St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-10-18
Sampson on Dewey.

Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, U.
S. N, pays hearty tribute to Admiral
Dewey in the October Century. In ask
ing me for some words upon Admiral
Dewey, he says, the editor of the Century
has called for congenial task, which
has one great element of ease--that OF
saying nothing but what is good. The
old Roman adage need not be called up
in this case hereafter: 1.-THE picture OF
his life is all lights and no shadow"
The country has so frankly recognized
the great qualities he has displayed, and
its debt OF gratitude to him, that no ar
vince them. The names of three great
admirals will stand out conspicuously in
modern history, each of whom rendered
transcendent service to his country: Mel
son, the real victor OF Napoleon and es-
tabisher OF European peace; Farragut,
the farreaching effect of whose services
in the civil war has yet to be recognized
by the general public, and Dewey, whose
attack was as bold as that of Farragut
at Mobile bay land can use no higher
praise), as successful as Washington's
Trenton victory, and whose diplomacy
and tact, after his destruction OF the
Spanish squadron, make shining page
which will not be the least in his glorious
record.
Dewey like Farragut, is one of the men
OF the service whose life has been in the
steady treadmill of duty, without any
conspicuous events to bring him before
the public, except those of the civil war.
His fine career in this has been known to
the service, where in our long and init
mate intercourse we come to know and
estimate one another in a way hardly
possible in any other community.
His gallantry and ability were. thor
oughly known neither could have had a
better test than in the lurid episode Of
the destruction of the Mississippi, when
she grounded under the batteries at Port
Hudson, and had to be abandoned and
burned. He was then but young fellow
of 25, the first lieutenant of his ship, al
ready a trusted man. His services upon
this occasion truly deserve to be de-
scribed as brilliant and distinguished.
The preparation OF the ship tor thorough
destruction by burning had to be carried
on under a heavy fire OF the enemy. The
range was short, and the enemy, by
means OF bonfires on the bank, had
thoroughly Illuminated the doomed ship.
Dewey proceeded with his work with a
vigor and energy rarely seen, and an i'm
perturbabilty which, when coupled with
such energy is, by the worlds consent,
called heroic. His presence at the cap
ture of New Orleans, at Port Hudson,
and in the two attacks at Fort Fisher,
had given him a fuller experience Of bat
tie than falls to the lot of most naval
men, however long their lives, and he led
his squadron into action at Manila, no
doubt, with a feeling OF emulating his
gallant and conspicuous experience un.
der our other great admiral now nearly
40 years ago.
The service knows Dewey as an ideal
head of fleet. Perfectly courageous, Of
thoroughly balanced judgment, and
quick OF decision, he has the qualities
Which carry one to fame if opportunity
be given. The man and the hour fortu
nately came together, and the country is
richer in another brilliant page of history
and another heroic figure.
Dewey in this light stands for far more
than the brilliant victor in a famou:
fight, or as the author of proud page
OF history. His career has given lofty
impetus to the young,l which will bear
noble fruit in nobler aspiration. He has
become one of the most valued posses
sions which nation can have-a ma
tional hero. After all, the Romans read
moee deeply into the human heart and
into the impalpable causes which sway
humanity, when they apotheosized their
great men, than we are apt to grant
Washington, Nelson, Farragut and
others on the long list of men Of heroic
deeds stand for aspiration and noble
planes Of life and thought. Every name
added is the worlds gain, and to such q
list we add the name OF Dewey.