Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-06-04
CAREER OF DE ROHAN.
ADMIRAL pAHLeRENs BROTHER A
SOLDIER or FORTUNE.

LIfe-His Service ON Two continentsvith
GaribaIdi-His Unrecompensed Service
for Victor Emanuel
Admiral William de Rohan, who died
in this city, was one of the most reInark-
able men of this century, and complete
sketch of his life would read like a chap
ter from medieval history. He was Of
Morse descent, his father having been
Swedish nobleman, and he was born
Dahlgren, his elder brother being Ad-
miral Dahlgren, of the United States
navy, whose services afoat during the
war, as well as his advanced improve
ments in ordnance, make such o bright
page in the history of our navy. Another
brother, younger, Charles Dahlgren,
took sides with the south during the.
war and was general officer.
DeRohan 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.
THE BROTHERS FIGHT.
Away back in the forties, when Will
lam had grown to mans estate in years,
Admiral Dahlgren, then a lieutenant,
was stationed at the navy yard here en-.
gagged in the ordnance departments, that
made his name famous for the style and
method of building the great ship gums
that bore his name and that fought the
naval battles of the civil war. One day
Dahlgren, the elder son, saw fit to take
| William severely to task for something,
and that brought on a storm of angry
younger man knocking the older brother
into corner of the room. Dignity for
bade personal alteration, and Dahl
gren had an officer sent for.
Taken to the old City h all, 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
public apology for having struck an Off
cef of the navy while in uniform he
would be willing that the penalty be set
aside.
i "Never! Neverr' said William. II
will never apologize nor even speak a
word to you while God let's 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 princely
} family of De Rohan, of France.
: Going abroad, his family connections
E and ample means brought him into in
I timacy with persons of the highest rank
. in life, among them being Admiral Ho-
bart Pasha), of the Turkish navy, and
= with him he took service under the sui
: tan, with the rank of captain.
? HIs CAREER IN ITALIAN WATERS.
Leaving the Turks he went to the
Q Argentine Republication Buenos Ayres
8 with Garibaldi, and commanded the
naval forces of that country in the sue
8 cessful revolution that brought indepen-
4 dence. After that, when Garibaldi came
a to this country, De Rohan went to Chill
: and became admiral of the Chilian navy.
4 Late in the ffties he Joined Garibaldi,
!. with whom he was in constant corre-
: spondence, in Europe, andentered heart
e and soul with him in his plans for the
t unifcation and independence of Italy,
v While the great Hberator directed and
@ commanded the land forces De RohaT
i. was made admiral Of the revolutionary
J. navy, which was confirmed by Victor
Emanuel.
4 He was an admiral without feet, fol
T. they did not have single vessel heavier
!" than a coral fishing felucca; but he was
a energetic, and by very liberal outlay
a of funds from his private purse and con
,r tributions by English and French friends
a he actually succeeded in purchasing and
a arming three good sized merchant steam
Ie ers, with which he escaped to Sardinis
d and reported to Victor Emanuel.
:. Tt was on these vessels that the ther
y king of Sardinia and such troops as h'
v had were transported to the mainland o
# Italy, and history tells Of the result
le During the siege of Rome Admiral D.
n Rohan commanded the marine division
t. under Garibaldi and supervised the az
rs tillery fire.
Other forms of government than re
r publics are at times ungrateful, and it
ID SO in this case, for, while Admiral D
IL Rohan spent nearly $250,0 in providin
e. the means that gave the throne of Ital
Tx tothe house of Savoy, he never was ri
v. paid penny, and died in Proyidenc
t. hospital here, cared for by charitabl
Mt friends.
he During number Of years he reside
be in England, where he became intereste
n in the formation and workings of til
C. British naval reserve, in which he WI
commissioned commander by the az
ho miralty. During the civil war he va
o. intensely loyal to the north, but refuse
he to take servire in our navy lssthe migt
is- at some time be brought under the con
of mand of his brother, Admiral John Dab
of gren.
ho Put off by various excuses and nel
nd Looted by Victor Emanuel in his attenap
he to secure repayment Of the immenl
h. sums advancedto Italy, he canae hon
AS about 1871 and laid his claims before Il
,c- secretary Of state.
wo In the belief that something would
ras least be accomplished, De Rohan wei
m | abroad aorain and fct. saVe1.al vaars, ,3riE