and military honors at Trinidad, many +British officers who had fought against him on Lake Erie showing their +respect for his bravery and an appreciation of his kindness to them when +they were prisoners of war. His remains were afterward removed to +Newport, Rhode Island, where a magnificent monument was erected to his +memory. + +The untimely death of this naval hero before he had time to complete +his work encouraged the West Indian pirates and they became more +audacious than before. In the autumn of 1821 several naval vessels were +sent thither by our Government. They did vigorous work, capturing and +destroying a number of piratical vessels, but there were too many of +them, and they were spread over too extended a space to be wiped out by +a few captures. In the following year a still more powerful squadron +went to the West Indies under the command of Captain James Biddle, who +did such valiant service in the War of 1812. A good many buccaneers were +destroyed, including several leaders of the buccaneers whose atrocious +deeds had long made their names a terror. In one of these attacks +Lieutenant William H. Allen, of the schooner _Alligator_, was killed by +a musket ball. His gallantry in the fight between the _Argus_ and +_Pelican_ in the war with Great Britain sent a thrill of admiration +through the country and brought him well-merited promotion. + +You have not forgotten the wonderful cruise of Captain David Porter in +the _Essex_, when he entered the Pacific Ocean and caused such havoc +among the British shipping. He was appointed commander of the West India +forces and arrived off Porto Rico in March, 1823. He was provided, in +addition to his warships, with a number of barges, furnished with +twenty oars apiece, and which were indispensable in following the +pirates up the shallow creeks and into the shoal waters where the +vessels could not go. + +[Illustration: OUR FLEET IN THE BALTIC.] + +Captain Porter was discreet but impatient with injustice. When one of +his schooners was fired into by the Porto Rican authorities he promptly +demanded an explanation, which was given. The most important incident of +his service occurred in the autumn of 1824 and is known as the "Foxardo +Affair." + +In October of that year the storehouse of the American consul at St. +Thomas was broken into and robbed of much valuable property which there +was reason to believe had been carried to the small port at the eastern +end of Porto Rico known as Foxardo. Lieutenant Platt, of the _Beagle_, +anchored off the town and asked the help of the authorities in capturing +the criminals and recovering the property. The officer was treated with +the grossest discourtesy. Having landed in civilian clothes, the +authorities accused him of being an impostor and ordered him to show his +commission. The Lieutenant produced it, whereupon they declared it a +forgery and arrested him on the charge of being a pirate. After he and a +midshipman who accompanied him had been insulted repeatedly they were +allowed to leave. + +When Captain Porter learned of this outrage he entered the harbor with +several of his vessels and sent a letter to the alcalde or governor, +notifying him that he had one hour in which to send an explanation of +his action. While waiting for the return of the flag of truce Captain +Porter saw one of the shore batteries getting ready to fire upon him. +Instantly, he sent a detachment, which captured the battery and spiked +the guns. Then Captain Porter landed, and, after spiking another +battery, made his way to the town. By and by the alcalde and captain of +the port appeared and made such profuse and humble apologies that the +officer could not refuse to accept them, and returned to his ship. + +Such is a truthful account of the incident as it occurred. It would seem +that there was nothing in the course of the gallant naval officer that +deserved censure. One of his officers had been insulted and he compelled +the offenders to make a suitable apology. Fearing with good reason a +treacherous attack from the batteries on shore, he spiked their guns. +But when the news reached our Government Captain Porter was ordered +home, tried by court martial and sentenced to be suspended from the +service for six months. Feeling himself unjustly treated, Captain Porter +resigned and entered the Mexican navy, where he remained until 1829. In +that year Andrew Jackson became President of the United States. He had +been through trying and stormy times himself and would never submit to +insult from any man or nation. He appointed Porter consul general at +Algiers. He afterward became minister to Turkey and died March 28, 1843. + +Captain Lewis Warrington succeeded Porter in the West Indies and +followed out his aggressive policy. The buccaneers were hunted down +without cessation and nest after nest broken up until, at the close of +1825, piracy in those waters was practically suppressed. For several +years, however, a squadron was maintained there and more than once its +services were needed, but the work was completed and since then no +trouble in that quarter of the world of the nature described has plagued +either ourselves or any other nation. + +Even in the Mediterranean our navy had similar work to do. While little +Greece was making so gallant a struggle for freedom against Turkey a +number of her vessels played the role of pirate and attacked ships of +other nations. Among others, an English brig had been seized, but +Lieutenant Lewis M. Goldsborough, after a furious fight, recaptured the +vessel. Lieutenant John A. Carr singled out the Greek captain and in +the fierce hand-to-hand conflict killed him. Lieutenant +Goldsborough--who afterward became rear-admiral--received the thanks of +several of the Mediterranean powers for his assistance in ridding the +waters of the pirates who, though few in number, became exceedingly +troublesome. + +It was by such prompt, vigorous and brave measures that the American +navy compelled the respect not only of civilized but of barbarous +peoples in all parts of the world. This fact is proven by a remarkable +occurrence, not often mentioned in history, the particulars of which are +given in the next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +The Qualla Battoo Incident. + + +Qualla Battoo is the name of a small Malay town, which stood on the +northwestern coast of Sumatra. In the month of February, 1831, the +_Friendship_, a trading vessel from Salem, Mass., lay at anchor off the +town, taking on board a cargo of pepper. Her captain, Mr. Endicott, and +crew numbered fifteen men. There being no harbor, the vessel was about +half a mile from shore. The day was oppressively hot and no one on the +_Friendship_ put forth more exertion than was absolutely necessary. Even +the swarthy natives seemed to languish in the flaming heat and displayed +less vigor in bringing out the pepper in their boats than they did when +the sun beat down upon them with its usual rigor. + +Captain Endicott understood the treacherous nature of the Malays, and he +and his crew kept sharp watch of those who were given the management of +the vessel's boats, owing to the difficult character of the coast which +made such a course necessary. + +The trade in pepper was almost the only one in which Qualla Battoo +engaged. Captain Endicott, his second mate and four seamen were on +shore at the trading station, a little way up the river, superintending +the weighing of the pepper. The first mate and the rest of the crew +waited on the vessel to receive and stow away the cargo. The work had +hardly begun when a suspicious proceeding caught the eye of Captain +Endicott. + +The first boat, after receiving its load, passed the short distance +necessary down the river to the sea, where, instead of rowing directly +out to the ship, it turned up the coast and took on board more men. The +Captain concluded the crew needed this additional help to work their way +through the heavy surf. But, not wholly satisfied, he told two of his +men to go nearer the shore, keep their eyes on the boat and report to +him anything that looked wrong. + +Captain Endicott, from his position, was unable to catch the full +significance of the first action of the natives in charge of the +outgoing boat, for, instead of taking on board more help, the whole +unarmed party stepped ashore and twice as many fully armed warriors took +their places. They carefully concealed their weapons and the Americans +on the vessel made the same mistake as their captain in believing they +were merely the additions necessary to help work the craft through the +surf. + +They tied fast to the gangway and most of them climbed over the side +with their daggers hidden in their clothing. The mate would have stopped +them, but they pretended not to understand his words and acted as if +interested in the appearance of the guns and rigging. Their conduct was +so natural that the mate and his men gave their whole attention to +taking the pepper on board and stowing it away. The mate was absorbed in +his work, when suddenly several Malays sprang with lightning-like +quickness at him and buried their daggers in his back. He turned and +attempted to defend himself, but was quickly despatched. Five men rushed +to the help of the mate, but they were unarmed and outnumbered four to +one. Two were quickly killed and three made prisoners. The other four +seamen sprang overboard and swam for land. They saw that the beach was +lined with warriors waiting for them. Accordingly they turned to one +side and swam several miles to a promontory, where they were safe for +the time. + +Seeing that their friends had gained possession of the ship, several +boatloads of natives rowed out to it, took possession, plundered and +then tried to run it ashore, that they might break out the metal work at +their leisure. + +Meanwhile the two seamen stationed near shore by the captain saw what +had taken place and ran back to him with the alarming news. He instantly +ordered all into the second boat and hurried down the river, hoping to +reach the vessel in time to recapture it. The boat was pursued by the +natives along the bank, but it managed to reach the mouth of the river, +where it would have perished in the surf but for the help of a friendly +member of an adjoining tribe, who sprang from his armed coasting +schooner and swam to their assistance. He helped them through the surf, +and, when confronted by the native armed boats, made such threats and +flourishes with his sword (none of the Americans being armed) that he +kept the miscreants at bay and the white men succeeded in reaching the +open sea. + +Seeing that it would be sure death to go to the vessel, the boat was +rowed to a small town about twenty miles distant, where the occupants +found three American merchant vessels. The officers and crews were +enraged upon learning what had taken place, and, although it was night, +they made sail at once for Qualla Battoo, reaching it next day. In reply +to the demand that the _Friendship_ should be returned, the insolent +Rajah told them to take her if they could. The three ships moved as +close to shore as was safe and opened fire with such guns as they had. +All merchant vessels carried some kind of armament against pirates in +that part of the world. Impatient with the delay involved in recapturing +the _Friendship_, by attacking at long range, as it may be called, three +boats were filled with armed men who rowed straight for the vessel. It +was swarming with armed natives, who kept up a vicious but ill directed +fire, the result of which was the sailors rowed the faster, eager to get +close enough to punish the miscreants for their murderous work. + +When they were almost to the ship the Malays sprang overboard and swam +frantically for land. Captain Endicott regained possession of his +vessel, and, upon examination, found it had been rifled from stem to +stern. Among the plunder taken away was $12,000 in specie. Altogether +the loss was $40,000 to the owners of the ship and the captain was +compelled to give up his voyage and return home. + +It took a long time for news to travel in those days, but it finally +reached the United States, where Andrew Jackson happened to be +President. He immediately ordered the 44-gun frigate _Potomac_ to that +out of the way corner of the world, with instructions to punish the +guilty parties concerned in the outrage. Captain Downes lost no time in +getting under way and arrived off Qualla Battoo in February, 1832, just +a year after the treacherous attack upon the _Friendship_. + +Anxious to prevent his errand becoming known so that he might surprise +the Malays, Captain Downes disguised his ship as a merchantman, closing +his ports and taking every precaution possible. He displayed the Danish +colors, still maintaining the guise of a merchantman, and sent a boat's +crew to take soundings along shore. The natives on the beach displayed +so hostile a disposition that no landing was made, and, having gained +the necessary information, the boat returned to the frigate. Captain +Downes then informed them that the expedition would leave the ship at +midnight. + +A strong armed force in several boats secretly rowed to land at the time +named, but day was approaching when they reached the beach, where the +men landed under the guidance of the former second mate of the +_Friendship_ and started inland. One division turned to the left to +attack the fort at the northern end of the town. The Malays received +them with a brisk discharge of cannon, muskets, javelins and arrows. +But, returning the fire, the Americans burst open the gate of the +stockade, fought hand to hand with the fierce Malays and drove them out +of the open space into the citadel. There they were attacked with the +same impetuosity, but they fought like tigers, and it was not until +twelve had been killed and a great many wounded that they were overcome. +The Rajah in command, after a desperate defence in which he wounded +several Americans, was finally despatched. + +In the meantime the fort in the middle of the town had been attacked by +the other division and carried after a bloody fight in which a marine +was killed and a number wounded. But the strongest fort of all stood on +the bank of the river near the beach. There the Rajah of Qualla Battoo, +who was the real author of the attack on the _Friendship_, had gathered +a large force of his best warriors and announced that he would fight to +the death. + +The strength of the force which marched against the fort was eighty-five +men. One of the officers who took part in this attack said: "The natives +were brave and fought with a fierceness bordering on desperation. They +would not yield while a drop of their savage blood warmed their bosoms +or while they had strength to wield a weapon, fighting with that +undaunted firmness which is the characteristic of bold and determined +spirits and displaying such an utter carelessness of life as would have +been honored in a better cause. Instances of the bravery of these +people were numerous, so much so that were I to give the detail of each +event my description would probably become tiresome." + +The barricades stoutly resisted the fire. Leaving a force to engage the +fort in front, Lieutenant Shubrick led a body of sailors through the +woods to the rear with the 6-pounder which had been brought from the +frigate. When they reached their position they came upon three heavily +armed schooners, swarming with warriors, awaiting a chance to take part +in the fight. Shubrick promptly opened upon them with his cannon, +followed by a destructive fire of musketry, which sent the Malays +leaping overboard and into the woods. They succeeded, however, in +warping one of the schooners beyond range. + +The Americans now being at the front and rear of the fort, a +simultaneous attack was made. The gate was wrenched from its fastenings, +but the first American who tried to enter was killed and three others +badly wounded. Undaunted the remainder of the assailants rushed through +and drove the defenders to a high platform, where they made their final +stand. The other stockade was in flames, which were burning so fast that +the Americans themselves were in danger from them. The little cannon was +brought into play from a neighboring elevation and poured canister and +grape into the Malays. Meanwhile the Americans, who had performed their +part so well, came up and joined in the attack on the main fort. The +Malays, still fighting, shrieked out their defiant cries. In the ardor +of the assault the little cannon was too heavily loaded and dismounted. +Amid the wild confusion the flames of the second fort reached the +magazine and the whole structure blew up with a tremendous explosion. + +The cannon being useless, Lieutenant Shubrick ordered a general assault +upon the citadel, and it was made with a resistless rush. The men +scrambled upon the platform, in the face of the swarthy wild cats, and +despatched them in a whirlwind fashion. The work being apparently +completed, the bugle was sounded for retreat and the Americans returned +to the beach. On the way they were fired upon by another fort for which +they had searched without being able to find it. Returning the fire, the +Americans charged through the jungle and after another desperate fight +it was captured, most of the garrison slain and the remainder sent +scurrying through the woods. + +The roll call revealed that two Americans had been killed and eleven +wounded. All were gently lifted into the boats and carried to the ship. +A moderate estimate made 100 of the Malays killed and fully double the +number wounded. + +Captain Downes now brought his long 32-pounders to bear and opened a +bombardment of Qualla Battoo which spread destruction and death among +the natives. Many were killed and others sent scurrying in terror to the +jungle. Toward the close of the day white flags were displayed and the +firing ceased. Immediately after a boat was sent out by the remaining +rajahs, with a white flag fluttering at the bow. On coming aboard the +messengers were presented to Captain Downes and they humbly prayed that +he would stop the firing of his big guns, which were killing all their +people. He promised to do so on their pledge never again to molest an +American. He assured them that if they ever did his country would send +larger and more terrible ships across the ocean that would lay their +towns in ashes and slay hundreds of their men. The subsequent history of +that quarter of the world leaves no doubt that the impressive warning of +Captain Downes produced the best of results, for Sumatra has never +required any further attention from our navy. