Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-07-12


was calm and collected under all circum-
stances. Once during the war he retursed
from Charleston in his flagship " Harriet
Quees,' and arriving at the mouth OF the river,
no pilot could be had, whereupof the Admiral
himself took charge Of the vessel and directed
her safely through the tortuous channel OF
the Potomac from that point to this CITY,
He never jumped at conclusions, and was re-
luctant to advance q result without having first
experimental so thoroughly as to leave no room
for doubt; but when once satisfied he was
equally as firm in standing by the result OF his
convictions. 1t is well known that such conf
denoe had the personnel OF the navy in his guns
that they would stand by and IRE them for hour.
without even q thought Of danger. He never
ives known to show any genaine anger but once.
He was sitting in his Office at the Navy Yard,s
few years since and hearing some noise like the
explosion of gun-caps he looked out, inquiring
of one of the clerks near by the cause. They were
then filling mp what was known in those days as
the "Wet Dock" and a large number of horses
and carts being employed, it appears that one of
the teams had been backed too far in the mud,
and was stuck, when the driver was cracking his
whip and cruelty besting the animal in order to
urge him forward. Admiral Dahlgren rushed
ost Immediately, and not only commanded the
man to desist, but cried out in fury ego away"
"leave here" and addressing the foreman said
"drive that man out of the yard" never let him
come In here again." -
Mis Family.
His first wife was . lady from Philadelphia,
of the children by whom only two survive
Paul, aged twenty-five years, who lately re-
signed lieutenancy in the third artillery, and
Charles, aged twenty-eight years, who lives in
Brooklyn. Uric, another son, was killed du-
ring the war, as stated below. The eldest
daughter, an interesting member OF
Washington. society in her day, died
about ten years ago, and his youngest
daughter Eva by his first wife died in New
YORK about month since. His second wife is
Mrs. Goddard nee vfnton and daughter of
former member Of Congress of that name from
Ohio, whose daughter, Miss komaine GodIard
was lately married to Count Overlook Aus
trian Consul General of Hong Kong. The re-
suit OF the last marriage Of Admiral Dahlxre cen
was three children, all living.
His Improvement Of Our Navy Yard.
To him more than any naval officer ever in
charge there does the navy yard at this place
owe its growth and prosperity. He came here
in 1s47, almost blind, from the constant use of
optical Instruments, having been for q long
while previous with the United States Coast Sur
vey. He socn recovered, however, and at once
began the work Of improvement, his sue ,ess. in
which, in reclaiming land and the erection
thereon Of ordnance Stops, labor atories and
other buildings, will be seen by mere glance
at the premises.
| The Dahlgren Gum.
Admiral Dahlgren had rendered great ser.
vice to his country, and had attracted the atten-
ton Of Europe by his investigations and expert
ments In gunnery previous to the beginning OF
He oh <t,o A
superiority in the weight of the battery and of
the single shot, by which our great naval vic
tories have been won, and he produced the
American gun which bears his name, and which
is Justly admired as a truly scientific weapon.
more reliable than any so-called "built up'
guns yet invented. Even the 15-inch guns were
shaped after the Dahlgren pattern; and vet at
the breaking out OF the rebellion, but few OF
these e excellent guns Of large calibre had been
manufactured.
His "Shells- and Shell-Guns," published in
1856. was soon accepted everywhere as a stand
ard authority on the subjects Of which it treats.
and it is universally admitted that the author
contributed more than any other one man to
give to American ordnance its present superi-
ority. The experiments made under his direc-
tiOn were 50 decisive that the six new friRates
fitted out in 1856 were armed with much heavier
guns than had been before used on board a ship
as composing . regular battery. They were Q
inch, 10 inch. and II inch shell guns.
The worthy Son Of . Noble Sire.
The sudden death of Admiral Dahlgren will
recall to many the untimely fate Of his ga,lan.
son, Col. Uric Dahlgren, who perished by
treachery while attempting to rescue his brother
soldiers held as prisoners at Richmond, a SER
vice he knew well was full of danger. His death
was cruel blow to his father, and was greatly
lamented in this city. The father lived to see
the Union restored; the son died while the fate
OF the country for which he gave up his life was
yet In doubt. Col. Dahlgren was born in 1912,
and was therefore only ~ years Of age when he
was killed in the skirmish at King and q ,een's
Court House, Va, on the 4th of March,
1864. He received very thorough educa-
ton and entered the navy as mdship-
man before the breaking out Of the war
At the time Of the attack on Fort Sumter he
was travelling in the southwest, and great efforts
we're made to induce him to join the rebels, but
her refused Indignantly; and Fastening home.
assisted his father in the Ordnance .partment
When General Saxton wss In command ut Har
per's Ferry, and the place was first threatened,
Commodore Dahlgren, having received orders
TO place q battery on Maryland Heights sent
bis son, Uric 70 place the guns In position and
take charge Of the battery. He executed this
duty with great skill; and when General Sgel
relieved Gen. Saxton of his conmand, he found
youDg Dahlgren at his post as Captain of Srtille-
~ and took him at once upon his staaF.- He
served as aid-de-camp in Fremont's noun
tain campaign, distinguishing himself particu-
iarly at Gross Keys, and served through Pope's
campaign, acting as chief Of artillery under
Sigel at the second battle of Bull Ran,
where he was specially commended by his
General. In November, 1852, he made the
attack upon Fredericksburg at the head of
General SigePs body-guard, which has be-
come famous tin, the Fhistery ef the. var
For this gallant act General Burnside detailed
him as special aid upon his staff At the cross
ing ef the Rappahaun0ek, at the unfortunate
battle Of Fredericksburg he was one of the first
to land in that city. He Distinguished himself
under General Hooker at Charlottesville, was
with General Pleasanton in his cavalry
fights in the Bun Run mountains, rom
dered valuable ssrvice at Gettysburg under
General Meade, and on the rebel retreat
from there led the famous charge into
Hagerstown when OF i've officers in tn
chsrge two were killed and he was wounded
He was brought to this city and his leg ampu
t0ted, and for n time his life WAS f1espairsd oe