Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-12-05
Admiral John A. Dahlgren

Born 107 Years Ago
Born in Philadelphia of Swedish
parentage on November 10, 1909, John
Adolph Dahlgren entered the United
States navy as midshipman in 1926
In 1887 he was promoted to the rank of
lieutenant. but in the same year he was
forced by falling eyesight to leave ac-
tive service, and did not resume his
duties until 1912. After cruise of two
years he was assigned to the ordnance
department. of which he was twice
chief. in 1928 and in 1S6S-70
Dahlgren greatly increased the eff
cheney of the department, and became
especially well known for his invention
Of the Dahlgren gun, powerful wea-
pom, which proved of the utmost value
during the Civil War. In February,
1868. he was raised to the rank of rear
admiral.
SiIences Fort Sumter
In July he succeeded Admiral Dupont
as commander of the south Atlantic
blockading squadron, the greater part
Of which was engaged in the siege of
Charleston. S. c. Soon after taking
command Admiral Dahlgren, in cooper
alton with Gen. Gilmore. succeeded in
Sumter and completing the closing of
the port. Shortly after the evacuation
of Charleston he resigned as commander
of the squadron, and from 1866 to 1868
commanded the south Pacific squadron.
Upon finishing his second term as chief
of the bureau of ordnance he was ap-
pointed, at his own request, commander
of the United States navy yard at
1870.
"Fighting Joe" Hooker
Joseph Hooker, the distinguished SOL
der, was born on November 10, tS14, in
Hadley, Mass: was graduated from
West Point in 1887 and assigned to the
First United States Artillery. He served
in the Mexican War with such gallantry
that he received the brevets of captain.
major and lieutenant colonel. He re-
signed from the army on February 81,
1853, and from that date until the out
break of the Civil War he was in turn
farmer civil engineer and colonel of
California militia.
Hooker was appointed brigadier gen.
eral of volunteers on May III 1861, and
in March, 1862, was assigned to the
command of the Second Division of the
Third Corps of the Army of the Poto-
mac, in which he soon acquired the
name of Fighting joe" On May S,
1862, he became major general of VOL
unteers, and in the battle of Williams
burg, fought that day, he handled his
division with skill and valor. He was
active throughout the peninsular cam
paign and subsequently was conspicu-
Gus in the battle of Bristoe Station, the
second battle Of Bull Run and Chan
tilly. He also participated in the bat
ties of South Mountain and Antietam,
being wounded in the latter engagement
On September 20. 1852, he was COM
missoned brigadier general in the reg
ular army.
Heads Army Of Potomac
On January rs, 1863, Gen. Hooker was
assigned by President Lincoln to the
command of the Army of the Potomac |
In his new position, however, he failed |
to show those qualities which had dis |
tinguished him as a corps and division |
commander, and on June 20, 1853, was |
sent to reinforce Gen. Rosecrans at |
Chattanooga. On November "a, in the !
so-called Battle of the Clouds" he led |
a charge In the face of the Confederate |
artillery and infantry posted on Look
out Mountain. For his conduct on this |
occasion he was brevetted major gen.
eral in the regular army. He further
himself, under Gen. Sher-
man. at Dalton and Resaca and in the
attack on Atlanta. A paralytic attack
occasioned his retirement from active
service. with the full rank of major
general in the regular army ,on October
Is. 1858. Gen. Hooker died at Garden
City. Long Island, on October 81, 1879.
Post.