Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-02

the north and south were becoming more
and more strained. and he figured in some
of the heated debates that took place
among the boys who sought ID uphold the
sentiment of their own homes, though he
avoided excuses CT language on such oc-
casionS.
In the Civil War.
After his graduation in 1853, Dewey was
ordered to the steam frigate Wabash.
which cruised in the Mediterranean squad
ron until 1859, when he returned to Annap-
oils to receive his final examination. He
was at his home in Montpelier when Fort
Sumter was fired on. One week later he
received his commission as lieutenant and
fighting in the West Gulf squadron, being
assigned to the Mississippi On April I,
1867 the Mississippi and the Pensacola
were pulled through the mud into the
great river and there was seen some Sc
we're fighting, in which young Lieut.. Dewey
received his first lessons of practical war
fare. The invading men-of-war proceeded
to attack the forts in the lower portion of
the river. Some of the hottest fighting in
that important campaign was witnessed by
Lieut.. Dewey. Admiral Porter has de-
Scribed wildly the scenes attending the de-
struction of the Mississippi at Port Hudson,
where the side-wheeler was grounded and
subjected to a severe fire from the guns
ashore. 1t was necessary to abandon the
snip, which was in flames, before Captain
Smith and Lieutenant Dewey, the last to
leave her. swan ashore. When the ship $
company was assembled, sixty-four were
found missing out of a total crew Of 297.
Lieut.. Dewey, after the loss of the Mis-
sissippf. was transferred to small gun
beat of Admiral Farraguts squadron,
which was patrolling the river from Cairo
to Vicksburg
VickSburg surrendered July a. 1863 and
early in 1854 Lieut. Dewey was transferred
to the North Atlantic blockading squadron,
being made executive officer of the Aga
wan, an unarmored side-wheeler. During
this time Dewey had reputation for ac-
tivity, energy and alertness and knew how
to be quick in executing orders without
being hasty While with this squadron he
participated in the attack on Fort Fisher.
which resulted in one of the most import
ant victories of the war
After the War.
Lieut.. Dewey was promoted to the rank
of lieutenant commander March 3, 1863.
and was assigned to duty on the Kear-
sarge, and at the close of the war he was
transferred to the steam frigate Colorado,
the flagship of the European squadron.
While he was a strict disciplinarian, Dewey
was never regarded Il martinez, and
stories are recounted of him which show
that he preferred to be lenient with sailor
so long as the latter treated him frankly
when he was called to account for any
shortening. He deSpised a liar.
Dewey was assigned to duty at the Kit
terry navy yard, Portsmouth, n. H., in 1861
He was then thirty years of age, and it
was at Portsmouth that he met Miss Susan
B. Goodwin, a daughter of Ichabod Good
win. the war governor of New Hampshire,
and they were married. Shortly after the
ceremony Dewey was transferred to the
Naval Academy for service and two years
hn y,ia fr, a - tl,1
Narragansett. On April u, 1872, he was
promoted to the rank of commander. 1t was
in this year that a great sorrow came into
his life in the death of his wife, who died
December %. five days after the birth of a
son. George Goodwin Dewey.
Lieut.. Commander Dewey early in 1873
sailed as commander of the Narragansett
for the Pacific coast, where he was en-
gagged in making surveys until 1876. after
which he was made a lighthouse inspector
located in this city. and still later secretary
OF the lighthouse board. He commanded
the Juniata on the Asiatic station in 1882
S'. and in 1884 was made a captain and
put in charge of the Dolphin, one Of the
four new vessels that then formed the
white squadron"
1t was while in command Of the Juniata
on the Asiatic station that Dewey was ex-
tremely i'll and had an operation performed
on him. during which a part of his liver
was removed. 1t was this incident that
gave him the nickname, The man without
liver In 1889 he was made commander
Of the Pensacola the flagship of the Euro
pean squadron. In 1883 Capt. Dewey was
made chief of the bureau of equipment and
recruiting, in which capacity he served
-FOUR years. He was commissioned a com
modore February ~, 1876, and made presi-
dent of the board of inspection and survey.
which he held Until placed in command Of
the Asiatic station January, 1898. There
the great opportunity of his life came and
he was equal to it. He executed his orders
as he had done on many occasions prayi-
ously. and long as American history
survives his name Will be one of the most
prominent on its DappS