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +Wilkes's Exploring Expedition. + + +Perhaps my young readers have wondered over the same fact that used to +puzzle me when a boy. While the civilized world was interested, as it +has been for hundreds of years, in trying to reach the Pole, and the +nations were constantly sending expeditions to search for it, to be +followed by others to hunt for the expeditions and then by others to +look up those that were hunting for the others and so on, all these +efforts were confined to the North Pole. Everybody seemed to have +forgotten that there is also a South Pole, which is not a mile further +from the equator than the North Pole. + +Of course there was good reason for all this. There is a great deal of +land in the north, while the unbroken ocean seas stretch away from the +South Pole for hundreds and thousands of miles in every direction and +the prodigious masses and mountains of ice make it impossible to get +anywhere near it. Our daring explorers are continually edging further +north, and doubtless within a few years the Pole will be reached, but +there appears no prospect of the South Pole being seen for many a year +to come. + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN CHARLES WILKES.] + +Lieutenant Charles Wilkes was born in 1798 and died in 1877. He entered +the American navy at an early age and in 1838 was made commander of the +squadron which spent four years in sailing through the Pacific, along +its American coasts and in the Antarctic regions. + +Before giving an account of this memorable scientific expedition, let me +add a little more information concerning this distinguished naval +officer, since this is the only chapter which contains any reference to +him. He was made a captain in 1855. In the month of November, 1861, +while in command of the steamer _San Jacinto_, he stopped the British +ship _Trent_ and forcibly took off the two Confederate commissioners, +Mason and Slidell, who were on their way respectively to England and +France to secure their aid for the Southern Confederacy. + +Captain Wilkes was highly applauded for his act by his countrymen, but +England was very indignant. It was an illegal proceeding on his part, +since the deck of a ship is the same as the soil of the country whose +flag she flies. Our Government was compelled to disavow his action and +restore the commissioners to English custody. + +In the War for the Union Captain Wilkes commanded the James River +squadron, was made commodore in 1862 and was retired in 1864 and made +rear-admiral on the retired list. + +[Illustration: THE "SAN JACINTO" STOPPING THE "TRENT."] + +The scientific expedition of which Lieutenant Wilkes was given command +was intended, to quote the words of Congress, "for the purpose of +exploring and surveying the southern ocean, as well to determine the +existence of all doubtful islands and shoals as to discover and +accurately fix the position of those which lie in or near the track of +our vessels in that quarter and may have escaped the observation of +scientific navigators." + +Lieutenant Wilkes sailed from Hampton Roads on the 19th of August, 1838, +his flagship being the 18-gun sloop-of-war _Vincennes_, the 18-gun +sloop-of-war _Peacock_, the 12-gun brig-of-war _Porpoise_, the storeship +_Relief_, the tender _Sea Gull_ and the tender _Flying Fish_. Since one +of the main objects was scientific research, the expedition was provided +with a philologist, naturalists, conchologists, mineralogist, botanist, +draughtsmen and a horticulturist. + +A halt for a week was made at the Madeira Islands, when the ships headed +southward, reaching Rio Janeiro late in November. In January, 1839, they +halted at Orange Harbor, Terra del Fuego, and made it their base of +operations. On the 25th of February Lieutenant Wilkes, in the +_Porpoise_, accompanied by the _Sea Gull_, started for the South Pole. +On the 1st of March considerable ice and snow were encountered and an +island sighted, but the men could not land because of the surf. The next +day the Ashland Islands were discovered and soon after the two vessels +reached Palmersland. The following is the account of Lieutenant Wilkes: + +"It was a day of great excitement to all, for we had ice of all kinds to +encounter, from the iceberg of huge quadrangular shape, with its +stratified appearance, to the sunken and deceptive masses that were +difficult to perceive before they were under the bow. I have rarely seen +a finer sight. The sea was literally studded with these beautiful +masses, some of pure white, others showing all shades of the opal, +others emerald green and occasionally, here and there, some of deep +black. Our situation was critical, but the weather favored us for a few +hours. On clearing these dangers we kept off to the south and west under +all sail, and at 9 P.M. we counted eight large islands. Afterward the +weather became so thick with mist and fog as to render it necessary to +lie to till daylight, before which time we had a heavy snowstorm. A +strong gale now set in from the southwest; the deck of the brig was +covered with ice and snow and the weather became exceedingly damp and +cold. The men were suffering not only from want of sufficient room but +from the inadequacy of the clothing." + +Naturally the further south they penetrated the greater became their +danger from the increasing fields of ice and icebergs. The _Peacock_ and +_Flying Fish_ left Orange Harbor on the same day with the _Porpoise_ and +_Sea Gull_. They were separated by a gale and the _Peacock_ was +continually beset by icebergs. Every rope and the deck, spars and +rigging were thickly coated with ice. Some days later the _Flying Fish_ +was met and she reported that she had penetrated to the parallel of 70 +degrees. There was imminent danger of being frozen in, and, as they were +short of provisions, they sailed northward. The _Flying Fish_ reached +Orange Harbor in April, while the _Peacock_ continued on to Valparaiso, +where the storeship _Relief_ was found. In May the other members of the +squadron arrived at the port, with the exception of the _Sea Gull_, +which was never heard of again. + +The squadron now crossed the Pacific, reaching Sydney, New South Wales, +in the latter part of November. There, after consulting with his +officers, Lieutenant Wilkes decided to make another Antarctic cruise. +The _Flying Fish_ proved so unseaworthy that, after passing through a +violent storm, she was obliged to return to port and took no further +part in the enterprise. + +Once more among the ice fields, the ships were menaced by danger from +every side. Some of the escapes were of the most thrilling nature. One +of the ships barely missed being crushed by hundreds of tons of ice +which fell from the top of an overhanging iceberg. The weather was +intensely cold and the snow and fine sleet which were whirled +horizontally through the air cut the face like bird shot. + +The _Vincennes_ prowled along the edge of the Antarctic Continent as far +as 97 degrees east, when Lieutenant Wilkes headed northward and arrived +at Sydney in March, 1840, and found the _Peacock_ at anchor. The +_Porpoise_ reached 100 degrees east and 64 degrees 65 minutes south when +she turned her prow away from the inhospitable solitude and in March +arrived at Auckland Isle. + +The following summer was spent in exploring the islands of the Southern +Archipelago. A party was engaged in a launch and cutter, when a tempest +compelled them to run into a bay of the Fiji group for shelter. While +working its way back the cutter ran upon a reef and was attacked by the +natives. The ammunition of the Americans was wet and they abandoned the +cutter and returned to the _Vincennes_. + +Since these natives needed a lesson, Lieutenant Wilkes landed a force +and burned the native village. A few days later an exploring party was +again attacked while trying to trade with the natives. The men were +forced to retreat to their boats, under a hot fire, many of the savages +using muskets with no little skill. Reinforcements were landed and the +savages put to flight, but in the fighting Midshipman Underwood and +Henry Wilkes were mortally hurt and a seaman dangerously wounded. + +Matters had now assumed so serious a shape that a detachment of seventy +officers and men landed at another point on the island and marched upon +the nearest village, laying waste the crops as they advanced. When the +village was reached it was found to be defended by a strong stockade, +with a trench inside, from which the crouching natives could fire +through loopholes, while outside of the stockade was a deep ditch of +water. Feeling their position impregnable, the savages flourished their +weapons and uttered tantalizing whoops at the white men. The whoops +quickly changed when the cabins within the stockade were set on fire by +a rocket. The natives fled, leaving the village to be burned to ashes. +The Americans pushed hostilities so aggressively that on the following +day the islanders sued for peace. + +The squadron next sailed to the Hawaiian Islands, where several months +were spent in exploration. Then the coast of Oregon was visited and the +_Peacock_ suffered wreck at the mouth of the Columbia. Doubling the Cape +of Good Hope, the expedition reached New York in June, 1842, having been +gone nearly four years and having sailed more than 30,000 miles. + + + + +THE WAR FOR THE UNION. + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +A New Era for the United States Navy--Opening of the Great Civil +War--John Lorimer Worden--Battle Between the _Monitor_ and +_Merrimac_--Death of Worden. + + +The War for the Union ushered in a new era for the American navy. Steam +navigation had been fully established some years before. As all my +readers no doubt know, the first successful steamboat in this country +was the _Clermont_, made by Robert Fulton, which ascended the Hudson in +the summer of 1807. The average speed of the pioneer boat was about five +miles an hour, so that the trip occupied more than thirty hours. This +great invention was a novelty, and, like many others of a similar +nature, it required considerable time for it to come into use. The first +western steamboat was built at Pittsburg in 1811. It gave an impetus to +river navigation by steam, and before long the boats were ploughing the +principal streams of the country. The first steamer to cross the +Atlantic was the _Savannah_, which made the voyage in 1819, but ocean +navigation was not fairly begun until 1838, when the _Sirius_ and _Great +Western_ made the voyage from England to the United States. It is a +noteworthy fact that one of the greatest of English scientists, after +demonstrating that ocean navigation by steam was impossible, was a +passenger on the _Great Western_ on her first trip across the Atlantic. + +When the great Civil War burst upon the country the National Government +not only failed to comprehend the gigantic nature of the struggle, but +was almost wholly unprepared for it. The navy consisted of 90 vessels, +of which only 42 were in commission, while 21 were unfit for service, +and of those in commission there were but 11, carrying 134 guns, that +were in American waters. The remainder were scattered over the waters of +the globe, such being the policy of President Buchanan's Secretary of +the Navy, who, like the Secretary of War and other members of the +Presidential Cabinet, were secessionists who did all they could to pave +the way for the establishment of the Southern Confederacy. + +On the authority of Maclay, the total number of officers of all grades +in the navy on August 1, 1861, was 1,457, in addition to whom an immense +volunteer force was called for and 7,500 volunteer officers were +enrolled before the close of the war. Three hundred and twenty-two +officers resigned from the United States navy and entered that of the +seceding States, of which 243 were officers of the line. The 7,600 +sailors in the navy at the opening of the war was increased to 51,500 +before the close of hostilities. + +In a work of this nature the difficulty is to select the most striking +and interesting incidents from the scores that formed a part of the War +for the Union. One of the many heroes who was brought into prominence +was John Lorimer Worden, who was born in Dutchess County, N.Y., March +12, 1818. He entered the navy when sixteen years old and became a +lieutenant in 1840. His services in the Mexican War were unimportant and +he was a first lieutenant of the Brooklyn Navy Yard when the Civil War +broke out. + +In the month of April, 1861, when a conflict was inevitable, the +Government was anxious to send dispatches to Captain Adams commanding +the fleet at Pensacola, who was waiting for orders to reinforce with two +companies of artillery, that post being in danger of capture by the +Confederates. The dispatches intrusted to Lieutenant Worden were orders +for such reinforcements to be made. + +It was so delicate and dangerous a duty, since Worden was compelled to +make his way through the South which was aflame with secession +excitement, that he committed the dispatches to memory and then +destroyed them. He applied to General Bragg in command of the +Confederate forces in that neighborhood for permission to make a verbal +communication from the Secretary of War to Captain Adams. Permission was +given, and, going on board, Worden delivered his message like a boy +reciting his piece at school. Captain Adams gave him a written +acknowledgment of the receipt of the dispatches, adding that the orders +of the Government would be carried out. + +Having thus cleverly eluded the suspicious watchfulness of the +authorities, Lieutenant Worden started for home, but when near +Montgomery, Ala., then the capital of the Confederacy, he was arrested, +taken from the train and thrown into prison. This was on the order of +General Bragg, who discovered how he had been outwitted, and the prompt +reinforcement prevented the capture of Fort Pickens, for which Bragg had +made every preparation. The post was held by the Unionists throughout +the war and was the only one south of Mason and Dixon's line so held. + +Lieutenant Worden was kept a prisoner until the 13th of the following +November, when, his health having broken down, he was exchanged and sent +North. There he remained, slowly regaining his strength until March, +1862, when it fell to his lot to become a leading actor in one of the +most famous naval engagements in all history. + +When war had fully begun the Union forces in charge of the Norfolk Navy +Yard saw they were not strong enough to prevent its capture by the +Confederates, who were arming for that purpose. They therefore set fire +to the numerous and valuable shipping there. Among the vessels scuttled +and sunk was the steam frigate _Merrimac_, at that time the finest +vessel in the service. In truth, she went down so quickly that very +little damage was done to her. The Confederates raised her, fastened a +huge iron snout or prow at the front, cut down her deck and encased her +with railroad iron, which sloped at an angle of forty-five degrees, and +was smeared on the outside with grease and tallow. Her enormous weight +made her draw more than twenty feet of water and when she was moving +slowly through the bay or river her appearance suggested the mansard +roof of a vast house. From what has been said it will be noted that the +_Merrimac_ was a genuine ironclad, something which had never been heard +of before. + +[Illustration: BLOCKADE RUNNER--THE "MONITOR"--CAPTAIN ERICSSON.] + +Regular news of the building of the _Merrimac_ (called the _Virginia_ by +the Confederates) was telegraphed to Washington by friends of the +Government. The authorities felt some uneasiness, but were far from +suspecting the terrible power for destructiveness possessed by the +monster. Captain Ericsson, the famous Swedish inventor, was constructing +on Long Island an ironclad about one-fourth the size of the _Merrimac_, +and he was urged to all possible speed in its completion. He kept his +men busy night and day and had it finished a day or two before the +completion of the _Merrimac_. + +The _Merrimac_ carried ten guns, which fired shells and had a crew of +300 men, under the command of Commodore Franklin Buchanan, a former +officer of the United States navy. Late in the forenoon of March 8, +1862, a column of black smoke rising over the Norfolk Navy Yard gave +notice that the _Merrimac_ had started out at last on her mission of +destruction and death. As the enormous craft forged into sight it was +seen that she was accompanied by three gunboats ready to give what help +they could. + +Five Union vessels were awaiting her in Hampton Roads. They were the +steam frigates _Minnesota_ and _Roanoke_ and the sailing frigates +_Congress_, _Cumberland_ and _St. Lawrence_, all of which immediately +cleared for action. Turning her frightful front toward the _Cumberland_, +the _Merrimac_ swept down upon her in grim and awful majesty. The +_Cumberland_ let fly with her terrific broadsides, which were powerful +enough to sink the largest ship afloat, but the tons of metal hurled +with inconceivable force skipped off the greased sides of the iron roof +and scooted away for hundreds of yards through the startled air. + +The prodigious broadsides were launched again and again, but produced no +more effect than so many paper wads from a popgun. The iron prow of the +_Merrimac_ crashed through the wooden walls of the _Cumberland_ as if +they were cardboard, and, while her crew were still heroically working +their guns, the _Cumberland_ went down, with the red flag, meaning "no +surrender," flying from her peak. Lieutenant Morris succeeded in saving +himself, but 121 were lost out of the crew of 376. + +Having destroyed the _Cumberland_, the _Merrimac_ now made for the +_Congress_, which had been vainly pelting her with her broadsides. The +_Congress_ was aground and so completely at the mercy of the _Merrimac_, +which raked her fore and aft, that every man would have been killed had +not the sign of surrender been displayed. As it was, her commander and +100 of the crew were slain by the irresistible fire of the tremendous +ironclad. + +By this time the fearful spring afternoon was drawing to a close and +the _Merrimac_ labored heavily back to Sewall's Point, intending to +return on the morrow and continue her work of destruction. + +The news of what the _Merrimac_ had done was telegraphed throughout the +South and North. In the former it caused wild rejoicing and raised hope +that before the resistless might of the new ironclad the North would be +compelled to make terms and save her leading seacoast cities from +annihilation by acknowledging the Southern Confederacy. The national +authorities were thrown into consternation. At a special meeting of the +President's Cabinet Secretary of War Stanton expressed his belief that +the _Merrimac_ would appear in front of Washington and compel the +authorities to choose between surrender and destruction, and that the +principal seaports would be laid under contribution. + +But at that very time the hastily completed _Monitor_ was speeding +southward under the command of Lieutenant Worden, who had risen from a +sick bed to assume the duty which no one else was willing to undertake. +Her crew numbered 16 officers and 42 men, with Lieutenant S. Dana Green +as executive officer. Her voyage to Hampton Roads was difficult and of +the most trying nature to the officers and crew, who were nearly +smothered by gas. The boat would have foundered had not the weather been +unusually favorable, but she reached Hampton Roads on the night of March +8 and took a position beside the _Minnesota_, ready and eager for the +terrific fray of the morrow. The _Monitor_ carried two 11-inch Dahlgren +guns and fired solid shot. + +[Illustration: THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE "MERRIMAC" AND "MONITOR."] + +When the _Merrimac_ steamed back the _Monitor_ moved out from her +position and boldly advanced to meet her. The huge monster and smaller +craft, whose appearance suggested the apt comparison of a cheese box on +a raft, silently drew near each other until within a hundred yards, when +the smaller opened with a shot to which the larger replied. The battle +was now between two ironclads. If the shots of the _Monitor_ glanced +harmlessly off of the _Merrimac_ those of the latter were equally +ineffective against the _Monitor_. The latter had the advantage of being +so much smaller that many of the shells of the _Merrimac_ missed her +altogether. Those which impinged against the pilot house or turret did +no harm, while the lesser boat was able to dart here and there at will, +dodging the _Merrimac_ and ramming her when she chose, though such +tactics accomplished nothing. All attempts to run down the _Monitor_ +were vain. The novel battle continued for four hours, when the +_Merrimac_, unable to defeat her nimble antagonist, steamed back to +Norfolk and the strange contest--the first between ironclads--was over. + +The _Monitor_ had proven her inestimable value and was held in reserve +by the Government for future emergencies. But the first battle between +the two proved the last. Some months later, when the Union troops +advanced upon Norfolk, the _Merrimac_ was blown up to prevent her +falling into the hands of the Federals, while at the close of the year +the _Monitor_ foundered in a gale off Cape Hatteras. + +This fight marked an era in the history of naval warfare. The days of +wooden vessels were numbered. All nations saw that their warships to be +effective must be ironclad, and the reader does not need to be reminded +that such is the fact to-day respecting the navy of every civilized +nation. + +During this memorable fight a shell from the _Merrimac_ lifted the iron +plate of the pilot house of the _Monitor_ and disabled Lieutenant Worden +by driving the fragments into his face, while he was peering out of the +peep-hole. He was compelled to give way to Lieutenant Green, who handled +the little ironclad throughout the remainder of the fight. + +Lieutenant Worden never fully recovered from the injuries received in +his fight with the _Merrimac_. As soon as he was able to take an active +command he asked the privilege of doing so. In charge of the _Montauk_, +of the South Atlantic blockading squadron, he destroyed, while under a +heavy fire, the Confederate steamer _Nashville_ and participated in the +unsuccessful attack upon Charleston. He received the thanks of Congress +and was promoted to be a commander for his services with the _Monitor_. +From 1870 to 1874 he was superintendent of the Naval Academy at +Annapolis, becoming commodore in 1868, rear admiral in 1872 and was +retired in 1886. It was said that he never was without pain from the +injuries received in the battle with the _Merrimac_ until his death, +October 18, 1897. