National Republican., 1876-10-11
THE NAVY YARD.
A Change Of Ccmmandants.

Yesterday being the time fixed by regula.
ton for change of commandants Of the navy
ykrd In this city, the ceremonies attending the
transfer of command were performed about IL
q. m. At that hour the new commandant,
Comnodore j. G. Febiger, entered the main
gate of the yard, ,,and was received at the flag
stat by Commodore T. 81. Patterson, the re-
tiring commandant, the marine guard, under
Breyet Major G. Porter Houston, presenting
arms and the drums beating two ruffles. The
two commodores, accompanied by Capt. o. c.
Badger, captain Of the yard, and Commander
]. s. Skerret, senior aid, then proceeded to the
comm andant's office, where Commodore Pat
terson introduced the foremen and clerks to
Commodore Febiger, and in doing SO spoke
very flatteringly of the assistance he had re-
ceived from them during the three years he
had commanded the yard. After shaking
bands with the new they took leave OF the old
commsndant, wishing him success In his new
field of duty. This being over, the command
was formally transferred. When the flag of
Commodore Patterson was lowered salute of
eleven guns was fired, and as that of Commo-
dore Febiger was hoisted the same tribute of
respect was paid to It. The retiring COM
msndant,
COMMODORE PATTERSON,
was born IN Louisiana in May, 1920, and en-
tered the service from his native State IN
April, 1886. From 1887 to 1S40 he was at
tached to the West 'Indis squadron; 1s41-'2,
naval school at Philadelphia; 1s4S to 1s4s,
coast survey duty, part of the time on the
brig Oregon. On June Q, 1S49, he was COM
missioned lieutenant, from which time to 1852
he was attached to the sloop Vandalia, of the
Pacific squadron, after which he was attached
to the Washington navy yard; from 1883 to
1861, steam sloop Mohican. He was commits
stoned commander July 16, 1862; commanded
steam gunboat Chocura, of the North Atlantic
blockading squadron during 1862; commanded
the steamer James Adger from 1868 to 1865.
This was the vessel that conveyed Col. Cor
coran's Sixty-Nint from New York to An
nspolis in April, 1861, which was her first ser
vice to the Government. Commander Patter-
son was commissioned captain July 25, 1866,
and commodore November 2, 1871. He COM
manded the steam sloop Brooklyn, flagship of
the Brazil squadron, during 1886 and 1867;
from 1868 to 1871 he was executive officer of
the Washington navy yard. After being re-
lieved he was on special duty until October,
1873, when he assumed the command which
he relinquisbed yesterday. He comes from a
of the Revolution and 1919. His father rose
to the rank of commodore in the navy, and
died in command of the Washington navy
yard in 1910. Connected with him by blood
and marriage are the Porters, Wainwrights,
Townsends and others whose names have
figured prominently in our history.
His administration of the yard has been
marked by q strict adherence to discipline and
the laws that govern the navy. Sometimes his
construction of them appeared severe, but
were ever founded on justice. None of the
employees of the yard, from the wster-boy up,
were denied a chance to defend themselves
when charged with any violation of the rules,
III
officer or not, and he retires from command
with the good wishes of all.
COMMODORE FEBIGER,
the new commandant was born in Pcnnsyl-
vania and entered the service from Ohio, Sep
passed midshipman May 20, 1874; lieutenant,
April 80, 1853; commander, August IL, 1862;
captain, May 6, 1866, and commodore August
Q, 1874. During his services In the navy he was
attached to the ships Of war Concord, Potomac,
Dale, Germantown, Savannah, Katahdin, Mat
tabasset, Ashulot and Shenandoah, to the
coast survey from 1852 to 1857.
During the late war he was in several en-
gagements, notably those of Mobile and the
fight of the vessel he commanded and some
others with the rebel ram Albemarle, that was
afterwards sunk with torpedo by the gallant
Commander Gushing, who died in this city
nearly two years ago. Commodore Febiger
was a member of the board to examine officers
for promotion and appointment In the navy
before being ordered to the navy yard. He is
, man of fine presence. When he received
the foreman yesterday he told them that he
should endeayor to get them all the work he
could for the yard and advance its interests in
every way. Those who sailed with him speak
highly of him as a commanding officer.
The following is list of the principal Off
GERS of the yard: Commodore, j. e. Febiger;
commandant, Capt. o. c. Badger; captain of
the yard and equipment officer, Commander
mander A. s. Crowenshield; ordnance, Pay
master Frank Crosby; chief engineer, John W.
Moore; naval constructor, John A. Easily;
civil engineer, A. G.: Menoeal; surgeon, Adrian
Hudson; passed assistant surgeon, T. c. Heyl;
inspector of provision and clothing, Paymaster
Geo. A. Lyon; marine guard, brevet Major G..
Porter Houston; lieutenants, G. F. Williams,
NJ. G. Goodrell, A. L. watson and W. F.
Zeilin.