The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-05-15
A SOLDIER OF FORTUNE.
The Remarkable Career of the Late Adj
miral De ROhan.

| IOCChIIy III NdSuluB JOIl, was OlC VI Gn0
most remarkable men of this century,
and complete sketch of his life would
read like a chapter from medieval his
tory. He was of Morse descent, his
father having been a Swedish noble
man, and he was born Dahlgren, his
elder brother being Admiral Dahlgren,
of the United States navy, whose serv-
ices afioat during the war; as well as
his advanced i'm movements in ordnance,
makes such bright page in the history
of our navy. Another brother, younger,
Charles Dahlgren, took sides with the
south during the civil war, and became
general officer
De Rohan was nearly six feet in
height, broad-shouldered and deep
chested, and in his prime of life must
have been one of the most powerful
men living. His head was Websterian
in its proportions, while the cheek
bones were high and the jaws wide,
with the chin cut square across, so that
the bush of English whiskers that he
wore at once reminded you of desert
lion.
Away back in the forties, when Will
liam had grown to mans estate in
years, Admiral Dahlgren, then lieu
tenant, was stationed at tn navy yard,
engaged in the ordnance departm entS
that made his name famous for the
style and method OF building the great
ship guns that bore his name, and that
fought the naval battles of the civil
war. One day Dahlgren, the eldest son,
saw fit to take William severely to task
for something, and that brought ON
storm of angry words on both sides that
resulted in the younger man knocking
the older brother into a corner of the
room. Dignity forbade a personal alter
cation, and Dahlgren had an officer sent
for.
Taken to the old City hall, William
was sullen and unrepentant, and though
family and neutral friends tried to stop
proceedings, Dahlgren pressed the case,
and the offender was fined 500 for the
assault. Then Dahlgren told the magis-
trate that if William would make pub
lie apology for having struck an officer
of the navy while in uniform he would
be willing that the penalty be set aside.
"Never! Never" replied the offender.
81 will never apologize nor even speak
word to you while God lets me live,
and more, while you live will never
again bear the name that you do"
So they parted in the mayors room at
the City hall. and William assumed his
mothers name of De Rohan by which
he was known thereafter at home and
abroad to the day of his death. His
mother was member Of the famous and
princely family of De Rohan, of France.
Going abroad his family connections
and ample means brought him into init
macy with persons of the highest rank
in life. among them being Admiral Ho-
bart UPasha), of the Turkish navy. and
with him he took service under the sui
tan. with the rank of captain.
Leaving the Turks, he went to the
Argentine Republication Buenos Ayres
with Garabaldi, and commanded the
naval forces of that country in the sue,
cessful revolution that brought indie
pendence. After that. when Garibaldi
came to this country, De Rohan drifted
across to Chilli. and became admiral of
the CHILEAN navy.
Late in the fifties he joined Cara
baldi, with whom he was in constant
correspondence in Europe, and entered
heart and soul with him in his plans for
the unifcation and independence of
Italy. While the great liberator directed
and commanded the land forces, De
Rohan was made admiral of the revolu-
tionary navy, which was confirmed by
Victor Emanuel.
He was an admiral without a fleet,
for they did not have single vessel
heavier than n coral fishing felucca: but
he was emerge tic, and by very liberal
outlay of funds from his private purse
and contributions by English and French
friends, he actually succeeded in pur-
chasing and arming three good-sized
merchant steamers, with which he es-
capped to Sardinia and reported to Vic
tor Emanuel.
1t was on these vessels that the then
king of Sardinia and such troops as he
had were transported to the mainland
of Italy. and history tells of the result
During the siege of Rome Admiral De
Rohan commanded the marine division
under Garabaldi, and supervised the
artillery fire.
Other forms of government than re-
publics are at times ungrateful, and it
is SO in this case, for while Admiral De
Rohan spent nearly $25O,OOO in provid-
ing the means that gave the throne of
Italy to the house of Savoy. he never
was repaid a penny, and died in Provi-
dence hospital here, cared for by chart
table friends.
During number of years he resided
in England, where he became interested
in the formation and workings of the
British naval reserve, in which he was
commissioned commander by the ad-
miralty. During the civil war he was
intensely loyal to the north, but refused
to take service in our navy lest he might
at some time be brought under the com
mand of his brother, Admiral John
Dahlgren.
Put off by various excuses and
neglected by Victor Emanuel in his at
tempts to secure repay ment of the i'm
mense sums advanced to Italy. he came
home about 1871 and laid his claims be-
fore Secretary Fish. The secretary of
state failed to understand the case some
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