Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-16

nounced that she had successfully slipped
the end Of the cable on the shore opposite
to Fort Jackson. and I'm so doing ran hard
and fast aground. The attempt to blow up
the vessels was reluctantly given up Cor
the time, and Lieut.. Commander Crosby
went Immediately to the Itasca's assist
ance. In so doing the Pinola drew the hre
Of Fort Jackson. Two hawsers were
broken by the Pinola in freeing the Itasca:
a third succeeded in floating her. In 90
ing this work the Pinola passed beyond the
barrier chain nearly to Fort St. Philip, and
made the important discovery that the
channel was clear.
Passing the Forts.
After this Lieut.. Commander Crosby par
ticipated in the bombardment and passage
of Forts Jackson and st. Philip, Chalmette
batteries and the capture of New Orleans;
also in the bombardment, passage and re-
passage Of batteries at vicksburg and en-
gagement with the rebel ironclad Arkan-
sas. Lieut.. Commander Crosby, after Adj
miral Farragut and squadron left the Mis-
sissippi river, Joined the blockade of Mo-
bile; was then ordered as fleet captain of
the North Atlantic squadron, under Ad-
miral S. p. Lee. and during this time no
commanded expedition up the North
river, cooperating with Gen DIX, In COM
mand of the army corps at the White
House.
AT his request, in 1863. he vas placed in
command of the Florida on blockade duty
off Wilmington, and destroyed two block
ade runners, assisting in the obstruction OF
two others, while they were attempting to
run into Wilmington just at daybr"ak. ard
in so doing drew the sharp fire OF nylns
batteries on shore. In 1854 ne was rahs-
ferred to the command OF the Keystone
State on the off-shore blockade. On her
he captured five blockade runners, causing
many others to throw overheard their
cargoes in order 20 escape. ordered 10 lhs
Muscoota detached and ordered TO mo
Metacomet he blociSaded with her on CAL
weston, Tex, and COMMANDED her IN the
attack made by Admiral Thatcher ana Gen;
Canby upon the forts at Mobile The laval
vessels were prevented for week from
getting within range OF the forts on aS-
count of floating torpeoces; wnlcn mao az,
ready destroyed two valuable lroncis"s anu
several other vessels.
Caught the Torpedoes.
Commander Crosby volunteered, and with
Admiral Thatcher's authority planned and
directed the construction of torpedo nets,
spreading them across the BlakeAy rVer'
about 400 yards in width, catching all the
floating torpedoes sent down to destroy
the vessels. He also planned torpedo drag
nets. superintended the capture ana re-
moval of $40 torpedoes, thus successfully
clearing the channel and enabling the
SQUADRON to pass up safely to the city OF MO-
bile When the city and forts were evacuated
our forces went up to Mobile and entered
Forts Huger and Tracy on the night or
the evacuation. CROSBY was tspcSld4AN
mended by Admiral Thatcher in his ofnclat
reports for his services during the siege.
In August, 1865, he was detached from
the Metacomet and ordered to Philadelphia,
where in the following month he received
command of the Shamokln, in which he
sailed for the South American station. He
took the American minister Washburn TO
Paraguay which was at that time at war
with Brazil He passed the Brazilian block
ade under protest of the Brazilian admiral,
but his action was sustained by his gov
eminent. Promoted to captaincy May q,
1868 he was detached and returned home,
and acted during 1863 and 1870 as inspector
of ordnance at the Norfolk navy yard.
COmmandant at the Navy Yard.
He was executive officer at the Philadei-
phia navy yard during 1871 and 1872. COM
manded the Powhatan in 1872 and 1873. was
then executive officer and acting command
ant of the Washington navy yard until Oc-
tober 1874. He was then commissioned as
commodore and was in command OF League
Island navy yard for the succeeding three
years, after which he was detached and
placed on waiting orders. He was pro-
NOTED to rear admiral March, 1882, and
ordered to command the South Atlantic
station. After one years service he was
ordered to the Asiatic station, where he
took command April %. 1883. While serv-
ing on this station he was placed on the
retired list, by his own request, and or
dered home in October 1883, having been
in active service more than forty-eight'
years, twenty-three of which were spent at
sea He returned home November, 1883,
and since that time had resided in WASH
ington.