New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-04
TO RETIRE TOMORROW.
ADMIRAL RAMSAY WILL THEN LEAVE
ACTIVE SERVICE.

HE FOUGHT CALAMITY THROUGHOUT 'h''
wAR.Np HAS SINCE FILLED MANY IMPoR-
TANT PLACES WITH GREAT CREDIT
inv TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUNEJ
WASHINGTON April 8-Rear- Admiral W. NJ ram,
say Chief of the Bureau OF NaVisa"o"'
be retired tomorrow, upon reachi"s ' -,
slxty-two Admiral Ramsay was Dorm VI 49,
ington on April g. 1885. He belongs 10 an oi' " ~
ington family and has many relatives oo'i, ~ ~
Armv and the Navy His father was Geherai
George d. Ramsay United States Army. lie mas
eervnd with distinction, as Is shown by tie i''
important places he has been selected u III
re was amounted mldshipman In 1850 ana was
promoted to passed mldshipman In 1896, ei'er o'
three years service on the frigate ST. Lawrence III
the Pacific He served on the sioop fanio,'. III
tho brazilian Squadron for short time, ana tneh
was ordered to the steam frigate Nerri'"o no
acting master The Merrmac was at'acneu " '
Pa ciGc SQUADRON During this cruise ne was Pi'
motod to master and to lieutenant IN 1853 lie was
detached from the Merrimac In lS6o' anu al.e'
serving a few months in Washington joined 'ns
Saratoga African Squadron, and was detached
from her in January, 1893, having peeh pioho''u
to lleutenan commander In lSb2
On March TO- 1863. Lieutenant-Commander i'Aii,
saw was ordered to tho Mississippi squadron anu
assumed command Of the Choctaw on tho Zzo LII
the following month ne took part In the engage
ments ut Haines's Bluff when the Choctaw was
struck over fifty times. In May he was with the
expedition UP tho Yazoo River and IN tho ENGAGE
ment at Liverpool Landing. In June no WAS III
the engagement at Miken's Bend Here tho
Choctaw's presence prevented a disaster that
might have been far-reaohng for tho Union troops
were driven back and In full retreat until tho guns
~ thu Choctaw were brought to bear, ana the
rebels able to stand their fire, were iorced 10 re-
treat In May, June and July he took part IN the
operations connected with the siege OF VicksDurg,
and In June commanded force with three heavy
guns placed in scows at point opposite the town.
A YOUNG FLAG OFFICER.
In August 1863, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ramsay
was ordered to command the Third Division OF the
Mississippi Squadron Thus. at the early age OF
twentv-eirht he flew his flag and exercised all the
nrerogatives Of a flag officer with the attendant
responsibilities In time of war. From this Time
until October, 1884, he was actively empioyeu
against the enemy, commanding the expedition up
the Black and Ouachita givers In March, lsoi' ana
into the Atchafaaya River In June, and he TOOK
mart in the Red River expedition in March. April
and NAV 1864 After assuming command OF the
ITnadla In October. ACCOMPLISHMENTS Ram
saw took part in the attacks on Fort Fisher was
in tho engagements with Fort Anderson and other
forts on the Cape Fear River, and was present at
the capture OF Richmond.
In 1865 he was detached and ordered to the Naval
Academy after an arduous and important war SER
vice having been for over two years almost con-
stantly In the presence of the enemy. Shortly
after reporting at the Naval Academy he was pro-
NOTED to tho grade Of commander.
Commander Ramsay was fleet captain and chief
Of staff OF the South Atlantic Squadron in 1867 and
1868 In 1869 he assumed command OF the Guer-
riere the flagship of that squadron, and was
shortly afterward detached and ordered 10 the
Washington Navy Yard as inspector of ordnance
In 1872 and 1873 he Naval Attache to the Legal
lions in Europe. and then returned to duty In the
Ia lp.Ia ha
Ossipee In 1878 no at tho Naval Asylum.
Philadelphia and while there devoted much time
and care TO increasing the comforts of tho old
veterans In 1876 1871 and 1878 he was inspector of
ordnance at the New-York Navy Yard, having
been promoted to captain In 1877.
Captain Ramsay had charge Of the Torpedo Sta
ton in 1875 1879 and 1880. This station has been
i'm portant factor In the advance Of naval KNOW
edge during the creation of the new Navy. In 1881
Captain Ramsay commanded the trenton, the nag
ship of the European station.
WORK AT THE NAVAL ACADEMY.
He was detached in tho latter part Of this year
and ordered as Superintendent of the Naval Acad-
emv where ne remained for five years. While
Captain Ramsay at the Naval Academy great
advances wero being made in naval affairs, new
ships were being built and the various types were
naval officer were greatly Increased ana more more
scientific education became necessity, AS h ne
Reimbursement of the studies Of tho midshipmea
meet these requirements. ana as super ,iitcto.s
he systematZed the drills and saw that they were
up to date. 49,. - - o.,hor ~
the Naval Examining Board in 1856. and commahueu
tho Roston i'm 1887 and 1885 In February, 1889 ne
md assumed command of the New York Navy
Ward the most important shore comnalu In me
NJ In March 1882 he was promoted 10 COIL
modore. @-d in October of the same year nc We
detached and apcoiute- CHER OF the lulSS9Hs W
Navigation. I'm 1893 he reappolnted cnlet OF
the bureau and was promoted 10 Rear-Adnlrai IN
April. 1894.
CHIEF OF THE NAVIGATION BUREAU.
Tho duties of the chief OF the Bureau Of Naviga-
tion are the most arduous as well as the most i'm
portant that fall to the lot Of naval officer In
time OF peace. During Admiral Ramsays term OF
service I'm this bureau the duties of the chief have
been greatly increased until now he has charge OF
Ali that relates the personnel and to the move
ments of tho vessels ia commission. The old ships
have gradually been retired from service, ana
many new ships have been placed In commission.
recurring only greater numbers but also d
higher class Of men. In order 10 obtain ana retain
such men I'm the service, the Admiral has revised
All the ratings and systematzed the promotions.
assuring permanency and promotion TO the deserV-
ing as TO insure a better class of men, OF higher
Intelligence and n more extended education than
was possible under the old regulations.
He has paid the closest attention to the men,
from the apprentice to the chief petty officer ana
nothing In his career IS likely to give him more
what he has done for the enlisted men,