The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1906-01-25
THE VOLUNTEER NAVY.
Masters Mate John o. Johnson Enters
Upon Active Service.

tient readers; but | feel sustained and
buoved up with the conviction that
however great the affection to the pub
lie The Journal is responsible for part
of it. at least for it had the option OF
either publishing or consigning it to the
waste basket. | entered the U. S. Navy
as a masters mate on the 4th day of
October, 1861. My appointment to that
position was through the influence OF
Captain Joseph Smith, at that time a
captain in the U. S. Navy and Chief of
the Bureau of Yards and Docks at
WASHINGTON. He was induced to send
NV name to the Secretary of the Navy
by reason of letters to him recommend
ing me signed by the late Nathaniel
Patterson, then judge of the municipal
court in Belfast, the late Hiram Chase,
then postmaster at Belfast, and several
others. including the late Joseph Noyes,
a former postmaster, and the late W. IT,
Frye. Capt Smith was merchant in
the city Of Belfast some time about the
year 1856. was native of Damarlscotta,
or Wiscasset. and was a connection OF
the Sleepers of Belfast OF his early
HISTORY knew nothing farther, but the
whole nation knows, or should know,
the utterance of that grand old man
when lie saw the flag hauled down from
5hp masthead of the frigate Congress
in that memorable fight between the
frirates Cumberland and Congress on
Ihp one side and the rebel iron clad ram
Narrimac on the other, in which the
Cumberland was sunk and the Con-
gress was forced to surrender. The
Congress was in command of Lieut..
commander Joseph Smith, son OF the
old admiral The shores near Newport
News were lined with spectators to
witness that fight, including many Of
Icials from Washington, and among
tftem the venerable old admiral, who,
when he saw the flag lowered on board
the Congress exclaimed, sorroWfully,
Joe's dead When asked why he
thought Sc. he exclaimed, vehemently
because. If Joe were alive the old flag
would not have been hauled down. 1t
was soon learned that his intuition was
correct. Tie gallant Joe had been Kill
ed before The surrender, 1t is known
chat Young Joe attended the schools
and walked the streets~0f Belfast when
A boy but am unable to say whether
or not LIE was born there. But for the
honor of Old Belfast, to which | fondly
cling. it is to be hoped that it was il
that town where he first saw the light
| think | said that ! was appointed
through the influence of Admlra
Smith. which was not altogether cor
rect. but through him had permission
to report on board the receiving ship
to be examined as to my qualifications
Following is a copy Of my orders:
Navy Department, Oct. H. 1861.
Slr: If you will report in person tc
the Commandant of the Navy Yard at
New olk, travelling at your own ex
pense. yuU will receive from him the
ratil Vi Acting Masters Mate in the
Navy tor " mich this letter of appoint
meut VIII he authority.
1t after instruction in the practice OF
guunery and the use of small arms youl
proficiency should Justify it you Will be
ordered on board ship.
Your pay and allowance will be forty
dollars pei month and one ration pei
Iav and Will commence on the day OF
yojli reporting for duty. ! am SIT,
Ersy especially your obedient ser
want,
GIDEON WELLN>,
Secretary Of the Navy.
Julu q. Johnson,
Belfast, Maine.
/ left Belfast for New York on the
18th day Of October, 1861, with some
miseivings as to my ability to conduct
myself with the department of an
officer and gentleman i'll the new field
upon which l was about to enter.
had, however, 10 distrust as to my
ability to do my duty as seaman AND
a navigator in any position in which
might be placed within the rank and
station that | was to occupy. Perhaps
1t will be proper to state that when
left home as it were burned all bridges
behind me- for from that time until
received my first promotion, ten months
later, did not meet a person that
ever had seen before, and | had to hoe
my own row to the end, On the 14tf
day Of October, 1861, | reported tc
Commodore Stringham, Commandant
of the Navy yard at New York, ant
taking the oath required of an officer
was ordered to report to Lieut.. Wool
sey on board the receiving ship Nortl
Carolina for instruction in gunnery
and the practice of small arms.
1t was late in the afternoon when
boarded the receiving ship, where
found, to my mind every thing in wilC
commotion There was at that time
about two thousand recruits on boarC
the old ship. Many of them had just
come on board and the officers of the
ship were trying to bring order out Of
chaos. Not being in uniform no Officer
approached me, and so exhibiting my
orders to the Sergeant of Marines
CT of tho nannuou I moc nor