The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-08-05
A NAVAL FIGURE
Notable Officer Chosen to
Raise Old Glory.
Nearly Half q Century In the Service Of His
Country-Has Been Ael.ve ard
Alert Alwsys.


officer in the navy, on whom the honor
of hosting the American flag over
Hawaii falls, has had long and hon.
orable and eventful career in the navy,
extending over period of forty-seven |
years. He was born in Springfield. |
Ohio, in 1886. Receiving high school
education, he was appointed to the
Naval Academy as acting midshipman
October 1, 1851, graduating in June,
1854, and standing No. in his class
and first in mathematics. For the next
two years or more young Miller served
on board the flagship Independence in
the Pacific squadron. 1t was forty
three years ago that he came around
the Horn to San Francisco on the In
dependence, which since 1856 has been
doing duty as receiving ship and has
been for many years located at Mare
Island Navy Yard.
After this cruise Miller was ordered
to duty at the Naval Academy in the
department of ethics and English stud
les. From November, 1858, to Septem-
ber 1860 he served on the Prebe. be-
ing in the Paraguay expedition and In
the home squadron, assisting in the
capture of the steamers General Mira
mon and Marquis de Ia Habana off
Vera Cruz, Mexico, on March 6, 1860.
Returning to the Naval Academy at
the end OF this cruise he remained
there as an instructor until the break
ing out of the civil war in 1861, when
he was ordered to the brig Perry, then
fitting out in New York. This vessel
was employed in blockade duty, and on
June 8, 1861, captured off Charleston
the privateer Savannah, which sailed
under the first letter Of marque issued
by the Southern Confederacy. In No
vember, 1861, Miller was transferred
to the steamer Cambridge as executive
officer, and was in the action In which
the Cumberland and the Congress were
destroyed by the Merrimac March u.
1862. In May he was transferred to
the training ship John Adams, and In
August at his own application for ac-
tive service he was assigned to the
monitor Passaic, having been promoted
to the rank of lieutenant commander.
While attached to the Passaic he
participated in the naval attack on
Fort McAllister, in March, 1868, and
in the attack on Fort Sumter in April
In June he was assigned to duty with
Admiral Gregory, experimenting the
construction of ironclads at New York
and In September he was sent on the
ironclad Sangamon to assist in block.
aiding Charleston.
Lieutenant Miller was given his first
hant, in April, 1864, and the next
month took part with that ship in an
attack on Fort Sumter. Later, while
on the monitor Monadnock, he was en-
gagged in both attacks on Fort Fisher
in December. 1864, and January, 1865
After the war he was successfully
head OF the Departments Of Seaman
ship and English Studies, until in Sep
TENDER, 1867, he was ordered to the
steamer Powhatan in the South Pacific
squadron and served on that vessel in
the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico until
January, 1870, when he was promoted
to commander. After short stay al
the New York navy yard Commander
Miller was ordered as chief of staff to
the South Pacific station, serving in
that capacity until December, 1872, and
also for a considerable period as COM
mander of the Ossipee.
In November, 1873, after n short ser.
vice as executive officer of the naval
station at New London and as assist
ant photographer in Washington, Mil.
Ter was ordered to the command of the
Ajax, which was sent to Key West In
anticipation OF trouble with Spain
After the threatened trouble had pass.
tu,hc was again GU ~ thC hyuio'
graphic Office, and in August 1876, was
given the command Of the United
States steamer Tuscarora and ordered
to run line Of deep sea soundings
from the Hawaiian Islands to the Fills
and Australia. Miller then served or
shore duty as assistant to the Bureau
of Yards and Docks, as inspector Of the
lighthouse district comprising lakes
Huron, Michigan and Superior and or
special duty at the Navy Department
His promotion to captain came In
1881, and since that time he has com
manded the receiving ships Wabash
and Vermont, the flagship Tennessee o
the North Atlantic squadron, the flag
ship Chicago of the squadron of evo
luton. and as captain Of the New forl
navy yard and member of the Jean
nette court Of inquiry.
After his promotion to commodore
Miller was given the command of tn,