The National tribune., 1889-03-21

his tomb.
The Yice-Adrliralty in the Navy corresponds
in rank with that Of Lieutenant General IN
the Army, and the hero who holds that rank
afOat well earned the grade, or else Gen. Grant
would never have elevated him TO the dignity
Of the three-st2rrcd ensign that floats over each
hostelry where he abides.
STEPHEN Clegg Rowan was born Dec. %, 1885,
IN Dablin, ireland, but was brought 10 this
country and to PickaHay, Miami Co, in south
sTn Ohio, SO young IL years that lie IS distinct
i've American.
When Only just past 10 years Of age be was
appointed a AidshlpuSn IN the Navy, and thus
began the career that has added 50 much TO the
naval history CT this Republic.
The frs SIX years Of his service, that brought
him IN April, lS32, 20 his promotion TO the
grade Of Passed Mi6shipnSn, was IN the Pa
cifc feet Ter four years, and the last two he
served ia tie old sloop-og-War Experiment,
that did sach good service at TripOi.
Meantime. during the Mexican war, he was
on the Pacific feet again, ana in the action at
Alez6, IN what IS now the State Of California,
be commanded one Of the naval b3ttaiions that
made such brilliant and successful dash on
shore. That was as a subordinate TO that gal
lans Commodore Stockton the Navy knows so
kindly and well. I" Paddy Rowan was also
with Commodore Stockton at the assault and
capture c. Maz4taD, on the Mexican coast,
where lie also com nl8ndej one Of the Navy bat
t2liOls that went ashore to drive the Greasers
3ut from their works That dash was done at
night, brt i g2s thoroughly done, and the bat
talon commander proved himself the true
trishmsn FOR fighting as well Is the Ohio mau
tor gallant wcrlz.
Later On, IN the Mexican war days, Rowan
gas Executive Officer they called them First
LieutcGaUts Of ships in those iOld-tiEIe days. of
that historic old sIOop-of-war Cyane THAT the
Stars and Stripes took away from the British
Ensign IL The var OF 1872, when the fierce and
successful hattie was fought at Guaymas.
When, IN i5,55 the frsi Retiring Board known
il the history Of our military service had its
meetings here IN Washington, the result WAS
thst 2 considerable number Of aged officers
were placed up3a what was then called the
. Reserved LIST. while good many more were
dropped" Rowan was not reserved or
drcppcd," but Tie vacancies created By the
Board promoted him Sept. Il, 1855, 10 the grade
3f Commander.
think Il too friAing 70 give the minor de-
tails Of the service such as this grand vet
Gran has performed. aad 50 / viii so on al
3nco TO tel that when tie war OF the rebellion
came upon Is he was commanding the sloop-Ot-
T2r Payuce and was looking after the interests
u the Union IN the Chesapeake Bay.
As seen IS hestiiities actually began, the
Pawnee was sent into the hover reach Of the
Potomac LiTer, and the man I write Of fought
he very Grst naval fight Of oar civil war az
Acquia Creek 1ith the heavy battery that the
rebels lid built there.
Sui ia command Of the Pawnee Com
manGer Rowan Joined the squadron with which
Commodore Striking attacked aud captured
the forts that defended Hatteras Inlet and
very soon alte-g&rG waE placed IN the separate
colmaEd q 3 f0tilla to operate in the North
Carolina Sounds.
Ia FeirsaTy, 1852, he took part with this
Iotila N Gen. Bnrusides assault and capture
OF Roanoke Island. The day following Feb
8, he chased the rebel gunboats well up into
Albe2.as.c Sound, aud the day alter forced the
surrender q The whole scE2dr9n-dFe armed
steamers and a schooner that carried two
6-sDc!i guns.
Wine he made this dash he ran into we'll
built esEtEsgeTk ashore. armed with four good
guns, saa tie rebel vessels were ranged along
sho-e IL shelter. When the little iotiila ap-
preached, Rowan got 2 heavy ERE that looked
Ike destruction OF ali his vessels.
The Ere was hot and heavy, but without
firing q single gun Rowan signaled his other
ships 70 follow his lead, aud steamed ahead
under fun speed, and never fred q gun
until he was within less than three-fourths
Of q mile distant. Then his rifles counted for
coed work. and be scooped the rebel squadron
in. This fight i write Of here resulted IN
the capture and the permanent occupation Of
E1entCn. =. c.
il addition to securing the port of Edenten
which became so valuable to Us In the later
days Of the var, the clearing cut of the rebel
1otila from Albemarle Sound gave Us the full
control and use Of tie Chesapeake and Abe
marie Canal that proved later in the war 50
valuable as q line Of supply.
The rebel squadron that Rowan captured in
the Albcmarle Sound was commanded By Com
nOcOre William (. Lynch. who had been In
ola times Lieutenant in the y. s. Navy, and
was renegade Northern man who Joined the
rebels through the influence of his wife, :
south C2rclinian. Lynch was best known II
the old Navy for his book describing his explo
ration Of the Dead Sea and Palestine
Wien the legislation Of July, 1852, addet
the new grades TO the Navy, Rowan held sucl
high rank that the same day July Is, 1862
promoted bin to Captain and TO Commodore
and when tie first ironclad frigate after tht
monitors was buiit-the New Ironsdes-ht
was assigned TO command Of that splendid frig
ate and sent TO tie feet OF Charleston as sec
ond IL command 70 Admiral Du Point
The story Ct the work Of the New Ironside
at Fort Wager, Fort Sumter and Fort Moul
trie is part only Of the history of Yice-Admi
raj Rowan, and / have heard now dead Rear
Admiral tell that Rowan shed tears that da,
the Iroasides burned at the Philadelphia Nav
Yard.
In these battles that Rowan SO gallant,
saiied his good frigate into IN those DAYS @
heavy battling IN the bay outside Of the birth
place OF the rebellion, the good ship was places
SO close by her valiant commander that he
armOred sides were scored IN many places b
rebel saelis, and when her burned-out she
sunk 1t Philadelphia, she went down Wit
many dent that heavy shot had made in he
sides
Again. in 1896, by the law Of July %. me-
legislation brought this grand old Irishma
promotion, aud he was made a Rear-Adm
raj. Then be was sent to command the No.
folk Nary Yard for Is months, and then whe
there was speck Of trouble in the Orient, b
was selected IN 1868 to command the feet j
Asiatic waters.
lie remained in that command until Deceu
Der, 1871, when he returned home to the Unite
States and assumed command OF the Navy Yar
at Brooklyn, where he remained until III
Summer OF 1876 when he was made Port-At
miral az New York; q position he held f,
nearly 10 years.
About 1880 the Vice Admiral came here
Washington as President of the Navy Boar
Tor Examination for Promotion and Retiremen
and was next made Superintendent Of the NJ
va Observatory. His health failed him viii
residing at the Observatory, and he asked f
and obtained the detail which he now holds {
the Lighthouse Board, OF which lie was at on
elected Chairman as soon as reporting.
lie IS man Of such splendid physique ar
such gigantic stature that when he naces vii
his stately tread through the broad corridors
the Ehbltt House, where he makes his HON
strangers tErn 10 ask who that grand-lookir
Old man NAV be. Fully q spau in HIGHT aho-