The Sun.
London, England, 1870-07-28 00:00:00

REAR-ADMIRAL DAHLGREN.

The death of Rear-Admiral John A. Dahlgren will
leave a gap in our navy which cannot readily be filled.
He, more than any one man, contributed to give to our
naval ordnance the prestige it so long held, for even
before the late rebellion, United States war vessels were
armed with heavier guns, better mounted, then could be
found in any other navy in the world. Admiral Dahlgren
entered the service forty - five years ago, and
soon turned special attention to the study of
ordnance and gunnery. To these branches of the
service he devoted himself with unswerving fidelity
throughout his entire life. While yet a lieutenant, he
invented the light 12-pounder boat howitzer and gun-car-
riage, which bear his name, and by this achievement at
once established his reputation as an ordnance officer of
attainments and practical ability. As a reward for this
invention, he was assigned to ordnance duty, and by a
special act of Congress was allowed to draw the pay of the
next grade higher than that which he actually held by
commission. We believe that this is the only
case in which such an honour has been con-
ferred upon an United States naval officer.
Availing himself of the facilities he enjoyed
in his new post, Dahlgren began ex.pei imenting
with large guns, and soon obtained the permission of the
Government to build a nine-inch and an eleven-inch shell
gun. He was successful in both of these attempts also,
and so perfect was his plan of construction that the guns
which he had only intended to throw shells were found
equal to the strain of solid shot as well. He also intro-
duced a new pivot carriage, on which to mount his eleven-
inch gun. He commanded the Plymouth, the first vessel
which ever sailed with nine-inch broadside and eleven-
inch pivot guns. He also made improvements in our
shrapnel shot, and prepared most complete tables of
ranges and sights for all classes of naval guns ; and,
indeed, it would be difficult to estimate or enume-
rate all the improvements he introduced in naval
ordnance, for there is little connected with that branch of
the service which he did not seek to render better than he
found it. As a brother officer said, in speaking of him,
"he reduced the mathematics of gun making to the
simple rule of thumb, so that any one could make a gun
or shot by following his directions." Admiral Dahlgren
was a thoughtful student, but he was also a good manager
of men, and had the reputation of getting better returns
of work from a band of artificers than any other ordnance
officer in the service. His distinguished services in the
Ordnance Department gained forhim the reward of a vote
of thanks from Congress, and promotion to the grade of
rear-admiral upon the reorganisation of the navy
in 1863. His principal command during the war
was that of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron,
operating against Charleston. In this capacity he con-
stantly made his headquarters on one or other of the
monitors, and was always found in the leading ironclad
whenever an advance was made. In passing from one
vessel to another in an open boat, as he frequently did in
a fight, he was often in imminent risk of destruction ;
but at such times he seemed to heed the enemy's shot as
little as he did those of his own guns at the experimental
battery he had established at Washington. It was
while in command of this squadron that he met
General Sherman after his march to the sea,
and subsequently aided that officer in taking Sa-
vannah. In personal appearance Admiral Dahl-
gren was of medium height, of slight but wiry
build, with a clear gray eye of remarkable penetration.
He was all his life a student, and to a strarlger his manner
was often somewhat reserved ; but with his friends he
was a free and agreeable converser, and especially de-
lighted to talk of his profession with all who could im-
part, or desired to receive, information. Since the war
he served a full term of two years as commandant of the
South Pacific Squadron, and upon his return was again
made Chief of Ordnance. He was relieved of the duties
of that position at his own request, and assigned
to the command of the Washington Yard, where
he could still pursue his experiments in gun-
nery. Admiral Dahlgren had • three sons in the
war, one of whom, Ulric, gained considerable distinction
as a colonel of cavalry, meeting with a hero's death in a
raid near Richmond. The Admiral married his second
wife some five years ago, and leaves by her two or three
young children. Although he spent a considerable por-
tion of his life at sea, he was always a great sufferer from
sea-sickness, so that he has been known to have, from this
cause, a headache for twelve months continuously. He
never, however,
,allowed his personal discomforts to in-
fluence him in his intercourse with his officers, to whom he
was always the strict commander, but at the same time
the courteous gentleman. His name will be remembered
and honoured as long as we cherish the memories of dis-
tinguished naval officers.—New York Times.

THE CAUSE.—WhiIe the noble sport of yachting
has found many votaries in this country, few, if any, of
our adventurous spirits have taken kindly to the canoe.
Yet there are many temptations, for those who like to
spend a summer's holiday a little out of the beaten track,
to go on solitary expeditions in search of health
and pleasure. The owner of the famous Rob Roy
has set the example, and in the very amusing
narrative of his journeyings in the East, just
published by the Messrs. Harpers, he gives full directions
for the necessary equipment of a boat capable of making
long voyages in perfect safety. Why not form a canoe
club in this City ? If Commodore Stebbins, who has
done so much for our yacht club, would only take the
enterprise in hand, he would ,very soon find a goodly
muster of young men rallying to tis flag, We.should
then be able to give even the owner of the Rob Roy a
hint how tobuild canoes.—New York Times.