The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-06-14
NORTH cARoLINIANs IN THR
NAVY.

The heroism Of Richmond Pearson
Hobson, whom North Carolina delights
70 honor as one Of her o a although
he was born in another state, and the
death Of brave Ensign Worth Bagley
remind us that in the navy North
Carolina ig always in the lead. She
has had four secretaries of the Navy.
These are John Branch, appointed
March 9. 1899; Geo. e. Badger appoint
ed March 5, 1881; William A. Graham,
appointed July %, 1850 and JAS. @.
Dobbin, appointed March z, 1853 This
fact seems all the more remarkable
when we consider that these are the
only North CaroIinians who have ever
held any Cabinet position whatever.
Branch was born in Halifax. NoVem-
ber4 4. 1882; died in Enfield January 4.
1868. Badger was born in Newbern,
April ID, 1875, and died in Raleigh,
May IL, 1866. Dobbin was born in
Fayetteville in 1914. and died there
August A, 1857. Graham was born in
Lincoln county in 1904. and died in
New York in 1875.
John Ancrum WinsloW, command
er of the United States steamer
"Kearsage" in the great naval fight
which resulted in the destruction OF
the Confederate sloop Alabama" was
also a North Carolinian, born in Wi.
mington November 10, 1911, The fight
between the Alabama and Kearsage
was one of the most important naval
battles Of the Civil War; in fact it was
the only important sea fight between
two ships. WlnsloW received the
thanks of the entire country for his
victory. He was made Commodore and
Congress gave him q vote Of thanks.
EIt was truly a great victory for the
Alabama was one Of the Confederacy's
best ships and had captured sixsy-hve
vessels and destroyed s 1000, 600 worth
of property before she tackled the
K~earsage. Commodore WinsloW died
In Boston in 1873
While Winslow, q North Oarolinian,
thus rendered such invaluable service
to the United States, James Iredell
Waddell, another NorthC arolinian, won
laurels as a naval officer in the Con-
tederate service. WaddeII was born
in Pittsboro in 1924 He entered the
United States navy in 1841, and was
noted for skill and bravery. In 1861,
he forwarded his resignation to the
Secretary Of the . aited States Navy,
and soon after entered the Confederate
Navy as Lieutenant. It was on DC
tober 10, 1864, less than six months be-
fore Lees surrender, that he took
charge OF the shenandoah, " nea the
island Of Madeira, and set out on a
cruise against the commerce Of the
United States. The Shenandoah was
originally the "Sea King" q British
merchant steamer. In three months
Waddell made nine captures and then
went to Melbourne, Australia for RI
pairs. In a ID months cruise this was
the only port the Shenandoah visited.
During this time she was in active
service only eight months, but such
was the skill and daring of her com.
mander and men that she succeeded in
capturing thirty eight vessels, for
which the demands OF the claimants
amounts to S. 300, 600 The Shenandoah
visited every ocean except the Antarc
tic, and was the only vessel that car
ried the flag of the Confederacy around
the world. She never lost q chase;
travelled So 600 miles, and although
amid icebergs ne-fourth Of her time,
met with no injury. Long after Lee
had surrendered, Waddell continued
to destroy and burn ships, until in
August 1866, he met a British vessel
and was told that the Confederacy
was dead. He then carried the Shenan
doah to Liverpool, England and turned
it over to the British authorities in
November 1865. Like Winslow, Wad-
dell did not return to live in his native
state. He resided for some years in
Paris, then returned to America, and
died in Annapolis, Nd, March 10, 1886.
These are but q few OF the many
North Ca~rolinians who have proved
that Tar Heels are as brave IN sea as
on land.