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +Two Worthy Sons--William D. Porter--The Career of Admiral David Dixon +Porter. + + +The reader will not forget the exploits of Captain David Porter, in +command of the _Essex_ in the War of 1812. Contrary to the rule that +great men never have great sons, Captain Porter left two boys who +possessed the same remarkable qualities as himself and one of whom +became more famous than his gallant father. + +The eldest of his sons was William D., who was born in New Orleans in +1809, but was educated in the North and was appointed to the navy when +fourteen years old. He was placed in command of a cumbrous ironclad +constructed from a ferryboat at the beginning of the war and named the +_Essex_, in honor of the famous cruiser with which his father played +havoc with the shipping of Great Britain in the Pacific. In the attack +on Fort Henry, in February, 1862, the _Essex_, while doing effective +service, had her boiler pierced by a shot from the enemy, with appalling +consequences. Porter was scalded and knocked senseless and twenty-nine +officers and men were disabled or killed by the escaping steam. + +Later, when he had fully recovered, he was placed in command of the +_Essex_, which was repaired and greatly improved. The Confederates had +completed a more terrible ironclad than the _Merrimac_, which they named +the _Arkansas_. Manned by brave officers and crew, it came down the +Yazoo into the Mississippi, and, secure in her fancied invulnerability, +challenged the whole Union fleet which was assisting in the siege of +Vicksburg. In the furious engagement that followed Captain Porter, with +the _Essex_, succeeded in destroying the ironclad. He rendered his +country other valuable service, but his health gave way, and, while in +the East for medical attendance, he died in the City of New York at the +age of fifty-three. + +The more famous son of Captain Porter was David Dixon, who was born in +Chester, Pa., in 1813. He entered Columbia College, Washington, when +only eleven years old, but left it in 1824 to accompany his father on +his cruise in the West Indies to break up piracy in those waters. When, +two years later, Captain Porter entered the Mexican navy he appointed +his son a midshipman. He acquitted himself gallantly in more than one +fight with the Spanish cruisers. While still a mere boy he was made a +midshipman in the United States navy. As a lieutenant he saw plenty of +active service in the war with Mexico, and, at the beginning of the +Civil War, was one of our most trusted officers. In command of the +_Powhatan_ he covered the landing of the reinforcements for Fort Pickens +just in time to save its capture by Confederates. + +[Illustration: DAVID DIXON PORTER.] + +One of the most important captures of the war was that of New Orleans, +in the spring of 1862. The naval forces were under the command of +Admiral Farragut, while Commander Porter had charge of the mortar fleet. +The principal defences below the city were Forts Jackson and St. Philip. +In approaching them Porter had his ships dressed out with leaves and +branches of trees, the clever disguise proving an effectual protection +from a very destructive fire. + +The furious bombardment lasted for several days and nights. The river +was spanned by a boom of logs, which it was necessary to break through +that the vessels might reach the city above. This was done, Porter +protecting the expedition which effected it. When the situation of the +forts became hopeless his demand for their surrender was accepted and an +officer came on board under a flag of truce to complete the +negotiations. + +While Porter and his visitor were conversing an officer came forward +with the information that the immense floating battery _Louisiana_, of +four thousand tons burden and carrying sixteen heavy guns, had been set +on fire, as Admiral Cervera did with his ships a generation later, when +his escape was cut off from Santiago. + +"Such an act is anything but creditable to you," remarked Porter, +addressing the Confederate commander. + +"I am not responsible for the acts of the naval officers," replied the +visitor. + +The explanation was reasonable, and without any excitement, Commander +Porter renewed the conversation respecting the surrender, but a few +minutes later the officer again approached. + +"The ropes which held the floating battery to the bank have been burned +and she is drifting down stream toward us." + +"Are her guns loaded and is there much ammunition aboard?" asked Porter +of the Confederate commander. + +"I suppose the guns are loaded, but I know nothing about naval matters +here," was the reply. + +Just then the heated cannon began firing their huge charges, which, +though without aim, were likely to do injury to the Union vessels toward +which the battery was floating. Besides, the magazine was stored with +powder and the impending explosion could not fail to be disastrous. + +"If you do not mind it," said Porter, addressing the visitor, "we will +continue our negotiations." + +In referring to this incident, the Admiral said: + +"A good Providence, which directs the most important events, sent the +battery off toward Fort St. Philip, and, as it came abreast of that +formidable fort, it blew up with a force which scattered the fragments +in all directions, killing one of their own men in the fort, and when +the smoke cleared off it was nowhere to be seen, having sunk immediately +in the deep water of the Mississippi. The explosion was terrific and was +seen and heard for many miles up and down the river. Had it occurred +near the vessels, it would have destroyed every one of them." + +[Illustration: GUN AND MORTAR BOATS ON THE MISSISSIPPI.] + +After the fall of New Orleans Porter was sent to Ship Island to await +the attack that was in contemplation upon New Orleans. He was recalled +by Admiral Farragut to aid him in the siege of Vicksburg. In passing the +batteries Porter had three of his vessels disabled and twenty-nine men +killed and wounded. The capture of that last Confederate stronghold on +the Mississippi was a severe and tedious task, but General Grant, with +that bulldog tenacity for which he was famous, held on until the 4th +of July, 1863, when General Pemberton, the Confederate commander, +surrendered his whole garrison of more than 20,000 men. In thus opening +the Mississippi all the way to the Gulf the navy rendered invaluable +assistance. Porter's aid was so important and his conduct so gallant +that he received the thanks of Congress and was created a full rear +admiral, his commission dating from July 4, 1863. In a public dispatch +the Secretary of the Navy said, addressing Admiral Porter: "To yourself, +your officers and the brave and gallant sailors who have been so fertile +in resources, so persistent and so daring under all circumstances, I +tender, in the name of the President, the thanks and congratulations of +the whole country on the fall of Vicksburg." + +One of the most disastrous expeditions of the Civil War was that which +was undertaken by General N.P. Banks, in the spring of 1864. His +ostensible purpose was to complete the conquest of Texas and Louisiana, +but there is good reason to believe that the famous Red River expedition +was little more than a huge cotton speculation. Immense quantities were +stored along the river and could it have been secured would have been +worth many hundred thousand dollars to the captors. The charge has been +made, with apparent reason, that several Confederate leaders were +concerned in the "deal," seeing as they did, that the end of the +Confederacy was at hand. The trouble, however, was that other +Confederates like General Dick Taylor did all they could to defeat the +purpose of General Banks and they succeeded to perfection. + +The Union commander had an army of 30,000 men with which he began the +ascent of the Red River. He captured Fort de Russy March 14 and then +marched against Shreveport. His forces were strewn along for miles, with +no thought of danger, when at Sabine Cross Roads they were furiously +attacked by General Dick Taylor and routed as utterly as was the first +advance upon Manassas in July, 1861. The demoralized men were rallied at +Pleasant Hill, where they were again attacked and routed by Taylor. +Banks succeeded at last in reaching New Orleans, where he was relieved +of his command. + +When Porter had waited a short time at the appointed place of meeting +for Banks's army a messenger reached him with news of that General's +defeat and his hurried retreat. Porter saw that it would not do for him +to delay an hour. He had had great difficulty in getting his fifty +vessels up the narrow stream, whose current was falling so rapidly that +it already appeared impossible to get the fleet past the snags and +shoals to the point of safety two hundred miles below. + +Improving every moment and under a continual fire from the shore, Porter +managed to descend something more than half way down the river to Grand +Ecore, where he found Banks and his demoralized army. Porter advised the +commander to remain where he was until the spring rains would enable the +fleet to ascend the river again, but Banks was too frightened to do +anything but retreat, and he kept it up until he arrived at New Orleans. + +The river fell so rapidly that all the fleet would have been stranded +above the falls but for the genius of Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Bailey, +of Wisconsin, a military engineer who accompanied Banks's expedition. +Under his direction several thousand men were set to work, and, at the +end of twelve days, they had constructed a series of wing dams, through +which the vessels were safely floated into the deeper water below the +falls. This accomplished their deliverance from what otherwise would +have been certain destruction. Porter pronounced the exploit of Bailey +the greatest engineering feat of the whole war. One of the Admiral's +most pleasing traits was his appreciation of the services of his +assistants. He complimented Bailey in glowing terms in his official +report, secured his promotion to brigadier-general and presented him +with a sword which cost nearly a thousand dollars. + +[Illustration: BREAKING THROUGH THE DAMS ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.] + +Porter was now transferred to the North Atlantic Squadron and commanded +the powerful naval contingents in the two attacks on Fort Fisher, +December, 1864, and January, 1865. In the latter Porter and General +Terry succeeded in capturing the last important sea fortress belonging +to the Confederates. Porter was promoted to be vice-admiral in 1866 and +admiral in 1870. He was superintendent of the naval academy until 1869, +and died in Washington, February 13, 1891, one day before the death of +General Sherman. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +Charles Stuart Boggs--His Coolness in the Presence of Danger--His +Desperate Fight Below New Orleans--His Subsequent Services. + + +When the gallant Lawrence, mortally wounded on the _Chesapeake_, was +dying, he called out in his delirium, "Don't give up the ship!" thus +furnishing a motto that has served times without number for the American +navy. Among the mourning relatives left by Lawrence was a married +sister, Mrs. Boggs, who lived in New Brunswick, N.J., where a son was +born to her in January, 1811, and named Charles Stuart. + +It was probably the admiration formed for his heroic uncle which led the +boy to determine to follow in his footsteps, for he was appointed a +midshipman when fifteen years old, and saw active service in the +Mediterranean against the Greek pirates, to which reference has been +made in a previous chapter. He was made lieutenant in 1833. One of the +most marked traits in young Boggs was his perfect coolness in times of +peril and his instant perception of the best thing to do. The following +incident will illustrate this remarkable power on his part, which was +united to a gentleness of disposition that made one wonder at his daring +and intrepidity. + +During the war with Mexico Lieutenant Boggs was ordered to the steamer +_Princeton_, which took a leading part in the bombardment of the Castle +of St. Juan de Ulloa and of Tampico. The brig _Truxton_ unfortunately +ran aground on the bar of Tuspan River and had to be surrendered to the +Mexicans. The _Princeton_ was ordered to destroy her. Anchoring near the +wreck, a boat was manned and placed in charge of Lieutenant Boggs, to +whom the work of destruction was intrusted. + +The boat had nearly reached the stranded vessel when it was caught in +one of the tropical tempests, which sometimes appear with cyclonic +suddenness in that part of the world. It was impossible to board the +wreck, and equally impossible to get back to the _Princeton_. A powerful +current set in toward shore, in which direction the gale was blowing. +The combined efforts of the sturdy rowers could not check the progress +of the boat, which perhaps would have been the right course to take but +for an alarming discovery. + +On the beach a company of Mexican soldiers were drawn up with a field +piece, making ready to annihilate the little American company, as they +could do without the slightest difficulty before the gallant sailors +could land and make a charge. Here was a dilemma indeed. Nothing could +extricate the boat and its crew from their peril and not a man could +raise a finger to help himself. + +There was only one person who saw the only possible thing to do. +Lieutenant Boggs ordered the single white shirt in the party to be torn +up, tied on the end of a boathook and displayed as a flag of truce. +Then, by his directions, the men rowed with all speed straight for the +enemy, who were thus disarmed of their hostile purpose. Walking up to +the leader of the company, the lieutenant explained that he had been +sent to destroy the _Truxton_, but had been driven ashore against his +will. He hastened to explain to the officer that he had no intention of +attacking the town, but he should do so if any one tried to prevent his +destruction of the stranded vessel. + +When the insignificance of the American party is remembered, there was +something amusing in this; but the Mexican officer not only gave his +promise, but entertained his visitors until the gale was over. Then the +_Truxton_ was fired and Boggs returned to his ship. + +He was on the Pacific coast when the Civil War broke out, serving as +inspector of lighthouses. Chafing under idleness, he petitioned the +Government to give him active employment afloat. His wish was granted +and he was placed in command of the _Varuna_, a passenger steamer, +purchased by the Government and changed into a gunboat. Admiral Farragut +was making his preparations to attack New Orleans, and the _Varuna_ was +added to his fleet. She was a very swift but frail craft, a fact which +led Farragut to grant Boggs' request to be allowed to run ahead of the +position that had been assigned him. + +In order to get up all the steam possible, the pork among the ship's +store was flung into the blazing furnace under the boilers. The craft +went through the water at a tremendous speed, and upon coming opposite +the forts, Boggs fired his starboard battery and then ordered grape and +canister to be used as rapidly as possible. Work had hardly begun when +the Confederate gunboats appeared on every hand. With the same coolness +that he had shown when driven ashore in Mexico, the command was given +for the guns to be fired "on both sides." Indeed, there were so many +targets that it would have been about as difficult to miss as to hit +one. + +[Illustration: ATTACK ON ROANOKE ISLAND--LANDING OF THE TROOPS.] + +The _Varuna_ did terrific work, her gunners displaying fine markmanship. +The formidable craft _Governor Moore_ had detected her in the early +morning light, and steaming after her, fired a shot when only a +hundred yards away, but missed. The _Varuna_ replied, killing and +wounding men on the _Governor Moore_ at every shot. One of the enemy's +shot, however, raked the _Varuna_, killing four men and wounding nine. +Another struck the _Varuna's_ pivot gun and killed and wounded a number +more. Then the _Governor Moore_ rammed the _Varuna_ twice in quick +succession. + +But while the Confederate was doing so, Boggs planted three 8-inch +shells into his antagonist, which set her on fire and compelled her to +drop out of action. Her loss had been heavy and her engines were so +battered that her commander ran her ashore, where she was burned to the +water's edge. + +Out of the misty light burst the _Stonewall Jackson_ and rammed the +_Varuna_ on the port side, repeating the blow with a viciousness that +stove in the vessel below the water line; but the _Varuna_ swung the ram +ahead until her own broadside guns bore, when she planted several 5-inch +shells into the _Stonewall Jackson_, which set her on fire and caused +her to drift ashore. + +But the _Varuna_ had been mortally hurt and was sinking fast. To quote +the words of Commodore Boggs: "In fifteen minutes from the time the +_Varuna_ was struck by the _Stonewall Jackson_, she was on the bottom, +with only her topgallant forecastle out of the water." + +But those were exceedingly lively minutes for the _Varuna_ and the other +craft in her neighborhood. Commander Boggs turned her prow toward shore +and crowded all steam, firing his guns as the water rose about the +trucks. When the last shell left the side of the sinking vessel the +current had reached the mouth of the piece, and some of it was blown out +like mist with the shrieking missile. + +The moment the bow of the _Varuna_ struck the bank a chain cable was +fastened around the trunk of a tree, so as to prevent her from sliding +into deep water as she went down and taking the wounded and dead with +her. This was a precaution which would not have occurred to every man in +the situation of Commander Boggs. + +The daring conduct of this officer brought a tribute from one of our +poets, which contains the stanzas: + +"Who has not heard of the dauntless _Varuna_? + Who shall not hear of the deeds she has done? +Who shall not hear while the brown Mississippi + Rushes along from the snow to the sun? + +"Five of the rebels like satellites round her, + Burned in her orbit of splendor and fear, +One like the Pleiad of mystical story + Shot terror-stricken beyond her dread sphere." + +When Boggs' native city heard of his gallant conduct it voted him a +sword, and the State of New Jersey did the same. He came North and was +appointed to the command of the blockading squadron off Wilmington. He +would have preferred active service, and finally his health broke down +under the exposure and fatigue to which he was subjected, and he was +compelled to return home to recruit. Upon his recovery, he was appointed +to duty in New York, but the war ended without his having another +opportunity to distinguish himself in the service of his country. He +died a few years after the close of hostilities. