Stephen Decatur Trenchard Stephen Decatur Trenchard ( July 10 , 1818 – November 15 , 1883 ) was a rear admiral in the United States Navy . He was present at the Battle of Taku Forts in 1859 , and commanded the supply ship and gunboat throughout the American Civil War , seeing action at both Battles of Fort Fisher . He later commanded the North Atlantic Squadron . Biography . Early life and background . Trenchard was born in Brooklyn , New York , the son of U . S . Navy Captain Edward Trenchard and Eliza Sands Trenchard , the daughter of merchant and politician Joshua Sands . He was named for the distinguished naval officer Stephen Decatur , a close friend of his father , and was a direct descendant of George Trenchard ( 1655 – 1712 ) , from the village of Wolverton in Dorset , who had come to the United States with William Penn in 1682 . Stephen ' s great - grandfather , also George , ( 1706 – 1780 ) , was the Attorney - General of West New Jersey in 1767 - 75 and commanded the Salem Light Horse during the Revolutionary War . Early service . Trenchard attended a school at Gambier , Ohio , founded by Bishop Philander Chase , with the intention of preparing for the ministry , but instead decided to follow the example of his father and uncle Joshua R . Sands , and join the Navy . After a probationary cruise in the Mediterranean aboard the frigate , he received his warrant as midshipman on October 23 , 1834 , and was ordered to the receiving ship " Concord " , at Portsmouth . During the Second Seminole War Trenchard cruised in the West Indies , and on the coast of Florida , and had a tour of duty in the Mediterranean Sea aboard the sloop under the command of Hiram Paulding . Promoted to passed midshipman on July 16 , 1840 , he attended the Philadelphia Naval School , then returned to the Mediterranean in 1841 to serve aboard the sloops and . During in the winter of 1845 - 46 he was aboard the schooner engaged in surveying the coast of Georgia and Florida , and received his commission as lieutenant on February 27 , 1847 . He served aboard the sloop in the Home Squadron in 1850 - 52 , and in the receiving ship " Philadelphia " in 1853 . Trenchard served in the Coast Survey from 1854 - 57 . During the summer of 1856 he was in command of the Coast Survey ship , surveying the New England coast . On August 14 , while off Cape Ann , Trenchard rescued the crew of the British bark " Adieu " , which had struck a reef and was breaking up . He received a sword from the British Government as a mark of gratitude , and although it was against the laws of the United States ( ) for its officers to accept awards from a foreign state , Congress passed a special act permitting him to receive it . Voyage of the " Powhatan " . In 1857 Trenchard was appointed executive officer of the sidewheel steam frigate , under the command of Captain George F . Pearson , for an extended cruise to the Far East as part of the East India Squadron . The ship left Norfolk , Virginia , on December 7 , 1857 , but a series of mechanical breakdowns meant that she did not get to sea until the 11th , preceding to Madeira with the former President Franklin Pierce , his wife Jane , and their suite as passengers . The " Powhatan " made the run across the Atlantic without any further difficulties , reaching Funchal on the 27th , where the ex - President and his family went ashore . The frigate departed Funchal on January 6 , 1858 , calling at Jamestown , Saint Helena , where Trenchard visited Longwood House , the scene of Napoleon ' s captivity and death . On leaving Jamestown harbor " Powhatan " collided with the Dutch bark " Stad Enchede " , sustaining minor damage . She towed the bark back to port and made repairs , leaving Saint Helena again the next day . " Powhatan " then shaped her course for China , calling at Cape Town , Port Louis , Acheen , and Singapore , arriving at Hong Kong on May 12 , where the steamer was flying the broad pennant of Commodore Josiah Tattnall , who transferred his flag to the " Powhatan " to visit various ports in China and Japan . Trenchard was aboard the " Powhatan " at the during the Battle of Taku Forts in June 1859 , when Commodore Tattnall , observing the desperate position of the British and French forces attempting to force their way up the Peiho river , exclaimed " Blood is thicker than water ! " and went to their assistance despite the United States ' s neutrality in the conflict . Soon after , when the United States concluded a treaty with China , Trenchard was part of Ambassador John Elliot Ward ' s retinue that traveled to Peking where treaties were formally exchanged . " Powhatan " then returned to the United States . Civil War . On April 19 , 1861 , shortly after the start of the Civil War , Trenchard was given command of the gunboat at Philadelphia . From there he sailed to Norfolk Navy Yard , arriving there to find it in flames , as Union forces destroyed everything before the Confederates could capture it . Confederate forces had already sunk several vessels to block the channel , and the frigate was in great danger , but " Keystone State " succeeded in towing her to safety . Flag Officer Hiram Paulding then transferred his flag to the " Keystone State " and proceeded to Washington . Supply ship commander . On June 19 , 1861 , Trenchard