Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-10
SERVED HIS COUNTRY WELL.
Effort to Be Made for the Relief of
Holmes E. Ofley.

From the Army and Navy Journal
An effort will be made for the relief of
Mr.. Holmes e. Ofiey, who was long and
prominently identified with naval affairs
during the administrations of Presidents
Lincoln and Grant and who is now, by
reason of increasing years, incapacitated
for active employment. and in this effort
he has the best wishes OF all the officers
who served in the civil war and are now
alive, and also of those of more recent
date.
When Secretary Welles assumed charge
OF the department at the beginning of the
civil war, and when the blockade was or
dered, there was, as Is a matter of his
tory, very little left Of the navy, either in
personnel ships. Calling to his aid a
(then commander) Hiram Paulding Adj
miral (then captain) Charles Henry Davis
nd Comdr. Maxwell Woodruff he relied
on them for the organization of virtually
new navy, and for nearly everything con-
nected with the military operations of his
department. This board was attached to
the SecretaryS Office and was officially
called the office of detail. Besides its
confidential duties as advisers to the Secre-
tary, IT had charge of the selection of the
officers and ships available from the mer-
chant marine, the formation of the squad
rons, the supply question and countless
other details. 1t was a herculean task, and
Il was ably accomplished. Unlike the army.
the navy at that period had no volunteer
or militia organizations to call to its aid.
AS soon as Admiral Paulding could be
spared from Washington he was assigned
to the command of the New York yard and
station, and continued on that duty during
the war. Some day some historian may
arise TO do justice to that splendid officer,
whose tremendous energy. wise counsel
and efficient service in charge of the most
important shore station. added so much to
the power and efficiency of the navy.
Admiral Paulding was succeeded In
charge of the Office of detail by Rear Adj
miral Davis, under whose administration
different boards prepared the memoranda
for the attacks on Hatteras Port Royal
New Orleans and other points in the south,
the iron-clad question, etc. These done,
Admiral Davis went with Admiral Du Pont
as his feet captain. and afterward to re-
HeVe Admiral Foote. in command of the
Mississippi squadron, or. as it was then
called. the western flotilla, winning.
among other events, the important naval
battle of Memphis.
Admiral Paulding had selected his young
relative, Mr.. Holmes z. Offiey, as an as
sistant In the Office early in its history.
trained. and became intrusted with most
important military duties and was almost
exclusively in charge of the details of the
Office after II had been shaped into such
perfect running that 1t became regular
part of the Secretary's office, under the
charge of Commander Wyman. and subse-
auentiy Jonathan Wainwright and Frank
Key Murray The exigencies of the services
Were such that very few officers were as
signed to shore duty, red tape was cut in
eAofdDiyt ana business was Kept up to date.
II was not the day of stenographers and
typewriters. Secretary Welles had the ut
most confidence in Mr.. Ofi1ey's abilities,
and constantly called upon him for most
confidential duties. He also received often
personal commentator from President Lin
coin, who was very fond of the Navy De-
partment and it's great War Secretary. He
was offered time and again by the Presi-
dent and Secretary commission in the
service, but would not accept it unless he
would be allowed to go afioat which they
would not consent to his doing Admiral
after admiral offered him staff appoint
ments, but the Secretary would not dis
pense with his services In the department
Toward the close of the war, being much
broken by hard work and confinement. Mr.
Ofiiey was obliged to seek a change and
went TO the European squadron as secre-
tary, with the rank of lieutenant on the
staff OF Rear Admiral Goldsborough COM
handing that squadron. On his return from
abroad he was invited by Secretary Welles
to again enter the department and ac-
cepted confidential position there Con-
gress abolished the office of assistant sec
retary OF the navy at the session before
Gen. Grant was inaugurated President at
the very commencement of whose inaug1lra-
ton Mr.. 0faey assumed both duties those |
OF chief clerk and assistant secretary
The duties of detail are now executed by
of navigation. those Of admirals secretary
by an officer not below the grade Of leu
tenant.