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +John Ancrum Winslow--His Early Life and Training--The Famous Battle +Between the _Kearsarge_ and _Alabama_. + + +A few weeks ago I had as guests at my house two young men who were +graduates of the West Point Military Academy in 1889. One was my son, at +present an instructor in the Academy, and the other was E. Eveleth +Winslow, of the corps of engineers, who had the honor of being graduated +at the head of his class. During the course of the conversation I asked +Captain Winslow whether he was a relative of the late Commodore John +Ancrum Winslow, commander of the _Kearsarge_ in her famous fight with +the _Alabama_. + +"He was my grandfather," replied my friend, with a glow of pride. + +It was a pleasant bit of information, but it made me realize how the +years are passing. It seems but a short time ago that the country was +electrified by the news of the great battle, off Cherbourg, France, +which sent to the bottom of the ocean the most destructive cruiser the +Southern Confederacy ever launched. And here was the grandson of the +hero of that fight, already thirty years of age, with the hair on his +crown growing scant. _Tempus fugit_ indeed. + +The name Winslow is a distinguished one in the annals of our country, +and especially in Massachusetts, the State from which Captain Winslow +hails. He is the ninth generation from John Winslow, brother of Edward +Winslow, Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, and the founder, as may +be said, of Plymouth Rock itself. John A. Winslow, the subject of this +sketch, however, was a Southerner by birth, being a native of +Wilmington, North Carolina, where he was born November 19, 1811. His +mother belonged to the famous Rhett family of the fiery State of South +Carolina. The father had gone to Wilmington from Boston, to establish a +commercial house, four years before the birth of the son, who was sent +North to be educated. At the age of sixteen he entered the navy, and saw +a good deal of dangerous service in the extirpation of the West Indian +pirates. The exciting experience was exactly to the liking of young +Winslow, whose life more than once was placed in great peril. + +After an extended cruise in the Pacific, he returned east in 1833, and +was promoted to past midshipman. His service was of an unimportant +character for a number of years, the rank of lieutenant coming to him +in 1839. His conduct was so gallant in the war with Mexico that he was +publicly complimented by Commodore Matthew C. Perry, a younger brother +of the Lake Erie hero, and given the choice of vessels belonging to the +fleet. + +A curious incident is mentioned by his biographer. He went with the +division which set out to capture Tampico, but the city surrendered +without a fight upon the approach of the boats. He remained several +weeks and then went back to the fleet at Vera Cruz. One of the vessels +had been capsized in a squall, and the captain was occupying Winslow's +room, and continued to share it until other arrangements could be made. +The name of this visitor was Raphael Semmes, afterward the commander of +the _Alabama_. The history of our navy is full of such strange +occurrences. When the furnace blast of secession swept over the country, +the most intimate friends--in many cases brothers--became the deadliest +of enemies. For a time two flags were flung to the breeze in the United +States, and the men who fought under each were among the bravest of the +brave, for they were all _Americans_. + +In 1855 Winslow was made a commander and was engaged in various duties +until the breaking out of the Civil War. He hurried to Washington and +applied for active service. Captain Foote was busy fitting out a +flotilla at St. Louis, and Winslow was sent to join him. The work +involved great labor and difficulty, and Winslow's aid was invaluable, +although far from congenial. The task of blazing away at the guerrillas +in the bushes and woods along shore, of raking the muddy rivers and +streams for torpedoes, and of managing the awkward, nondescript craft, +was not to the liking of the naval officer, accustomed to the free air +of the deep, blue ocean. Finally his request to be transferred to sea +service was granted, and in the early part of 1863 he was placed in +command of the _Kearsarge_. + +This sloop of war had a crew of 163 men, carried two 11-inch pivot guns, +four short 32-pounders and one rifled 30-pounder, the total shot weight +of the seven guns being 430 pounds. In this place it may be well to give +the statistics of the _Alabama_, since the two vessels were so +intimately associated in history. The Confederate cruiser carried one +100-pounder Blakely gun, one 8-inch shell gun and six long 32-pounders, +the eight guns having a total of 360 pounds shot weight, while the crew +consisted of 149 men, of mixed nationalities, nearly all of them being +Englishmen. + +England at that time was less friendly to the United States than she +has since become, and she gave most unfair help to the Southern +Confederacy by aiding to fit out and man cruisers for it. When the war +was over she was compelled to pay a good round sum for her dishonest +course, and was taught a lesson she is not likely soon to forget. These +cruisers wrought immense havoc among our shipping, and Commander Winslow +was sent into European waters in quest of them. He was specially anxious +to meet the _Florida_, and followed her from the coast of South America +to that of England and France. The governments of those two countries +threw every possible obstacle in his way. The French pilots were +forbidden to serve the _Kearsarge_, and Captain Winslow had to be his +own pilot--something he was well able to do because of his familiarity +with the coasts. + +Finding the _Florida_ in Brest, he blockaded the port. It was in the +depth of winter and the shore was dangerous, but Winslow did his duty so +well that the _Florida_ dared not poke her nose outside, until he was +compelled, because of shortness of provisions, to steam over to Cadiz to +obtain them. He made all haste to return, but when he arrived the +_Florida_ had slipped out and was gone. + +There was no telling to what part of the world she had fled, and Captain +Winslow sailed to Calais, where he learned that the rebel +_Rappahannock_ was awaiting a chance to put to sea. He held her there +for two months, when a French pilot purposely ran the _Kearsarge_ into +the piers along shore. It was done by prearrangement with the officers +of the _Rappahannock_, in order to give the latter a chance to put to +sea. The indignant Winslow drove all the French pilots off his ship, and +by vigorous work got her off by daylight the next morning. Meanwhile the +_Rappahannock_, which had greatly overstayed her time, was ordered by +the French authorities to leave. Winslow heard of this, and, without +waiting for some of his men and officers who were on shore, he moved out +of the harbor. When the commander of the _Rappahannock_ saw the +_Kearsarge_ once more off the port of Calais, he knew it was all up and +dismantled his ship. + +There was one Confederate scourge that had been roaming the seas for +months which Captain Winslow was anxious, above all others, to meet; +that was the _Alabama_, commanded by his former room-mate, Captain +Raphael Semmes. The _Kearsarge_, like many other vessels of the United +States, had been hunting here and there for the ocean pest, but it +seemed impossible to bring her to bay. + +On Sunday morning, June 12, 1864, the _Kearsarge_ was lying off the town +of Flushing, Holland, with many of the officers and men ashore, and +with everything wearing the appearance of a protracted rest for the +crew. Some hours later, however, a gun was fired as a signal for every +member of the ship's company to come aboard at once. The cause of this +sudden awaking was a telegram from Minister William L. Dayton, at Paris, +notifying Captain Winslow that the _Alabama_ had arrived at Cherbourg. +On Tuesday, Winslow appeared off the fort, and saw the cruiser within, +with her Stars and Bars floating defiantly in the breeze. Had Captain +Winslow followed, he would have been compelled by law to remain +twenty-four hours after the departure of the _Alabama_, so he took a +station outside, determined that the cruiser should not escape him +again. + +In this case, however, the precaution was unnecessary, for Semmes had +made up his mind to fight the National vessel. He had been charged with +cowardice in running away from armed ships, and he had destroyed and +captured so many helpless merchantmen that he felt something was due to +retrieve his reputation. A comparison of the crews and armaments of the +_Kearsarge_ and _Alabama_ will show that they were pretty evenly +matched, though the slight numerical superiority of the Union ship was +emphasized by the fact that her men were almost wholly American, while +those of Semmes, as already stated, were nearly all English. + +Shortly after the arrival of Captain Winslow the following challenge was +brought out to him: + + + + Confederate Steamer _Alabama_, + Cherbourg, June 14, 1864. + + Sir:--I hear that you were informed by the United States + Consul that the _Kearsarge_ was to come to this port solely for the + prisoners landed by me, and that she was to depart in twenty-four + hours. I desire you to say to the United States Consul that my + intention is to fight the _Kearsarge_ as soon as I can make the + necessary arrangements. I hope these will not detain me more than + till to-morrow evening, or next morning, at the farthest. I beg she + will not depart before I am ready to go out. + + I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant + + R. Semmes, _Captain_. + + + + + + +This note, though couched in seemingly courteous language, contained the +most aggravating sort of sting, in the hope expressed that the +_Kearsarge_ would not leave until the _Alabama_ was ready to go out, and +the intimation--undoubtedly false--that the sole business of the Union +vessel was to take charge of the prisoners brought thither by the +Confederate. Captain Winslow had not spent months in hunting over the +globe for such a chance as this to let it slip. + +The _Alabama_ was among friends. She had the sympathies of the +thousands, who hoped to see the Yankee ship sunk by the fearful +commerce-destroyer. Excursion trains were run from Paris and other +points to Cherbourg, and among the vast multitude who gathered on shore +on that warm, hazy Sunday morning--June 19--to witness the coming +battle, it may be doubted whether there were a score who wished to see +the _Kearsarge_ win. + +The respective captains were brave men and good officers. Both had +declared that, if they ever met, the battle would not end until one of +the ships went to the bottom, and each knew that the other would keep +his word. Such a thing as surrender was not thought of by either. + +Semmes was confident of his ability to sink the _Kearsarge_. Being a +Roman Catholic, and unable to attend service, he requested a friend to +go to mass and have it offered up for him, which was done. His +accumulated sixty chronometers were sent ashore, and the motto displayed +by his ship was "_Aide toi et Dieu t'aidera_," meaning, "Help yourself +and God will help you," another version of the old adage, "God helps +them that help themselves." + +The church chimes were sending out their mellow notes on the warm summer +air when the _Alabama_ began slowly steaming out of the harbor. She was +cheered by the sympathetic thousands, who heard the drums beating to +quarters, and fervently prayed that their favorite might return +victorious. + +Winslow neglected nothing in the way of preparation. While calmly +confident, his experience had taught him that such a contest is often +decided by a chance shot, and he knew that the doom of one of the ships +would be sealed before the set of sun. Having done all he could, he +committed everything to the God of battles, content to abide by His +will, whatever it might be. + +It was about ten o'clock that Winslow, with his glass pointed toward +shore, saw the head of the _Alabama_ coming round the point of the mole, +some three miles distant. He immediately beat to quarters. The +_Couronne_ accompanied the _Alabama_ to the limits of French waters, and +then turned back. The English yacht _Deerhound_ had hurried down from +Caen, upon being telegraphed of the impending fight, and the owner, with +his family on board, followed the _Alabama_ at the risk of receiving a +stray shot that would wind up the career of the pleasure craft and all +on board. + +Some time before Captain Winslow had arranged his sheet chains for a +distance of fifty feet amidships and over the side of his vessel, +extending six feet down. They were intended as an additional protection +to his machinery, and the practice is common among warships. The chains +were secured by marline to eyebolts protected with one-inch boards. This +natural precaution was the foundation for Captain Semmes' charge that +the _Kearsarge_ was partly armored. During the fight this part of the +ship was hit only twice, so that the protection, if it be considered +such, bore an unimportant part in the battle itself. + +Captain Winslow was determined that no question about neutral waters +should be raised. Accordingly, as the _Alabama_ approached, he steamed +out to sea, as if running away from his antagonist. Another object he +had in mind was to prevent the _Alabama_, in case she was crippled, from +escaping by running into the harbor. + +When the _Kearsarge_ had reached a point some seven miles from land, she +swung around and made directly for the _Alabama_, although such a course +exposed her to the raking broadsides of the enemy. Reading his purpose, +Semmes slowed his engines and sheered off, thus presenting his starboard +battery to the _Kearsarge_. When the vessels were about a mile apart, +the jets of fire and smoke from the side of the _Alabama_, followed by +the reverberating boom of her cannon, showed that she had fired her +first broadside. It did only trifling damage to the rigging of the +_Kearsarge_. A second and part of a third broadside were delivered, with +no perceptible effect. All the time, under a full head of steam, Winslow +was rushing toward his enemy for the death grapple. Still in peril of +being raked, he now sheered when half a mile distant and fired his +broadside of five-second shells, at the same time endeavoring to pass +under the _Alabama's_ stern, but Semmes defeated the manoeuvre by also +sheering his vessel. The effort of each was now to keep his starboard +broadside presented to the other, the attempt causing the two ships to +describe an immense circle, the diameter of which steadily decreased, +until it was barely a third of a mile. + +Ten minutes after the opening of the battle the spanker gaff of the +_Alabama_ and the ensign were brought down by the fire of the +_Kearsarge_, whose crew burst into cheers, but the Confederates quickly +hoisted the colors to their mizzen. When the two ships were within a +third of a mile of each other the fire became terrible; but from the +first that of the _Kearsarge_ was more accurate and did vast damage. +This was impressively shown by the fact that although the _Kearsarge_ +fired only 173 shots during the fight, nearly every one struck the +_Alabama_, which fired 370, of which only 28 landed. + +One of the _Alabama's_ 60-pound Blakely shells passed through the +bulwarks of the _Kearsarge_, and, bursting on the quarter deck, wounded +three men, of whom William Gowin was mortally hurt. When carried to the +surgeon, the intensely suffering man smiled. "We are whipping the +_Alabama_," he said, "and I am willing to give my life for such a +victory." + +Another Confederate shell burst in the hammock nettings and started a +fire, which was easily extinguished. A third lodged in the sternpost, +but failed to explode. Had it done so, its effect would have been +terrific. The damage done by the other shells was insignificant. + +A far different story was told on the Confederate cruiser. Winslow's +instructions to his gunners were to fire slowly and to make every shot +tell, and they did so. The men on the _Alabama_ stripped to their shirts +and drawers and fired rapidly, as if the only thing to do was to work +the guns without taking pause to aim. Crashing planks and timber and +exploding shells seemed to be all about them. A single shot from the +_Kearsarge_ killed and wounded eighteen men and disabled a gun. Another +burst in the coal bunks and cluttered up the engine room. Death and +destruction raged on every hand, and still the terrible _Kearsarge_ +kept working nearer, the dearest wish of Winslow being to get to close +quarters. + +The ships had described seven circles about each other and were starting +on the eighth, when Winslow, all alive and eagerness, saw the _Alabama_ +set her fore trysail and two jibs and start for shore. That meant that +it was all up with her, and her captain's only hope now was to get into +the harbor of Cherbourg. Winslow ran across her bow and was on the point +of raking her, when the _Alabama's_ flag came down. Uncertain whether +this was an accident, and suspecting a ruse by which the enemy expected +to reach shore, now only two miles off, Winslow stopped firing, but held +himself ready to open again. A white flag was displayed, and he began +preparations to render assistance to his defeated antagonist. Just then, +however, the _Alabama_ fired again, upon which Winslow answered with +several shots, when the white flag was run up for the second time. + +The doom of the _Alabama_ had overtaken her at last. She was fast +settling, and while the only two serviceable boats of the _Kearsarge_ +were hurrying to the relief of the crew, the famous cruiser threw her +prow high in air and slid stern foremost into the depths of the +Atlantic. + +In the midst of the wild confusion a boat from the _Alabama_, under +charge of the English master's mate, came alongside, announcing that the +_Alabama_ had surrendered and begging for help. On the promise of this +man to return, Winslow allowed him to go back to the aid of the drowning +crew, but instead of keeping his pledge, he took refuge on the yacht +_Deerhound_, which was circling about and doing all it could for the +struggling wretches in the water. Among those picked up was Captain +Semmes, who had flung his sword into the sea and leaped overboard as his +ship was going down. He was suffering from a painful wound in the hand, +and when helped on board of the _Deerhound_ was in an exhausted +condition. The captain of the yacht, after picking up thirty-nine men, +including a number of officers, instead of delivering them to Captain +Winslow, as he was in honor bound to do, edged away from the scene, and, +putting on all steam, did not pause until he reached Southampton. The +_Kearsarge_ picked up the men that remained and took them into +Cherbourg. + +In this famous battle the _Kearsarge_ had only 1 killed and 2 wounded, +while Semmes lost 40 killed and 70 taken prisoners. The Confederate +commander and his sympathizing British friends offered all sorts of +excuses for his defeat. Some of them were ingenious, but none was the +true one. The cause of the sinking of the _Alabama_ was the same as that +which gave us so many wonderful naval victories in the War of 1812. Our +vessels were manned by Americans, while the _Alabama_ was really an +English ship, armed with English guns and manned and fought by an +English crew: there's the truth in a nutshell. + +Captain Winslow received the promotion to the grade of a commodore which +he had so gallantly won. He died in 1873. It was a source of regret +throughout the country that on the night of February 2, 1894, the +_Kearsarge_ was wrecked off Roncador Reef, while on a voyage from +Port-au-Prince, Hayti, to Bluefields, Nicaragua. None of her crew was +drowned, but the vessel itself was lost, despite every effort to save +her. