Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 May 1881 — ADMIRAL FARRAGUT. [ARTICLE]

ADMIRAL FARRAGUT.

Uh Early Use aad Pub- • lie Services. Washington, D. C., April 25,1881. —The nation i* paying a tribute to-day to the memory of one of its bravest defenders. The annals of history furnishes no brighter record, and one decked with more wellearned laurels, than that of Admiral David Glaaooe Farragut. Commodore Perry on the lakes, or Lord Nelson, ss master of the seas, never won victories under greater disadvantagea than Farragut did .in his passage of the forte below New Orleans, and in Mobile bay. His father was born on the island of Minorca, in the Mediteranean sea, but came to this oou ntry in 1776, and at once joined the colonial army, and for gallantry was promoted to the rank of major. After peace was declared, he married Miss Shire of North Carolina, and settled near Knoxville. Tenn., where, ih 18C1, the subject of this sketch was born. In 1810, when only 9 years of age, be longed to go to sea, and secured a position as midshipmen under Captain Porter. It is intimated that the place was procured through the influence of his father, who had served with Capt. Porter in the ocean service. Two years later war broke out with England, and he went to sea in the Essex, with the following inscription on her flag “Free trade and Sailors Rights.” On the 18th of August the English sloop of war, Alert sighted the Essex, and at once attempted to run her down. As she approached her weather quarters, three cheers came from the Alert, and she E >ured In a broadside into the Essex. ut the American craft returned the fire with such dreadful effect that the Alert was so badly damaged in eight minutes, that seven feet of water stored in her hold, and she was compelled to strike her colors immediately. The young boy Farragut was then only eleven when he participated in his first engagement. He then cruised for quite a time with the Essex, which was successftil in capturing several prizes. In January 1831, Captain Porter in command of the Essex arrived at Valparaiso. There he waited for the British ship Phoebe, which was on his track. In a short time the Phoebe arrived, but to the astonishment of Porter, the sloop-of-war Cherub was with her, so he had two vessels to fight Instead of one, as he had supposed. The British ships were so incensed at the success of the Essex, that they had inscribed on their flags: “God and our country—British sailers’ best rights— Traitors offend them.” Porter immediately hoisted at his mizzen: “God, our country, and liberty—Tyrants offend them.” Porter attempted to en* gage the Phoebe alone ,but she clung closely to the Cherub. Porter learning that other cruisers were coming to assist in his capture, took advantage of a fair wind, sailed out of port, but in ronnding Point of Anels, a squall carried away the maintop-mast of the Essex, and swept over-board several of his men. Too badly crippled for action, or to put to sea, he returned to the harbor in neutral waters. The English commander came into the harbor, with both vessels, and commenced the attack. The Essex being compelled to fight at once began pouring in such well aimed shots, that she disabled both the Pheobe ana Cherub. They repaired their damages and came back to renew the action, before the Essex could get ready for sea, and escape. Then commenced an action of the most furious character. The Essex was soon disabled and rendered unmanageable to a great extent. Captain Porter endeavored to close .vith the Phoebe, but she kept out of his way, but both vessels kept a galling fire on tne crippled American vessel as it floated around at the mercy of the waves. The deck was running with blood, while the cock-pit was filled with the wounded. Scarcely an officer or man was left untoucned. Then but twelve, the brave boy Farragut stood nobly at his post, although wounded In the side, hfs childish voice could be distinctly heard when the belching guns were being again shotted, or the marines were re-load-ing, for they were in close musket range part of the tijne. Captain Porter in his report to the secretary of the nuvy, made special mention of the extraordinary coolness and bravery of this youngdad, and added “too young for twelve years old, he yet had behaVed with such distinguished gallantry that he deserved a leutenant’s • commission.” He was sout the patroled officers. Porter became so much attach _>d to him that he P»C. - him to school at' Chester Mad’ taught him m llitary tatties. Thus Wm he Schooled and prepared for the responsible position thateperhajis no other training Would havA made him equal to the occasion. Wheh the war broke out he was at the- *V>rtemouth navy yard—commonly* kfabwn as the Norfolk yard.' BprUmouth is opposite Norfolkkacross the Elizabeth river, which iiknothing mdse than an arm of the ocean. Nearly every officer and mamin the yard r and in all three cities, f<>r •’Portsmouth and Gosport are on one slab orthb rivet, with only a small stream dividing them, with Norfolk,-the main city, oft- the other, sympathized with south, and openly dgelargd their intention to assist it tp utmost. Singly and (reclined toresve the old bad -served undpxfor He 'well remembered his boyhood days, when it Eroudly-floated in th© breeze- over im, whehtrue men wereatthe guns, wtth them In spirit and action. No, the brave boy that stood by his gun and refused lo' leave it when he was wounded, would not now desert the flag, though Ovfery other man assailed ilk*; they oounted him for their cause,.and doted on hi© courage and great experience. But when they

