Evening star., 1886-07-03
Written for TIE EVENING STAR
FARRAGUT AND HIS SERVICES
DURING THE REBELLION,
copyrighted 1867

papers and correspondents, the great majority
of the people are long in arriving at a correct
estimate of the character and services of men
whose worth will, in the future. be we'll known
and recognized; in spite of the writing of libra
ries concerning the men and events of the times,
Notwithstanding the numerous memoirs and
autobiographies written by the actors them.
selves, we fail at times to appreciate the full
worth and greatness of the hero who passes
away in our very midst.
This Is especially true of the deeds of David
Glasgow Farragut, one of the great characters
OF modern history. His achievements along
with those OF the navy In other places, were not
appreciated at their full worth The early his
tories of the war misrepresented the conception
and achievement of opening the Mississippi,
giving the credit of the first so the War depart
menLs
The difficulties encountered, the absence ofan
adequate force, and the task of creating one, as
well as the great results finally accomplished,
have been forgotten in the universal attention
Z" the great achievements OF the brother-arm OF
the service on terra TRINA.
The Prince de Joinville clearly indicates the
three tasks before our government at the outset:
THE shores OF the seeding states must be ef-
tectively blockaded, the course OF the Miss
lssippi and the whole water-system of the west
must be mastered; finally, the rebeliiOus gov
eminent must be driven from Richmond, its
chosen capital" Toe first of these plainly
must be done by the navy, the second could
not be done without its aid. One oi the first
military critics OF the day, in speaking OF the
work done by the navy, has brought his pro-
fessiOnsI tribute to its achievements. Col.
Chesney says. ..rhe important part borne by
the American navy in the civil war, Its abSo-
Lutte performance OF the first part of the task in
Qcatcd. the principal share taken by II In the
iNer campaign, when eut the seceoeo states
In twaih, the vast weight due 10 ITS exertlons
In the great successes of the federal generals,
have been but little noticed as compared to the
din and stir of the great battles with which the
New " orld rang: yet nothing Is more surpriS-
tng in the great contest-no IN iltary, political,
financial success has more completely defied
expectation, prophecy, and precedent-than
the work wrought by this arm OF the Union
forces aud wrought by il in the very process of
creation out of actual nonentity."
But this will be righted by 1.-The slow-grinding
mills, and some day the navy and its leaders
-Dupout, Dahlgreu, Porter, Davis Foote, and
FarTagut-wIl have their just place in the esti-
mate OF the deeds done in the greatest OF civil
wars.
Ii seems to be great historical fact that when
occasion arise~, there comes. often from COM
paraiiye ooscurlty, some Particularly htted or
talented Que, some born king o; men, to tli the
place Oi leadership In battle, at the helm OF
state. or in the national council. The career of
trragut during the clNli war seems tolIIuStrate
this, and. at the same time, to demonstrate that
such advancement is not always due To- trans
cendent genius, To the favor OF opportunity Or
frie ndly advancement, but Oftener TO the CHAR
acIer and talent of the man. improved by long
and faithful pupiaSe in "a chosen or imposed
career, nilIns him Tor great deeds by the accu-
mnlated fruits OF years oi devotion and duty.
The life of Farr;lgut is well known in it's
main details ana has been so ably written by
his SOD, that We need only To outline so much of
IL "a shall Indica the character OF the man,
and show why he must have been chosen for
the important task allotted him.
FaTraSut may be said to have grown up in
the service. His ance e,try, near and remote,
was of the sea. His foretathers dwelt in one of
those inland empiIes OF The Mediterranean
whose sons were soldiers renowned IN all the
great armies, from the time OF the Romans to
modern days. His father was an officer in our
younger navy, and he became a wait OF tine sea
before his tenth year, cutting off all home-tes,
and resoluteiy sailing, at the call. and under
the care o., Comm odOre David Porter on tine
renowned cruise OF the Essex in the South Pa
cific during the war OF 1912.
