Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-06-28
) GRANTS REAR ADMIRAL.
How the Successor of Farragut Be-
mn % hayed I'm riattle.A a..t ia

FROM INC new lOrK Cun,J J~.ta HihiN
AT the passage of Forts Morgan an6
Gaines, and the entrance Of Farragutli
magnificent fleet into Mobile Bay on the
morning of, the 9th Of August, 1854
Capt. James Alden, then in command
of the sloop-of-war Brooklyn, sister YES
sci to the famous flagship Hartford,
was put in command of one division OF
the fleet and was given the advance.
The four monitors that participated in
the movement formed a part of Capt.
Alden's division and led the way. Then
followed the wooden vessels, the fore
most of which was the Brooklyn, carry
ing the flag Of the division commander.
The Hartford flying Farraguts broad
pennant, moved midway Of the long
line, and was about mile astern of the
Brooklyn. wa,sm@t.
mander I. A. NJ. Craven, led the line,
and boldly pushed her way up the chan
mel until directly opposite Fort Morgan,
when torpedo exploded beneath her,
and in three minutes she sank, carrying
down her commander and upward of q
hundred of her crew. m.1
Captain Alden, from the deck of the
Brooklyn, saw this terrible catastrophe
and at once ordered the engines of that
vessel reversed, and began backing
away, throwing the whole line into con-
fusion. At the same time he set his sig
nails TO say to the Admiral: 9 We have
lost our best monitor; what shall do?
Farragut saw the Signal. He also saw
the confusion into which the line was
being thrown by Alden's hesitaney. He
hastily replied to the signal, Go
ahead" and at the same time with his
vessel broke from his place in the line
and hurried to the head, % .
The boldness and determination Of
this movement, executed under q CALLING
fire from the fort and in the face of the
greatest danger, inspired the whole feet
with confidence, completely overcome
the temporary decentralization caused by
Alden's conduct, and saved the day, 40
In published account of this affair,
the writer of this article, who was an
eyewitness of the Occurrences, apollo
gized for Alden's hesitancy, and en-
deavored toImake his error as light for
him before the public as possible. That
published account was received at the
Navy Department as an official report
Of the movement, and the writer was
highly complimented for it by both the
Secretary Of the Navy and Admiral
Farragut Subsequently he met the Ad-
miral in the Secretary's room and the
conversation turned on the report, as
follows: u.r
Admiral The report was perfectly
correct except in one particular.
Writer-Whnt was that, Admiral2
ID Admiral--You didn't tell the truth
about Alden. 7i ii.F VuHa'i
Writer--I suspected that was your
point, sir. Well, Admiral, felt just as
you did about his conduct, but thought
as he was a young man he ought to be
treated leniently. Besides, j didn't like
to charge any oflyour officers with cow
ardice. ''
Admiral-A Always speak the truth,
whatever else you do. Alden's conduct
was inexcusable. 1t came near costing
US q disgraceful repulse. If | hadn't
dashed ahead as / did, the whole line
would have been broken and demoralized.
/ overcame the disaster that Alden had
caused. Does my act relieve him from
the censure due him for his2 Certainly
not. He was guilty Of cowardice, and
If / had my way he would have been dis
missed the service, or something worse.
Such was Admiral Farraguts opinion
Of the man who was subsequently made
and placed in charge of the
Bureau Of Navigation, and is now pro-
noted to be Rear Admiral. This is an
of the class Of army and navy
officers who receive the favors Of this Ad |