found he was immovable ip his upipn sentiments, they notified hhirthat it was unsafe tor him to remain them, His reply wa*: “Very well, then?! will go where r can live with such sentiments.” Sumter soon felLwnd the conspiracy was already cropping out to seize the navy yard at Fortemouth,and on the fithof April, 1861, he left for the north. The next day the yard was set on fire and several vessels u ere burned at the dock, besides other valuable property.. As he was a southerner, Farragut*' was not requested by the navy department to takeacoinmand,»oh< retired to A qute. place on the Hudson, just below Tarrytown Andre -Was captured during the revolution. His presence and movements were viewed with suspicion by the people there, for away the government began to feel blockading squadron that Was® to

ttte M i^issi pni and the capture of New Orleans, an£Mo opsattrariver. Onthe Sd of FWIE 1862 i he sailed from Hampton Roads, only twelve miles from NorMKThan one year before heliad safety in the night. He choee thefHartford as his flag-ship, of the fleet was Shin Island. Farragut arrived lii seventeen days, and a; once commenced to prepare for the great task before him. Tbe flrst thing was to get his fleet over the bar-soon all were safely anchored inside except ihe Colorado twenty-two feet of water, while there were only fifteen feet covering the bar. Hence be had to proceed without the assistance «»f this large and strong vessel. But that was no time to pine over any loss. Each side of the river was well lined witli batteries and forte, which the rebels had taken from the government, and instructed to prevfet any fleet attempting to ascend the river—with the sole possession of the queen us rivers in America, and the commerce of the world asking permission to oofiaa up, they ho|«d to secure the sympathy and recognition of foreign nations which would greatly assist in giving them their independence. Re aliting tiie great importance of the task before him, and how much depended on We result Farragut resolved atall hazards—putting‘bis own life in jeopardy to save his country. After spending a week in bombarding the forte and batteries on the shore, he became satisfied that thnt would take too long, for the people in the north were terribly impatient for the herculean task to be finishsd at once. Farragut resolved to run the blockade and take New Orleans, and the surrender of the forts below and open up the Misstesinpi from the gulf that far. The rebels were well and fully prepared for any kind of an attack. Fire ships were built of pine and piton, moved to the shore ready to be fired at a moment’s notice and started down the river to destroy the whole of Farragut s flee . His vessels in the current could not well escape coming in contact with t >eee fire-fiends. If they attempted to go towards the shore they would run- aground and either be captured or rendered useless. He decided to attempt to pass the block ade on the night of the 26th of April at 2 o’clock in the morning. The hour of action came, and the boatswain’s shrill call rung over the water. “Up all hammocks ” and the drums beat to quarters. In an hour they were ready and moving up the stream in two columns, the right led by Captain Bailly in the CaHuga, followed by Pensacola, Mississippi, Oneida. Varuna,Katahdln, Kiner and Wisschickon; the left by Farragut in the Hartford, followed by the Brooklyn, Richmond, Sciota, Iroquois, Kenntbec, Rpinola, Itasco andVVinona. Farragut was to engage Fort Jackson and Bailly Fort St. Philip. Porter brought up the rear, and was to pour an enfilaindg fire on the forts while the boat was passing. The enemy soon took the alarm, and. as the fleet advanced, opened afibavy fire on it, at the same time lighting and pushing into the stream a fire-raft of immense size. It came straight for the Hartford, and in order to avoid contact with It Farragut shbered his vessel a little, and by that means run aground under the murderous fire of the forte. This accident gave the fire-ship the advantage, and it came square against the Hartford, and it seemed as lithe flagship must at once perish in the flames. The rigging quickly took fire. Farragut ordered the engines to be reversed, which proved successful, and in a moment the Hartford was again moving up stream, but on Are. That was a moment laden with great responsibility and danger, but Farragut kept the gunners at work, and had the sailors put out the fire. Now came the rebel fleet bearing down on the ascending vessels of Farragut. It seemed as if the forte and the firefiend wvs already enough for them to stand, but a new and additional da.nger was to be met at once. Boog. took the Varuna, and darting ahead supk five of the enemy’s fleet, but soon went down herself after a most gallant fight. The forte were now passed and the rebel fleet badly crippled. Farragut steamed to New Orleans as great * hero as General Jackson was in the.war of 1812. The telegraph flashed bis great victory over the world name of Farragut received the praise of the whole north. He then subdued the batteries along the shore© of the : Mississippi—captured all of the towns and hoisted the American flag at every point. -UThen came his best great heroic act./ Mobile must dp captured by a combined effort oftfie fleet, and the army in the rear. Oc coarse Farragut must commence the blast— other forte , and batteries were tObc run. This’ was perhaps the great dream of hmkllfe. The menced the attack—the iron clad was blown uftfeally before til the vessels and sodn nm toe forte? but after the harbor wm made, the rebel steam ram Tennessee cameout to attack and stessa 6(1 on -l*M old veteran Tennessee to his home on the HmMtffi to entot he