Middletown transcript., 1869-11-13
DEcEAsE OF ADMIRAL STEWART.

Rear Admiral Charles Stewart, of the
United States navy, died at his residence
in Bordentown, N. j. last Saturday. Full
of honors, as he was ripe in years, he pass
ed peacefully away. lie was best known
as Commodore Stewart" title to which
he affectionately cllng, long after Congress
had by special act conferred upon him the
distinguished rank of "Senior Flag Off
ccr' of the United States navy. His ca
reer covers nearly the whole history of
our navy, for it is now within few months
Of seventy years since he made his first
capture as the commander of an American
ship. The Philadelphia Ledger gives the
following interesting sketch of the distin-
guished DECEASED
Charles Stewart was born in Philadel-
phia, of Irish parcntage, on the 28th of
July, 1778. He was the youngest of s
children. His father had been in the iner-
chant service and died few months be-
fore young Charles Stewart was born. The
future hero and Admiral entered the mer-
chant service as cabin boy, at the age of
thirteen, rose through all grades to that of
ccptain, and onsthe 9th Of March, 1898,
was commissioned by the elder President
Adams n lieutenant in the United States
navy. He was employed in the West In
dies to protect American commerce against
French privateefs, and in Semptember,
1900, when in command of the Expert
ment, 10-gun schooner, he captured in
ten minutes the French schooner Deux
Amis, eight guns, and soon after the
French schooner Diana, fourteen guns. He
was with Preble in the naval operations
against Tripoli, and served with Decatur
in the brilliant attacks upon the Tripolitan
works, for which he received Commodore
Preble's thanks, He was made master
commandant in 1904 and captain in 1906.
When war was declared against Great
Britain, in 1872, our government at first
resolved to employ the navy in harbor de-
fense, and not send any ships to sea, but
Captains Stewart and Brainbridge procur-
ed a modification of the order, and Cap
tain Stewart, after serving for while in
the harbor of Norfolk, started on cruise
as captain of the Constitution, in Decem-
Der, 1913, and on the 18th of February,
1915, captured the British 16-gun schoon-
er Pictou, with her convoy, consisting Of
privateer and several merchantmen. In
December, 1918, he took the Constitution
on second cruise. and on the Goth Of
February, 1914, captured the British frig-
ate Cyane, 34 guns, and the sloop-of-war
Levant, 81 guns, fighting both ships al
one time in night action of forty min.
utes. The Lcvant was subsequently, re.
captured by treacherous action in ncu,
trail port, but the Cyane was kept safe
and lay for many years at the Philadelphia
navy-yard, where her billethead, finely.
carved dragon, is still preserved. Foi
these brilliant actions, which were among
those which established the grand prestige
of the American navy, Congress rendered
him the thanks of the nation, and award
ed him "a gold medal, the Legislature o
Pennsylvania voted him a gold hilteC
sword,S and the city of New York present
ed him with costly testimonial. He wa
received everywhere with the highest hon
ors. After the close of the war he served
as commander of the Mediterranean an,
Pacific squadrons, subsequently, as one o
the board of navy commissioners, as com
mander of the home squadron, and as com
mandant of the Philadelphia navy-yard
In 1859, under a special act of Congress
he was made "Sepior Flag Officer of tn
Navy" .,t
d. In 1860 he was, at his own request, re
lieved from the command of the Phladel
: phia nayy-yard: This was his last ser
7 vice, but he solicited employment durin
the war against the rebellion, and felt ae
grieved that none was given him. Ad
miral Stewart was held in the highest es
TEEN by all who knew him. In his lon
j and honorable career he had won I'll
friendship and respect of all the publ
q men of his time, both at home and abroat
: He has been an honored guest at the t;
: bles of every President of the United Stat,
from the elder Adams to this time. Il
was the intimate friend and adviser of Jc
. seph Bonaparte, Count De Survillier,) }
one time King of Spain, and it W;
: through his persuasion that the ex-kir
a settled at Bordentowp.
$ His funeral took place on Wednesd;
d afternoon, from Independence Hall, Phi
A adelphia, where his remains had been la
: ing in state since Monday. According
n an order from Secretary Robson, minu
9 guns were fired at the navy-yards ON t
k day Of the funeral.