Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-29
AND ADMIRAL
IN THE SAME PERIOD
Francis B. Allen, Naval Veteran Of
Civil War, Claims That I'm
usual Distinction.
Resigns From q. s. Service Because
of Defective Hearing Brought
On by Exposure.

Francis B. Allen, past junior vice COM
mander-in-chief of the G. A R., and also
past commander-in-chief Of the National
Association Of Naval Veterans, who sayr
he is probably the only person in this
country holding the rank of rear admiral
and major general at the same time, is a
visitor to Washington for the G. A R.
encampment.
Admiral or Maj. Allen, as he may be
called, says he is seventy-four years old.
but looks considerably younger to a Star
reporter. He told Of the displeasure
which he said existed between the marines
and seamen of the United States Navy
during the civil war. He declared, how
ever, that feeling does not exist in the
navy at this time. He said during the
war the marines were looked upon by the
superior officers to see that discipline
was enforced among the seamen 1.-The
marines were sort Of policemen and the
seamen the public" he said. Thus this
sort of superiority Of the marines over
the seamen caused much i'll feeling" he
suggested.
Served as an Engineer.
Admiral Allen served as an engineer
on the steamer Port Royal, which was
dashed to the steamer Richmond in August
1865, during Admiral Farragut's engage
ment at Mobile bay. He passed an ex-
animation for commission in the navy,
and March 1, 1862. at the PHILADELPHIA
navy yard, was made an ensign. In that
year he was on the United States gun
boat Port Royal in the Potomac, James,
Appomattox and Chickahominy rivers.
The following year he was on the United
States gunboat Port Royal, in the east
gulf. squadron, and on the same boat the
following year in the west gulf squadron.
In 1865 he was on the United States IRON
clad Dictator, connected with the north
Atlantic squadron. During 1866 and 1867
he was On special duty in New York The
following year he saw service on the
United States flagship De Soto with the
West India squadron. 1t was following
this service that Admiral Allen resigned
from the service. his hearing having failed.
His Hard Service.
The hearing of the veteran became
affected in 1865, when he was assigned
to deck watch while in New York har-
Dor. The monitor Dictator, on which
he was stationed, had been on a trim
down New York bay. This monitor was
the largest built at that time. being of
5000 horsepower Admiral Allen had
been in charge of the men In the engine
rooms, and upon the return of the mon
itor to New York harbor Commodore
Rogers had ordered fires banked -
Working in the engine room during the
trip down the bay. in a temperature of
from 112 to 120 degrees. the veteran
stated. he was very much overheated.
The fires had hardly been banked when
he was ordered to do deck watch, to keep
members Of the crew from deserving.
Commodore Rogers had ordered him
to do the deck watch. he said, and, al
though he felt he should not in the
condition he was in from being over
heated, and as a strong. cold wind was
blowing. he did not want to feel that
he was Sinking his duty. 1t was as a
result Of the exposure that night that
his hearing became affected.
Admiral Allen last year was vice
president of the Connecticut branch of
the Society of the War of 1872 and is
a director of the Navy League of the
United States. He is stopping at the
Hotel Evelyn. 18th street and New
York avenue northwest. during the en-
campment.