The Washington herald., 1914-09-16
HISTORY BUILDERS.
What Enet Did on the Mississippi
River.
Cwntten EEpussly for Ths Herah.l
Hr DR. e J. EDWARDS.

II NJ I'm - - 80 - &AAADSe
Gustavus ". FOX. who was Assistant
Secretary OF the Navy at the time OF the
civil war. was man Of exceptional in
dustry, energy and Judgment. and these
Qualities were fully recognized and high
Iy priced both by President Lincoln and
by the Secretary OF the Navy, Gideon
WeIles. Many OF the achievements Of
the Federal navy were the outcome not
only OF the counsels, but Of the execu-
tive action Of Mr.. Fox.
After the war was over, Mr.. Fox was
urged to write not exactly a history OF
our naval achievements but the story
of the Federal navy told from the per-
sonal and human side. He was admirably
qualified to do the work because he al
ways saw the human and personal side
of various events. strict disciplnarian
and completely absorbed in the duties OF
his office as he was.
While chatting with some friends in
New York City shortly after the return
of peace, Mr.. Fox spoke of one achieve
ment as being, IN his opinion. as fine as
any at least OF the minor successes OF
the civil war. He said: What Charles
Ellet did on the Mississippi River near
Memphis should become one Of the great
events Of the war, but presume Mr..
Ellet will be forgotten. Several years
plan which he believed would be sue
cessfuIly utilized in naval warfare. He
believed that the best type Of ram would
be a vessel not oyerweighted with arm
ament, not too heavy, strengthened only
at the bows, but SO built that very high
speed could be secured. He had salts
fed himself that speed was more eficient
in attacking an enemy's vessel than
great weight II the attack were TO be
made In the form OF ramming.
'As soon as the war broke out. Mr..
Ellet appeared in Washington with an
appeal to the government to permit him
to buy some steamboats, strengthen them
to attack the Confederate gunboats in
the Mississippi River.
AT first Ellet had some difficulty in
inducing anybody to listen to him He
was in danger of being considered a bore.
At last he was authorized to buy some
boats at Pittsburgh and Cincinnati and
to strengthen them at the bow In accord
ance with his plans. He was oyerjoyed
at the opportunity. He bought at Pitts
burgh five or six river boats, strength
ened them at the bow with heavy tim
bers and iron, was careful to see that
their engines were in good working order.
then went with this fleet through the
Ohio to the Mississippi River at Cairo
and then started southerly.
Somewhere near Memphis he came
within fighting distance OF a feet Of Con-
federate gunboats. That was his oppor-
tunity. He caused steam to be put on
and in that way made for the gunboats
at very high rate Of speed One of
them, when the ram struck her, crumb-
led to pieces as il she had been made
OF paper. Some of the others got away,
but great damage had been done.
Now the extraordinary thing about
this brief and successful naval battle
was the fact that the only person in
jured in the fight was Ellet himself.
One of his legs was crushed. I have
been told that he would not permit the
surgeon TO amputate IL and as a result
| the wound was fatal Yet Ellet died
rejoicing. for he knew that he had DEM
onstrated the success OF his plan"
| Copyright. 1914. By E. ]. Edwards All rights 10
ECTed)
Tomorrow DR.. Edwards will tell of
IAN Early Comptroller OF the Currency. 4"