Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 August 1893 — FARRAGUT’S FIRST FIGHT. [ARTICLE]

FARRAGUT’S FIRST FIGHT.

He Was But 13 Wlica He Took Part In a Desperate Battle. Farragut obtained a midshipman’s conmission before he was 9 years old, which case has probably no parallel in the history of the American navy. He was 10 years and 1 month old only when he joined the Essex, a brave and selfreliant, adventurous, but dutiful boy, afterward emtninently fitted to command, because early accustomed to obey. The Essex was built at Salem, and paid for by the patriotic contributions of the citizens of that place. Capt. Porter took command of her in August, 1811, young Farragut being with him, and the frigate was then lying at Norfolk, Va. On the 18th of June, 1812, only about eleven mouths afterward, the Congress of the United States,declared war against Great Britain, and his declaration was read to the crew of the Essex on three successive days, so that no British subject on board i f there chance to be one, should be required to serve against his flag. There were none who were not liable to duty, the Essex sailed on her memorable cruise in the Pacific Ocean. She was the first American man-of-war to pass around Cape Horn, as she had been the first to double the Cape of Good Hope and her experience was a rough one; but It was followed by a series of almost uninterrupted successes and victories, until she finally encountered the British frigate Phoebe and the British sloop-of-war Cherub oarly in February, 1814, off Valparaiso, Chili. A combined attack was made upon her by these two vessels while hall the men belonging to the Essex were on shore (but upon a signal being given, the men were all aboard the Essex in fifteen minutes, and ail but one prepared for duty). After, one of the most desperate battles ever fought upon the ocean, under the adverse conditions of contending with two vessels of the enemy of greater superior force, herself disabled by a furious storm, all her officers but one killed, and the Essex on fire, she surrendered in a defeat, like that on land at Bunkei Hill, which was more glorious thau the victory. The commander of the British forces, Capt. Hillyar, was wounded and died before the engagement ended. In his note book young Farragut says: “During the action I performed the duties of Captain’s aid, quarter gunner, powder boy, and, in fact, did everything that was required of me. I shall never forget the horrid impression made upon me at the sight of the first man I had ever seen killed. He was a boatswain’s mate, and was fearfully mutilated. It staggered and sickened me at first; but they soon began to fall around me so fast that it all appeared like a dream,and produced no effect upon my nerves. “1 can remember well,” he continues, “while I was standing near the Captain, just abaft the mainmast, a shot came through the waterways and glanced upward, killing four men who were standing beside the gun, taking the last oue in the head and scattering his brains over both of us. But this awful sight did not affect me half as much . as the death of the first poor fellow. I neither thought of nor noticed anything but the working of the guns.” Such was the literal baptism of fire and blood of the young midshipman and future Admiral, as if fate or that Divine Providence which he always reverently recognized, intended thus signally to forecast his illustrious destiny. Later on in his journal young Farragut wrote: “After the battle had ceased, when on going below I saw the mangled bodies.of my shipmates, dead and dying, groaning and expiring, with the most patriotic sentiments on their lips, I became faint and sick, my sympathies were all aroused; among the badly wounded was one of my best friends, Lieut. Sewell. When I spoke to him he said, ‘O, Davy, I fear it is all up with me;' but when it was proposed to drop another patient and attend to him, he replied, 4 No, doctor, none of that; fair play is a jewel. One man’s life is as good as another’s; I would not cheat uny poor fellow out of his turn.’ Thus died,” continues the journal, “one of the best and bravest men among us.”