Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-03-21
FARRAGUT'S GREATNESS.
A Born Man of War and Naval Hero of
the Highest Type.

In January, 1862, in the same boat
with Fleet Captain Farragut, picked
my way through the running ice to the
flagship Hartford, then anchored off
Wilmington, Del. We Immediately put
to sea, and l was his constant ship
mate from that time for more than
year, and throughout the forming of
the west gulf blockading squadron and
the opening up of the Mississippi river.
1 remember him as my naval father"
and must speak of him with degree of
prudence.
Farragut was typical mau-o'war's-
man and naval hero, He was of medium
hight, well built, erect, and of that
complexion only to be obtained by con-
tact with the sun and shadow of many
latitudes.
He was as sprightly as n kitten.
never saw him go out or come in over
the gangway except on run. He had
physical courage and, better still, moral
courage and power of an exalted kind
and quantity; hence it was that he must
succeed or die. His greatness was mag
netic. No officer terminated an inter
view with Farragut without carrying
u"dI d COdJlul VI Ills CIldTucIeTlSJlCS.
And thus to his ships company he was
always an inspiration and a trusted
safeguard from danger. What though
the Hartford's immediate commander
loved ''grog" more than duty? What
though her executive officer noble in
heart and brilliant fighter that he was)
could not always keep his legs, just when
danger thickened or some great enter
prise was on the tapis? Farragut was
always there, cool and steady; always
equal to the occasion, always apprecia-
tive of the humblest; as considerate as
he was bold. For such a man as he,
and in such cause as he led, there were
hundreds who would not hesitate to die.
His greatness was shown in his grasp
of mind, which could promptly plan and
enter upon great line of action. He
believed that God ruled through men,
and having planned his execution was
such as implied in the expression at
tributed to him at Mobile: D the
torpedos! Go ahead ~
His greatness, was shown in his in
genuity in expedients to insure sue
cess, and his readiness to adopt, with
due credit, good suggestion from
the humblest person.
His tremendous nervous energy, which
was always under control, was shown
to me while lying off New Orleans.
He had just sent the U. S. s. Hatteras
to cr-lise in the Gulf. When but two
or three days absent an officer brought
the intelligence that she had been sunk
by the Alabama with the loss of many
lives; also reporting disaster to our
blocading fleet at Galveston. AS the Ad-
miral's disgust for the slowness of our
cruisers (Which had permitted the Ala
bama to exist, his deep regret at the
loss of the ships, and particularly the
loss of so many precious lives of his
men grew upon him, his cabin quickly
became too small. He broke for the
poop-deck of the Hartford, and, alone,
went racing up and down at great
speed Every officer knew instinctively
that his counsel was not wanted. His
thoughts found vent in energetic move
ments of his head and occasional down
sweeps of his clenched fist The scene
was as grand as coming cyclone.
In coming up the river, after passing
Forts jackson and St Phillip, we en-
countered the Chalmette batteries at
English Turn (where Jackson fought
the British); we had spirit
ed engagement of a few minutes
duration, and the Hartford was
hit many times. While he was stand
ing in the mizzen rigging a shell passed,
cutting off five of the seven shrouds be-
tween his hands and feet and covering
him with flying rope ends. He sprang
down to the poop-deck, excited by his
narrow escape and exclaimed: Cd
them, they shoot we'll" He was re-
ported among the wounded in this en-
| gagement.
His eagerness to avoid spilling an un-
necessary drop of blood. was shown at
| New Orleans, when in the flush of vic
tory he for three days patiently argued
against the obstinacy of the mayor,
who refused to surrender, and finally
risked the lives of his own officers and
men amid bowling mob on shore,
rather than lay the rebellious city in
ashes. But when NJ paton Rouge the
treacherous foe ~: :. ~ aown and fred
into our unarmed paymaster's boat, go
ing ashore to communicate, the "dogs
CT war" instantly found voice. Also
when DonelsonylIe. after repeated