The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-11-20
REAR-ApMIRAL sTEEpMAN.
A Naval Hero Joins the Great Majority

Naval Hero Joins The Great Majority.
Rear-Admiral Charles Steedman, U. S Navy,
retired, died al his residence in Washington on
Thursday, Nov. -. His death was due 10 old
age aud general complication Of diseases He
was 80 years old.
Admiral Steedman was born in South Caro-
| lima and entered the service from that State
being appointed MidshipmGn april /, 1928. and
| sent TO the Naval School at the New York
| Nayy-yard.
His first cruise was in tho West Indies in
/ the sloops-Of-war NatchcZ aud Fairfield and
\ the schOonJr Grampus, and on his return he
was promoted 20 Passed Midshipman June IA,
| 1884
lie was next ia the Mediterranean Squadron,
| 1865, In the frCates Constitution aud
| United States, and then 10 1910 in the West
| Indies i'm the frigate Macedonian. Promoted
/ 10 Lieutenant Feb %. 1871, he served in the
| brig Dolphin on the Home aud West India
! Squadrons until he was sent home invalided in
| The Summer Of 1872 and next did duty with
| the Coast Survey, 1913, a.
During tho Mexican war he served in the
Gulf in the slOop 81. Marys; at the siege aud
capture Of Vera Cruz, he commanded the
Sinch gun Of the Naval battery ashore during
| the bumbardment; az TampiCO he commanded
the lanch Of tho ST. Marys in an attempt TO
surprise and capture three Mexican gunbOats
inside the bar.
From September, 1s47, 10 March, 1S49, he
was at the Naval Observatory in Washington !;
IN the friEate Cumberland, Mediterranean
squadron, 1850, 81, tho Naval Observatory
again, ls53-'5l. and special duty in Washington
80 revising the signal code.
sept IA, loJ5, he was promoted TO Com
mander, and in the Paraguay expedition,
1859, go, commanded the brig Dolphin. When
Commodores Shubrick and Forrest returned
home early in 1850 he remained in command
If I'm vf1
months until Commodore Sands arrived, and
returned home in December, 1860
When the rebellion broke out he was on leave,
and many doubted il he would remain loyal,
but he stood by tho coloTs ho had served SO
long, and volunteered TO Commodore Du Pout
for any duty he could perforH-~,Du P0nt sent
linn 10 liarve dc Grace, Susqcchanna River, TO
take command Of the railroad fcrry-stcamer
Maryland, and lie kept communications open
with Washington by way Of Annapolis, until
the railway bridges were repaired.
lie was ordered in July TO report 10 COmmo-
dore FOote Tor the Western River Service but
be was soon detached and ordered to command
the Bienville which went with the expedition
10 Port Royal and i'm which he led the second
column in the attack and capture Of the forts
there. Nov. z 1861, Commodore DUPONT sent
him North with the dispatches announcing the
success OF the expedition, after which the Bien-
Vile returned South 10 the blockade, aud par
ticpated in the capture Of all the ports on tho
Atlantic Coast south Of the Savannah River.
lie then returned North, March, 1862, and
was transferred TO command OF the ZuubOat
Paul Jones, in which he reported again 10
DUPONT on the South Atlantic Blockade In
August lsG2, be took part in the attack on
Fort McAllisteT Ga. Sept. II he attacked and
slencod the batteries at ST. Johns Bluff Fla
but finding troops necessary 10 capture the
forts he applied 10 Admiral Dnpont, and Cen
John M. BranHan was sent with a division
capturing the forts and holding the ST. Johns
River open Az far as Lake Beaufort.
Dec -, 1882, be was promoted to Captain and
transferred 10 the steam-frigate PoWhatan on
The blockade of Charleston aud with her towed
the captured rebel ram Atlanta to Philadelphia
ia june 1863.
lie then took command OF the Ticonderoga,
aud was sent on long search for the rebel
cruiser Florida, but returned from the coast OF
Brazil in November. 1864, unsuccessful, and
with his engines disabled. lie at once vOlun-
trcrcd 10 join Admiral Porter's feet; did 90
after the Iic0nderoga was temporarily repair
ed, aud participated liz both Of the attacks on
Fort Fisher
A!ier Fort Fisher was captured he Joined
Admiral DALlgren OF CharlesIon, but the IL
cOudeTuga being unfit for service, she was sent
70 Philadelphia for repairs. As soon as the re-
pairs were made he proceeded 10 the MediteT-
rauoan in November, 1865, aud joined Rear
Admiral Goldsborough, remaining in the Euro
pcan hect until after his promotion TO Com
m0d0re, July -, 1866, when he exchanged
commands with Capt. Wyman, aud returned
home in the fTigate Colorado la September,
1867
lie was on special duty in 1859, 60 and com
mandcd the Boston Navy-yard l560'72, having
been promoted meantime to Rear Admiral May
%, 1871.
lie was placed on the Retired List Sept. o.
1913, on reaching 90 years Of age, aud since
that time has made bis home Ia Washington,
residing at No. 2OlJ G street.
The funeral took place on Monday, Nov. II,
aud tue remains were taken 10 Boston, Mass,
for iH.crmcnL