Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-09-02
Farragut.

~ Farragut. Es !
Admiral Farragut, one of those rare
men TO whom 1t is given TO "read. their |
history in nations eyes," died at Ports
mouth, New Hampshire, at noon of Sun |
day, August ID, In the seventieth year Of |
his age. His father, George Farragut, |
was a native of Minorca, and early took |
TO the sea for a livelihood. Coming TO |
this country, he served in the ReVolu- |
tionary army, and at the close of the war |
settled near Knoxville, Tennessee, on |
lands given him by the government In |
part payment Of his services Here |
David Glaseoe Farragut was born July 8, !
1901. His first name was given him in |
honor of Captain David Porter, and old
friend of his fathers and afterward a
famous naval officer. The middle name
has been supposed to be family name
dear to his Scotch mother. Through the
influence of David Porter young Farra-
gut, at the age !of eleven years, was ap-
pointed midshipmsn, and, as the Naval
Academy was not yet in existence, he
was ordered to get his schooling aboard
ship. His first cruise was made in the
| famous Essex, and his frat commander
was Commodore Porter, the man for
whom he was named. We have only the
mere outlines Of his personal history dur
ing this memorable cruise, of which it is
to be hoped that some member of the late
Admirals family may be able to give the
world complete account. He was
present at the capture of the Nocton, a
British packet of 10 guns, on December
II, 1872; the Alert, March IA; and the
Peruvian Corssir Nereyda, on March %,
1918. After the capture, on May 30, of
the Atlantic, an English whaler ofS guns,
Farrsgut served on board of her as an
Acting Lieutenant, under command of
Lieutenant Stephen D. Midnight, and
| cruised in company with the Essex and
the feet of eight captured vessels turned
into cruisers. Shortly after the feet was
reduced to three, the Atlantic was re.
named the Essex Junior, and Lieutenant
nj Knight gave up the Command to Lieu.
tenant Commander Downes. Acting
Lieutenant Fsrragut appears to have re-
turned to duty as midshipman on the Es-
sex during the remainder of the remarka-
BILE cruise, in which nearly every English
whale-ship known to be in the South Pa
cific was captured. lie appears also
to have taken part in the mem
orable war in the Msrquesas, where the
Essex and Essex Junior reftted in Octo-
Der and November, 1918, and for which
privilege Commodore Porter was COM
session OF the bay in which he had cast
anchor.
Young Fsrrsgut was on board the
Essex during the memorable conflict in
Valparaiso Bay, March %, 1914, between
the Essex and the British ships Phoebe
and Cherub, and there, in the words Of
his commanding officer's report, "gave
an earnest of his value to the service"
On the return of peace Farragut spent
year in the study of military and naval
science, and was then ordered to the
Mediterranean, where he remained
two years. During this time he
was under the instruction of the
chaplain of his ship, the Rev.
Charles Folsom, from whom he obtained
moral as well as intellectual training
that had marked influence on his future
life. The force of this training was sub
sequently illustrated by an accident which
occurred on board the Hartford on the
night before the attack on Fort Morgan
in Mobile Bay. The men of the vessel
asked for grog before going into action
next day. 81 have no particular objection
to your having little grog," he said, "if
there Is any on board; but have been to
sea good many years, and have seen |
some fighting, but have never seen the !
time when needed rum to help me do |
my duty" Then, without waiting for an !
answer to his argument, he added, az will |
order you two pots Of hot coffee at two |
o'clock tomorrow morning, and at eight |
o'clock III pipe you to breakfast In Mo-
bile Bay"
For the next forty years his career was
the usual routine of sailor life in time of |
peace, with its alterations of sea and |
shore duty, furlough and foreign station. |
hHn L.
Norfolk, where he had settled, having |
married Southern lady. Importuned |
by his friends to join the Southern cause,
he remained true to his country and him. |
selt and Immediately made his way
10 New York, where he was officially sta
toned. Here he encountered Commodore |
M 'Csuley, who, at his solicitation, told |
him the circumstances of the destruction |
of the Norfolk Navy.yard, and the noble |
vessels stationed there.
"How could you do it, Commodore
how could you do ii" he said, tears
standing in his eyes at the thought of the
sacrifice.
"My officers were false there was no
one could depend upon"
"Why didn't you send for meP" thun-
dered the old captain, Indignantly.
For several months after the outbreak
OF the war Farragut was without com
mand, partly because the Navy Depart.
ment had SO few ships at its disposal. At
length, when the expedition against New
orleans was resolved upon, he WAS se-
lected to command it. He entered the
Mississippi river early in March, 1862.
On the 18th Of April Porter's mortar
fleet began the bombardment of Forts
Philip and jackson, and on the 24th
Commodore Farragut, with his entire
fleet, ran past those formidable batteries,
.encountering fire almost unparalleled in
severity, feet of gun-boats, including
several iron-clads, 6re-rafts, torpedoes, and
other distractions. An idea of the bril-.
liancy OF the exploit may be formed from
the fact that some French and English
officers who had been to New Orleans,
laughed outright at the notion of running
the batteries, and warned the Commodore
that "no feet could pass up the river
without miraculous interposition." To
which Farrsgut replied "You may be
right; but was sent here to make the at
tempt to take New Orleans, and I shall
try it."
1t is unnecessary to repeat the story of
that daring feat, the immediate result of
which was the occupation of New Orleans
by the forces OF the United States or
- SAS HeoSu6S Va OuO lChbBufK Ddb-
teries, which resulted in nothing. The
fleet under his command was finally re.
tired TO Pensacola, and its operations
were chiefly confined to blockading duty
In the Gulf In July, 1864, in conjunction
with the land forces under General Candy,
ne attacked and captured Mobile. II was
turing this engagement--the last which
! tarragut directed-that he had himself
lashed to the rigging of the flagship, In
order to watch and direct the fight. For
his gallantry and success in this engage,
ment he was promoted to the rank of /
miraI in 1865. '''n 10Y TTf : ~ NJ ,
After the close of the war Admiral Far.
Iagut was sent on cruise in the Frank.
IN 10 European waters, and was every. !
where y received with the most distinguish,
ID consideration and respect. But the I
physical fatigues and mental strain of the
war had broken his health, and he return. 1
ID 10 this country hopeless invalid. He ,