Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-04
Dewey. the Hero.

the hearts of his countrymen. a few
DAYS ago his name was unknown to the
masses of the country, but now in
every American household his name is
known and honored. His will be no
transient fame, for his great naval
triumph ensures the perpetuation of his
name on the immortal roll of heroic
leaders who have carried our flag from
victory to victory. George Dewey has
been in the American navy over 40
years and the story of his career is
filled with brave deeds and faithful
service.
He was born in Vermont 81 years ago
and was appointed TO the naval acad-
envy in 1854. Four years later. when he
was graduated. he was sent aboard the
the Mediterranean. Dewey got his
commission as lieutenant on April -.
1861, eight days after Fort Sumter was
fired upon, and was Immediately as
signed to join the Mississippi and do
duty with the west gulf squadron.
He was on the Mississippi when she
took part with Farragut's other YES
sells in forcing an entrance to the Mis-
sissippi river, and again when the fleet
ran the gauntlet of fire from the forts
below New Orleans in April, 1862, and
forced the surrender of that city. The
ship he was on belonged to Captain
Baileys division of the fleet which at :
tackled Fort St. Philip. The hottest
fight that the Mississippi ever engaged
in was her last one, and this was per-
haps as hot as any of the war. In
March, 1868. the fleet tried to run by the
Confederate batteries at Port Hudson.
Some of the ships got as far as mar
met land batteries almost muZZle to
muzZle, and then they We're forced to
far as this. A fogy day had been
chosen for the attempt. and this was
of battle, and amid this the Mississippi
lost her bearings and ran ashore. Her
officers found that she had struck just
under the guns of a battery in the
middle of the line of Notifications. and
one of the strongest Of the lot. In half
an hour $50 shots struck the vessel, and
she was riddled from end to end. There
was no chance to hold her. and her
crew took to their boats and landed on
the opposite side of the river. after
setting her on fire. Soon. lightened by
the loss of the crew and by the fire. she
drfted off, and. blazing and saluting
with bursting shells she drifted down
the river, until finally the fire reached
her magazines. and her career was
ended in one great explosion.
Dewey was next attached to the
steam gunboat Agawam of the North
Atlantic blockading squadron, and he
took part in the two attacks made on
January, 1865. In March, 1865. he got
his commission as lieutenant COM
nous old Kearsarge and on the Colo
RADIO. the flagship of the European
squadron, until 1868, when he was sent
for service to the naval academy.
His first command was in 1870 when
he had the Nara gansett, doing special
service. He became commander in
April 1872 and, still on the Narragan-
set, was engaged in making surveys of
the Pacific until 1876, when he was
made lighthouse inspector and later
the secretary of the lighthouse board.
He commanded the Juniata in the
Asiatic station in 1SS2'S3, and in Sep
tember 1884, was made a captain and
put in charge of the Dolphin, then
brand new and one of the four vessels
which formed the original white
squadron" The following year he was
sent to command the flagship Pensa :
cola of the European squadron. and he
stayed there until 1888, when he be-
came the chief of the bureau of equip
ment and recruiting, with the rank of
commodore. This place he held until
he was made a member of the light
house board. He got his commission as
commodore on February %, 1896, and
at about the same time was made
president of the board of inspection and
survey. This place he held until he
| was put in command of the Asiatic
station in January of this year Nov
it is not unlikely he will be advanced to
the rank of admiral.
Such is the life story of brave George
| Dewey, told in simplest language His
service has been loyal and faithful and
now the grand triumph of his life has
come. The story of the American vic
! tory at Manila when Dewey led his
| squadron into a mined harbor of the
enemy and fought both hostile fleet and
forts fill on1y h,,r I'M