GOLD MEDAL AWARDED BY CONGRESS.GOLD MEDAL AWARDED BY CONGRESS.
On November 29th, he received his promotion to the rank of captain. At that time this was the highest rank in the American navy. A gold medal was also given to him by Congress.
In the following January he made a visit to Washington, where he was publicly entertained by the President and citizens.
In August, 1814, he was ordered to command a new frigate named theJava. He hastened to Baltimore, where this vessel was to be launched.
On the 11th of September, Lieutenant Macdonough, who was in command of the American squadron on Lake Champlain, gained a decisive victory over the British near Plattsburg. Everything at the North seemed now to be favorable to the Americans; but it was not so at the South.
While Captain Perry was waiting at Baltimore, the British had sailed up the Potomac with an army and a fleet. They captured Washington, and burned the capitol, the White House, and some of the other public buildings.
Being so successful in this, they made a like attempt upon Baltimore, but were driven back. They then blockaded Chesapeake Bay.
Just at this time, Congress passed a bill to fit out two squadrons of fast-sailing vessels. Thesewere to cruise near the English coasts and destroy the commerce between the different ports.
Captain Perry was ordered to leave theJavaand command one of these squadrons. But before he could sail for England, peace was declared. A treaty with that country was signed December 24, 1814.
While the United States had been at war with England, trouble had again arisen with the Barbary States. None of these countries had been so annoying as Algiers. The ruler, or Dey, of Algiers knew that every American naval vessel was busy fighting the English. He therefore thought this a good time to burn and plunder the merchant ships. He also demanded large sums of money in return for his captured prizes and prisoners.
But no sooner was peace concluded with England, than Congress declared war with Algiers. A squadron was sent to the Mediterranean, commanded by the brave Stephen Decatur, and hesoon compelled the Dey to sign a treaty with the United States.
In this treaty the Dey promised to give back all the American property he had captured. If there was anything that he could not return, he was to pay for it at its full value. He was also to release all the Americans he held as prisoners, and give up, forever, all claim to tribute money from the United States.
When the consuls of other countries heard of what Decatur had accomplished, they tried to persuade the Algerine ruler to make the same terms with them. Then the Dey was sorry that he had "humbled himself" before the young republic, and he declared that he did not consider the treaty binding.
Congress therefore thought it wise to strengthen the American squadron in the Mediterranean, in order that this trouble should be settled.
Captain Perry was ordered to take theJavaand sail at once for Algiers. On January 22, 1816, he set sail, and in March he joined the American vessels off the eastern coast of Spain.
Upon arriving at Algiers, they found that the Dey had just received a large amount of tribute money from an English fleet. This made him very unwilling to talk about treaties.
The English fleet had not only brought money to pay for the release of English prisoners, but also had brought vast sums from the governments of Naples and Sardinia to buy the freedom of their enslaved countrymen.
Twelve hundred captives were freed in this way, and put aboard the English vessels. There were people of all ages, clothed in rags. Some had been taken while young and now were old men, with gray hair and beards.
The Dey refused to treat with the American commander, and the Americans would have destroyed the Algerian fleet and bombarded the town at once, but for an article in the treaty which Decatur had made. This article stated that when either side should become dissatisfied with the treaty, three months' notice should be given before actual fighting began.
While waiting for these three months to pass,the American squadron cruised about the Mediterranean and visited the other Barbary States. The commander wished to show the rulers of these states that our country had a navy which could protect our commerce.
After this the fleet sailed along the southern coast of Europe. There was no vessel which attracted more admiration than Captain Perry'sJava. To visit this ship was, indeed, a pleasure.
The captain was a courteous host, and always made his guests welcome. Everything on the ship was in order, and ready for instant use. The discipline of the crew was perfect.
Being a good musician himself, Captain Perry had the finest band in all the fleet. He took a personal interest in each one of his men, and was always ready with a word of praise when he saw it was deserved. He gave the midshipmen lessons in navigation, and saw that they had lessons in Spanish and French and in the use of the sword. They were even taught to dance.
Whenever it was possible the men were allowedto go on shore, in order that they might visit the places of interest.
By January, 1817, the Dey of Algiers finally came to terms and signed a new treaty, agreeing to the conditions required by the United States. Captain Perry was soon afterwards ordered to sail for America, carrying this new treaty with him. In March he arrived at Newport.
After so many months of cruising, Captain Perry was very glad to be again in his own country.
He spent the next two years quietly at home with his family. He built a snug little cottage in Narragansett, on the old Perry estate. This was the same farm that had been purchased by the young Quaker, Edmund Perry, so many years before. Here the family spent the summers.
