The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-06-03
DEATH OF COMMODORE T. AP CATESBY
JONFS

The death of one of the most distinguished Off
GERS of our army has been quickly followed by that
of one of the most gallant veterans of our navy
Commodore T. Ap Catesby Jones departed this life
at his residence Georgetown, Sunday evening,
the Both May. For long period his health had
beep bad, and his death has been constantly appre
herMed for the last five or six months. His age was
sixty-nine
Welsh origin, and entered the navy in 1905, being
the fourth the list of our post captains. Through
out his whole career, he was distinguished for gal
lantry, energy and skill in his profession, and for
all the private virtues that adorn the gentleman
and the officer. With these were combined love
of rural and agricultural life and pursuits and those
social and domestic tastes that appear more
attractive and admirable than when attended with
the stern and heroic virtues of the warrior and the
patriot.
During our war with England, our gallant
little navy contained no ADLER or braver officer than
Lieutenant Il. Ap Catesby Jones' The event, how
ever, of his life, in the brancy of which other in
cdents illustrative of his heOric qualities are nearly
lost and forgotten, the battle OF the gun-boats
in Lake Borgne, in 1Sl4-one of the most memora-
BILE and strongly contested affairs of the late war
On that occasion, Lieutenant Jones with five small
gun-bOats and less than two hundred men fought
and for some time held at bay, British hOtla
carrying some forty guns and more than a thousand
armed men.
Owing to some of his boats getting aground and
others being borne away by the tide the whole
weight of the conflict fell upon the boat command
ed bv Lieutenant Jones ond twd Others. It was
terrible hand-to-hand and most sanguinary conflict
One third of Jones' officers and men were shot
down, and the British lost more than two hundred
killed and wounded. The vigor and gallantry of
this defence caused the British to pause in their ca
reer, and enabled Jackson to continue and com
plete his measures for the defence of New Orleans
An interesting incident marked the battle of the
gunboats, which is doubtless quite new to many of
our readers. In the ascent to our Capitol on the
western front is an elaborate and highly finished
monument, erected in 1905 to the naval heroes who
distinguished themselves in the war against the
Tripolitans One of the figures on this monument
Is the Muse OF History engaged with pen record
ing the gallant achievements of our navy.
When the city was captured by the British in
1913, and the Vandalic order issued by Admi-
! raj Cockburn to destroy the public buildings this
monument did not escape the general fury of the
barbarian invader. 1t was defaced and mutilated,
and an insolent young officer, Lieut.. Pratt of the
British navy pointing to the figure of the Historic
Muse, remarked that she was about to record lie,
and, aiming his pistol, shot the pen from the hand
of the figure.
commanded the barge which first reached Lieuten-
ant Jones boat, and as he was about to board her,
| Jones shot him, and he fell mortally wounded in
the arms of his companions. One of the Britons
! quickly retaliated by firing his musket at Jones,
the ball from which lodged in his shoulder, infict
| ing wound from which he never entirely recover
ed. He still continued on deck animating and di-
recting his men until he received another wound,
! when he was carried below, and the British took
possession of his vessel after every one of her men
! had been shot down.
! This was only the crowning achievement of a ca
reer of gallant service and faithful devotion to the
honor and rights of his country, which have placed
! the name of IT, Ap Catesby Jones high on the roll
of the heroes and patriots of the republic Wash.
! Union.