The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-10
REAR ADMIRAL BENHAM.
He Has Seen 46 Years of Service and
Was Much Admired by Gen. Grant.

John Russell Young. in New York Press.
The news from Brazil comes upon the
country like the flush of spring after a
stern, black winter. AS an American
naval officer, ready to protect his flag,
ready with q word and a blow, the blow
swift upon the word, a courteous, con-
sentative gentleman who looks well into
whatever he does. Admiral Benham has
written his name on the list of naval he
roes. There has been NJ finer bit OF work
on the part of a naval commander in
time of peace since 1858, when Commodore
Ingraham, in Smyrna harbor, sent word to
an Austrian man-of-warwho had kidnapped
the Hungarian Koszta, that unless koszta
was returned by 4 o'clock in the afternoon
he would take him. The government gave
Ingraham a medal. and Marcy, then Sec
rotary of State, jutifed the commanders
action in a letter to Chevalier Hulsemann,
the Austrian minister, which stands as a
masterpiece in diplomatic literature, and
j~ustiies Mr.. Marcy's fame as among our
While reading this news from Brazil I
recall General Grants saying that he
thought Benham an ideal officer, and that
he did not believe there was a clearer head
and at the same time a kinder heart III
the service. General rGant spoke with I'M
usual opportunities of knowledge. Benham
WAS captain IN command Oh the INlCLlilOitu,
which conveyed Grant over the China seas
They lived for months upon terms or daily
intercourse and in the closest intimacy,
and 1t is within my personal knowledge that
no one was more esteemed by the expires
ldent than the gallant gentleman VINO mas
added new glories to the American flag in
Rio Janeiro.
Benham has a talent forsilence; rather
reticent than otherwise; modat, with lash
es of pleasantly; never in a hurry, nor at
determined, and like most of the really
brave men l have known, ruling without
cstentation or exhibition of temper; +tndee
temper is either a weaknes of intellect or
a disease of the nerves. To outward show
ing the mildest of men; caring nothing for
the rattle and noise of power; Indifferent to
~trif1es; ready to overlook, forget or forgive
venial shortcomings; but like steel when
an essential thing came before him.
together, and those keen, earnest
eyes flash. as with a courtesy or manner
Brazilian admiral in soft, gentle, half hest
tating tones that he meant to protect the
humble Yankee skipper, and that he would
sink any ship that fired on the American
flag.
Rear Admiral A. f. K. Benham the
plucky commander of the American fleet
years of active service in Uncle Sans navy.
He will be forced by law to close his nom
orable career on April 10, when he reaches
the age of ~sixty-two md goes on the re-
was appointed a mildly from New York
and spent five years at sea A years study
at the NavSAcademJ made him a passed
midshipman and wis sent off to the Pa
cifc, serving on various ships until the
civil war broke out.
His first active service in the rebellion
was as a lieutenant on the Bienville. which
was at the battle of Port Royal. His pro-
motion to lieutenant-commander came on
July 16, 1862, and soon ftewar he was
sent to duty on the gunboat Penobscot.
upon which vessel he served until the close
of thewar. He was made commander on
June 3. 1867; promoted to captain on March
II, 1875; to commodore Oct so, 1885, and to
rear admiral Feb. II, 1890.
In November, 1898, he was put in COM
mand of the Mare island navy yard. In
June, 1891, he was relieved from this COM
mand under peculiar circumstances. Act
ing Rear Admiral Brown mad reported with
his flagship at the Mare island navy yard,
where Admiral Benham declined to give
other than a commodore's salute.
Upon reference to the department the
matter was decided against Admiral Ben
ham,. who was detached from his COM
mand soon afterward, and, without being
ordered home, as is usual, was placed on
waiting orders. Admiral appealed to the
| Not until June, 1892, was he given active
service again. He was put in command OF
the South Atlantic station, and in August
sailed on his fiagshiy, the Newark, with
the Bennington, to Genoa, Italy, where he
participated in the Columbian celebration
and subsequently conveyed the caraVels
from PalOs, Spain.
Last June he was transferred to the
command of the North Atlantic station
In December, while at Trinidad with the
| San Francisco as his flagship, he was or
| dered to proceed with that vessel to Rio
de Janeiro and assume command of the