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + + +An Unexpected Preacher--Andrew Hull Foote--His Character and Early +Career--His Brilliant Services in the War for the Union. + + +One Sunday morning early in the Civil War a large assemblage had +gathered in a prominent church in a Western city for the purpose of +worship. But the hour for opening the services came and passed and the +preacher, the one indispensable individual, did not appear. The auditors +became uneasy. No one knew the cause of his absence and no word came +from the parsonage, which was at some distance from the church. When the +congregation were about to break up and pass out a stranger, sitting +near the front, quietly arose, walked up the pulpit steps, gave out the +opening hymn, led in prayer and preached a sermon which impressed all by +its plain, practical truths. He held the attention of the people from +the opening to the close, and among the listeners were more than one who +felt that the unexplained absence of the regular pastor had resulted in +a gain, though a brief one, for them. + +Naturally there was no little curiosity to learn the name of the +stranger. When approached by some of the leading brethren at the close +of the services, he modestly said he was Captain Foote of the United +States navy. He occasionally preached, when there seemed to be a call +for such work on his part, but preaching was not his profession, and he +would not have thought of entering the pulpit had he not seen that it +was a choice between doing so and allowing the congregation to go home. + +Andrew Hull Foote was born in New Haven, Conn., September 12, 1806. He +belonged to a prominent family, his father, Samuel A. Foote, having +served in Congress for several terms, as United States Senator, and as +Governor of his State. The son received the best educational training +and was subjected to the strict religious discipline characteristic of +the Puritan families of old New England. His romantic nature was deeply +stirred by the accounts of the naval exploits of his countrymen in the +War of 1812, and he set his heart upon entering the navy. His mother +opposed, but, when she saw it was useless, wisely yielded. His father's +influence readily procured him the appointment of midshipman, and he was +directed to report on the schooner _Grampus_, under the command of +Lieutenant (afterward Admiral) Gregory. + +[Illustration: ANDREW HULL FOOTE.] + +The _Grampus_ went to the West Indies in quest of pirates, but never +found any. Young Foote was then transferred to the sloop of war +_Peacock_, which had made such a glorious record in the last war with +Great Britain, his next transfer being to the frigate _United States_, +the flagship of Commodore Isaac Hull, who won the famous victory over +the _Guerriere_ in August, 1812. + +The cruise lasted three years, and Foote returned to New York in the +spring of 1837. He made a visit to his home, when he was once more +ordered to the West Indies. + +About this time he was brought under religious influence. He read his +Bible and spent many hours in prayer, and finally yielded completely to +God. He made his mother inexpressibly happy by sending her the glad +news, and thenceforward throughout his stirring life he was one of the +most humble, devout and consecrated of Christians. + +Like Havelock, he did an amount of good among those placed under his +charge, the full extent of which can never be known in this world. While +on duty at the Naval Asylum in Philadelphia he persuaded the men to give +up their grog rations and sign a pledge of total abstinence, and when +executive officer on the _Cumberland_ he did the same thing with its +crew. He was a voluntary chaplain and gave a religious address on the +berth deck every Sunday evening to those who wished to listen. + +Disease of the eyes incapacitated him for duty for a long time, and he +was much disappointed that he was not permitted to take any part in the +Mexican war. One of his most practical temperance addresses was that, +while engaged off the coast of Africa in suppressing the slave trade, he +persuaded the men under him on the _Perry_, of which he was the +commander, to give up the use of liquor. Although exposed to one of the +most pestilential climates in the world, he did not lose a man. + +At the breaking out of the Civil War he was in command of the Brooklyn +Navy Yard. He was overwhelmed with work for a time, and was glad when, +early in the autumn of 1861, he was ordered to the West to help in the +building of an inland navy on the Mississippi. + +Captain Foote worked with the tremendous energy which he threw into +every task, and succeeded in getting together seven boats, four of which +were partly protected by armor. At the beginning of February, 1862, he +started from Cairo to ascend the Tennessee, his objective point being +Fort Henry, though the Confederates were deceived into thinking it was +Columbus, on the Mississippi. He asked the Government for more men with +which to man additional boats, but they were not furnished, and he went +forward with such as he could get. + +On the night preceding the attack on Fort Henry the little fleet +anchored abreast of the army under General Grant, which was encamped on +the bank. The night was cold and tempestuous, but the morning dawned +keen and clear, and no time was lost in preparing the flotilla for the +attack on the fort. He intimated to General Grant that he must not +linger if he wished to cut off the retreat of the enemy. Grant assured +him he would be on time to put his army in motion. + +Fort Henry stood on a bend in the river, which it commanded for a long +distance up and down stream. Foote placed his boats behind an island a +mile below the fort, with a view of avoiding the long range rifles of +the Confederates, which were liable to cripple the gunboats before they +could get into close action. The wooden vessels halted upon coming in +view of the fort, and the ironclads, as they were called, moved slowly +up stream abreast of one another, firing their bow guns in answer to the +shots of the rebels. The latter had had the time to practice to acquire +the exact range, while the boats had yet to find it. They fired slowly +and with such accuracy that the infantry stationed outside of the works +hastily fled, though the gunners bravely remained at their posts. + +Foote opened fire when not quite a mile from the fort. His instructions +were to fire slowly and with care, the result of which was that guns +were continually dismounted and the earth and sandbags sent flying in +every direction. It was while the attack was being pressed in this +vigorous fashion that a shell pierced the boiler of the _Essex_, +commanded by Lieutenant Porter, and caused so many deaths, as has been +related in a preceding chapter. + +This appalling accident was a serious loss to Captain Foote, for Porter +was doing inestimable service when thus driven out of action, but the +daring commander pressed forward in the face of the murderous fire, +encouraged by the visible results of his shots, which were playing +frightful havoc against the defences of the fort. Tilghman, the +Confederate commander, displayed great bravery, fighting until every one +of his guns was dismounted. Then, finding himself powerless to offer +further resistance, he hauled down his flag. Firing immediately ceased +on the part of the Union flotilla, and Foote sent a boat ashore to take +possession. + +Despite General Grant's usual promptness, he did not arrive in time to +intercept the flight of the garrison. As a consequence the prisoners +surrendered, including General Tilghman and his staff, numbered less +than a hundred. The others fled overland to Fort Donelson, only to be +compelled to surrender shortly afterward to Grant in what proved to be +the first great Union victory of the war. + +The severity of this battle is shown by the fact that Foote's ship was +struck 31 times, the _Essex_ 15, and the _Carondelet_ 6. The total +number of killed, wounded and missing was 48. The success was so +decisive that Foote was applauded throughout the North, sharing the +well-earned honors with General Grant, whose successful career is known +to every boy in the land. + +Foote now steamed down the river to Cairo and began the ascent of the +Cumberland, to assist General Grant, who was marching overland to the +attack on Fort Donelson. Dauntless as was the courage of the naval +leader, he knew his task was a hopeless one. He had not only lost the +_Essex_, but Fort Donelson was greatly superior in strength to Fort +Henry. The water assault, however, was deemed a military necessity, and +he did not hesitate. + +On February 14 he advanced resolutely to the attack with his two wooden +gunboats and four partial ironclads. The tremendous land batteries +opened on this weak force the moment it came within range, and the +results were of the most destructive nature. As usual, the chief +attention was given to the flagship, which was struck again and again by +the flying shot and shell. Undismayed by the awful tempest, Foote pushed +steadily onward, cool, calm, hopeful and prepared for the worst. + +His pilot was a brave man, but under the frightful fire he began to show +a nervousness that caught the eye of Foote. Walking up to him, he placed +his hand in a kindly manner on his shoulder and spoke encouragingly to +him. While he was doing so, the poor fellow was torn into pieces by a +shot, and the captain himself was badly wounded in the foot by a flying +splinter. Paying no heed to the bleeding member, he limped about the +boat, swept by the iron hail, and gave his orders as coolly as before. +But the shot that killed the pilot also smashed the wheel, and the +unmanageable boat began drifting down stream. The tiller ropes of +another boat were also cut about the same time, and she also floated +helplessly with the current. The Confederates increased their fire, and +the other two boats, also greatly damaged, followed the flagship, and +the ferocious fight that had lasted more than an hour was over, with the +Union flotilla badly repulsed. + +The flagship had been struck 59 times, and 54 had been killed and +wounded on the different ships; but Foote would have maintained the +fight, with a fair probability of success, but for the destruction of +his steering gear. + +Grant and Foote now formed a plan for the capture of Nashville, but on +the eve of starting were stopped by a telegraphic order from General +Halleck not to allow the gunboats to go further up the river than +Clarksville. Foote was greatly disappointed, and, absolutely certain of +capturing the city, telegraphed for permission to do so, but it was +refused. Thus he was left no alternative but to return to Cairo. + +While there, he learned that the Confederate force occupying Columbus +had evacuated the town and fortified themselves on Island No. 10. They +numbered about 8,000 and were under the command of General Mackall, from +Beauregard's army. Foote transferred his flag to the ironclad _Benton_ +and advanced against the powerful works that had been erected on the +island. The bombardment was continued for three weeks, without +inflicting serious damage, and there was little prospect of capturing +the place from the river, when General Pope arrived with a large land +force; but to reach the fort it was necessary for him to get his troops +across the river, and he had not a single transport to use for that +purpose. + +Pope's arrival below made it necessary to send a gunboat down to him, +for until that was done he could make no movement against the rebel +force there. The all-important question was whether any one of the +gunboats could run the terrific gauntlet of the batteries that lined the +shore. It looked as if the attempt must result in the inevitable +destruction of any craft before half the distance could be accomplished. +At a council of the officers it was agreed that it was too hazardous to +try to run one of the gunboats past the batteries. Such was the opinion +of every man except Henry Walke, commander of the _Carondelet_, who +volunteered to try the seemingly impossible task. Captain Foote +reluctantly gave his consent. + +It was understood that Walke was to make the attempt on the first rainy +or foggy night. In the event of success, he was to cooperate with Pope, +and, when he moved, to assist in the attack on the fortifications. +Captain Foote closed his instructions to his faithful aide with the +following impressive words: + + On this delicate and somewhat hazardous service to which I assign + you I must enjoin upon you the importance of keeping your lights + secreted in the hold or put out, keeping your officers and men + from speaking at all, when passing the forts, above a whisper, and + then only on duty, and of using every other precaution to prevent + the rebels suspecting that you are dropping below their batteries. + + If you successfully perform this duty assigned to you, which you + so willingly undertake, it will reflect the highest credit upon you + and all belonging to your vessel, and I doubt not but that the + government will fully appreciate and reward you for a service + which, I trust, will enable the army to cross the river and make a + successful attack in the rear, while we storm the batteries in + front of this stronghold of the rebels. + + Commending you and all who compose your command to the care and + protection of God, who rules the world and directs all things, I + am, respectfully, your obedient servant, + + A.H. Foote. + + P.S.--Should you meet with disaster, you will, as a last resort, + destroy the steam machinery, and, if possible, to escape, set fire + to your gunboat, or sink her, and prevent her falling into the + hands of the rebels. + +The night selected--April 4--was rainy and of inky blackness, relieved +by vivid flashes of lightning. No precaution that could be thought of +was neglected. Chains were twisted around the pilot-house and other +vulnerable parts, and wood was piled against the boilers, with which the +hose was connected, to make the jets of steam available to repel +boarders. On one side was lashed a boat loaded with pressed hay, while a +barge of coal was fastened on the side furthest from the dangerous +batteries, and the escape steam was led into the paddle-wheel house in +order to muffle the sound. Among the fully armed crew were twenty of +the most expert sharpshooters in the army. + +It was about ten o'clock when the _Carondelet_ swung round in the stream +and started on its fearful race. The fleet fairly held its breath, as +officers and men listened and peered down the river in the tempestuous +darkness. Now and then the zigzagging lightning gave a momentary glimpse +of the craft moving away, but the straining eye and ear caught no sight +or sound. + +But when the _Carondelet_ was close to the batteries a blaze suddenly +shot up several feet above the chimneys. The soot had caught fire and +the reflection was thrown far out on the water. The engineer immediately +opened the flue caps and all was darkness again. So quickly did this +singular glow come and vanish that it must have been mistaken by the +sentinels for a part of the lightning display, for it caused no alarm; +but the turning of the escape steam into the paddle-box had allowed the +soot to get dry, and they flamed up a second time. Though extinguished +as promptly as before, the sentinels knew something was wrong and +signalled to the batteries below that one of the boats of the enemy was +approaching. + +It was useless to attempt concealment any longer. Walke ordered the +engine ahead at full speed and ran close to the shore nearest the +batteries, that their shot might pass over him. Aside from the enemy, +this was dangerous work, for there was no telling into what obstruction +the boat would dash. A man stood at the front with lead and line, +quietly calling out in a guarded voice the soundings, which were +repeated by a second man on deck, who forwarded the report aft to Walke, +standing beside the pilot. + +All the time the rain was falling in torrents. Suddenly a dazzling gleam +showed the pilot he was speeding straight for a shoal under the guns of +the Confederate battery. + +"Hard aport!" commanded the captain, and the heavy craft barely missed +the island, past which it shot at the highest speed. The lightning +flashes helped the _Carondelet_ in more than one way. It not only gave +the pilot the necessary knowledge to avoid running aground, but confused +the Confederate gunners, who sent most of their shots over the boat, +which was not struck once during its remarkable run down the +Mississippi. Two shots had entered the barge at her side, but not a man +was hurt. The boat was received with wild cheers by the expectant +soldiers, who, while hoping for the best, feared the worst. + +It had been agreed between Walke and Captain Foote that in case the +former was successful, he was to make it known by firing minute guns. +The captain was listening intently, when through the rain and darkness +the welcome signals reached his ears, and he thanked God that all had +come out so well. + +Now that General Pope had received the transport for which he longed, +Captain Foote breathed freely and prepared to give what help he could in +the attack upon the rebel fortifications; but, to his surprise, Pope +sent an urgent request that a second boat should be sent to him on the +next night, adding that the success of the whole movement depended upon +a compliance with this request. + +Foote replied that it would be as safe to run the batteries at midday as +on a clear night; for a vessel had to pass not only seven batteries, but +be kept "head on" to a battery of eleven guns, at the upper part of +Island No. 10, and to pass within 300 yards of it. In deference to +Pope's earnest request, Captain Foote consented to prepare another boat, +but would not permit it to start until the night was favorable. + +The second night was similar to the one described, and Lieutenant +Thompson, in charge of the _Pittsburg_, started down the river at two +o'clock in the morning. Although exposed to the same fire as the +_Carondelet_, he was equally fortunate, and ran the gauntlet with the +same good fortune. + +The passage of these two ironclads sealed the fate of Island No. 10, for +Pope could now cross the river, and, by taking position in the rear of +the Confederate works, cut off the supplies of the garrison. The +crossing was made and the enemy's batteries silenced. On the 8th the +island was surrendered to Captain Foote and General Pope, including the +garrison of 5,000 men. + +Captain Foote's next move was to Fort Pillow. All this time he was +suffering so severely from the wound in his foot that it affected his +spirits, usually buoyant and hopeful. Another disturbing cause was the +continual interference of General Halleck, who prevented several +movements that Foote knew must have resulted in important successes. + +His health continued to decline till finally the day came when he was +compelled to ask for a leave of absence. He went to his brother's home +in Cleveland, where his condition caused great solicitude throughout the +country. Afflictions crowded upon him. He returned to his home, which +was shadowed by the death of his bright boy at the age of fourteen +years. A few months later two of his daughters died. How hollow sounded +the praises of his countrymen when his head was bowed with such +overwhelming sorrow! He had been made rear admiral, and, though still +weak, was by his own request assigned to the command of the North +Atlantic squadron. He went to New York to complete his preparations, but +while there succumbed to his illness, and died at the Astor House, June +26, 1863. