The morning times., 1896-02-10

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commander, and had just captured the Con-
federate ram Tennessee.
Now Captain Perkins has retired. Forty
years of active service has given him that
right The poSsessor Of fortune he
spends his time as he sees fit. During
part of il he resides at his handsome winter
home at % Commonwealth avenue, Bos-
ton, and in the summer he finds recreation
at his summer residence, "The Box at
Lake Winnepocllet, webster, n. IL. His wife
was Miss Weld OF the stonmerchant fam
ily of that name, and with his wife and their
only daughter he finds life has still many
charms.
has BEEN NEGLECTED.
Modest as he was. brave Captain Perkins
has not been given the rank in the service
he is entitled TO. In any other navy in
tise world he would have been an ad-
miral years ago. He would have flown his
flag on every sea and been the guest of
honor at more than one public function.
Now his friends are asking for this promo
ton and some OF them say down here that
they iateRd making him the next governor
OF New Hampshire. But Captain Perkins
would dissatisfied with the naval promotion.
The ambition OF life time would be filled
il. he were made commodore.
Few Officers in the Navy have such a
record for bravery and daring. In 1881
he became an acting midshipman, having
been appointed from Concord, n. H., TO the
Naval Academy; he was made lieutenant
February 2, 1861; a lieutenabi-commande
December Is, 1862; a commander January
10, 1871; captain March 10, 1882; and
retired October /, 1891. During these
years his record was so exceptionally
Distinguished that even Secretary Her
bert has no hesitancy in urging the pro-
motion.
The young officer gained his lieutenancy
in time 10 distinguish himself in Southern
waters. He was executive officer OF
the cayuga as she led the second division
past Forts Jackson ard ST. Philip to Tie
capture of New Orleans. His remark
able cooineSs and precision in steering the
vessel through the barrier ard past the
forts under The heavy fire attracted the
attention of more than one officer.
A BRAVE ACT.
The next day he made himself still more
conspicuous for his gallantry. Admiral
Farragut sent Capt. Bailey To receive the
surrender OF New Orleans aa1 he took Lieut..
Perkins with him. without guard of any
kind the two officers walked from the land
ing TO the city hall, followed by a rabble,
cheering for jefferson Davis and uttering
threats OF violence. But as cool as il on
their quarter decksthe two ooffieers marched
along the streets and their supreme cool
ness saved them.
Two years after with orders to proceed
North Lieut.. Commander Perkins, for he
had been promoted, won the published
gratitude OF Admiral Farragut, by yolun-
teering to remain for the battle of Mobile
Bay he was placed in charge OF the
iron-clad Chickasaw, and won an undyiug
place in his coHntry's history.
After Farraguts fleet had passed the
batteries at Fort Morgan, and there was
luIl in the fighting, the formidable ram
Tennessee was seen making directly for
the flagship Hartford. All the Union ships
were signalied to attack her, but her
capture was no easy task. The Chickasaw,
though, stopped her career.
CAPTURED THE TENNESSEE.
She got under the stern of the Tennessee
and hung oniike a bulldog poun1ing away
with her eleven-inch guns. All around the
Chickasaw stretched an enemy's harbor
filled with torpedoes, but her brave COM
mander kept hanging on. In vain the
Tennessee Etrove 10 rid herself of this iron
clad. She could not DO il. and finally had 10
strike her flag. But modest as he was
brave, Lieutenant Commander Perkins only
laid alongside his prize and waited for an
officer OF higher rank to come up and Sc
cure the surrender.
The next day Admiral Buchanan said the
Tennessee would have defeated the entire
fleet had it not been for that - little
Chickasaw," and Captain Eads, the builder
of the little monitor. said he would walk
fifty miles TO shake HANDS with the young
man who commanded her.
An officer, whose early service in the
navy was so brilliant filled with marked
credit every position the years of peace
brought. SO it is only as slight recog-
milton of his gallantry that this promotion
is asked. His friends claim it would round
up his record and be only'a debt justly
paid.