Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-23
NAvAL "REMINISCENCES.
Jack Tars Listen to q Clever Historical
sketch.

WHEN THE SPEECHES WE'RE DONE THERE WAS A
REcEPTIoS-DANcINe ON THE DECK OF THE
KEARsARaE-A PLEASANT SOCIAL FEATURE
OLD sEAMES PLEASED.
1t may be q superfluous announcement to
make that there was a storm blowing off Grand
Army Place yesterday afternoon, because there
were great many disappointed veterans in
that section Of the CITY, and they need in
formation of the sort. In nautical phraseology,
the gale Of the last two days made the sea too
rough for old sailors of the Mississippi squad
ron to take their wives alongside the Kearsarge
and board her in regular man-of-wAr style.
The North Atlantic tars had their reunion in
the morning and managed to scull ashore from
the port side before the gale reached its height.
But their shipmates, who expected to have q
jollifcation at clock, we're compelled to sig
nal the Kearsarge that they must wait for a
smoother swell and rising tide The man-of-
war commander on Grand Army Place is moth
ing il not accommodating and the mate was
instructed to answer the signal. with an invita-
ton to the sailors to board about Z clock last
night. The signal officer would have said six
bells, but he was afraid some Of the tars had
forgotten their sea dialect since 1855.
There we're some adventurous spirits ashore,
however. and quite number OF veterans man
aged to reach the black hulk and inspect the
old ship before shutdown. In few hours the
sou easter had lessened its fury "a tiifie and the
long boat brought hundreds to the taffrail over
the choppy waves, for not only was the Missis-
sippi squadron going to have a reunion, but
the national officers of the Naval Veterans Asso-
citation were aboard, ready to hold a levee for
their shipmates. They came like Sir Joseph
Porter, X. c. b., of operate memory. but with
the British sdmirals numerous relatives in
creased. There we're old tars' wives. daugh-
ters cousins and old tars' aunts. perhaps. As
to the sweethearts, the log book makes no
record. But the crew wasn't daunted and
even If it isn't quite sailorlike to have brilliant
electric lights swinging between the mizzen,
main and foremasts instead of at port and star
board, the dazzling refiectors made the scene one
that delighted the old tars particularly, to say
nothing OF the cousins and aunts." As there
was to be naval ball during the evening one
ensign forgot his official reserve and suggested
that the 'scuttle butts" might be slightly tinged
with punch and ices. and nobody would find
fault. The suggestion acted upon later
after Commodore Michael had done himself
and crow proud in rendering the freedom Of
the kearsarge to the visitors of the evening.
JUDGE cowLEY's REMARKS.
From the recesses of the leck band
suddenly burst forth with Z strains,
and directly the rendition wa GUIDED Bo'-
swain Goodenough piped all hands to the quar-
ter and spar decks. Commodore Michael pre-
scented Judge Charles Cowley to the veterans
and the former judge advocate of the North
and South Atlantic squadrons entertained them
with "A short but clever address, In which he
alluded to the kearsarge feature of this encamp-
ment H. the one that appealed most strongly to
the heart Of the eX-ealor of the civil strife long
passed. 1t meant at last, said Judge Cowley
that the claims of Jack were to be recognized
n a Irtl rnl faS shn
acknowledgment of both soldier and sailor as
the Unions defenders.
This was the sort of sentiment to strike
responsive chord among the hundreds of mem
ber- Of the Mississippi squadron and it did
strike. for the salts signiied their approval in
the most vociferous kind of demonstration.
which rose again when Commodore" Michael
delivered the address of the reunion on the
operations of the squadron proper
WHAT THE FLoTILLA DID.
He said that the fiotil!a should not be con-
founded with the Mississippi squadron. al
though the latter when organized absorbed
what was left of the fotila The iotilla proper
was composed of three wooden gunboats the
Tyler, Lexington and Conestogo. the first
vessels built for war service on the Mississippi
and its. tributaries: seven ironclads named
for cities Oh those rivers, the Cincinnati Louis
vile, Cairo. Mound City. st. Louis. Carondcet,
Pittsburg. and two heavier ronclads Essex.
named for Commodore Porter's We sci of that
name of the old navy, and the Benton, named
for Thomas H. Benton, or, perhaps, more
strictly speaking. for Jesse Benton Fremont.
In recognition of the fact that Gen. Fremont
wa one OF the first to recognize the necessity
of gunboats on the western inland waters to
cooperate with the land forces and to prevent
destruction By armed vessels which the enemy
began to construct at the outset Of the re-
bellion. The operations OF the iotilla extended
"A al ~ ono fr,nr Va Il g..n,
days, and performed a very important part
in reopening the Mississippi! river as far down
as Nicksburg. where it met Farraguts fleet from
below July l. 1862. Never after this late was
the Mississippi closed by confederate force be-
TWEEN Vicksburg and Cairo The gunboats
kept it open for navigation to government
transports and such business as was not con-
traband till the close OF hostiliies in 1865 Thus
the aim of the national government; was attained
At an early period in the war. the simultaneous
movement OF armed vessels from the sea and
from Cairo the former working up stream in
connection with land forces to take possession
OF the strong positions that gave command of
navigation. and the latter working down stream
with a like object. IL successful AS they for
tunately were. the states in rebellion lying on
the east and west sides of the river would be
secured ana rs a consequence the confederate
armies would be weakened, especially in the
matter OF food supplies from the rich trans
Mississippi region. The distance thus traversed
by the vessels, not including the Northumberland
wrested from rebel control was ,097 miles, from
Cairo to the gulf After the passage of Forts
St Phillip and Jackson below New Orleans,
little lighting was done by the lower fleet while
the Mississippi hotilla was met BY stubborn re-
slstance from shore batteries and armed vessels
almost at every advance The fotilla rose to
the dignity of a squadron after Commander
David ID. Porter, with the local
rank OF acting rear admiral. as
suned command. in November. 1862 although
the fotilla had been wholly transferred from
the War TO the Navy Department some time
prior to that time Commander John Rogers
Of the navy wa the first TO command the TO
tila. and under his supervision the first vessel
was prepared for this anomalous service which
though at first very unpre.entious. before the
war ended embraced over 100 vessels and ton
stituted a force of over Is COS men and officers.
Comm2nder Rogers was succeeded BIZ Capt A.
s. Foote. the beloved who was compelled to
relinquish command and 20 north BY reason of
painful and lingering wound received in the
battle of Fort Donelson, but not It'll he had
organized and equipped the hotilq, proved its
utility and given il an honorable place in his
tory. He was succeeded by Capt Charles II.
Davis. who in turn. after an honorable career
as the commandRnt Of the fiotilla. was sue
ceeded b. thar brave. gallant and ever-ready
genius, Admiral Dayid d. Porter.
Col Michael told the story of the eunboa Is
from Belmont to St. Charles, covering the
period az above, in vivid and at times elo-
quent manner that made his theme intensely in
teresting.
HOW THE NAVY HAS BEEN NEGLECTED..
Of tba I'll h.,