Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-07-02
COMMODORE WATSON.
Something About the Man Who Will Take
the War to Spain.

the War to Spain.
From st. Louis Globe-Democrat.
There is no better blood in the navy
than flows in the veins of Commodore
Watson. He was born in Frankfort,
KY, August "a, 1912. His father,
Edward Howe Watson, was skillful
and popular physician of the old
school, and his mother, Sarah Lee
Crittenden Watson, was daughter Of
John Jordan Crittenden, the famous
Kentucky statesman, rival of Henry
Clay, governor at one time of Ken
lucky and attorney general in William
Henry Harrison's cabinet.
Governor Crittenden's first wife was
Miss Sarah Lee. Some years after her
death he married the widow of John
Harris Todd. By his first wife he had
large family, including General
Thomas L. Crittenden, of the United
States army. Among the children of
his second wife was Harry /. Todd, a
well-known Kentuckian and father of
Chapman G. Todd, United States navy,
now commanding the gunboat Will
mington, of Commodore Watson's
squadron. Another of her sons was
George R. Todd, former mayor of
Louisville, KY.
Commodore Watson was married in
1878 to Miss Elizabeth Thornton, a
distant connection, and daughter of
Judge James Thornton, of San Fran
cisco. The result Of this 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 Detroit.
Commodore Watson's naval career has
been a notable one. He entered the
naval academy September 80, 1856,
and was graduated in June, 1860,
standing high in his class.
He was Immediately assigned to the
rank of midshipman, and August ID
Joined the Susquehanna in that capac-
ity for 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 August 81, 1861. His career
as fighter did not really begin, how
ever, until January 10, 1862, when he
was ordered to the Hartford as navi-
gator. This was Admiral Farragut's
flagship. He was commissioned a
lieutenant July 16, 1862, and in JAN
uary, 1864, he was made flag lieuten-
ant to Farragut. He was at the battles
of New Orleans, Mobile Bay, ,Vicksburg
and Port Hudson. In letter to his
son Loyal during the war, Admiral
Farragut tells him of Watson's volun-
teering to slip off and blow up a block
ade runner. Among other things, he
says:
at was an anxious night for me, as
l am about as fond of Watson as 1 am
of your own dear self"
The ship referred to by Farragut
was burned-blown up as effectually
and completely as was the Merrimac
the other day by heroic Hobson and
his equally heroic crew.
At the close of the civil war Lieu
tenant Watson was ordered to the Col
orado, on the European station. He
was made lieutenant commander July
26, 1866, commander January %, 1874,
captain March s, 1887, and commodore
November 7, 1897. During the last
80 years he has commanded number
of the best ships in the navy and held
important posts on shore. His wife
and unmarried children reside at the
naval home in Philadelphia, of which
institution he was governor for num-
Der of years.
1t is probably not remembered by
many that it was this same Commo-
dore Watson, then young lieutenant,
who lashed Farragut to the rigging
during the battle of Mobile Bay, says
the New York Herald. 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
l,;nN,, told.