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +A Man Devoid of Fear--William Barker Cushing--Some of His Exploits--The +Blowing Up of the _Albemarle_--His Sad Death. + + +If ever man lived who knew not the meaning of fear, he was William +Barker Cushing, born in Wisconsin in 1842. He entered the Naval Academy +in 1857, remained four years, received his appointment from the State of +New York, but claiming Pennsylvania as his residence. He was wild and +reckless, and resigned in March, 1861, when even his closest friends saw +little hope of his success in life. + +Many heroes are referred to as fearless, but that man is reckoned brave +who knows the full extent of the danger facing him, and yet does not +hesitate to meet it; but Cushing was a youth who really seemed to love +danger for its own sake, and never flinched while death was on every +hand, but went unhesitatingly forward, when it would have been no +reflection upon his courage had he turned about and run. + +The breaking out of the Civil War offered so fascinating a field for him +that he could not resist the temptation. The Secretary of the Navy +always had a tender spot in his heart for the daring fellow, and when +Cushing promised that if he would give him a chance he would prove +himself worthy of the Secretary's confidence, that official consented +and attached him to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. At the very +first opportunity Cushing displayed the wonderful personal intrepidity +which was soon to make him the most famous naval officer of his age. + +In the expedition against Franklin, Va., in the autumn of the year, he +was placed in command of the gunboat _Ellis_, and showed such skill and +bravery that he was recommended by the acting admiral to the Navy +Department. Some weeks later he steamed into New River Inlet, with the +object of capturing Jacksonville and destroying the salt works. He was +successful, secured three vessels and drove the enemy from two pieces of +artillery with which they were firing on him at short range. All was +going well, but while still close to the abandoned works Cushing's +little steamer ran aground, and, despite every effort, he could not work +her free. + +He saw it was useless to try to get the boat off. He therefore took +everything out of her, excepting the pivot gun and ammunition, and, +placing them on board one of the captured schooners, ordered the crew to +leave. Knowing the enemy would soon return in overwhelming numbers, he +asked for six volunteers to stay with him and fight with the single gun +to the last. The response was prompt, for his daring spirit was +infectious, and he instructed the others, in the event of him and his +comrades being attacked, to make no attempt to help them. + +Just as he anticipated, the Confederates opened upon the doomed steamer +at daylight, firing from so many different points that the defenders +were helpless. As fast as the gun could be loaded, it was pointed here, +there and everywhere, for, no matter in what direction it was aimed, it +was pretty sure to hit some of the enemy; but a single gun against a +score could accomplish nothing, and the lieutenant had to decide whether +to remain, with the certainty of every man being shot to pieces, of +surrendering, or of rowing in an open boat for more than a mile through +the murderous fire. With scarcely a moment's hesitation, he resolved +upon the last plan, which looked as suicidal as remaining on the +steamer. + +The gun was loaded to the muzzle and trained upon the enemy, so as to go +off when heated, the steamer set on fire in several places, and, +dropping into the smaller boat, the men pulled with might and main for +the schooner. Fortune favors the brave, and they reached it in safety, +and soon after arrived at Beaufort. + +This exploit won for Cushing the commendation of the Navy Department +for "his courage, coolness and gallantry." + +His restless spirit would not allow him to remain idle. He was +continually engaging in some daring enterprise, in which it must not be +supposed he displayed nothing more than headlong recklessness. That +quality was supplemented by coolness and skill, without which he never +could have attained the remarkable success that attended his career. + +Among the numerous achievements the following will serve as an +illustration of the young man's disposition: + +Lieutenants Lamson and Cushing had command of a number of gunboats that +were sent to the aid of General Peck, stationed at Norfolk. In the +latter part of April it was learned that a Union boat had been decoyed +ashore by the display of a white handkerchief and then fired upon. The +angered Cushing asked for and received the privilege of retaliating for +this treacherous act. In charge of seven boats, manned by ninety +sailors, he set out and landed under the protection of the fire of the +vessels. Leaving a part of his force to protect the boats, he started +inland, taking a 12-pounder howitzer with him. + +His objective point was a village three miles away, where several +hundred cavalry were stationed. Advancing boldly, he drove in the +pickets, and coming across a span of mules hitched to a cart, he tied +the rope of the howitzer to the rear, lashed the animals to a gallop and +went clattering into the village to the loud shouts of "Forward, double +quick!" + +Just as they entered the formidable body of cavalry were discerned, +galloping down the street toward them, swinging their sabres and +shouting at the top of their voices. In a twinkling the howitzer was +unlimbered, and the charge of grape which was poured into the +approaching horsemen was supplemented by a volley of musketry. The +racket terrified the mules, which broke into a gallop, dragging the cart +and ammunition after them, and never paused until they were among the +ranks of the enemy. With a shout, Cushing was after them, followed by +his men, and mules and ammunition were recovered in a twinkling. By this +time the demoralized cavalry had fled, and Cushing, after retaining +possession of the village until dusk, leisurely made his way back to the +boats. + +The war having proven the immeasurable value of ironclads of the +_Merrimac_ type, the Confederates strained every nerve to build them, +often succeeding under the most trying conditions. One of the most +formidable of these craft was the _Albemarle_, upon which work was +begun early in 1863, at Edward's Ferry, several miles up the Roanoke +River. Iron was so scarce that the country was scoured for miles in +every direction for bolts, bars and metal. As stated by Maclay, the keel +was laid in an open cornfield, and an ordinary blacksmith's outfit +formed the plant for building; but the makers persevered and completed a +craft 122 feet over all, with 45 feet beam and drawing 8 feet of water. +The casemate was 60 feet long, constructed of massive timbers, covered +with 4-inch planking, over which were placed two layers of 2-inch iron. +The motive power was furnished by twin screws operated by engines of 200 +horse-power each. Her armament consisted of an Armstrong 100-pounder in +the bow and another in the stern, the casemate being so pierced that the +guns could be used at broadside or quarter. + +At midnight, April 19, 1864, the _Albemarle_ gave a proof of her +prodigious power of destruction. On the preceding two days the +Confederates had made a determined attack on Plymouth, held by the Union +forces, and the ironclad now set out to render assistance. The wooden +gunboats _Miami_ and _Southfield_ offered just the sort of targets the +monster fancied. Under a full head of steam, the _Albemarle_ rammed her +iron beak clean into the fire room of the _Southfield_. The latter was +skewered upon the projection and began slowly sinking. The snout was so +entangled with the _Southfield_ that the victim could not be shaken off, +and as she sank she carried her foe with her. The bow of the ironclad +dipped below the surface, and a most extraordinary and inglorious end +seemed inevitable, when the _Southfield_ touched bottom, rolled over and +freed itself from the bow of the ram, which popped up again. + +Meanwhile the _Miami_ was pounding the iron hide of the monster, which +shed the missiles as the _Merrimac_ shed the broadsides from the +_Cumberland_ and _Congress_. When only a few feet from the _Albemarle_, +Lieutenant Flusser, standing directly behind a gun of the _Miami_, let +fly with a heavy shell, which, striking the armor of the _Albemarle_, +was shivered into a thousand fragments, most of which rebounding, +instantly killed the officer and wounded a dozen men. The _Miami_ +retreated, and the next day Plymouth surrendered to the Confederates. + +In May, the _Albemarle_ steamed down into the Sound and attacked the +Union gunboats, which made a heroic defence. The monster received +broadside after broadside and was repeatedly rammed, but suffered no +material damage, while she killed 4, wounded 25 and caused the scalding +of 13, through piercing the boiler of one of her assailants. + +It will be seen that this ironclad had become a formidable menace to the +Union arms, not only in the immediate neighborhood, but further north. +It was the intention of her commander to clear out the fleets at the +mouth of the river, and then make an excursion up the coast, somewhat +like that which Secretary Stanton once believed the _Merrimac_ was about +to undertake. General Grant was pressing his final campaign against +Richmond, and the _Albemarle_ threatened to interfere with his plans, +for if she made the diversion of which she was capable, she was likely +to postpone indefinitely the wind up of the war. + +Ah, if some daring scheme could be perfected for destroying the +_Albemarle_! What a feat it would be and how vast the good it would +accomplish! There was one young officer in the American navy who +believed the thing could be done, and he volunteered to undertake it. + +Well aware that the Unionists would neglect no means of blowing up the +_Albemarle_, the Confederates used every possible precaution. At the +wharf in Plymouth, where she was moored, a thousand soldiers were on +guard, and her crew, consisting of sixty men, were alert and vigilant. +To prevent the approach of a torpedo boat, the ram was surrounded by a +boom of cypress logs, placed a considerable distance from the hull, and +a double line of sentries was stationed along the river. What earthly +chance was there under such conditions of any possible harm coming to +her? + +The picket boat in which Lieutenant Cushing undertook to destroy the +rebel ram was built at New York under his supervision, and taken to +Norfolk by way of the canals, and thence to Albemarle Sound again by +canal. He made his preparations with great care, and on the night of +October 27, which was dark and stormy, he started in his picket boat. He +was accompanied by eight men and the following officers: Acting Ensign +William L. Howarth, Acting Master's Mates Thomas S. Gay and John +Woodman, Acting Assistant Paymaster Francis H. Swan, Acting Third +Assistant Engineers Charles L. Steever and William Stotesbury. + +Cushing took in tow a small cutter, in which he intended to capture the +Confederate guard, that was in a schooner anchored near the wrecked +_Southfield_, and prevent their sending up an alarm rocket as a warning +to the sentinels above of the approach of danger. He stationed himself +at the stern, his plan being to land a little way below the ram and +board her from the wharf. A sudden dash promised her capture by +surprise, when she could be taken down stream. If this scheme could not +be carried out, he intended to blow her up with a torpedo as she lay at +the dock. + +The launch crept along the river bank as silently as an Indian canoe +stealing into a hostile camp. The distance to be passed was fully eight +miles, and the peril began almost from the moment of starting. The +necessary commands were spoken in whispers, and the waiting men scarcely +moved as they peered into the deep gloom and listened to the almost +inaudible rippling of the water from the bow. Speed was reduced as they +drew near Plymouth, in order to lessen the soft clanking of the engine +or the motion of the screw. + +They were still a mile below Plymouth when the shadowy outlines of the +wrecked _Southfield_ loomed dimly to view. The Confederates had raised +her so that her hurricane deck was above the surface. Within a few yards +of the wreck a schooner was anchored containing a guard of twenty men +with a field piece and rocket, provided for precisely such danger as now +drew near. But on this night, of all others, the sentinels were dozing, +for had they been vigilant they must have seen the little craft whose +crew saw theirs and were on the _qui vive_ to board on the instant of +discovery. + +The good fortune encouraged all hands, and as the schooner and wreck +melted into the darkness the launch swept around a bend in the river and +caught the glimmer of the camp fires along the banks, partly +extinguished by the falling rain. Still creeping cautiously on, the +outlines of the prodigious ram gradually assumed form in the gloom. It +looked as if the surprise would be complete, when a dog, more watchful +than his masters, began barking. He had discovered the approaching +danger, and the startled sentinels challenged, but no reply was made. A +second challenge bringing no response, several muskets flashed in the +night. Other dogs joined in barking, alarm rattles were sprung and wood +flung upon the fires, which, flaring up, threw their illumination out on +the river and revealed the launch and cutter. The hoarse commands of +officers rang out, and the soldiers, springing from sleep, caught up +their guns and rushed to quarters. + +Amid the fearful din and peril Cushing cut the tow line and ordered the +cutter to hasten down the river and capture the guard near the +_Southfield_. At the same moment he directed the launch to go ahead at +full speed. He had changed his plan. Instead of landing he determined +to blow up the ram. When close to it he learned for the first time of +the cordon of logs which surrounded the _Albemarle_, but, believing they +were slippery enough from remaining long in the water to be passed, he +sheered off, made a sweep of a hundred yards and again charged under +full steam for the obstruction. + +As he drew near the guards fired a volley which riddled Cushing's coat +and tore off the sole of his shoe. + +At the same moment he heard the vicious snapping of the primers of the +huge guns, which showed they had missed fire. + +"Leave the ram!" he shouted. "We're going to blow you up!" + +The Confederates, however, did not follow the advice and the launch +fired her howitzer. Then she glided over the slimy logs and paused in +front of the muzzle of a loaded cannon which could be almost reached +with the outstretched hand. Still cool and self-possessed amid the +horrible perils, Cushing stood erect, lowered the torpedo spar, shoved +it under the overhang, waited a moment for it to rise until he felt it +touch the bottom of the ram, when he gave a quick, strong pull on the +trigger line. A muffled, thunderous explosion followed, an immense +column of water rose in the air and the tremendous tipping of the +_Albemarle_ showed she had received a mortal hurt. + +It was accomplished at the critical second, for the rifled gun, filled +with 100 pounds of canister and pointed at the launch ten feet away, was +immediately discharged. The careening of the ram deviated the aim just +enough to prevent the crew from being blown to fragments, but confident +that not a man could escape, the Confederates twice called upon their +assailants to surrender, and several did so, but Cushing was not among +them. With the same marvelous coolness he had displayed from the first +he took off his coat and shoes, flung his sword and revolver aside and +shouted: + +"Every man save himself!" + +Then he leaped into the water and began swimming with might and main +down stream, the bullets skipping all about him, but he soon passed +beyond sight and was still swimming when he heard a plashing near him. +It was made by one of the acting master's mates, John Woodman, who was +exhausted. Cushing helped him until he himself had hardly an ounce of +strength left, when he was obliged to let go, and the poor fellow, +calling good-by, sank from sight. + +When unable to struggle longer, Cushing let his feet drop and they +touched bottom. He managed to reach land, where he sank down so worn +out that he lay motionless until daylight. Then he crawled into a swamp, +where he remained hidden until a friendly negro appeared, who extended +every possible kindness to him. From him Cushing learned that the +_Albemarle_ had been destroyed and was at the bottom of the river. It +was thrilling news, and the following night, after he had thoroughly +rested and been fed by his dusky friend, he moved down the river, found +a skiff and in it made his way to the fleet, bringing the first news of +the success of an exploit which it is safe to say has never been +surpassed in the history of our navy. Even the captain of the +_Albemarle_ declared that "a more gallant thing was not done during the +war." + +While conceding to Lieutenant Hobson the full credit for his daring +achievement in sinking the _Merrimac_ in the channel of Santiago harbor, +on June 3, 1898, it was by no means the equal of that of Lieutenant +Cushing, thirty-four years before. + +For his superb work Cushing received a vote of thanks from Congress and +was promoted to the rank of lieutenant commander. He led a division of +sailors in the second and what proved to be the successful attack upon +Fort Fisher, in January, 1865. It was a desperate fight and none +displayed more heroism than the young officer who had destroyed the +_Albemarle_. + +Hon. J.T. Headley, the biographer of Cushing, in an article written +immediately after the close of the Civil War, used these words: "Still a +young man, he has a bright future before him, and if he lives will +doubtless reach the highest rank in the navy. Bold, daring and +self-collected under the most trying circumstances--equal to any +emergency--never unbalanced by an unexpected contingency, he possesses +those great qualities always found in a successful commander. No man in +our navy, at his age, has ever won so brilliant a reputation, and it +will be his own fault if it is not increased until he has no superior." + +And yet Commander Cushing's reputation was not increased nor was it +through any fault of his own. It was not long after the war that his +friends were pained to observe unmistakable signs of mental unsoundness +in the young hero. These increased until his brain was all askew, and he +died in an insane asylum in 1874. