The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-30
ADMIRAL BROWNS LIFE
CAREER OF THE OLD SEA DOG WHO
is COMING BACK HERE TO LIVE.
His Distinguished Services I'm the
Navy-FriendShip with Hawaiian
KfnE-To Retire in June.

ranking admiral Oh the American navy,
and will by the operation of the law be
retired from active service on the 10th of
the coming month, he having reached the
age of sixty-four years. He will return at
once TO Indianapolis to live.
The career of this officer has been an ac-
tive and a notable one. He comes Of
a Western family who moved to Indiana
in the early days of the Republic when
that State was on the Western frontier.
Admiral George Brown was born near In
dianapolis June 49, 1885. He was appointed
to Annapolis from Indiana Feb. D. 1S49
From 1919 to 1851 he was attached as
naval cadet to the frigate Cumberland, of
the Mediterranean squadron. From lS5l-
1854 ne served on the famous old frigate ST.
Lawrence, of the Pacific squadron.
The young man was promoted to passed
midshipman in 1856 and in the same year
received his commission as master. His
promotion was rapid and on June 2, 1856,
he was promoted to lieutenant. being at
tached to the sloop Falmouth, of the Brazil
squadron, until 1852 when he was sent to
the west coast of Africa aboard the sloop
Portsmouth.
In 1860 he was attached to the Pawnee
and served on special service aboard the
Pohowatan until 1861. During the North
Carolina blockade in 1S61-1S62 he at
tached to the mortar fiotilla the Octorora
and the Wilmington, and he was afterward
in the engagement at Vicksburg June Is,
1862
His commission as lieutenant commander
was Issued July It, 1862, and he commanded
the ironclad Indanola, Of the Mississippi
squadron, during 1S62-1S63 At the passage
of Vicksburg and Warrenton Feb. IA, 1863,
the terrible engagement between the In
dianola and the Confederate rams William
II. Webb and the Queen of the West, and
the cotton steamers DIR. Batey and Gran
dera at Upper Palmyra island. Mississippi
river, Feb. "a, 1863, which lasted one hour
and twenty-seven minutes and resulted in
the surrender of the Indianola to a force
of four vessels manned by over one thou
sand men; he was severely wounded after
inflicting large losses on the enemy. Lieu
tenant Commander Brown and his officers
and crew were taken prisoners and they
were exchanged few months later in the
war. The young officer saw still further ac-
tive and arduous service as commander of
the steam gunboat Itasca, of the western
gulf blockading squadron, at the battle of
Mobile bay, Aug. 5, 1864. He afterward COM
manded the gunboat Arizona, which was
lost by fire in February, 1865, ironclad Gin
cinnati, gunboat Rocahontas and the gun
boat Hornet.
He took a prominent part in the naval
operations in Mobile bay against the Span
ish fort and defenses at the city of Mobile
from March % to April IA, 1865.
A COMMANDER IN 1866
He was commissioned as commander July
25. 1866, and in the same year was placed
in command in the navy yard and naval
ordnance factory at Washington, serving
there until 1867. He was appointed agent
of the Japanese government in 1867 COM
handing the Japanese ironclad Stonewall
Returning to active duty in 1870 he COM
manded the Michigan and was on ordnance
duty in Boston from 1873 to 1876, in which
year he became lighthouse Inspector.
His commission as captain was issued in
1911 and he commanded the United States
steamer Alaska, of the Pacific station, in
1S7S-12Si. He was again lighthouse inspec-
tor from 1881 to 1884. He saw his first serv-
ice in Norfolk navy yard from 1886 to 1889.
His promotion to commodore was made
September, 1887. In 1889 he was detached
from the Norfolk navy yard and assigned
to the command of the Pacific station. Dur
ing his frequent visits on his flagship to
Honolulu the commodore became a warm
friend of old King Killianoui and trans
ported that old monarch frequently to San
Francisco, where they were both always
royalty entertained.
On one occasion a scientist from the Lick
Observatory, who was also guest of honor
at banquet given in honor of the com
modore and his royal friend, expressed sur
prise that the commodore had entered the
service Of the Hawaiian government The
naVal officer did not relish the interroga-
ton and demanded somewhat Indignantly
of the professor, had he spent his life in the
United States, and yet did not recognize
the American naval uniform
When the old King died in San Francisco
1t was aboard the flag ship of his friend
Commodore Brown and under the personal
supervision of that officer that his remains
were removed to his island home for inter
ment
On the 31st of July, 1898, Commodore
Brown returned again to the Norfolk navy
yard as its commandant and he has re-
manned there in that position until now.
On the 9th of September, 1893, he was
commissioned as rear admiral, and by the
subsequent retirement of other admirals in
1895 he became the senior officer of the
navy.
1t was under the supervision of Admiral
Brown that the splendid cruiser Raleigh
and the double turret Monitor Amphtrite,
besides several other smaller lighting
crafts. were constructed. The much dis
cussed battle ship Texas was also con-
strueted at the Norfolk navy yards dur
ing Admiral Browns term OF Office. AL
though this ship has met with many mis-
haps the officer under whose eyes she grew
from a shapeless mass of iron and steel in
to a vast and formidable lighting machine,
has always contended not only that she has
been wilfully maligned. but that no better
ship that the Texas is on the register of
the navy of this or any other great power.
The admirars views on this question drew
forth long letter last fall from Mr..
Charles Cramp. of the ship building firm
of William Cramp & Sons, who have con-
structed many vessels under contract and
who was replied to by Secretary Herbert,
who sustained the admiraIs position.
IN his varied career of usefulness Ad-
miral Brown has ever been honored and
respected one of the foremost officers in
intelligence and progress in the American
navy. He has seen the evolution of the
navies of the world, beginning with the
first fight of ironclads in Hampton Roads,
which marked the doom of the wooden
ship. Like most officers of the old navy
he still likes TO recall with pride the men,
cries of the beautiful white-winged clip
pers, which made the naval history of the
young Republic, but he issa practical man.
and the notable efficiency of the modern
...ol -bi,,e butIt ppdar bic cunar1ricio, No., -.