Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-04-25
THE DEAD ADMIRALs.

Never before in the history of the
American navy has there been an in
stance of such mortality as during the
months of January and February of
the present year. Within the short
space of thirty days six Rcar-Admir-
ais
by all their country IS wishes blest."
With one exception they all died in
Washington. Admiral Joseph Smith,
tho oldest of the group, and the first
to lead the procession 10 the silent
land, was four-scorc and seven years
of age, and had faithfully served his
country for tho long period of sixty
eight years, distinguishing himself as
early as 1914, in Electromagnetic famous
victory on Lake Champlain. He was
at the time of his death the senior
officer of our navy. It is related of
him that when Secretary Wells drove
to the church where the pious old
Commodore was always to be found
on the Sabbath morning, and called
him out to tell him that the MefrimaC
had came out of the James River,
adding, eve have no particulars yet,
all that we know is that tho Cumber-
land has been sunk, and the Congress
Commanded by his sony struck her
flag" "Then Joe is dead" said tho
father, as he turned and carried his
great sorrow with him back into the
house of God. He needed no "par-
ticulars." He knew his son SO well
that when told the frigatc had struck
her flag, he knew he must be dead.
And SO it proved, The first broad
side Of tho Merrimac had killed the
commander of the Congress.
Admiral James Alden, who died in
San Francisco, and was buried by the
side of his father at Portland Maine,
probably saw more hard fighting than
any other officer of his grade. He
took part in nearly all the great naval
battles of the late war, and in every
instance but one, acquitted himself
with gallantry and good judgment,
The exception was in the engagement
at Mobile, in which he commanded
the Brooklyn. Having stopped his
ship at the sinking of the Tecumseh
and hesitating to proceed in accord.
ance with Farragut's instructions, he
was subsequently, cOurt-martialed and
received the verdict of an error Of
Judgment.
Charles Wilkes was well known as
the commander of the two United
States Exploring Expeditions to the
South Seas, and for his capture of the
Confederate Ministers, Mason and
Slidell. He was a grand-nephew OF
the celebrated John Wilkes; was 9
] most accomplished commander, and
acquired NO little fame as an author
Thcodorus Bailey served his coun,
try for nearly sixty years, rendering
4 valuable services on various block
aiding stations during the war, and a
I happen to have heard from Farra
gut himself, gallanly led the passag.
Of the forts at the capture of New
Orleans, for which he was officially
commended by the great Admiral
Bailey, who was son of Judge Bail
ey, Of Plattsburg, and entered tn,
navy in 1918, captured no less thar
one hundred and fifty blockade run
ners in tho course of eighteen months
1 Charles II. Davis, perhaps the mos,
highly cultivated and scholarly of the
six deceased Admirals, was a son Of
the Solicitor General Of Massachu.
sets, in which state he was born and
buried, and was the only one who
was in active service, Congress having
passed special act extending hil
term of active service for ter years
At tho date of his death he was Su.
pcrintcndent of the Naval Obscrva
tory at Washington, where he died
Davis did good service during the
civil war. As flag officer of the Mis-.
sissippi Flotilla, hc repulscd and de-
stroycd tho Confederate fleet which
attacked him at Fort Pillow, in May
1862, captured Memphis, and aided
Farragut in his attack on Vicksburg
The AdmiraPs connection with thu
observatory and the 1Nautical Al
manac," has made his name wei
known all over the world. He was
frequent contributor Of pcolorica
and astronomical articles to the peri
odicals, and published, in 1858, /,
translation of CAUSES I" "1Neoria Mol,e
\ CorpoTNm COelestiwm.n Ten year
! later he received the degree of L. L
D. from Harvard University.
Lous Malcsherbce Goldsborough,
physical giant-the largest officer il
tho American navy,-who died Feb
; ID, and was buried ct Washington
: saw thirty-flve years OF active service
. He was tho son of q Governor o
Maryland, and married the daughte
of the celebrated William Writ. Fo
his services in the capture Of Roanok
Island, he received the thanks of Con
gross, and he dispersed and destroye,
the Confederate fleet under Cpmmp
: dorc Lynch in tho North Carolin
8 waters. Goldsborough was the au
thor of code OF regulations for tn
!. naval service. His death and thos
0 of other Admirals mentioned here
: occurred within single month.
Il John Rodgers, whose mother die
0 Feb. ~, at the great age Of ninety
r three, the son Of tho famous Commo
dore Rodgers of the war Of 1872 Ii
. now heads the active list Of Rcar-Ad
Q mirals.