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +The Greatest of Naval Heroes--David Glasgow Farragut. + + +David Glasgow Farragut was the greatest naval hero of modern times. +There are many honored names connected with the American navy, but his +towers above them all. The highest honors that his country could give +were freely bestowed upon him and no one will deny that he earned them +all. + +His father, although a native of Minorca, came to this country in 1776 +and lost no time in joining the ragged, starving patriots in their +struggle for independence. His skill and gallantry won him the rank of +major. When the war ended he settled on the western frontier, near +Knoxville, Tenn., where at a place called Campbell's Station his son +David was born in 1801. When only nine years old he was appointed +midshipman under Captain David Porter, the heroic commander of the +_Essex_. Captain Porter and Major Farragut were old friends, to which +fact was due the privilege extended to a lad of such tender years. + +In the sketch of Captain Porter the reader will recall the incident in +which young Farragut learned of the conspiracy among the 500 prisoners +on board the _Essex_, and, by giving his commander warning, prevented +the capture of the ship by the savage plotters. + +The boy was on the _Essex_ when, disabled and helpless, she was pounded +into a surrender by two British ships while in the harbor of Valparaiso, +in January, 1814. It was one of the most sanguinary battles of the war, +when the decks ran with blood and the dead and dying were stretched on +every hand. Amid the terrible carnage the boy Farragut conducted himself +with such coolness and bravery that he was specially complimented by +Captain Porter in his report. Although wounded, he stood unflinchingly +to his guns, winning the admiration of the grim heroes around him and +demonstrating the wonderful qualities which later were to raise him to +the position of the foremost naval hero of the age. + +Peace came, and, although Farragut was in continual service, promotion +was slow. He became lieutenant in 1825, commander in 1841 and captain in +1851. His first wife, whom he married in Norfolk, became an invalid and +did not live long. His second wife was also a native of Norfolk. Thus he +was not only a Southerner himself, but his wife was a native of that +section. When, therefore, civil war came and it became fashionable for +people to express secession sentiments, it was taken for granted that +Farragut would cast his fortunes with the South; but upon being +approached he indignantly replied: "I would see every man of you damned +before I would raise my hand against that flag!" Being told that it +would be unsafe for him to remain in the South, he added that he wanted +only two hours to find another place of residence. He moved away at once +and with his wife and only son took up his home on the Hudson near +Tarrytown. + +[Illustration: COMMODORE DAVID GLASGOW FARRAGUT.] + +Being a stranger in that neighborhood, he was regarded with suspicion. +He was fond of taking long walks, and it is said that some of the people +suspected that he belonged to a gang of plotters who intended to cut the +Croton Aqueduct, but the quiet man was simply awaiting the summons of +his country to serve her in any capacity possible. + +The call came in the spring of 1861, when he was about threescore years +old. His duty was that of serving on the board appointed by Congress to +retire superannuated officers from the active service. This duty +completed, he was appointed to the command of the expedition organized +for the capture of New Orleans. He sailed from Hampton Roads on the 3d +of February, 1862, in the flagship _Hartford_ and arrived seventeen +days later at Ship Island, the place of rendezvous. There he set to work +to make his arrangements for the great task which was wholly different +from any that had ever engaged his attention. But how well he completed +this grand work, he being the real supervisor and superintendent, has +been referred to in a previous chapter and is told in every history of +our country. + +[Illustration: CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS--ATTACK ON FORT PHILIP.] + +The skill and courage displayed by Farragut in the capture of New +Orleans attracted national attention and added greatly to his +reputation. In the latter part of June he ran the batteries of +Vicksburg, but notified the Government that though he could go up and +down the river as he chose and silence the batteries when he pleased, no +substantial good would result unless a land force of ten or twelve +thousand men attacked the town from the rear. It was this plan which +brought about the capture of Vicksburg by General Grant and the opening +of the Mississippi River. Farragut, who had been made rear admiral, +afforded great aid in taking Port Hudson and cleaning out all rebel +fortifications along the Father of Waters. + +This immense work having been accomplished, the Government now gave its +attention to Mobile, another of the Confederate strongholds in the +South. The campaign arranged was to attack it with a land force under +the command of Generals Canby and Granger and a naval force under +Farragut. In January, 1864, he made a reconnaissance of Mobile Bay and +informed the Government that if it would supply him with a slight +additional force he would attack and capture it at once. He knew that +the defences were being strengthened every day and repeatedly urged that +he be furnished with the means of making an immediate assault. But the +ill-advised and disastrous expedition of Banks up the Red River took +away the available troops and the appeal of Farragut remained unheeded +until the summer was well advanced. + +By that time the defences of Mobile were well nigh impregnable. Fort +Gaines, on Dauphin Island, had a garrison of 864 men and mounted three +10-inch columbiads, four 32-pounder rifled guns and twenty smoothbore +guns of 32, 24 and 18-pound calibres. The principal pass to Mississippi +Sound was commanded by Fort Powell, with one mounted 10-inch gun, one +8-inch columbiad and four rifled guns. The main fortification was Fort +Morgan, whose heavy guns were placed in three tiers. It mounted seven +10-inch, three 8-inch and twenty-two 32-pounder smoothbore guns and two +8-inch, two 6.5-inch and four 5.82-inch rifled guns. The exterior +batteries were also heavily armed and the garrison numbered 640 men. +The bay was filled with skilfully placed torpedoes, some of them of +stupendous size and power and sufficient, it would seem, if properly +handled, to destroy all the navies of the world. + +All arrangements being completed, the signal for the advance was hoisted +at daylight, August 5, 1864. The Union fleet consisted of 21 wooden +vessels and 6 ironclads. The wooden vessels sailed in pairs, the larger +on the starboard, so that if either was disabled the other could carry +it along. Farragut's intention was to lead with the flagship _Hartford_, +but he reluctantly allowed the _Brooklyn_ to take that post, since she +carried four chase guns to the _Hartford's_ one and was provided with an +ingenious apparatus for picking up torpedoes. It was contended further +that the flagship would be the special target of the enemy, a fact that +was likely to cripple her and prevent the employment of the +all-important signals. The last argument bore no weight with Farragut, +who replied that she would be the chief target anyway, no matter what +the position, and exposure to fire was one of the penalties of rank in +the navy. The monitors were to advance in single file, slightly in +advance of the wooden ships, the _Tecumseh_, Commander Tunis A.M. +Craven, in the lead. + +[Illustration: IN MOBILE BAY.] + +In this order the slow advance was begun and at a few minutes past +seven the _Tecumseh_ fired the first gun. The forts waited twenty +minutes when they replied, and the _Brooklyn_ responded with two +100-pounder Parrot rifles. Under the protection of Fort Morgan nestled +the Confederate rams and ironclads, which directed their fire +principally at the wooden vessels. The great battle was opened. + +The enemy's gunboats and the ram _Tennessee_ moved out from behind the +fort and continued firing at the wooden boats, giving principal +attention, as was expected, to the flagship, which was struck several +times. She soon began returning the fire, still advancing, and +repeatedly drove the gunners from the water batteries, but they +immediately returned and kept bravely at work. + +Smokeless powder was unknown in those days, and, as the vapor enfolded +the ships, Farragut kept stepping up the rigging almost unconsciously +until he was so high that he was clinging to the futtock shrouds. He had +his spyglass in one hand and kept raising it to his eyes. Captain +Percival Drayton had been closely watching the Admiral and now became +alarmed, lest some damage to the ropes should cause him to fall +overboard. He told Signal Quartermaster Knowles to climb the rigging and +secure Farragut to the shrouds. He obeyed and passed a lead line to one +of the forward shrouds and then drew it around the Admiral to the after +shroud and made it fast. Feeling the faithful officer at work, the +Admiral looked down kindly at him and said: "Never mind me, I am all +right." But Knowles persisted and did not descend until he had completed +his work. + +By and by the increasing smoke made it necessary for the commander to +ascend still higher, in order to maintain a clear view of the battle. He +untied the fastenings, and, climbing to the futtock shrouds, passed the +rope once more around his body several times and tied the end to the +rigging. The picture of Admiral Farragut thus lashed to the rigging has +been seen thousands of times in the histories of the Civil War. + +While in this perilous position he signalled for closer order. The +bombardment of the fort was terrific and produced great effect. +Commander Craven, with the _Tecumseh_, singled out the ram _Tennessee_, +under the command of Admiral Franklin Buchanan, who had charge of the +_Merrimac_ on the first day of her fight with the _Monitor_. Both were +ironclads and Buchanan was as anxious to fight Craven as the latter was +to fight him. Craven, fearing his adversary would retreat, pressed +forward so eagerly that he paid no attention to the torpedoes over +which his hull was continually scraping. One or more of these suddenly +exploded, the front dipped and the _Tecumseh_ plunged bow foremost to +the bottom of the bay, carrying with her 93 men out of a crew of 114. + +This appalling disaster was accompanied by a touching incident. When the +_Tecumseh_ was diving downward Commander Craven and the pilot +instinctively started for the opening through which only one man could +pass at a time. They reached the foot of the ladder at the same moment. +"You first," said Craven, halting. The pilot just succeeded in +scrambling out, when the _Tecumseh_ went down, taking her heroic captain +with her. + +The terrible occurrence was witnessed by friends and foes. A boat was +quickly lowered from the _Metacomet_ and sent to the relief of the +survivors. It passed within a hundred yards of Fort Morgan, which could +have easily blown it out of the water. But General Page, the Confederate +commandant, knowing her errand, gave the order not to harm the boat, +which was on its way to save drowning men. His soldiers broke into +cheers, but he sternly stopped them, with the advice to wait till the +_Hartford_ was sunk. The boat picked up ten men and officers, while four +swam to the beach and were made prisoners. + +When the lull was over Farragut headed his ship for the fort, +signalling to the remainder of the fleet, which followed close after +him. When warned of the torpedoes the wrathful Admiral came near adding +a little profanity to his contemptuous opinion of them as he passed on. +Wheeling, he launched his whole broadside at the fort, then delivered a +second at the _Tennessee_ and headed for the gunboats _Selma_, _Gaines_ +and _Morgan_, all of which were raking him. Casting off his consort, the +_Metacomet_, he sent her after the _Selma_, and, after a hot chase, she +captured her. The other two took to shallow water under the guns of the +fort. + +The ships, having passed the latter, were about to anchor when the +_Tennessee_ was perceived coming straight for the fleet, with the +intention of attacking it. Farragut signalled to the vessels to run her +down and ordered the pilot of the _Hartford_ to drive her with full +speed at the ironclad. The _Monongahela_ was the first to reach the +monster, struck her fairly, and, swinging around, let fly with a +broadside of 11-inch shot, which dropped harmlessly from her mailed +side. Undaunted, the _Monongahela_ rammed her again, though she received +ten times as much damage as she inflicted. The _Lackawanna_ passed +through a somewhat similar experience but a gunner drove a 9-inch shell +into one of the shutters, which was shattered and forced within the +casemate. The crews were so close that they taunted each other through +the portholes and even hurled missiles across the brief intervening +space. + +At this juncture the _Hartford_ arrived, charging full speed upon the +ram, which so shifted its position that the blow was a glancing one. +Recoiling, the flagship delivered its most tremendous broadside, doing +no harm, while the _Hartford_ itself was pierced again and again by the +exploding shells which strewed her deck with dead and dying. Nothing +daunted, Farragut prepared to ram once more, when his ship was badly +injured by an accidental blow from the _Lackawanna_. But Farragut, +seeing that she still floated, called for a full head of steam that he +might deliver a blow that was likely to send his own ship to the bottom. + +By this time the slower going monitors had arrived and were getting in +their fine work. The _Tennessee's_ smokestack was shot away, her stern +port shutter was disabled, making the gun useless, while her steering +chains were smashed. Like a stag beset by a pack of hounds, she was +brought to her knees. The white flag was raised, and the sorely battered +_Tennessee_ became the captive of the Union fleet. The forts were +passed and the victory of Mobile Bay was secure. + +[Illustration: BURNSIDE'S EXPEDITION CROSSING HATTERAS BAR (1862).] + +But it had cost dearly. In addition to the men lost on the _Tecumseh_, +there had been 25 killed and 28 wounded on the _Hartford_, 11 killed and +43 wounded on the _Brooklyn_, the total of all, including those lost on +the _Tecumseh_, being 145 killed and 170 wounded. The Confederate loss +was 12 killed, 20 wounded and 280 prisoners. + +Fort Powell was subjected to a severe bombardment that afternoon and on +the following night was abandoned and blown up. Fire being opened on +Fort Gaines, it also surrendered. Fort Morgan, the only fort in the +possession of the enemy, surrendered August 23, before an attack of the +navy and the land forces under General Granger from New Orleans. + +Soon after this splendid victory Admiral Farragut went North, where he +was received with all possible honors. The war ending soon after, his +inestimable services came to a close. That no reward might be lacking, +the office of vice-admiral was specially created for him in December, +1864, and that of admiral in 1866. He died in 1870. + + + + +THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. + +CHAPTER XXX. + +The Movement Against Cuba--The Destruction of Cervera's Fleet--Admiral +Sampson--Admiral Schley--"Fighting Bob" Evans--Commodore John C. +Watson--Commodore John W. Philip--Lieutenant Commander Richard +Wainwright. + + +Since the war with Spain was undertaken for the liberation of Cuba from +the most frightful atrocities that mind can conceive, it was natural +that the chief attention of our Government should be directed to the +expulsion of the Spaniards from that island. Neither the Ladrones nor +Philippines entered into the question; but, inasmuch as they were +valuable possessions of Spain, their conquest was a natural and +effective blow against the nation with which we were at war. + +In view of what subsequently occurred, we can smile at the general +uneasiness and fear which prevailed in this country at the opening of +hostilities regarding the fleets of Spain. She was known to have a +formidable navy and a great many believed it was superior to our own. +There was no telling where it would strike the first blow. Boston, New +York, Philadelphia, Washington and other seaboard cities made powerful +preparations against the dread fleet, which in truth was no more to be +feared than the ferryboats on the North River, and yet but for the +preparations referred to it is more than probable we should have +suffered. + +The most formidable fleet was under the command of Admiral Cervera. Our +own squadrons were engaged for weeks in hunting for it, and it was +reported in a dozen different places. Finally it was learned that it had +taken refuge in the harbor of Santiago, the city of that name being +besieged by the land forces under General Shafter. Immediately the +American fleet of Admiral Sampson blockaded the ships of the enemy, +determined to hold it powerless inside the broad harbor, for it +followed, as a matter of course, that so long as it was bottled up there +it could do nothing to help Spain. + +No one could know his weakness better than the Spanish Admiral. He had +fine ships and fine guns, but his crews were undisciplined. They were +wretched marksmen and in no respect to be compared with our gunners, who +demonstrated in the War of 1812 that they have no equals in the whole +world. Knowing all this, Admiral Cervera was loth to venture out of +the harbor of Santiago, and the days and weeks passed in idleness while +the monotonous blockade continued. + +[Illustration: ADMIRAL CERVERA.] + +It was the fear that the Spanish ships would make a dash on some dark, +stormy night and escape that led to one of the most striking and +brilliant exploits of the war. That is the sinking of the collier +_Merrimac_ in the channel of the harbor by Lieutenant Richmond Pearson +Hobson, on the night of June 3. That the effort was not wholly +successful does not detract from the glory of the brave men who went +unflinchingly to what looked like almost certain death. + +The companions of Lieutenant Hobson in this remarkable achievement were +Osborn Deignan, George F. Phillips, Francis Kelly, George Charette, +Daniel Montague, J.C. Murphy and Randolph Clausen. The last named was +not one of