The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-30

During the Civil WarShe served on the
Atlantic coast blockade in the steamer
Connecticut in 1861, and was transferred
to the steamer Winona OF the Western
Gulf blocKading squadron in 1862 In this
vessel he participated in the engagements
that ended in the capture of New Orleans.
with the subsequent operations against
Vicksburg in 1862. He was promoted to
ieutenant-commander July 10, 1862, and
had command of the river ironclad Baron
de halb of the Mississippi squadron in
1662-63, In which he participated in the
attacks on Nicksburg and the operations
on the Yazoo River in the winter of 1862 So
cooperating with General William T.
Sherman.
He participated in both attacks on
Hanes Bluff, in the YaZoo River expedi-
tion against the Confederate gunboats, in
the capture of Fort Hindman and Yazoo
City, and in the attack on Fort Penn
berton.
After he had forced a passage through
YaZoO Pass, he took command of the
naval battery with cannon from the gun
boats in the bombardment OF Vcks5urg
from the rear, which contributed greatly
to the final surrender. After the fall of
that place he had command of tie naval
expedition against the YaZoo River. in
cooperation with 5000 troops in trans
ports. Walker led in the "De Kalb." and
while engaging the batteries his vessel
ran foul OF torpedo. which exploded
and caused the vessel TO sink almost i'm
mediately, second torpedo exploding un-
der her stern as she went down. He COM
manded the steamer Saco on the North
Atlantic blockade in 1864, and the Shaw
NUT in 1865, in which he participated in
the capture OF the forts near Wilmington.
He was promoted and advanced over
others for bis services during the war to
the grade OF commander on the 25th of
July, 1866; served at the Navy Academy
in 1868, and commanded the frigate
Saviue on special cruise in 1S69-7O. He
was promoted to captain January %. 1877
appointed chief of the Bureau of Naviga-
ton and officer of detail October %. 1881.
for four years, and reappointed in 1885 for
second term. In February, 1889, he was
% ade commodore. and he commanded
the squadron of evolution as acting rear
admiral in 1889 80.
Rear-Admiral Walker. then only a COM
modore, acting as admiral, gained his
principal fame through diSobedience To
the orders of Admiral Gherardi when the
two were lying off Bar Harbor, Me-. in
the fall Of 1891. AT that time Gherardi.
himself a fighter, signaled an order to
Walker, flying the red flag, which the Off
Ger of inferior rank failed to obey, claim
ing afterward that the order should have
been conveyed to Walker on his fiagsbip
and by him communicated to the vessels O {
his squadron. The affair created a great
scandal at the time. but Walker was a
political admiral" with ''pull" in the
Navy Department. and there was never an
investigation.
After that came the row about the COM
mand of the great naval review given in
commemoration of the landing of Colum.
bus. Gherard, as the senior laval officer.
was entitled TO command in that pageant.
yet Walker had his pulp at work for
several years attempting to wrest the
honor from him. and, having always stood
well with the newspapers, be found many
press partisans in the effort. /. failed
nevertheless. and Gherardi led the reyiew'
Admiral Gherardi now goes upon the
rof