The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-13
o 3 L Il " q & X.
Rear Admiral John A. DahIgrep, United
States Navy.

Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgrep, United
States Navy.
This distinguished naval officer died suddenly In
Washington yesterday morning. He hal been I'M
well for couple OF days previous. but not ser-
ously as to require tie services OF physician to
cOnflne him to his louse Or. Johnson, Sur u az
the Navy Yard. paid the Admiral o visit on Monday
Afternoon. and found him suffering from pain at
the lower end OF his breast bone and nom depre3-
sion OF the chest. Monday night was passed rest
lessy, but he arose from bed yesterday with the In
tentol @. dressing for breakfast Before completing
his toilet he cll to the ground, and soon after ex-
PRED. surgeon was promptly sent for, put before
he arrived the Admiral had ceased TO breathe. no
never spoke after he fell Death Is supposed TO have
been caused by heart disease.
EARLY CAREER.
Admiral pah!gren was born In Philadelphia about
the year ls'O lie received q good education at
home and ia 1926, after being time ut the Naval
School, was appointed mldshipman from the State
Of Pennsylvania his warrant bearing date Of Feb
ruaryl. His first cruise was on the frigate Mace.
DOMAIN then attached to the squadron in Brazilian
waters. In 1880 he ordered to the sloop.of-war
Ontario, Of the Mediterranean squadron, remaining
with tns vessel un,i 1882, when he was promoted to
passed mldshipman and, after an extended leave OF
absence, ordered to duty on the Coast Survey. In
March, 1887 he was commissioned O lieutenant but
TO- some years he saw 10 active service at sea. It
not till 1874 that he ordered to the frigate
Cumberland, but during the following year he was
relieved and In 1916 was ordered TO duty the Naval
Ordnance Department.. While engaged In this
branch OF service, Lieutenant Dahgren perfected
his invention, the famous Dangrcn gun. The result
Of bis studies IN gunnery was the invention OF tho
heavy gun already mentioned, ana special arma-
ment for beats, consisting or lightly constructed
howitzcrs OF twelve and twenty-five FOUNDER calbre,
built In 1859 he published report on the construc
ton OF tirtytwo FOUNDER guns, made as to weigh
only thirty-iwo hundred pounds He subsequently,
publ Sized three interesting works-One ''Navai
Percussion Locks and Primers;' second ON the
"Boat Armament OF the United States Navy" (boh
In le52; and third on ''Shells and Shell Guns.n
Is5e.)
In 1865 the SUD ect II this sketch was promoted to
the rank OF commander and two years later was
placed In command Of The ordnance ship Plymouth.
from which he was detached IN 1859 ana reassigned
| 20 the Ordnance Department at the Washington
Navy Yard. Here Commander ma Dahlgren WAS sta
he hal relatives living In the South--One OF whom.
brother, esoouscd the Confederate cause.-The never
wayered IN his loyalty for an instant and rs rccog
milton OF his fidelity 10 the cause OF the Union he
promoted to the rank OF captain In 1851 Assigned
nance he performed the duties attached thereto
with viyor aud efficiency. He remained at this post
! he was commissioned as Acting Rear Admiral and
ordered to command the SoSth Atlantic squadron,
| relieving Admiral Dupont In conjunction with tho
reduction OF Fort Wagner, in Charleston harbor, In
July. 1858. He subsequently bonibalGcd Fort Moul-
tire, but failed 20 IT, The fan night attack
| on Fort Sumter was planned and Il ade by Admiral
DahIgren, and came near being succ sssfu For the
services rendered during the campaign he received
the thanks OF Congress and pre- noted TO the full
| rank OF rear ADMIRAL Excepting n Tnor opera
tons Admiral Dahgrcr's fleet did but little actual
fighting during the balance OF the war. IL cooper
| ated with Sherman In his march to the sea, and en-
the evacuation OF Charleston took possession OF the
| city.
| After the c'osc OF the war the Admiral returned
home and the 2st OF August, 1865, was mar led
to Mrs. Goddard, The daughter OF Samuel Vin0n. OF
| Onto. He had been q whoever for some yeats pre-
vious. Colonel Uric Dahgren, who fell in Kupat-
rick's raid upoh Richmond In 1883, was His s6rts la
1888 Admiral Dahgren was ordered TO the COMMAND
OF the South Paci1o squadron, from whlch he re-
turned IN 1868, when he was, for tho second time,
appointed Chief OF the bureau OF Ordnance. II tbs
fail Of last year he relieved and ordered TO tn0
command Of the Washington Navy YARD, which no,
held at the time Of his death. he was one Or the
Oldest officers In the navy. and Ills death Wall inrct
severe DOW Oh the service.