Silas Stringham Rear Admiral Silas Horton Stringham ( 7 November 1798 — 7 February 1876 ) was an officer of the United States Navy who saw active service during the War of 1812 , the Second Barbary War , and the Mexican – American War , and who commanded the Atlantic Blockading Squadron at the beginning of the American Civil War . Biography . Born in Middletown , New York , Stringham entered the Navy on 15 November 1809 , aged only 11 years old , receiving promotion to the rank of midshipman on 19 June 1810 while serving under Captain John Rodgers in the frigate . He was present during the " Little Belt " Affair in May 1811 , and during the engagement with on 23 June 1812 . Having received his commission as a lieutenant on 9 December 1814 , he was assigned to the brig , Captain Thomas Gamble , which was part of Stephen Decatur ' s squadron in the Barbary Wars , and helped to take an Algerine frigate . In early 1816 , while " Spark " was at Gibraltar , a French brig , attempting to enter the bay in a heavy gale , capsized . Stringham and six seamen in a small boat , pulled over to the brig , and rescued five of the crew . He attempted to return to " Spark " , but could make no headway , so turned and pulled for the Algerian shore , but was wrecked in the heavy surf , with one of his crew and two of the Frenchmen drowned . In 1819 Stringham was serving aboard the , conveying black settlers to Liberia . While " Cyane " was off the African coast . Captain Edward Trenchard gave Stringham command of a boat in he capturing four slaver . Trenchard then appointed Stingham prize - master and sent him home with them . In 1821 Stringham was appointed First Lieutenant of the brig in the West Indies Squadron , and from 1825 to 1829 served at the Brooklyn Navy Yard . In late 1829 he was appointed First Lieutenant of the to take part in the search his former ship " Hornet " , believed lost . During the search he was transferred to the sloop , and sent to Cartagena , finally returning to New York in 1830 . Stringham was promoted to commander on 3 March 1831 , and for the next five years was engaged on shore duty . In 1836 - 37 he served in the Mediterranean Squadron commanding the , then returned to the Brooklyn Navy Yard . Receiving promotion to captain in 1841 , he commanded the razee in the Home Squadron in 1843 , then returned to the Brooklyn Navy Yard , serving as Commandant in 1845 - 46 . In late 1846 he was placed in command of the ship of the line , and during the Mexican – American War took part in the bombardment of Vera Cruz as it was besieged by troops under General Winfield Scott . For a short time afterwards he commanded the Brazil Squadron , but in 1851 took charge of the Gosport Navy Yard . Between 1852 and 1855 he commanded the Mediterranean Squadron , his flagship being the frigate . He then returned to Gosport , where he remained till 1859 . On the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861 , he was appointed Flag officer of the Atlantic Blockading Squadron . In August he was sent with troops under General Benjamin F . Butler , to capture two coastal forts near Cape Hatteras . In the ensuing battle , the fortifications were captured without loss , though not without some difficulty owing to the weather , and the fleet returned to Fort Monroe to general acclaim . However this soon give way to criticism of Stringham for not taking his ships closer in , and continuing to attack along the coast . The fact that his ships drew too much water to enter the shallow coastal waters , and that he had been directly ordered to return immediately , eventually emerged , but apparently too late to soothe his irritation , as the next month , at his own request , he was relieved of his command . As some small compensation on 1 August 1862 he was promoted to the rank of rear admiral on the retired list . Though no longer on active duty , Stringham served as Commandant of the Boston Navy Yard , 1864 – 66 , and as Port admiral of New York in 1870 . Rear Admiral Stringham died in Brooklyn , New York , and was buried at Green - Wood Cemetery , Brooklyn .