The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-06-18
Commodore Jo.iah T.sn.li.

Commodore Josiah Tasnall.
1sSghS Savannah News publishes the fol.
ailSFing brisY Ybiggrapfs1 f1shis distin-
393niahed GeorkiW: e 4 p
1s Qommodores Yosjah Matnan wassbbrn
Int RQnaventur$s fotr @les t}ou aavAn-
fMAh:a!Sn DeceHberh 11A6 He eMtersd
the Dated Statos Navy as d M1dshfphhdi,
}dnslvl9, and received the commission OF
ta. .Hagtenant in 18l8,, In February.
fl6S8, he was pfomotsd tJ othe pahh 6f
commander, and in 1850 he received the
eomoaissi9n1of captain Heshw his Apst
service in the frigate Constellation, and
particip1ted IN the nifair 0s UfaneYY
Island, in Junat 1918. He served in the
Algerian war with, Decatur, with Perry
on The coast of Africa, aud was with
Porter in his expedition against the
pirates in the Gulf of Mexico. He wns
in commend Of the Spitfire.in the bonn
bnrdment of Vera Cruz in the war With
Mexico, and commanded the Same vessel
IN the memorable attacks on Tuspan.
Tampico and Alvarado. He was flag
officer OF the East India squadron from
1855 to 1859, and in the summer OF
1909, during the trouble between Eng
land and Chinu, with chartered steam
er, in which he was observing the attack
on tue PiehO forts, towed the British re-
| serves into action at n time when the
success Of the English seemed doubtful
Atterward, during tho same day, he
passed through the hottest fire in barge
to visit Admiral Hope, who had been
wounded. This gallant conduct secured
Commodore Tatnail tho lasting gratitude
Of tho Euglish, and was approved ut
Washington, although palpnble breach
Of neutrality.
''Lcssing's Field Book, T" referring to
tho bnttle at Crnnoy Island. in james
River, in 1918, suys:
"After the disabling and sinking in
shonl water OF the four British barges,
among them the Centipede--A Admiral
Warren's beautiful bargo-Licut. Neule
WAS directed to send some of his bold
seamcn to seize the Admiral's barge aud
all in it, and haul it on shore. This was
gallantly performed under tho direction
of Lieuts. Tatnnll mud Gloisengen, Mid.
shipman Beaden Dnlaney, and Acting
Master George r. Del la Roche. They
secured several: prisoners and tile Admi-
ral'sifiue barge. This wns afterward re-
pulrcd, nnd performed good service ns q
guard boat during many d cold, dark
night III the ensuing autumn"
In 1922, Commodore Tatnall was 81
toned mt Brooklyn Navy Ynrl; in 1899,
at that Of Chatlestown, Massachusetts:
at Pensacola, in 1850; and in 1860, ct
Sackett's Harbor New York. In tho
latter year, he brought the Japnnese EN-
bassndors to this country. t
In 1861, while still! stationed ct Sack
ett's Harbor, his native State. exercising
| what size believed to be ono of her re-
served rights, withdrew from the Federal
Union. Notwithstanding that he was
deyotedly attached to the old navy, and
its prestige, honor and memories, with
Which he had been 30 intimately and
coaspicnously identified, he Immediately
| resigned his position and repaired to
Montgomery, then the capital OF the
Provisional Confednracy, aud offered his
sword aud his services to his section. at
| that time there were some doubts as to
whether there would be O collision of
arms between the North and the South.
In an interview with the leaders of the
Confederate movement, the Commodore
expressed his decided aversion to such q
contingency, and declared TINT he would
not, for the world, fire the first gun
which was to precipitate the war. In
the ovent of O collision, however, he said
that his sword was at the service of his
State. His achievements subsequent to
that poriod are matters of history, not
likely to be soon forgotten.
His gallant services in the defence of
this city and the South Atlantic coast, in
the frat year of the late war, are fresh in
the memory Of our citizens. With few
small gun-boats and stenm tugs, too in
significant to be ranked as ships OF war,
he presented bold and defiant front to
the fleets of the enemy which hovered on
our shores. His attempted defence Of
Port Royal. against the formidable feet
Of Admiral Dupont, Offering battle to
the largest ships of the line in his little
steam tug, was an aot of heroism, yerg-
ing OH temerity. and proved how dan
gerous he would have been TO tho enemy
with adequate mems Mt his command
It was his misfortune to command the
first Confederate iron-clad gun-boat,
Merrimnc, when it became necessary to
burn her, to prevent her from fnliing
into the hands Of the enemy.
HIsroRIc ASAcunoNIsMs.-We are
quite shocked to find so grave and scho-
lnstic journal rs the Herald assuring lis