Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-07-20
COMMODORE WATSON.
THE MAN WHOM SPAIN FEARS
JUST NOW.
HIS RANK IN THE NAVY is ABOVE
THAT OF SAMPSON AND SCHLEY
HIS RECORD.

Commodore Watson, in command Of
the feet which will take the war home to
| Spain, is an able and efficient officer, as
modest as he is able, and royal good
| fellow to boot.
| Commodore John Crittenden Watson,
by virtue of his commission is the senior
of both Sampson and Schley.
There is no better blood in the navy
| than flows in the veins of Commodore
Watson. Descended from the Critten-
dens on one side, from the Lees on the
other, what better proof could there be?
| Few men in the navy have record more
| to be proud OF than he. He was born at
Frankfort, KY, August "A, 1872. His
father, Edward Howe Watson, was ply
stefan, and his mother, Sarah Lee Critten-
den Watson, was a daughter OF John
Jordan Crittenden, the famous Kentucky
statesman, rival of Henry Clay, governor
at one time of Kentucky, and attorney
general in William Henry Harrison's
cabinet.
| Commander Watson WAS married in
1873 to Miss Elizabeth Thornton, dis
I
James Thornton of San Francisco. The
result ofsthis union was eight children,
seven of whom are living. The eldest
son, John Edward Watson, is an ensign
in the navy, and is now attached to the
cruiser 'sDetroit''.
Commodore Watson's naval career has
I been notable one. He entered the naval
! ont tod
in June, 1850, standing high in his class.
He was Immediately assigned to the rank
OF midshipman, and Aug. Is Joined the
.'Susque hanna" for a cruise to Europe.
While he was abroad the civil war broke
out, and he returned at once to take part
in it.
He was promoted to the rank of master
| Aug. 81, 1861. His career as fighter did
not begin, however, until Jan. 10, 1862,
when he was ordered to the "Hartfordn
as navigator. This was Admiral Far
ragut's flagship. He was commissioned
lieutenant July 49, 1862, and in January,
1864 he was made flag lieutenant to Farra
gut. He was at the battles OF New Orleans,
Mobile Bay, Vicksburg and Port Hudson.
In a letter to his son Loyal during the
war Admiral Farragut tells him of Wat
sons volunteering to slip off and blow up
a blockade runner. Among other things
he says: sit was an anxious night for
me, as was about as fond OF Watson as |
am Of your own dear SELF"
The ship referred to by Farragut was
| burned-blown up as effectively and COM
pletely as was the "Merrimac' by Hob
son and his heroic crew.
1t is probably not remembered by many
of my readers that it was this same Com
modore Watson who las he'd Farragut to
the rigging during the battle of Mobile
Bay. That incident of the great struggle
between the states long since became
historic, and poets and artists have found
in it the inspiration for some of their
best and most spirited work. This is the
story briefly told;
The powerful Confederate ironcad
Tennessee" attacked the Hartford"
tiereely. Farragut took up his position
in the port mizzen rigging the better to
observe the'progress of the fight and to
! direct and cheer on his men. Lieut.. Wat
| son, seeing the great danger to which the
! intrepid admiral was exposing himself,
| procured a rope and dashed him in his
place.
In letter which Lieut.. Watson wrote
! to his mother after the battle he mem
/ tions in detail the reckless bravery OF
/ Farragut, and adds: cat last / dashed
him to the rigging with my own hands,
having in vain begged him not to stand
/ in such an exposed place"
Many persons probably believe this
story of Farragut dashed to the Chart
! ford's' rigging while hell itself seemed
to have broken loose around him to be
! mythical. If there We're not official rec
ords to prove it to have been an actual
occurrence this extract from Lieut.. Wat
sons letter to his mother would sutfi-
GENTLY establish the fact.
The relations which existed between
Admiral Farragut and his flag lieutenant
were of the most affectionate description.
They were never altered. In his official
report of the Mobile battle Farragut
showed what he thought of young Wat
son. Lieut.. Watson" he wrote, "has
been brought to your attention in former
times. He was on the poop attending to
the signals, and performed his duty, as
might be expected thoroughly. He is a
scion worthy OF the noble stock he
sprang from, and commend him to your
attention"
Lieutenant Watson was detached from
the "Hartford' in December, 1864, and in
April, 1865, was ordered to the Colorado"
on the European station. July IS, 1865,
he was promoted to the rank Of lieuten-
ant commander, and July Is, 1867, was
transferred to the flagship Franklin.
This move placed him again on Farragut' IS
staff. July 2, 1868, he was ordered to the
"Cansndaigua" as executive officer.
When his cruise in European waters
ended in 1869, he was given special duty
at Philadelphia. In 1871 he was made ex-
ecutive officer of the Alaska, on which
vessel he remained a year. In 1872 he
commanded the "Omaha'', the store snip
stationed at Yokohama. The follow ing
year he returned home and was given