Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-08-18
THE RUTLAND HERALD
TUESDAY, AUGUST IS. 1870.
pcnth of Admiral Farragut.

One By one those men whose names
are most intimately associated WIN INC
great exploits by land or sea, or whlcn
were eminent in the councils OF the North
during the late war. To this list OF the
iIlustrious dead is to be added the name
of David G. Farragut, Admiral of the
United States Navy, and the most con-
snionous figure in the annals of naval
history during the rebellion. At noon on
Sunday the brave old hero yielded to Him
that finally conquers all--Grim Death.
He died at Portsmouth, N. H, whittier
he had resorted for the benefit of his
health, having for a long time been suf-
fering from heart disease. He arrived
at Portsmouth on the 4th of July--the
day before the attainment of his 69th
birth-day-and took up his residence at
the house of Commodore Pennacock, Mrs.
Farragut's brother, suffering from the
illness which was destined to be his last.
Shortly after his arrival at Portsmouth
the Admiral was struck with paralysis,
and on Tuesday last the disease assumed
SO serious phase that his death was mo-
mentarily expected. Since then, so sure
ly was the approach of the hour of death,
every preparation had been made for his
anticipated disease. For six days, be-
numbed on the right side from head to
foot, semi-unconsoious and unable to ar
ticulate, the brave sailor, attended by
eminent physicians and those nearest to
him by family ties, and having every
thing done to alleviate his suferings, re-
manned upon his bed helpless sufferer
until death finally relieved him.
Admiral Farragut was born in the year
1901, in the State of Tennessee. Before
the attainment of his tenth year, in 1910,
he was appointed a midshipman in the
United States navy. He served on the
frigate Essex, commanded by Commodore
Porter, in her cruise during the years
1912 and 1914. Subsequently, after the
capture of the Essex, he served as mid
shipmau on board the line-of-battle ship
Independence. Promoted, after a credit
able examination, to the rank of lieuten-
ant, he was ordered to the West India
station. He took part, in 1S47, in the ma
val operations of the Mexican war, being
in command, at the time, of the Saratoga,
. twenty-gun sloop. The late war af-
forded Farragut an opportunity to display
his conspicuous skill and courage, Al
the outbreak of hostilities he was appoint |
ed to the command of the Gulf squadron |
aud it was chiefly due to the services o. |
the fleet under his command that the |
land forces under Gen. Butler were ena-
bled to occupy New Orleans. During the |
campaign against that city he engaged
the batteries of Forts st. Philip and Jack |
son, on the Mississippi, commanding the |
approach to New Orleans from the Cult |
passed them with his fleet, assembled tn.
river and anchored before New Orleans
causing the surrender of that city on tn, |
28th of April, 1862. In consequence 0,
this naval success, Gen. Butler left Ship
Island with his troops and took possession
of the city, which had been previousl, |
evacuated by the Confederate forces under |
Gen. Lowell.
The capture of New Orleans opened up
the whole line of the Mississippi to the
union troops Natchez was captured in |
May, and Farragut, with his fleet ascend
ed the river to Vicksburgh, which was
held by the Coufederates. After an in
etfectual bombardment of this town he ~a-
turned to New Orleans. In this year be
was made Admiral the first officer upon
whom the dignity had been conferred in
the United States Navy. In March, 1868,
Admiral Fanagut again assembled the
river on his way to cooperate in the
siege of Vicksburg by General Grant
which resulted II the capitalization of that
port on the 4th Of July of the same year.
During this campaign he successfully ran
the batteries of Port Hudson, strongly
fortified position on the Mississippi River
between New Orleans and Vicksburg.
Farragut conducted the naval proceed
ings undertaken against Mobile in 1864,
and in the month Of August of that year
he captured the forts commanding the APP
proaches to that town from Mobile Bay.
the Tecumseh, which, with its crew Was
blown up by a torpedo during the. en-
gagement.
The success gained in this preliminary
conflict, paved the way for the ultimate
reduction of the city, which surrendered
on the 18th of April, 1865. This capture
among the last events of the closing
days Of the Confederate struggle, served |
to add greatly to Farragut's fame. How
far his efforts and the victories which he
achieved with hisfleets added to the has
tening of the close of the war are best
understood by those who noted with more ,
than passing glance the successive epis-
odes of the war. After the close of the :
war, viz in 1865, he was appointed to
the command of squadron dispatched tc 4
European waters. He was about thr se
years on that cruise. and returned to his
country in 1868. While abroad, tt a mn.
merous testimonials of respect w .,ich he
received from sovereigns and pr ,vate citi.
zens of the countries that his fleet visited
UN0 VIZ SAo"' 10 tJutatlon as
brave and accomplished o|ficer which he
had made in the service of his own gov
eminent had prece' ed him. Admiral |
Farragut had seen sixty years. service in
the United StateA navy. In all this long
time he had. been unemployed for only -
years. Che next officer in line of success
slo',. is Vice Admiral David D. Porter by
whom doubtless the deceased Admiral
will be succeeded.
With a record unstained, honored by
all who knew him, and endeared to every
American, he closes career as brilliant as
it was successful.
Our Saratoga Letter,
| I