the original six chosen, but he had been at work on the +_Merrimac_ preparing her for the attempt and hid himself away on the +lumbersome craft and they were obliged to take him. + +As soon as the Spaniards discovered the approach of the _Merrimac_, in +the darkness, they opened upon her with their batteries from both +shores, and she was subjected to a fire which it would seem must riddle +her like a sieve and kill every man. But under the direction of the +cool-headed and daring Lieutenant the collier was swung into the right +position, and, but for the shooting away of the rudder, would have been +sunk directly across the channel, which would have been effectively +blocked. The position of the wreck as a consequence was diagonal and +left the passage partly open. + +[Illustration: LIEUTENANT RICHMOND PEARSON HOBSON.] + +Having accomplished as nearly as possible the perilous task the brave +party were obliged to remain clinging to a raft until morning, when the +Spaniards discovered and made them prisoners. Admiral Cervera himself +helped to take Hobson out of the water and was so filled with admiration +of the extraordinary daring of himself and companions that he sent a +flag of truce to Admiral Sampson with the welcome news that all the men +were safe in his hands. They were confined first in Morro Castle and +later in the city of Santiago. They were treated with the respect their +heroism deserved and on July 6 were exchanged for a number of prisoners +held by our forces. + +[Illustration: ADMIRAL WILLIAM T. SAMPSON.] + +Just one month after this exploit, that is on the morning of July 3, +1898, Admiral Cervera attempted to escape from the harbor of Santiago. +The smoke of his vessels was discerned over the hills, and the watchful +ships outside signalled the fact to the other members of the squadron. A +few minutes later the bow of one of the Spanish steamers came into sight +from behind the Estrella Battery. The _Brooklyn_, _Iowa_ and _Oregon_, +some two and a half miles distant, crowded on all steam and headed for +the harbor. The first Spanish cruiser to show itself was the _Infanta +Maria Teresa_, followed by the _Vizcaya_, the _Almirante Oquendo_ and +the _Cristobal Colon_, with the torpedo boats _Pluton_ and _Furor_ +bringing up the rear. The _Infanta Maria Teresa_, leading the +procession, was the flagship of Admiral Cervera. He sent a shell toward +the American vessels, but, in accordance with the rule, it went wide of +the mark. The _Texas_ opened with her big guns and her companions +quickly joined in the thunderous chorus. + +No sooner were the Spanish ships clear of the harbor than they turned +westward and strained every nerve to escape, firing at their pursuers, +who were equally determined to overtake or destroy them. The _Brooklyn_, +further away from shore, changed her course so as to follow a parallel +direction, and, as soon as she attained a fair range, opened a +tremendous and well directed fire. The _Texas_, whose course was +somewhat diagonal, singled out the _Vizcaya_, and, unable to outspeed +her, pounded her savagely with her shells. + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN JOHN PHILIP, OF THE "TEXAS."] + +Every movement of the splendid battleship was directed by her Captain, +John W. Philip. The _Texas_ was struck several times, but did not +receive any material damage, while she wrought frightful havoc on the +_Vizcaya_. + +The _Oregon_, the finest ship in our navy, which had come more than +14,000 miles from the Pacific coast, was ploughing forward under forced +draught, and, with a tremendous burst of speed, shot past the _Texas_ +and drew up on the _Brooklyn_ in the effort to head off the leading +fugitive, while the _Iowa_ was doing her utmost to maintain her killing +pace and was firing her great guns with splendid precision. Suddenly the +_Vizcaya_ broke into flames and headed for shore. Knowing that she was +doomed, the _Brooklyn_ and _Oregon_ gave her a few parting shots and +kept up their furious pursuit of the _Almirante Oquendo_ and the +_Cristobal Colon_. + +Just then the torpedo boat destroyers _Pluton_ and _Furor_ were +discovered speeding also to the westward. Lieutenant Commander Richard +Wainwright, who was an officer on the _Maine_ when she was destroyed, +was now in command of the auxiliary cruiser _Gloucester_, and, without +hesitation, he dashed after the destroyers, though for a part of the +time he received the fire of Morro Castle, the _Vizcaya_ and both of the +dangerous craft he was chasing. But the _Gloucester_ seemed to bear a +charmed life, or, more truthfully speaking, the Spanish gunners didn't +know how to shoot. + +Unfortunately for Admiral Sampson, he had gone some miles away to hold a +conference with General Shafter when the Spanish fleet made its attempt +to escape, but he now came up with the _New York_, eagerly rushing +forward to bear a hand in the fight. The _Pluton_ and _Furor_ fled +before her, while the _Indiana_ shelled the first destroyer so +mercilessly that she turned and headed for the mouth of the harbor, +several miles distant. The vigilant _Gloucester_ joined the _Indiana_ +and one of the destroyers displayed a flag of truce. She was ablaze from +bow to stern and her crew ran her ashore, where she blew up. The second +was also beached and deserted by her crew. Meanwhile the _Vizcaya_ ran +up the white flag and the _Texas_ stopped firing. She, like the _Infanta +Maria Teresa_, was on fire and her crews could do nothing but take to +the shore in the desperate effort to save themselves. + +The _Almirante Oquendo_ and the _Colon_ were still fleeing for life, +with the _Iowa, Oregon, Brooklyn_ and _Texas_ hard after them. Suddenly +the _Almirante Oquendo_ turned toward shore. The _Brooklyn_ and _Oregon_ +kept after the _Cristobal Colon_, leaving the _Texas_ to dispose of the +_Almirante Oquendo_. But the latter was in flames and the flag at her +stern was pulled down. The _Texas_ was approaching when the Spanish ship +was torn by a tremendous explosion. The Americans broke into cheers. +Captain Philip threw up his hand and called: + +"Don't cheer, boys; the poor fellows are dying!" + +It was chivalrous and thoughtful on the part of the American commander +and will never be forgotten. + +The _Cristobal Colon_ steamed along the coast with the speed of a race +horse, but the _Brooklyn_, _Texas_ and _Oregon_ seemed to feel the prick +of the spur and ran as never before and as their captains did not +believe them capable of doing. The _Brooklyn_ gradually drew ahead and +the Spaniard, seeing that escape was out of the question, hauled down +his flag. Thus the victory became complete. + +The news was just in time to help in the universal rejoicing and +celebration of the Fourth of July. The Spanish fleet on the other side +of the globe had been destroyed and now the second fleet was wiped out. +In the former instance not a life was lost and in the latter only one +man was killed on our side, while the loss of the enemy was severe. +Never was a more decisive victory gained by one nation over another in +the whole history of the world. + +All my readers are familiar with the events that immediately followed, +but perhaps they would like to know something concerning the naval +heroes who did so much to contribute to the grand naval victory off +Santiago. + +William T. Sampson was born in Palmyra, N.Y., February 9, 1840. He was +the son of an ordinary day laborer and had few early educational +advantages, but he was appointed to the Naval Academy and was graduated +at the head of his class. He was on the frigate _Potomac_, with the rank +of master, when the war broke out, but was too young to secure a command +during the war. He became a lieutenant in July, 1862, and served with +that rank on the practice ship _John Adams_ at the Naval Academy and on +the ironclad _Patapsco_. On January 15, 1865, the _Patapsco_ attempted +to force an entrance into the harbor of Charleston, which was one +network of mines. Sampson exposed himself fearlessly and the ship met +with a fearful disaster by being blown up by a submarine mine. Seventy +went down to death as did those on the _Maine_, while Sampson and more +than a score of others, after being blown a hundred feet through the +air, saved themselves by swimming until they were picked up. Sampson was +commissioned as lieutenant commander in 1866, was at the Naval Academy +from 1868 to 1871, cruised for two years in European waters and first +commanded the _Alert_ in 1874. Appointed to the superintendency of the +Naval Academy in 1888, he held the situation for four years. + +With the construction of the new navy, Sampson commanded in turn two +modern ships, the cruiser _San Francisco_ and the battleship _Iowa_. He +was a close student of ordnance matters, gave special attention to +torpedo work and was chief of the Bureau of Naval Ordnance from 1893 to +1897. There can be no question of his fine ability nor that, had the +opportunity presented, Rear Admiral Sampson, as he had become, would +have proven himself among the foremost officers in our navy. It was a +great personal misfortune that he happened to be absent from the front +of Santiago when the Spanish fleet made its venture, but it must not be +forgotten that, in anticipation of such action, he had planned the +battle that was fought by the American ships. + +[Illustration: VIEW OF CHARLESTON HARBOR, SHOWING THE SUNKEN VESSELS.] + +Winfield Scott Schley was born in Frederick, Md., October 9, 1839, and +was graduated from the Naval Academy at the beginning of the Civil War. +After brief service on the storeship _Potomac_ he was promoted to master +in 1861, and served on the _Winona_, of the West Gulf blockading +squadron, 1862-63. He there gained a taste of real war and performed a +number of exploits which proved his coolness and daring. He received +honorable mention for his services in the engagements which led to the +capture of Port Hudson. He was commissioned lieutenant in July, 1862, +and was executive officer of the _Wateree_ from 1864 to 1865, having +been made lieutenant commander in July, 1866, after which he spent three +years again at the Naval Academy, serving as instructor of modern +languages. + +Admiral Schley has done brilliant service outside of what is generally +considered the routine duty of his profession. When he was in Eastern +waters in 1864 he landed 100 men, who protected the American consulate +when threatened during a native insurrection among the natives of the +Chin-Chi Islands. His most famous exploit was the rescue of the Greely +Arctic expedition. In 1881 Lieutenant Adolphus W. Greely commanded an +expedition of twenty-five men, which established an observation station +at the farthest point in the polar regions then attained. The +expedition, when in a starving condition and with only seven men alive, +was rescued at Cape Sabine, Grinnell Land, in 1884 by Captain Schley. He +was rewarded for this service by a gold medal from Congress and promoted +by President Arthur to chief of the Bureau of Equipment and made captain +in 1888. + +[Illustration: COMMODORE WINFIELD SCOTT SCHLEY.] + +After resigning this position Captain Schley commanded the cruiser +_Baltimore_, which bore the remains of Ericsson, the great Swedish +inventor, to his native land, whose king presented Schley with a gold +medal in recognition of this service. He won the commendation of the +Navy Department for his tactful success in settling threatened trouble +over the stoning of a number of American sailors from the _Baltimore_ by +a party of Chilians at Valparaiso. Commodore Schley is a fine tactician, +possesses a winning personality and his work with the _Brooklyn,_ off +Santiago, on July 3, was neither more nor less than his friends expected +of him. + +Robley D. Evans, known everywhere as "Fighting Bob," was born in +Virginia in 1846. When his father died he made his home with his uncle +in Washington, D.C., where he attended Gonzaga College. In 1859 a +Congressional Representative from Utah appointed him to the Naval +Academy. It was necessary for the boy to take up a nominal residence in +that distant territory, and on the journey thither and back he +encountered many personal dangers through all of which he conducted +himself with the pluck and bravery which afterward distinguished him in +the service of his country. He entered the academy in 1860 and upon his +graduation became a midshipman and ensign, first on the frigate +_Powhatan_, and before he had attained his majority took part in the +desperate assault on Fort Fisher. He was stretched on the ground, +dreadfully wounded and with so many dead men piled upon him that he +barely escaped suffocation. He was wounded twice in the body and shot +through both legs. It seemed scarcely possible for him to live, and he +lay in the hospital for months. But when a surgeon prepared to amputate +one of his legs Evans, who had managed to procure a revolver, warned him +that upon his first attempt to do so he would shoot him. The leg was +saved, but Evans was lamed for life. + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN ROBLEY D. EVANS, OF THE "IOWA."] + +As soon as he was able to get about he applied for active service and +his application was granted. He was engaged in various duties and in +October, 1891, he arrived in command of the _Yorktown_ at Valparaiso, +directly after the attack of a mob of Chilians upon the sailors of the +_Baltimore_. When some of the refugees fled for safety to the _Yorktown_ +and the Chilians demanded their surrender "Fighting Bob" replied that he +would defend them until the _Yorktown_ went to the bottom. Some time +later the captain's launch was stoned, for the Chilians hated the +Americans as intensely as did the Spaniards. Captain Evans placed a +rapid fire gun in the bow of the launch, filled her with armed men and +went ashore. Hunting out the authorities, he notified them that if any +more stones were thrown at his launch he would make life a burden for +every Chilian within reach of the Yorktown's guns. The launch was not +stoned again. + +It is a mistaken though general impression of "Fighting Bob" that he is +simply a headlong and reckless fighter. Such is far from being the case, +for he is deliberate, thoughtful and tactful. He is a fine scholar, +possesses a thorough knowledge of international law and is simply +resolute in protecting the rights of himself and countrymen. This was +proven by his conduct when in charge of the American fleet in the Bering +Sea, placed there to prevent the illegal killing of seals. There was a +good deal of friction at that time between this country and England and +had Captain Evans been the reckless "scrapper" that many supposed he +could not have failed to involve us in trouble with that country. There +was not a word of censure upon his course. Out of 108 vessels engaged in +the illegal trade he captured 98 and of the several hundred seals +unlawfully killed he captured every one. Like all the other officers and +sailors who took part in the destruction of Cervera's fleet, he was +energetic, skilful, brave and chivalrous, for when Captain Eulate, of +the captured _Vizcaya_, offered his sword to the Captain of the _Iowa_ +that gentleman kindly waved him back and told him to keep the weapon he +had used so well. + +Captain Evans does not like the name "Fighting Bob", for he feels he has +no more claim to the distinction than the rest of his associates. Many +of the stories told of his roughness of speech and profanity are not +true, though it cannot be denied that he has a habit of expressing +himself very vigorously when his feelings are stirred. By his own +request, Captain Evans was relieved, September 15, 1898, of the command +of the _Iowa_, he having served more than his regular term of sea +service. At present he is a member of the Board of Inspection and +Survey. + +John C. Watson was born in Frankfort, Ky., August 24, 1842, and is a +member of one of the leading families of the State. He entered the Naval +Academy at the age of fourteen and was graduated near the head of his +class in June, 1860. He was a midshipman on the _Susquehanna_ in Europe, +at the breaking out of the war, and was made master in August, 1861. + +It is proof of the worth of the man that he was assigned as navigator of +the flagship _Hartford_, commanded by the lion-hearted Farragut. He +became lieutenant in June, 1862, and flag lieutenant to Farragut in +January, 1864. + +The reader of these pages has learned something of the great battles of +New Orleans, Mobile Bay, Vicksburg and Port Hudson. Watson took part in +all of them and none acquitted himself better. In a letter to his son, +Admiral Farragut wrote: "I am almost as fond of Watson as I am of your +own dear self." In his report of the battle of Mobile Bay, where Watson +was wounded, Farragut wrote: "Lieutenant Watson has been brought to your +attention in former times. He was on the poop attending to the signals +and performed his duty, as might be expected, thoroughly. He is a scion +worthy of the noble stock he springs from, and I commend him to your +attention." + +A squadron of invincible power was made up for Watson in the summer of +1898, with which it was intended Commodore Watson should pay a hostile +visit to the coast of Spain. But for the signing of the peace protocol, +that visit under its gallant and distinguished commander would have +proved one that the decrepit monarchy would remember to the end of time. + +Captain John W. Philip, promoted to the rank of commodore for his superb +work with the _Texas_ off Santiago, is brave, modest, devout and fond of +practical joking. He is genial, exceedingly popular with his associates +and men and one of the finest officers in the navy. The little incident +well illustrates his character, when, in the midst of the wild rejoicing +of his men over the destruction of the Spanish fleet, he checked them +with the words: "Don't cheer, boys; the poor fellows are dying!" + +Lieutenant Commander Richard Wainwright performed an unequalled exploit +when in command of the _Gloucester_, formerly the yacht _Corsair_, he +wiped out the two torpedo boat destroyers _Pluton_ and _Furor_. At the +time of that exploit he was only forty-eight years old and the youngest +man of his grade in the navy. He is a fine officer and is a son of the +late Commodore Wainwright, who died in the service of his country during +the Civil War. Like many of our naval heroes, he seems to inherit his +fine fighting qualities, though it would not be far from the truth to +say that such is the rightful heritage of every American soldier and +sailor. + +[THE END.] + + + + +[Sidenote: Reasons why you should obtain a Catalogue of our +Publications] + +1. You will possess a comprehensive and classified list of all the best +standard books published, at prices less than offered by others. + +2. 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The book is elaborately illustrated, which +greatly assists the reader in appreciating page by page, Habberton's +masterpiece. + +Published as follows: + +=Popular Price Edition, Cloth, 60c., Postpaid.= + +=Quarto Edition, with Six Colored Plates, Cloth, $1.25, Postpaid.= + +We guarantee that you will not suffer from "the blues" after reading +this book. + +_Ask for our complete catalogue. Mailed upon request._ + +HURST & CO., Publishers, 395-399 Broadway, New York. + +[Illustration] + +=Dictionaries of the English Language= + + +A dictionary is a book of reference; a book that is constantly looked +into for information on various meanings and pronunciations of the +several thousand words of our language. 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