Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-05-10

- NAVAL CoURTEsIEs The veteran Commodore
d'haH, recently In command Of the East Indis
- uadron, visited the Navy Yard in this CITY on
Iuesudy last, and was received with every de-
monstraton Of respect by Commodore buchanan
ana the officers under his command Upon the
SSh'tance OF the distinguished visitor the Marine
a. Uudrul which was drawn up in line paid him
.ne military honors betting his high rank and
.he shutting battery poured forth loud welcome
20 tne gallant officer whose humane and heroic
conduct on the Peiho in behalf of the naval forces
unner Admiral Hope, In their sanguinary battle
WIN Tue Chinese, ELECTED the praise and admira-
uon OF the whole country
a. commodore Tatnall after having been escorted
su'o"gh the Yard by Commodore Buchanan and
Commanded Nc Blair, visited the quarters of the
Commandant, where a numerous and brilliant
asSemblage Of ladies and gentlemen awaited his
reception Among the distinguished personares
present were Senator Hammond, Of South Caro-
i!iiai Commodore Smith, Chief of the Bureau of
ardS and Docks; Capt. Ingraham, Chief of the
% blreau OF Ordn1nce; Colonel Harris, IT, s NC;
MdJor Ramsey, L. ; A; Col Buchanan L = A
Capt Powell, U :. Commanders Lee Tilton
ana walker, L. :. N; besides all the officers of
The Yard, in full uniform
After an interchange of friendly Greetings and
sentiments, the company were invited to partake
OF a bounteous and elegant repast at which Com
mndore Buchanan presided with marked affa-
bldty. and scrupulous attention to his guests es-
Pocldlly to the veteran officer in whose house they
had assembled NY
Having amply discussed the good things dis
played in Such prOfusiOn, Commodore buchanan
proposed the health of Commodore TatnalI nre
facing the toast with some pertinent and affecting
remarks which caused the silent tear TO plsten in
the still brilliant eve of the old naval hero In the
course OF his remarks, Commodore Buchanan said
that u might be deemed indelicate in him 10
speak In praise of the gallantrV of brother officer
oo' ne mad sailed with Commodore Tatnan forty
ysArS ago, and had been ever since an admiring
observer OF his naval career He therefore was
rtloiced at this opportunity to honor him and 10
CIV" ex preston TO the warm sentiments of respect
and affection which filed his heart He Com
m"dore Tatnal) had discharged his duty i'm every
sphere of naval life with credit to himself and
honor to the navy and the country. He had done
so IN tne war OF lol2, and yet bore the of an
honorable wound received in il. He had done SO
on the burning coast OF Africa and in the Mexican
war; and he had done more recently on the
fGIho. when he uttered the memorable words.
'blood IS thicker than water" and rushed to the
assistance OF the sinking ship of friendly Power
That heroic act sent thrill of pride thfenuhont
the country; and the country honored him for il.
Again he cordially welcomed him in his own
name, and that Of his brother officers whose
hearts, he was sure, beat responsive TO the senti
HentS which he had expressed
Commodore Tatnall replied by rendering his
Waimsst thanks for the unexpected honcrs which
had been Showerod upon him. He could not have
anticipated such a fatterinu demonstration Of
hiblhess dnd respect. IL was more than he mer-
en- ne was deeply grateful for it, and should
ever treasure the pleas NO elections of the occa
sion In the affair at the Peiho he had done what
he considered to be his duty; and whilst he be-
Eeved the Government would sustain him he
knew well that his conduct would meet the cor
dlhl approval and sympathy Of his brother officers
he again returned his unaffected thanks to his
esteemed friend, Commodore Buchanan who had
honored him so much by this demonstration
commodore Buchanan then proposed the health
cI commodore Smith, Chief of the Bureau of
ards and Docks, remarking that he could NOT be
guilty OF an act Of reInissnesS as he would be by
Ignoring 'N ards and docks on an occasion like
that
Commodore Smith responded by saving that IL
ne mad the oratorical power Of his friend Cornmo-
dOre Buchanan he mi ght be expected 10 say some
thing that would win their applause Rut he
made no pretensiOns of that kiad for he BELONGED
70 The treadmin of yards and docks where he was
hidden away In the discharge of laborious duties
growing out Of the supervision of all the navy
yards he bad to watch over them all and keen
them in proper trim, and he got very little than
Tor IT, except abuse In some of the nevspa pers
EVen In the Senate of the United States he ;,ad
been called . landlubber," because for several
wears ne had presided over the Bureau of Yards
ana DOCKS and Yethe had been in every grade
OF the service, from cabin boy to a commodore:
htd been In every class of vessel; had been on
every sea and in every cline; had discbarped hi.
duty In every engagement and was lust as able
to-day 10 " board the main tack" as any Of them
But ne was not here 10 speak of himself; he was |
here 10 honor brother officer. and he felt prond
OF the opportunity TO do so. Commodore TattpaU
was an old and valued friend and an excellent
officer He was eminently worthy of the honors
which had been bestowed upon him. He merited
the thanks OF bis country. As for himself he
(COm- Smith) did not know whether the present
generation, or even pOsterity, would ever be dis
posed to do him full justice but whether they
did or not be could appeal to Heaven for justf-
nCaton OF his acts
After an hour spent in social con versstion the
company retired, bearing with them the most
agreeable recOllections Of the incidents of the &C.
CasiOn.