Evening star., 1898-04-15

Admiral James e. Jouett.
as youth mentally, and will soon be in
the same condition physically. He carries
his seventy years better than most men
carry fifty, and every autumn finds him in
the saddle riding madly after the hounds
as they send red fox skurrying through
the hills of Maryland. His interest in the
crisis which now confronts his country Is
naturally keen because he was a great fac
tor in settling that other serious problem
third of century ago. Jouetts record
in the navy fills many a glorious page. He
is a kentuckian. born there in February,
'2S. and proud of his descent from a brave
and fearless ancestry that made itself felt
in the wars of the old world and came to
the new to blaze the way westward in the
front ranks of the pioneers.
His Naval Record.
He entered the navy as a midshipman in
September, 1871, and passed through the
successive grades of the service to the out
break of the civil war. when on the night
of November II, 1861, he began his brilliant
career. He was a lieutenant on board of
the United States frigate Santee and that
momentouS night he conducted a hazard
Gus boat expedition against the confeder-
ate vessel of war Royal Yacht, off Calves
ton, Tex. He captured and DESTROYED that
vessel, and in the hand-to-hand encounter
ON her decks, when he and his gallant men
boarded her. he received a severe pike
wound in the arm and side. The country
rang with Jouett's praises. His immediate
commanding officer, Captain Henry Engle
recommended him for a command sujta b,e
to his rank. Flag Officer William ". Nc
mean. commanding the squadron compli-
mented him i'll general orders and he was
ordered by the Secretary of the Navy, who
ohciaiiy expressed the departments appre-
md
plot, TO proceed to Washington SO that he
might be given command worthy of his
ealiantry. Lieutenant Jouett was given
command OF the Montgomery, and became
tne terror OF blockade runners capturing
scores of valuable vessels and perform;ne
many feats of valor in connection with
them He was equally active and success
1ul when commanding the R. r. Cuyler.
engaged In the same blockade duty.
His Heroism Mt Mobile Bay.
Being made a lieutenant commander he
was given command of the side-wheel
wooden steamer Metacomet, which partici-
pateo IN the fight in Mobile bay and was
iashed to the side of Rear Admiral Farra-
quits flagship the Hartford, and passed the
forts with her. 1t was in this fight An
gust D, 1864. that Jouett again displayed an
eminent and conspicuous courage. In his
report OF the occurrences on that awful
day Farragut said:
boats / ordered the Metacomet tn cast ofr
ard go in pursuit of them, one of which.
the Selma, she succeeded in CAPTURING
Captain Jouett was after her in mo-
neht, ana In an hours time he had her
as his prize. Lieutenant Commander
Jouetts conduct during the whole affair
commands my warmest commendation.
1he Morgan and the Gaines succeeded in
escaping under the protection of the guns
OF Fort Morgan, which would have been
prevented had the other gunboats been as
prompt In their movements as the Meta
comet Again In his report Farragut COM
mends Jouett. Our little consort, the
Metac omet," he says, was under INV irnme-
diate eye during the whole action up to the
moment / ordered her to cast Off in pur-
suit of the Selma. The coolness and
promptness of Lieutenant Commander
Jouett throughout merit high praise; his
whole conduct was worthy Of his reputa-
tion."
JOuetfs Devotion to FarraRut.
In Commodore Foxhalls A. Parker's in
teresting narrative, Battle Of Mobile Bay
he tells about Jouett's courage and devo-
ton to duty on that memorable occasion.
AT little past 8, however," says Parker,
"the admiral observing that all his vessels
were clear of the forts, made signal
'Gunboats, chase enemy's gunboats! The
signal was hardly above the Hartford $
deck, when Jouett, cutting the fasts which
bound him to that vessel started in obe-
dience to it. followed at some distance by
the Itasca, kennebec and Port Royal His
vessel was very fast, but owing to the fact
that she drew much more water than the
confederate gunboats he found himself be-
fore long dragging the bottom. The execu-
tive officer, Lieutenant Sieeper-than whom
no cooler man nved-reported to him that
the Metacomet had foot less water un-
der her bottom than her draught! This
was startling. for should the vessel ground
hard, the pursued might turn upon the
pursuer and change the game somewhat
'''Call the leadsnan in from the chains,
Mr.. Sleeper ordered Jouett.
MIR. Sleeper looked amazed
~ tell you, said Jouett, who idolized
Farragut and was a strict constructionist
the admiral has directed me to follow
those gunbcats ard 1 am going to do it.
Call the men in from the chains at once
sir. they are demoralizing mev
'At this the creW-who knew theiy com.