Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-02-16
THE LATE COMMODORE MORRIS.

"
This distinguished veteran officer of III,
United States Navy. as has been stated. died
at his residence in Washington on Sunday af.
ternoon' after an illness Of nearly three weeks
caused by pneumonia combined with pleurisy
and acute bronchitis. The Providence J6uruo
publishes an able obituary recouniiog The nrip.
cipal events of his honorable and useful career
Conmodure Charles Morris was born al W.od.
stock, Conn, in October, 1854, and at the ,ime
Of his death was seveniy-two years Of ape.-
lie entered the navy as midshipman when only
10 years of age. Com. Stewart entered one
year before him. and for some time past has
held the rank Of senior Captain. Morris frs,
Obtained noloricty and notice from his commap-
der by his gallant conduct 10 the war with the
Barbary Stales. lie was midsbipmap on
board the Constitution, Commodore Preble :
flagship, on the occasion Of the recapture and
destruction Of the frigate Philadelphia in the
horbor Of Tripoli, in 1904.
Every one is familiar with the history Of
that most righteous though iaelorious war
Com. Decatur, then a Lieutenant. became its
hern. Morris was then bot twenty yesrs Of
age, yet notwithstanding bis youth, he dislin-
suished himself in more than one perilous en-
counter, where intrepdiiy, quick sound iude-
meni and energy were the essentials Of success
lie was the first 10 stand on the deck of the
Philadelphia, and commence the work of he,
destruction. It is high proof Of the conf
dence OF his superior officers that he had been
appointed to the special duty Of setting fire to
the cockpit and after siore-rooms. lie com
manded gun-boai a, the bomLardmen, of Tn
poll, and at the close Of the war, though he
had been but FIVE years IN the service, was pro-
NOTED to Lieuienancy On the breaking on,
OF the last war with England, he was attached
10 the capacity Of executive officer TO the fri.
gate Constitution, Capt. Hull.
The frisaie sailed from the Chesapeake in
July, 1872, and when hut few leagues from
the coast, found herself in the very mids, of
Commodore Broke's feet. The morninq mis-,
arose from the ocean, and revealed her presence
TO the enemy. Her capture seemed inevitable.
but Lieut.. Morris conceived and successfully
carried out plan which completely foiled the
British Of their anticipated victory. This al.
most unparalleled feat of sesmanship was ac-
complshed by combination Of towing and
varying by means Of the Constitutions boats
and anchors, though only after prolonged and
incessan' chase Of sixty hours from all the
this feet was the celebrated Guerriere, and
during the same season, while Morris was still
First Lieutenant OF the Constitution, the Two
vessels met. Coming into close quarters, Nor
ris himself lashed them together
With the result OF that most remarkable and
important naval baiile, all the histories have
made US familiar, and il is unnecessary 10 say
more ihan that in the fight with muskeiry and
short swords. Lieut.. Morris received through
his body an almos, fatal wound. 10 September
of the mex, year 1879 Morris was promoted
for special services 10 The rank of Post Captain.
passing over the heads Of some Of his seniors,
aud over the intermediate grade Of Master Com
mandant. His commission dated from the DAY
Of the capture of the Guerrero Early in the
succeeding year he was put in command Of the
sloop-ol-war Adams. During his cruise in this
vessel, he captured several ships Of the enemy.
was chased number Of times by superior
force, but succeeded with admirable skill in ef-
fecling his escape. The Adams was disabled
by storm, and was obliged 10 put into Penob-
scot Bay and up The river as far as llampdcn,
for repairs. Presently large British squad
ron appeared at the mouth Of the river. and
landed an overwhelming force 10 attack and cap
tnre the Adams. But sooner than see his YES
sci fall into the hands of the enemy, he prefer
red TO destroy her at once soon after which
event the war came to an end.
After its close he was appointed 10 many
important commands both by sea and shore.-
On the return Of Lafayette 10 France in 1925,
Com, Morris was appointed to the command of
the National ship which bore him over the At
lanIic. Out of ihy-fve years Of active service,
iweniy-one were passed upon the ocean, and
during all this period his furloughs and alb
sences have amounted to but two years.
His last cruise was in 1871, in the Delaware
ship-of-ihe-line, when he took charge Of the
squadron on the coast Of Brazil, and afterwards
that in the Mediterranean. Upwards of thirty
one years Com. Morris has spent in honorable
and arduous posts at the navy yards, or in the
bureaus of the government For many years
he supervised the Naval Academy at Annapolis
with sound judgment and liberal views aud
al the time of his death he was Chief Of the
Bareau Of Hydrognphy and Repairs at Wash
ington. His services upon shore have been no
less effective and valuable than those in his
younger days at sea, and there is no doubt that
If the great improvements ia our naval service
could be traced to their souice, he would be
found to have originated large proportion of
them. For the wisdom which has guided the
policy, dictated the discipline, and formed the
character Of the American Navy, we are in
debted to no one more than to Commodore Nor
ris,
In February, 1915, he married Miss Harriet
Bowen, daughter Of the late DR.. William Bow
en-, of Providence, r. l.. beautiful and ac-
complished lady, who at the head of uumer-
Gus family survives her distinguished husband.
In private life, says the Providence Journal,
Com. Morris was hospitable, communicative
and benevolent, aud being entirely free from
anything like bravado or arrogance, he comhin-
ed in his manners TO rare degree, unaffected
simplicity and manly dignity. His ideal Of
character was lofty, bat he looked enienly up
on the faults Of his fellows. In the intelligent,