National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-04-25
AMERICAS NELSON.
A SKETCH OF FARRAGuT's LIFE.
The Great Naval Hero Of the Rebellion-A MILDLY in
1S12-An Admiral Under the Union Flag in
the Civil War-His Services to
His Country.

city and arlessness of manner which won the love
of every true man. His history is eyentful one
andis closely interwoven with that OF this country
at a period when civil war had embroiled the two
sections. He was born at CampbelPs Station, near
Knoxville Tenn, July 3, 1901, and died at Ports
mouth, n. H. August IA, 1870 His father, George
| Farragut, was a native of Minorca but coming to
| this country prior to the revolution served for
seven years in the American army, attaining to
the rank of major Marrying in North Carolina,
he emigrated TO East Tennessee, where David was
born.
FARRAGUT AS A MILDLY.
At the age of eleven, through theinfuence of Com
modore David Porter, who friend of his
! father, he received a warrant as mdshipman, and
was ordered to Commodore Porters own ship,
which was the famous Essex and Farraguts first
| experience of naval life was that celebrated two
years cruise in the Pacific, which ended in the
capture of the Essex OF his personal share in the
stirring events of that period there but meagre
details. After the capture on May %, 1873 of the
English whaler, the Atlantic, Farragut served on
board of her as acting lieutenant, but shortly
after ordered back TO the Essex, where he re-
manned during the rest of that remarkable cruise,
IN which nearly every English whaler known to
be in the South Atlantic was captured. The ac-
ton with Two English cruisers which resulted after
severe fight of two hours and half in the
| CAPTURE OF THE ESSEX
was terrible initiation into the business of war
for boy of not thirteen years. Young Farragut
went through the whole of it, and was wounded,
| although not severely. On the return of peace in
| ISL Porter secured place for his namesake in a
school at Chester, Pa, where he spent year
| In the study of military and naval science.
| He was then ordered to the Washington flag
| ship OF the Mediterranean squadron and there
met the celebrated Mr.. Charles Folsom, who Yves
chaplain of the flagship. He was man of varied
| and profound learning, and became Farraguts in
struftor. When Mr.. Folsom was appointed consul
at Tunis Farragut accompanied him, and this in
tercourse was highly beneficial to the youthful
| sailor. He became
4 MAN OF LEARNING
and was familiar not only with the principal Euro
pean languages, but also with Arabic and Turkish,
at that time rare accomplishments for members of
MS profession. He grew up manly youth of de-
cided personal courage, but of quiet tastes, re-
served manners and pure morals. Upon his return
from the Mediterranean he was promoted to be
lieutenant, and served in 1921 and 1923 in the
Greyhound, which engaged in the capture of the
piratical establishment at Cape Crees, Cuba. In
1923 he was ordered to the
NORFOLK MAYNARD,
where he remained on shore duty until 1888. Then
he married Miss Loyal daughter of prominent
citizen of Norfolk; but she became hopeless in
valid soon after their marriage, and died after
several years of great suffering. After 1888 he
served two years in the Brazilian squadron and
upon his return was again ordered to the Norfolk
maynard While here he married his wifes sis
ter, Miss Virginia Loyal, by whom he had an only
son, named Loyal Farragut. In 1855 he was Or
dered to sea duty as lieutenant commander of the
war sloop Natchez, stationed in the West Indies
He was promoted to be commander in Septem-
Der, 1910, and put in command of the sloop-o war
Decatur, for cruise in the South Atlantic.
In lSl3-1SH he was on leave of absence; then on
duty again at Norfolk in charge of the receiving
ship Pennsylvania. years service i'll command
of the Saratoga, in the West Indies, followed
Again at Norfolk in 1878 He was ordered to Wash
lngton as inspector of ordnance in 1851, and in |
1854 to the San Francisco yard. Here he remained
having been promoted 10 be captain, until 1885, |
when he ordered to the Brooklyn and the
home squadron. Later ne was placed ON the
Naval Retiring Board and stationed at New York |
When
THE CIVIL WAR
broke out he was living at Norfolk, and made no
secret of his adherence of the disloyal action of
most of the people of that place. He was told by |
his neighbors that he would not be allowed TO re-
main there if he gave utterance to his sentiments
Very WELL, was the Characteristic reply. Then !
will go where can live and utter them" When the |
yard was destroyed Farragut left the city and re-
turned to his duty in New York On the 18th of April
he LEFT Norfolk without money and with his family
and reached New York with great difficulty. !
Leaving his family up the Hudson, at Hastings, he
fastened to Washington and rendered his services
to the Government There was no ship for him to |
and for nine months he performed
duty in the Navy Department At length he was
to lead the fleet which was to attack
NEW ORLEANS,
and on the Sd of February, 1862 he sailed for
Hampton Roads, having selected the Hartford as
his flag ship. He reached Ship Island on the Goth
and organized the West Gulf Blockading squadron
For almost two months he was engaged in pre-
pairing for his grand attack the great city of the
Southwest. The difficulties that lay in his way
were of a nature to have dispirited any other
than man of iron energy They were, however
all surmounted After six days bombardment he
found that the forts below New Orleans were not
likely to yield; but instead of retiring he deter
mined to break the great chain which
The rebels had stretched across the river and en-
gage the powerful fleet that was assembled above
it. On the oath of April the chain was broken and
The fleet advanced. The action was one of the
most singular combats ever known, and may be
said to have been the Inauguration of that new
naval warfare which definitely dates from the
civil contest. The enemy had iron-clads and
rams hut they were utterly defeated losing four
een oftheir eighteen vessels. Forts and feet had
both been vanquished The Federal gun boat
VaTuna only was lost. His order of battle on this
occasion was thoroughly characteristic of the man.
N its promptuess, readiness of resource, and its
QUIET, UNDAUNTED COURAGE
The closing sentence of his order to his officers
vas as follows: He Ghe flag officer viii make &
ignal for close action and abide the result-con-
luer or be conquered" With the rest of his feet
Commodore Farragut proceeded up the river and ! {
ook possession of New Orleans April 25 He then ]
continued as far as Yicksburg, and Oh the 18th of
do a. l.,
because there no land force to CO.
operate with the feet. Returning to the Gulf he
perfected the blockading of the Gulf ports and I
directed the attacks on Corpus Christi /
sabine Pass, and Galveston, all of {
which places were taken. He was made senior V
ear admiral July IL for the capture of New Or
cans, the bestowalUfwhich was warmly approved
~ the country. In the spring Of 1868 Rear-Ad
niral Farragut co-operated with General Grant in
lis movements against Vicksburg. The passing ]
# the enemy's strong works at Port Hudson was
epetition of what had been done in the previous
ear at New Orleans. Only two of his vessels were
BILE to get by but they blockaded the mouth of
RED RIVER,
nd prevented the sending of supplies to Vicks-
urg and the fall of that place was finally due to
anime. He also directed the naval operations I
gainst Port Hudson. which fell at the same time =
With Vicksburg. The next important engagement
'ds tnc dltaCh upoh 4hooile-dH ullueEtiklDS n
which had been in contemplation for some time -
nd was one of the most important events =
f the war. A combined attack was
made on the 5th of August, and the famous
rmored ship, the Tennessee, was taken, and al !,
he rest of the enemys naval force was destroyed. :
he third fort was taken on the 23d of August :;
nd these successes destroyed Mobile as a port of
ne enemy The Brooklyn, greatly against his .
III, allowed to take the lead, instead of his :;
ag-ship, the Hartford But after monitor was :
unk by torpedo he could be no longer restrained, r
ut :,
DASHED FORWARD ID