The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-10
ANOTHER OLD HERO GONE.
CAPT. J ID. JOHNSTON DIES ST THE
SAVANNAH HOSPITAL.


OF Mobile Fay RecaIiea-rhe In
termeut 10 ne az Norfolk 7iiH-
tary Escort to BE Teudc-ed.
Capt. James ID. johnston dad al tEe sa-
vannah hospital yesterday afternoon
shortly after o'clock. Although his dda-h.
has been expected Tor several weeks --s
announcement WiL br.us sadness go the
hearts OF many who knew the gallant ola
officer and loved him lor his many noble
qualities OF head ana heart.
Capt Johnston was in his severtv-n
year. His death was due 10 the gradual
failing from old age rather tlan 10 amy
specific disease. For over year he had
practically made his home az the Savan-
nah hospital. He spent q portion OF last
summer at Asnevllie. n. c., bat returned
TO the hospital I'm The fall ana has rarely
left il since.
Capt. Johnstons history is well known
to the veterans of the confederate army
and navy. lie was the ranking officer Of
the survivors of the confederate navy.
and also The senior survivor OF the Unit
cd States navy OF aute-he,lum days. As
the commander Oh the confederate ram
Tennessee at the battle of Mobile bay he
won place fin history.
Capt. Johnston was O. native kenuck-
ian. lie entered the United States navy as
midshlpman al the age % Is, June 80 1882.
lie passed through the various grades of
the service, reaching that of lieutenant ia
June, 1873 AT the outbreak Of Che war he
was high mp on the list of first leuteuants
and where rapid promotion was certain
- ng ii't -.-e' ~. t-9
49, 49,, ,- 1880 r.,+.-,.n so. -t
ecuuve officer Of tAe flagship Pow -an i'm
rebe-ii5- - 60, ~ ne I, ,,,.,.,,i,r,- .
r5-s III ti,', bi.',,ri, -.Il. Ms r, C-,l,. 1r,.
fT9-rIi.fj re1i'isr.i sseis+o,ls ~, +ba Iirifis6
Sims WhfsE were heinp Wor-fed bv fhe
9bfrI-e forts 3
Csnf JrIrs+oo rasfgro1 his poriiion
Ami No ISL .,,,i .rei -i,a sfr,,,-s az -l,..
T., ao.l' l..a ia sls 500 o
NAM jeo5r-,,,1Ilf Of tb. dof, lara.ey H
various capacitics f1r+ii In. ia.far mart Of
1S6a when h. tass s-i.-.-g IN 1ft-y win
Aamiral Puch.n.n in Monte bev. Tne
eo-felrraf II frr.5iai31 tt,a-,7; $500 ,,-ss thar
being constructed bv die confederate. de
rno-f pov-ar-.rI vessel of blr cI.,-s fuluaa.
out bv fha ranfa5arae,. Vvnen fhc ram
WIS NM into s.r,5fee "a -tSEt Ma was made
the dagsnfu of the seiadrou being the
only vessel of any size iu Admiral Buc1-
anan's command and can't Johnston was
made captain The Tennessee was built at
the naval station at Selma and TO Capt.
Johnston was ASSIGNED the cfricult task of
CARRYING her over fhe low Bar and mud
flats Intervening between that point and
Mobile which he safely and successfully
Att0IiH lLaLit. ana SLHN IltI rag
day in The fun view or tae federal fleet.
The battle of Mobile bay was the ucrc-
est naval battle of the cOnfederacy ON
Aug. 5, 1861, Admiral Earragut steamed
up the bav with his nun neet OF four
ironcads ana fourteen wooden ships TO
oppose him, Admiral buchanan had the
ram Tennessee and three small Woodet
vessels the Selma. the Gaines and the
Morgan. The federal feet passed the
confederate torpedo line with the loss Of
one Of the four monitors. the Tecumseh.
After a hard fight the three wooden ves-
sells We're driven back up the bay ana
the Tennessee was left alone 10 face the
whole federal fleet. Though powerfully
built, there were serious defects in the
construction of the ram. which hamperea
her greatly, her movement in particular
being slow. 1t was this slow movement
only which saved half the federal neet
from destruction Admiral Buchanan bold-
~ passed down the line. attempting 10
ram each of the enemy's ships ina turn
and pouring broadsides into each vessel
as he passed. He passed the entire line
in this manner and anchored under tn.
protection of the guns of Fort Morgan
with his vessel In almost as good condi-
tiOn as when she entered the fipht. Affar
a short rest. instead OF remain7ne ltl,S7e
the protection OF the fort. TIE Tennessee
was faced about and boldly moved up 10
the attack of the whole union fleet
1t Is not necessary to give a detailed
account OF the fight now Admiral Bu-
chanan's action was SO daring that n
was generally spoken of aftervga rds a.
quixotic In naval parlance the 5Tennassaa
was attacked from all sides and reneat-
edly rammed by the enemy's vessels IN
turn. Owing to her slow moye1nenfs she
was unable to ram the enernv's wooden
ships but did terrible damage win ber
guns. Her defensive DoweTs were de
stroyed by the enemvfs monitors A
miral Buchanan was severely v-oIndel
and the command Of the vessel devoIved
upon Capt. Johnston. cant johnston ala
not want to surrender me vessel and
sought the advice of Admiral Ruchanan
"Do the best Won can Johnsfon sDj
when all is done. surrender repIied he
wounded admiral Every vessel If tbe
federal fleet was either bangine a vra,, az
the Tennessee Or nrenarine III ~, - e
and she was unable 10 IRE a gnn bav.
INC only thrsa r-,,Ds 1eF+ - 49, 10 \
not be turned toward the en 15iy ~ Tba
staf upon which me confederafa coIors
had been hoisted had been shot away
early in the conflfcf and me eoiors -
been niaced l1non a boafbooiS oN+sj4o 80 -
caserate Grains uaViner 5aci5a5 No., y
SURRENDER Cant robnston drevg IN 'Poi ~ .
boathook that carried Inc ensign Tbe
enemy confinI,i11e bis Era re -,o,,,tt ~
Ia the roof If tbs cassroat ~ a,15 5isf,t5
q white nag. - 9e'
ssTbfs rs accounted os a +ol,,v, % ,
render aDd tbe f[{rgS $3.50 ietl,. ~ -