New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-08-07

ORLEANS SATURDAY, AUGUST Z 1875

/ The Compliment to Lieutenant Pearson.
| About the middle of last month Queen
Victoria was graciOusly pleased to appoint
! Lieutenant Commander Fred Pearson, of
the United States navy, to be q Companion
OF the Most Honorable Order of the Bath
IN noticing this appointment, The Press,
OF Philadelphia, says that this is the
first time an American citizen has been
SO distinguished, but that no information
| is given to show why the honor was con-
ferred. The circums ances which led to
Lieutenant Commander Pears0n's decOra-
ton by the Queen occurred during the
troubles IN China. about seventeen or eight
cen J ears ago. Midshipman Pearson having
Just graduated from the Naval Academy.
had been ordered to China , report for duty
On bic arrival there he found q British
squadron ready to sail on an expedition to at
tack some Chinese forts ior having fred on
British and American merchantmen. Such
affairs were then usually settle at the can
mons mouth. and email squad ron was de-
tailed tor the purpose Of Furnishing the
heather Chinee. II was desired bv many
American residents in China that the Ameri-
can flag should be represented, in order
that 1t should command respect thereafter.
There being TO American war ship in port
small river steamer Of the traiiest, least
seaworthy kind was chartered, and the
command was offered to Midshipman Pear
son.
In the action which ensued the British
ships were badly cut up, and the casualties
were great. During the whole day Pear.
fray, not as q cOmbatant. for she
carried no armament whatever, but
as general assistant to the British
commodore. In towing the heavier ships
into position and IN laying out anchors and
cables to enable the guns to be brought to
bear on the forts the little American steam
er contributed materially to the success OF
the day, though the vessels we're over
matched by the forts, and beyond tempo
rarily silencing them no result was reached.
But more important duty was per-
formed by Pearson that day. Wherever a
chip was suffering tadly from the enemy's
fire, the american f.g was soop seen
futtering alongside to take off the |
wounded and carry them to the hospital |
ship down the river; and no danger inter-
tered with tho cool performance Of this
the wounded quiakly removed out Of action
were very great, and the moral effect upon
the British blue jackets was in the highest !
degree beneficial.
The reports of the British Commodore !
were SO fatcering in their allusions to Mid |
shipman Pearson, that the Queen appointed
him to the lowest grade Of the Order OF toe |
Bath almost Immediately, but Congress
refused to permit him to accept the decora- |
ton. His name was we'll known among
British officers, and when the flagship |
of Admiral Farragus was visited by |
the Duke of Cambridge, in Portsm outb. |
England. in 1867. that officer made special |
inquiry tor P,atsoD, who at that time was |
one Of Farragut's officers. Subsequently !
the Queen renewed his appointment, but !
Congress again refused to permit its ac-
ceptance. 1t remains to he seen whether !
the incoming Congress will allow Lieuten- |
ant Commander Pearson to wear bit of
ribbon and sign himself &C. B." as reward |
for gallantry years ago.