The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-12-31
Death of Com I'm odore PIatt.

Another of our most eminent pub,ic SER
wants has gone to his final rest. Commodore
Charies L. Platt, the aid of Commodore Nc
Dohougn IN the battle Of Lake Champlain
ahd late CON mander of the Albany, in the
nome squadron, died at Newburg, New York.
on the 18th inst, in the sixty-sixth year of his
age.
Commodore Piatt was born at Plattsburp
N on the 10th of October, 1895 His ia ther
was the proprietary OF that township The
son was lett, while child, in the dependence
OF orpnanage. The shelter of his boyhood was
found under the roof of Judge Jonas Plat
and with Charles Il. Plat, at Albany. then
treasurer of the State. On the outbreak of
nos stilities between this government and q real
DTildiu, ne was an eager as pirant for the perils
ana honors of naval heroism. His public ca.
reer commenced with a midshipman's war
rant. dated June Is, 1912. The order accom- =
pahying IL. directed him to repair at once to
MS station In the flagship of our feet upon
Lake Champiain. With this feet he contip-
ued guarding our frontier against the enemy e
INVASION by water during the summer and
watching against his approach upon the ice by
winter, 10 destroy our vessels a. Eergepnes-
tie was at his post, on board the Saratoga on
the memorable llth of September, 1874, when
Inc British squadron bore down upon Com
modore McDonough in Ilattsburg Bay Dur
ing the engagement on this day Midshpman
flatt acted in the capacity of Commodores
| Aid. His duty, accordingly, required him 10
pass repeatedly through the line of contend
| ing fleets. The fire of the enemy was directed
/ upon his open boat whenever the lifting clouds
| of smoke exposed his open boat to view. Our
| low-toWnsman, E. II. Cobb. Esq, who was
| In that action, says that Lord Provost sur
veyed This action from j dge Piatt's piazza
| Their aim was not effeC 1aI in intercepting
| his communication of ders, though his hat,
| his coat, and finally his boat, were penetrat ted
| and the ship was with difficulty regained -
| Congress voted to him a sword, in les timony
| or MS galIantrV this occasion
After subsequent services as lieutenant in
| the mediterranean squadron, he was in 1875
| acting as executive officer of the United States
| ship Fulton, then the receiving ship at Brook
| lyn Navy-Yard. In the calas trophe of the
| 4th Of June, when the magazine of this ship
| exploded, he received his most serious bodily
| iEj ,ries. With his face Iacerated, his jaw
| broken, his shoulder MANNED, the flesh torn
| from his limbs, and contusions blaCkening his
| body, life seemed scarcely to have a tenement
| lett for itself; and identified no longer By his
| yisage but by his uniform, he was laid and
| reported among the dead.
| The explosion of the magazine of the Fulton
| occurred while the officers and small com.
pany of guests were dining in the cabin
| Among toe party were Lieut.. BreekSaridge
| United States Navy, who was killed His
| only wound being the puncture of A bayone1
| through his forehead. His wife. who sat at his
| side while dining, was severely wounded
| Com. Plat occupied the head OF the table, the
i Rev. Chas. IL. Platts then a lad of years, sat a
his left over whom waiter was leaning, who
| was crushed by timber falling upon his head
| The injuries To Charles were but slight gashe
| which soon healed. He saw his father, with
| other bleeding officers, lying IN the bottom o.
| the boat that conveyed them to The shore. bu
he Immediately sWooned again, and did Io
| recover his consciousness until they were
| placed in the ship-house at the Navy Docl
Yard He then crept to the line of bodies sup
posed 10 be dead, and recognized his father
loosened his cravat and appealed 10 the crowo
| to retire and give him chance for breath, fol
| life was still there The surgeons re-eXamineC
the Commodore and discovered animation
| No fragment of a body that could be iden tifieC
! as that of the gunner was ever found. a Who'll,
| crew for ship lying 81 the yard, and com
| pany OF officers, with Commodore Chauncey
had left the Fulton but fifteen minutes befor,
the explosion. The ravage OF this nearly fata
| disas Ter left sequel of Disagreement and pair
| that never forsook his frame.