Thus, under that brave and skillful seaman,
the legalized successor OF Hawkins and Drake e.
and bold predecessor of daring Alabama and
Shenandoah leaders, his school was the deck of
the Essex, and his youth spent in the
stormy scenes and bitter experiences of her
career. In her he experienced the varied vicis-
sitUdes OF the seaInans Iife,-was nearly
wrecked on our own stormy coast, tossed IL. the
terrific storm OF Cape Horn when the oldest
sailors Thought the SHIP lost, participated in the
many captures made, and, child he Was,
commanded one of these prizes. In this situs-
played that resolution and decision that were
the greatest characteristics OF the full-grown
man.
In the conflict that terminated the adventur-
Gus career OF the frIsate, which succumbed to
the attack OF two foes in neutral waters, our
young hero bore himself well, and received his
FIRST wound, and the commentator oi his Cap
tain, VINO regretted that his youth prevented
promotion.
this country in the cartei-ship shows that he
early formed his opinions on points of profess
sionai technics, and the opinion then expressed
WAS ever afterwards maintained. The Essex,
Junior, had run in under the guns of a small
battery ON the Horseshoe near Sandy Hook.
Through some mistake the battery opened fire
on them, without doing much damage. Farra-
gut says he then formed the opinion Inst 1T was
not so terrible Thing To lay under u battery
AN opinion " aich time seems TO nave strength
ened.
We need not follow him to the Mediterranean.
serving that he was distinguished for his studi-
Gus habits, and that ne acquired remarkable
facilIIy IN the use oi foreign languages. His
studIous habits gained him friends among the
oder and more mature officers, TO iIls great ad-
vantage Porter paid careful attention to his
schooling, having the boys instructed while on
shIpDoard, and sending DAVID To school when
ashore.
The chaplain of the fleet having been ap-
pointed consul 10 Tunis, begged To lake youI.
fGrTagut with him, and conIluued ms school
Ing. In a subsequent cruise Farragut's COM
mon sense Ii seen IN his comments upon the
discipline oi crack ship" Although none
loved 4 seipIiue more than ne, We must applaud
ms reInarA thst he thought IL unWi>e To narass
and worry the Inen much to gain The re pu-
TALON OF having smart ship.
during d Noy ase home III q merchant vessel
at the ehd oil nis cruise, We again seq display ed
that decision and resolution Tor which he was
afterwards remarkable. A strange craft draw
lns near Was thought a pirate, and the crew
were terrified, untIi Farragut UNUSED into them
"A spirit OF Resistance, organizing them ior that
PuTiOse, aud preparing to lead them.
FarTagut served unaer his old patron in the
exciting campaign against W est India pirates.
where lie gained much valuable experience.
participated ia many exciting brushes with the
pirates, and went through siege OF the yellow
IeNer.
Alter a round OF service in the Mediterranean
ana ia ooatn American waters twnen he COM
ulaHGed the brig Boxer at the age OF thirty
tHFecJ and On shore duty, We nnd him again in
the OUii, IN command U: the Erie during the
war Oi rance with Mexico. lie witnessed the
OOfnOa simeDt oi Vera Cruz by the French
nCtIns with prophetic eye the results OF the
AFe !IOIn sheIi-guns against iOrts, and the sea-
inanilke way IN which The French ships were
handled On the breaking out OF the war of
Tue Lllcu Ssttes with Mexico, in 1Sl5 he ad-
uressed a letter 10 the Secretary of tie NAVY
asking to be employed Ia the Gull, urging hi,
OiHief experience, and expressing the belief
ti.At one snip -; Tine line anu two gates could
rcduce the WORKS. But the authorities were
s-aisst hiiIl, ana the task was not attempted.
Ms services IN California, where ne was sent
10 e>ts oilsn a navy yard, were eminently use
Iui- buIIng the troubles connected w ilh Tine
Nigilantes tie declined 10 interfere although h
officials. -
~ a,.vng demand was soon to be made upon
h4s patriotism ana his Judgment. Born in the
TONED for years al Norfolk auiust southern
Influences, II became necessary, On the first
symPiOaIs OF an outbreak, To decide which
cause to espOuse. Most the officers of SOUTH
sru bIrth leit the service, and some of them
were his future antagonists, but with him there
rDdndlngs at Norfolk, moved north and
offered his service, to the government without
stlpUiating any particular service.
lie " as now sIAty years Old, bore the highest
rank in the sell .'e-lhat OF captain-was
hearty, vigorous, 49, alert, but had never COM