was given command of the supply ship , formerly the " Eagle " , a 236 foot side - wheel steamer built for the Charleston Line . Eight guns were installed , while her bows were heavily plated with iron . An ice - house and other fittings were also added to her at the Brooklyn Navy Yard . Between July 1861 and November 1862 " Rhode Island " made nine voyages , operating between either New York or Philadelphia and the Gulf of Mexico , carrying supplies of food , guns , powder and ammunition to ships on blockade , and transporting officers to their ships , and prisoners or sick or injured men to shore . She also captured the Confederate schooner " Venus " , laden with lead , copper , tin , and wool , in December 1861 . Trenchard was promoted to commander on July 16 , 1862 . With the capture of New Orleans , Pensacola , Port Royal , Fernandina , and other southern ports by the Union in 1861 - 62 , it became easier for the blockading squadrons to obtain fresh supplies , and only one steamer was considered necessary to maintain the service . The " Rhode Island " was therefore refitted in Boston as a gunboat , and rearmed with eight 8 - inch broadside guns , a 3 - pounder Parrott gun , a rifled 12 - pounder Dahlgren gun , and a 8 - inch Dahlgren aft . Her complement also was increased . Gunboat commander . " Rhode Island " left Boston on December 5 , 1862 , on her maiden cruise as a gunboat . Trenchard ' s first important duty was to tow the ironclad from Hampton Roads to Port Royal . Unfortunately , during the night the weather deteriorated , and the " Monitor " broached and sank . Trenchard sent his ships boats and saved most of the crew . On January 12 , 1863 , " Rhode Island " left Hampton Roads with the monitor in tow for Port Royal , arriving safely . Trenchard was then ordered to join the search for the Confederate cruisers and . Trenchard pursued several suspicious vessels between Hampton Roads and Havana , then in company with patrolled the Bahama Banks . Trenchard captured the " Cronstadt " , a blockade - runner from Wilmington bound for Nassau , Bahamas , with a cargo of cotton , tobacco , and turpentine on August 16 . From November 1863 until March 1864 , the " Rhode Island " was engaged in escorting mail - steamers in the West Indies . Finally ordered home , during her cruise she had boarded more than fifty vessels . In October 1864 Trenchard was ordered to tow the new monitor from Boston Navy Yard to Norfolk , Virginia , accompanied by the and the " Little Addie " . Another serious loss was averted after the tow - line parted in a gale and the ships ran for shelter in Holmes ' s Hole , before making Brooklyn Navy Yard . " Rhode Island " was then detached to sail to Aspinwall , Columbia , to escort the valuable mail - steamer " Costa Rica " from there back to New York . " Rhode Island " then remained at New York anchored in the East River opposite Wall Street , having her guns trained so as to protect Government properties from the threat of mob violence . On November 22 , 1864 , " Rhode Island " departed New York , and a few days later , in company with , captured the British blockade - runner " Vixen " . On December 24 " Rhode Island " took part in the failed attack on Fort Fisher , returning the next day to embark troops from the shore . " Rhode Island " resumed blockade duty , and prepared for the second attack which was a success . On the first day , January 13 , 1865 , " Rhode Island " was heavily engaged with Confederate batteries , and landed artillery for the army on the 14th and 15th , when the fort fell . In March Trenchard was ordered to take " Rhode Island " to Belfast , Maine in order to recruit men for the Navy , and was there when the war ended in April 1865 . Post - war career . In June 1865 Trenchard was appointed senior officer of the convoy service fleet , based at Cap - Haïtien , and was promoted to the rank of captain in July , then served as executive officer of the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1866 - 69 . On September 9 , 1865 , he fell overboard while attempting to assist a ferryboat which had collided with another vessel . One of his men , Seaman John Taylor , rescued him from the water , for which Taylor was later awarded the Medal of Honor . Trenchard commanded the screw sloop , flagship of the South Atlantic Squadron , in 1869 - 71 , then , with the rank of commodore , served for three years as an Inspector of the Third Lighthouse District . On August 10 , 1875 , Trenchard attained the rank of rear admiral and commanded the North Atlantic Squadron , with the as his flagship . In 1876 , during the controversy over the Hayes - Tilden presidential election Trenchard was in command of a Naval Brigade that was stationed in Washington D . C . , to preserve order . Fortunately the anticipated riots did not occur . After serving on a special board in Washington , he retired on July 10 , 1880 . In 1879 - 80 Trenchard was the senior Vice - Commander of the New York Commandery of the Loyal Legion . He died in New York City , on November 15 , 1883 . Personal life . Trenchard married Anne O ' Connor Barclay , the daughter of Captain John Mortimer Barclay , U . S . Army , in December 1848 . They had one child , a son named Edward Trenchard ( 1850 – 1922 ) , who was a noted marine art ist .