The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-06-27
Obituary.
REAR ADMIRAL DUPONT.

1868, being incapacitated for active SER
vice, and has been on an indefinite leave
of absence.
BIRTH AND EARLY SERVICE.
Admiral Dupont was born at Bergen,
N. j., September 81, 1903, OF parents OF
French extraction, who had removed 10
this country several years before. HIS
infancy and childhood were, however,
spent in Delaware, to which State his
parents removed in 1904. He entered
the navy in 1915, being commissioned
midshipman on December 10 OF that
year.
HIS FIRST CRUISE
was p,ade in the seventy-four gun ship
Franklin, under Commodore Stewart.
In June, 1886, Admiral Dupont--then
lieutenant-comman the Warren,
which was attached at that time to the
squadron of Commodore A. J. Dallas,
cruising in the West Indies, but which
was subsequently stationedas astoreship
at Panama. In December, 1913, he COM
manded the United States brig Perry,
while on the way to Rio Janeiro, bound
to the West indies.
In October, 1916, having been promo
ted a commander, he was ordered to the
Pacific in the frigate Congress, the flag
ship of Commodore r. f. Stockton, and
in this capacity, and as commander OF
the sloop-Of-war Cyane, served through
the Mexican war, being actively enga-
ged on the California coast.
AN EXPLOIT OF THE MEXICAN WAR.
One of his exploits during that contest
occurred in February, 1913, when he
marines and sailors, defeated a large
nd ,ncoura1 n email no u ~
under Lieutenant Haywood, who had
been beleaguered. In 1856 he was pro-
NOTED full captain. In 1857 he was
given the command of the steam frigatc
Minnesota, and conveyed Mr.. Reed, the
American Minister, to China. After a
cruise of two years in the China waters
he returned to the United States, andon
January l, 1861, was appointed to the
command of the Philadelphia Navy
Yard.
PROMOTION.
At this time he was the fifty eighq
captain in the line of promotion, being
junior to Lawrence Rosseau, French
Forrest, Josiah Tatnall, Franklin Buch-
anan, George w. Hollins, ID. w. Ingra-
ham, and several others who became re-
nOwned as rebels, as we'll as of Shubrick,
Stringham, Breeze, Paulding, Farragut,
and GOldsbOrOugh, whose names have
been immortalized in the loyal service OF
the government BY the desertion Ofthe
former class Captain Dupont was adj
f;y..sread,in the line of promotion until he
stood On the list of August 81, 1861, No.
Al. Subsequently, by the retirement of
Shubrick, Stribling and Others, he was
again advanced, and in September, 1862,
he was placed on the list as the third
Rear Admiral in the service, Faragut
being the first and Goldsborough the
second.
THE PORT ROYAL EXPEDITION.
In the summer of 1861 Admiral (then
COMMODORE Dupont was placed in COM
mand of the South Atlantic blockading
squadron and being called upon to Sc
lect some point on the coast to be seized
as a basis for inland operations and as a
depot, he decided to attack Hilton Head.
The fleet which was collected in Hamp-
ton Roads for the purpose of making
the descent at this point sailed from
Fortress Monroe, with the transports
conveying General T. w. Sherman's
forces, on October 20, 1861, and Hilton
Head Island and Bay Point were seized
and the rebel forts captured on NOvem-
Der Z, after a severe engagement of four
hours. This engagement, which was
then looked upon as remarkable, and
which created great interest throughout
the world, was one among the first sue
cesses for the Union arms during the re-
bellion.
, BLOCKADING SQUADRON.
The capture of Hilton Head released
several vessels from duty at that point,
and with these Commodore Dupont en-
forced stricter blockade of the other
Atlantic coast harbors, besides destroy
ing the Nashville and other vessels.
During the winter of 1S61-62 the block
ade runners had every reason to fear his
vigilance and energy.
CAPTURE OF FERNANDINA, FLORIDA.
In March, 1862, a joint expedition of
the army and navy under General IL.
G. Wright and Admiral Dupont, was
undertaken against Fernandina, FlOri-
da, which was seized without much diff
ficulty.
THE FIGHT OFF CHARLESTON.
The next most important engagement
in which Admiral Dupont participated,
was the naval battle off Charleston,
which followed the attempt of the rebel
rams Palmetto State and Chicora, and
steamers General Clinch, Ettiwan and
Chesterfield, to raise the blockade of that
port. The affair took place January 81,
1868, between those vessels and the Mer-
cedita, keystone State, Augusta, Qua
ker City, Memphis and Housatonic of
our navy, then blockading the port.
The engagement, which lasted for seve-
raj hours, of misty morning, resulted
in the repulse of the rebel rams, after
the loss Of the Mercidita and keystone
State, and large part of the crew of
each of these vessels.
CTHER SERVICES.
The ill heath of Admiral Dupont COM
PEELED him in June, 1862 to ask to be re-
1ieved from his arduous duties, and he
was notified that he would be succeeded
by Admiral Foote; but while under Or
ders to proceed to Hilton Head for that
purpose, Admiral Foote died. Admiral
Dupont was necessarily continued in
his command until Admiral John A.
Dahlgren could be sent to relieve him
The latter assumed command i'm JuIv
1868, and Admiral Dupont has ever since
been on leave, or, in the language of the
Navy Register, "awaiting orders" The
long deferred orders came to him yester-
day, and found him ready and willing
to obey, and his long and useful life is
grounded with sleep" as calm as deep
With the end Of Tho rebellion, which he
80 calamity combatted, all attractive in
life, appears to have expired, and he
died content in knowing the Union was
preserved.
Admiral Dupont was possessed of