Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-10-20

| tai chaplet upon the brow OF Perry
Breese was the last officer on board. and
assisted in firing the last gun, after
Commodor Perry had left for another
ship. On his mothers side, Captain
Breese was grand nephew OF General
VIM. Henry Harrison, who gained his
Iaurels upon the battlefield Of 1912,
and became President of the United
States.
Captain Breese's career has left no
stain upon the escutcheon OF such an
ancestry, but rising TO It's full measure,
and, in heroic service. far beyond. he
has left record of priceless value TO
his family. and OF which his native and
adopted States will be forever proud.
He entered the navy when the Mexican
war was lowering. soon TO be followed
by the roar of Gen. Taylors guns at
Buena Vista. Though his service wac
upon sea, it was perhaps quite as ardu.
Gus rs that Of his comrades upon land.
for he was on the sloop Saratoga, com.
manded by Farragut, whose bravery
knew, and recognized nothing short of
the utmost bound OF duty.
After the Mexican war, in 1913, Mid.
shipman Breese WAS sent 10 serve on the
frigate Brandywine in the Brazilian
squadron, and ms passed midsbipmaB, in
June 1852 ordered TO the Mississippi, the
flagship oi Commodore Perry, command
ing the Japan expidiiion. In 1854 he was
promoted master, and on the following
year was commissioned as Lieutenant.
| lie was then attached TO the coast sur.
vey, and after that served on the Preble
on the Paraguay expedition. and after.
wards on the Mosquito Coast. The
varied requirements and accomplish.
ments adorning such changing pursuits
and duties, were all met and found in
| Lieutenant Breese; he grew rapidly in
the esteem of his superior officers and in
the estimation of the government, and
when the war OF the Rebellion broke out,
no officer in the Navy of his rank bad
more honorable record than Lieuten.
ant Breese.
At the commencement Of our civil
war. he was on board the San Jacinto,
oil the African coast; returning from this
cruise in December 1861, be was detail.
ed TO the sloop Portsmouth, in com.
mand OF the 30 division Of Porter's NOR
tar fotilla. His services commenced
with the bombardment Of Forts Jack.
son and 81. Philip on the 18th April
1862 which continued until the -, when
Farragut achieved his greatest renown
in passing those forts, and New Orleans.
the commercial capitol OF the South,
succumbed to the Federal arms. This
victory, in which Lieutenat Breese's ser.
vices were an important factor, gave
us control Of the Mississippi river and
finally led 10 the abandonment by the
Rebels of that great valley; demonstrat
ing both the energy and power of the
loyal states, and their settled deter
mination to restore and preserve the in.
tegrity Of the Union. II was. as Com.
modore Porter said, "breaking the back
bone OF the rebellion"
In the Summer Of ls6o Lieut.. Breese
commanded the 2d division OF the
mortar hotills in the operations before
Nicksburg. He was commissioned
Lieutenant Commander July l6, 1862,
aud took a notable part in Sher.
mans demonstration against Haines
Bluffs in December OF that year; and
General Sherman in his official report
warmly commended Lieutenant Com.
mander Breese for his hearty and ef.
fective CO operation in the attack. The
next assault in which Commander Breese
took q conspicuous part was at Arkan.
sas Post, on the 10th Of January 1863.
where he was in command Of the his
toric flag ship. Black Hawk. On the
evening OF the 10Th. Breese opened fre
at q distance Of only four hundred yards
from the fort and about noon made a
joint attack with the land forces, and
pressed IL 30 vigorously, that the rebels
gave up the contest as hopeless the
white flag was hoisted. and our troops
rushed into the works. The victory was
complete over 5000 prisoners, twenty
pieces OF cannon, and large quantity
Of ammunition and stores we're taken
and the rebels were cut of from further
use Of = position where they could do
mischief.
In the further prosecution of the
siege of Vicksburg in the spring Of 1868,
Lieut.. Breesc was in command of the
mortar feet. His services there, were they
fully detailed, embrace : narrative OF
days and nights of toll and trouble and
constant exposures Of life 10 the hazards
Of battle. IL is proper however TO refer to
one daring achievement in the progress
W ENtGAH tENNfG llt the
bravery and self.possession Of Lient.
Breese were taxed 10 their utmost; and
in which his ooolness and ability shone
with unsurpassed lustre. speak Of the
passage Of the Gag ship and the other
vessels, selected for the service, by Com.
modore Porter, down the river in front
OF the batteries of Vicksburg.
All attempts against vicksburg from
the northerly side having been aban.
doned, Gen. Grant resolved with Por.
ter's aid, TO get his troops before the city,
and to make his attack from the
lower side. To enable the troops
TO croes the river at Grand Gulf
Il was necessary TO pass the feet and
transports by the gauntlet Of the heavy
guns of the deienses of vicksburg. On
the night OF the 10th of April every.
thing vas in readiness, and the expedi.
ton Get out upon its dangerous journey.
HsaA l. =