The National tribune., 1886-03-18

He had been on the deep already about nine
years, although now but "a years of age, when
upon his return from foreign parts, in Febru-
ary, 1862, he found his country at war. His
patriotic instincts led him at once to offer his
energies to the Government in that arm of the
service for which he felt best fitted; and upon
the recommendation of leading commercial
houses in New York city, backed by Senator
fessenden and Congressman (now Judge)
Walton, OF Maine, he was appointed by the
| Secretary of the Navy as Acting Master in the
.. S. Navy, his commission dating from April
8, 1862. He was assigned to the U. S. Steamer
Paul Jones of the South Atlantic Squadron,
and served upon that gunboat during the
blockade off Charleston, participating in the
operations in the Carolina and Georgia Sounds,
and along the coast in 1862 and 1865 including
the ill-fated Pocotaligo expedition.
He also bore honorable part in dangerous
shore duty, as at the battle of st. Johns Bluff
Fla, and at the capture of Jacksonville
where he commanded battery of marine
hOwitzers, cooperating with the land forces
under Col. Hawley, of the 7th Conn. and Col.
Goode, of the 47th Pa.
He was then transferred to the y. S. steamer
Sassacus, new double e-ended gunbOat assigned
to the blockade off shore from Wilmington,
where he rendered important aid IN the cap
ture of two swift blockade runners
In the Spring of 1864, being then navigating
was in the engagement of that vessel with the
powerful rebel ram Albemarle, which occurred
May OF that year. an engagement character
lied soon after by correspondent of the ATmy
and Nary Journal as Z" one of the most unusual
and remarkable naval conflicts of this or any
other war, in which the contending forces
were so markedly disproportionate, and the
result so contrary to the preconceived ideas of
'irOn-clad' invincibility, that it may justly
claim to take historical position on the same
page that records the brilliant exploits Of De-
catur and John Paul Jones'" The Alber-
marie was beaten off and badly disabled, and
her cOnsOrt, the gunboat Bombshell, with four
riiied guns a large quantity of ammunition
and full complement of officers and men, We're
captured. Capt. Boutelle was commended in
the strongest possible terms for his gallantry
in this engagement, in the official report OF
Lieut.. Commander Roe, of the Sassacus.
Mr.. BOutehe was accordingly promoted by
Secretary Welles, within three weeks after
ward, to the highest grade which a volunteer
officer could then obtain in the navy-that of
Acting Volunteer Lieutenant, Sin considera-
tion," the Secretary wrote, "of your gallant
conduct in the action with the rebel ram Abe
marie on the 9th inst" He was assigned to
the command of a light-draft gunboat in the
Louisiana waters, but was presently trans
forred, at his own DESIRE to the fleet of Admi-
raj Thatcher, which was about to attack Mo-
Die. ne VOiuDtcSItu Ieau INC tnONSueuG
upon the defenses, and his was the first vessel
to pass the distractions below the city. Upon
the retreat of the rebel force he followed for
some distance up the Tombigbee River, and
captured a cotton-loaded steamer and boats
crew from the rebel Admiral Buchanan's flag
ship.
His vessel was selected to bear the dispatches
from Mobile to Montgomery, nearly 800 miles,
through the enemy's country to inform Gen.
Steele of the termination of the Sherman-J ohm
ston armistice, and he subsequently participated
in receiving the surrender of the entire rebel
naval force at Mamma Hubba Bluff on the Tom
bigbee. His final service was in command of
the u. S. naval force in Mississippi Sound ex-
tending from Lake Pontchartrain to Mobile
Bay, during the Spring and Summer of 1865.
Returning North at the close of hostilities, he
was placed on waiting orders, and was honora-
bly, discharged at his own request Jan. IA, 1866.
After the war he commanded for time
passenger steamer, but having strong bent
for journalism, he adopted that profession. He
soon became editor and chief proprietor of the
Bangor Vhig and Courier, which he conducted
with marked ability. In 1882 he was nomi-
mated for Congress by the Republicans of the
Fourth Maine District. The District had been
for some time Democratic, but Capt. BOutelle
carried it by 1000 majority, and in 1884 by
$500 majority. His fearless course in Congress
is well known to all readers of The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE,