The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-01-27
Some Historical Naval Relics.

ilv, whose sons were officers in the
United States navy, is now represent
ed in the hall of history in the gov
ernment museum at Washington.
The United States national museum
has just received a collection of naval
relics pertaining to the services rem
dered by Capt. Edward Trenchard
and Rear Admiral Stephen Decatur
Trenchard, between the years 1900
and 1880.
An officers sword, dirk, two COM
missions, map and manuscript
journal relate to the career of Ed
ward Trenchard. He was born in
Salem, n. J., in 1854, and studied
for some time as an artist, but event
ually entered the United States navy
as midshipman on April so, 1900.
His first cruise was on the sloop-of-
war Adams, under the valiant
Stephen Decatur, where a strong and
lasting friendship sprang up between
the son of the commander, Stephen
Decatur, 2nd, and young Trenchard.
The Adams was engaged in the Medi-
terranean in the war with Tripoli
from 18O1-O3, and while still mid
shipman, Trenchard participated IN
the famous attack on Tripoli in the
latter part of the war, for which SER
vice he was awarded a sword by con-
gress in 1905, but as no midshipman
rated a sword in those days he was
presented with a dirk, such as the
Junior officers of the British navy
wore. The dirk presented to Trench
ard on this occasion is among the
relics. It is a very fine one of Eng
lish type, with an ivory and gold
handle, and an etched gold sheath.
Trenchard became lieutenant in
1907, and the commission issued to
him at that time, bearing the sigma
ture of Thomas Jefferson, is exhibit
ed in the case. A little later, after
serving on the Constellation and the
Constitution, he was made executive
officer in the New York navy yard
and in 1912 superintended the con-
struction of the sloop-ofwar Madi-
son, which he succeeded in complet-
ing in record time. During the war
of 1812-14 he was in command of the
Oneida and the Madison in several
ENGAGEMENTS. He rendered meritor-
ious services in the blockade OF
Kingston and other operations, and
was again rewarded by congress in
1914. The sword and scabbard pre-
sented to him at this time and his
commission as captain, dated March
), 1917, and signed by James Mon
roe, are also to be seen in the collec-
ton. He was in command of the
John Adams in 1856, participating
in the operations off Algiers, Tripoli
and Tunis, which resulted in the sup
preston of the piracy then in prog
ress
One of the most interesting relics
is the manuscript journal kept by
Capt. Trenchard when in command
of the sloop Cyane, during cruise
on the west coast of Africa between
the years 1819-21, for the suppress
sion of the slave trade. Some of his
notes read like stories Of Robertson
and Stephenson, and indicate that his
work during those two years was
fraught with considerable excitement
and danger. A water-color map of
one of his stations on the coast,
drawn by himself, and his book plate
which he designed, recall his early
DAYS spent with view toward art,
and lend a different touch of the
otherwise martial display of relics.
There is also a reproduction of a
miniature of this distinguished officer
in the uniform of captain, painted
about 1918. He was relieved from
this African cruise in 1891 and or
dered home. The last few years OF
his life were spent as post captain
in the New York yard. He received
the brevet rank of commodore, an
exceptional honor, since at that time
the rank of captain was the highest
in the service.
Capt. Edward Trenchard's son,
who was named Stephen Decatur
Trenchard, after the captains friend,
had even a more interesting career
than his father, who died at the age
of forty years, after tWenty-four
years service. Stephen Decatur
Trenchard was born in Brooklyn, n.
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