Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-16

JOY OF the homecoming OF the First regi-
ment from Manila and making preparations
to properly welcome the Fighting First
should not forget that the Antelope state
was represented upon the seas during the
late war with Spain with as much credit
as they were represented on the firing line
in the island of Luzon. The man behind the
gun in the navy of the United States stands
today for Nebraska as he does for almost
every state in the union and in the exuber
ance of the moment 1t should not be for
gotten that well up on the active list of
rear admrals is Bartlett j. Cromwell, who
is accredited to Nebraska upon the rolls
of the naval academy at Annapolis and who
is now in command of the important naval
station at Havana, Cuba
Two and forty years ago Bartlett j. Crom-
well was appointed to the naval academy
at Annapolis by the then delegate in con-
gress from the territory of Nebraska, Hon.
Fenner Ferguson. And the manner of that
appointment was most peculiar. In fact
those who have anything of the super
natural in their makeups might see in the
appointment to service on the seas the
finger OF fate. Delegate Ferguson had nom
mated a young associate of Bartlett D.
Cromwell from Sarpy county to Annapolis
Mr.. Ferguson residing at Bellevue, the most
important town upon the Missouri river at
that time. The young candidate for naval
honors reported at Annapolis for examina-
tion. Upon returning to his home in Belle
vue the young man told strange stories of
the naval academy and the requirements Of
the cadets. why, they actually take you
on the ocean out of sight of land said
the young man, land they do say the cadets
have to make cruises around the world and
am mighty glad / failed to pass my en-
trance examination into Annapolis. Land
service is good enough for me-
Young Cromwell, who, although born in
Georgia. but whose family had removed to
Nebraska early in the lads life heard these
stories, and while ambitious to serve his
country, mutterings of the civil war that
was shortly to break forth in all its dire
diaster, being heard, wanted to serve his
country either on the land or on the sea, but
the stories of his young associate were too
much for the Nebraska boy, and he decided
that the navy not the place for land
= locked lover from the then portion of the
great American Desert. Young Cromwell
importuned his father to get him nomina-
ton to West Point, the military service
being much more to his liking than the
service which required boys to go outside
of land for their training. The senior Mr..
Cromwell, who was one of the best known
citizens OF Sarpy county at that time, inter-
viewed Delegate Ferguson, and 1t was de-
cided that Bartlett should have the nomina-
tion to West Point but when the nomna-
tion came what was the CONSERVATION of
both junior and senior Cromwell to find
that instead of being nominated for West
Point for examination the notification read
TO Annapolis, and that is how Bartlett ].
Cromwell came to enter the naval service
of the United States.
From the Academy to War.
Young Cromwell reported at Annapolis in
!. September of 1857, graduating as a midship-
man June l, 1861, but a few days short of
two months after Fort Sumter was fired
upon by the forces of the confederates under
Beauregard. Everything was excitement at
this time at the Naval academy. His asso-
ciates OF the class of 1861, especially from
the southern states, were resigning their
commissions to enter the ranks of the con-
federacy, but Bartlett j. Cromwell coming
from territory that had much to do with
the decision that war was imperatyely
necessary, remained with the union and
one of his first experiences was march
from Annapolis to Washington shortly after
his graduation with the staff of the Seventy
hrst New York regiment, he and nine other
midshipmen having been ordered there to
restore the communication which had been
cut OF between the two cities.
The first sea duty of the young officer was
seen aboard the receiving ship Princeton
at Philadelphia, where he remained but n
short time, when he was placed in charge
OF 300 recruits quartered on board the
jamestown for drill and instruction Dur
ing the historic search for the confederate
ship Sumter and the subsequent blockade of
that ship in the harbor of St. Pierre.
Martinique, in November, 1861, young Crom-
well was attached to the Iroquois. In 1862
he was promoted to acting master and was
attached to the Quaker City. cruising in the
West Indies and off the blockade, and was
present at the capture of the brigs LilIia
and Della. On July 16, 1862, he received
his promotion to lieutenancy and in
October of the same year he extricated the
Quaker City from perilous situation on
North Edisto reef. He remained with the
Quaker City and the Comemaugh, of which
latter vessel he the executive officer,
during the years 1862 and 1868. In the
latter year Lieutenant Cromwell captured