Captain Perry was always fond of life in the country. He took many long rides on horseback. Besides his horses, he had many other pets on thefarm. He and his three little sons spent a great deal of time taking care of them.
The winters were passed in the house at Newport.
CAPTAIN PERRY'S RESIDENCE AT NEWPORT.CAPTAIN PERRY'S RESIDENCE AT NEWPORT.
These were the happiest years of Oliver Perry's life, and he could not help but be sorry, when, on March 31, 1819, he received a summons to go to Washington.
Upon arriving there, the Secretary of the Navy told him of an expedition that the government wished him to undertake.
He was to go to Venezuela, on the northern coast of South America. This was a new republicwhich had formerly been a colony of Spain. Its people were still fighting for their independence, just as the people of the United States had fought against the king of England.
Small, fast-sailing war vessels, called privateers, had been fitted out by this republic. These vessels were designed to capture Spanish merchant ships, and were allowed to keep all the money that was obtained from the prizes.
But it was not the Spanish ships alone which suffered from these privateers. The desire for prize money led them to attack ships of other nations. The American merchants had met with many losses in this way.
Captain Perry was to present claims for these losses, and also to persuade the president of Venezuela to keep his privateers from preying on American commerce. For this expedition, Perry was to have two vessels, the sloopJohn Adamsand the schoonerNonsuch.
On July 15, 1819, he arrived at the mouth of the Orinoco River. Here he was obliged to take the small schooner in order to go up the river andreach the town of Angostura, which was then the Venezuelan capital. He sent theJohn Adamsto Port Spain, on the island of Trinidad, one hundred and fifty miles away. This vessel was ordered to wait there for his return.
The voyage up the Orinoco was an interesting one. All along the shores were vast tropical forests with overhanging trees full of birds of brilliant colors. Luxuriant vines were festooned from limb to limb. Flowers of all colors grew everywhere.
On the other hand, the trip was full of hardships. The heat was fearful and the sand-flies, gnats, and mosquitoes were almost unbearable.
Soon after reaching Angostura many of the crew were taken ill with yellow fever, but Perry would not leave until his mission was accomplished. After three weeks of delay, he succeeded in getting the promises for which he had come.
The schooner then sailed down the river, reaching the mouth on August 15th. On account of a high sea, to cross the bar that night would be a dangerous undertaking, and the vessel was therefore anchored until morning.
During the night, the wind freshened so much that the spray dashed into the cabin where Captain Perry was sleeping. In the morning he awoke with a cold chill and symptoms of yellow fever.
Every effort was made to reach theJohn Adamsas soon as possible. Captain Perry grew rapidly worse. In the intense heat, his little schooner cabin was most uncomfortable.
The winds were unfavorable and the progress of the little vessel was slow. When within a mile of theJohn Adams, Captain Perry died. This was on his thirty-fourth birthday, August 23, 1819.
He was buried on the island of Trinidad with military honors, and theJohn Adamsbrought back the sad news to the United States.
His death was regarded as a national calamity. The government sent a war vessel to bring his body home. He was finally laid to rest at Newport, where a granite monument marks his grave.
The feelings of his fellow officers were well expressed by Stephen Decatur. Upon hearing of Perry's death, he said: "Sir! The American navy has lost its brightest ornament!"
D.E. FarragutD.E. Farragut
On July 5, 1801, in a rude cabin in EasternTennessee, David Glasgow Farragut was born.
It was a wild and lonely place. For miles around the little farm, nothing could be seen but woods. Few sounds could be heard save the singing of birds and sometimes the cries of wild beasts.
There was already one child in the family, a boy, whose name was William.
George Farragut, the father, was a brave man. He was a Spaniard, and had come to America during the Revolutionary War.
He was a lover of liberty, and for that reason he had taken up arms with the colonists to help them win their independence from England.
After the close of the war, he had married a hardy frontier girl, and had come to this wild place to make his home.
His life on the little clearing in the backwoods was one of toil and frequent hardships. Every day he was busy chopping down trees, planting crops, or hunting in the great forest.
The young wife, Elizabeth, was also busy, keeping her house and spinning and making the clothes for herself, her husband, and her children.
Little David Farragut grew strong very fast.
He and William had no playmates, but they liked to run about under the trees. They could not go far from the cabin, however, as there were both wild beasts and Indians in the woods.
Sometimes the father would be away for several days, hunting wild game for the family to eat. At such times, the mother and children would be left alone.
One day a band of Indians came and tried to enter the cabin. The mother sent the boys into the loft, where they crouched down close to the roof and kept very still. Then, for hours, sheguarded the door with an axe, until, at last, something frightened the Indians and they went away.
When little David was about seven years old, his father was appointed by the government to command a gunboat on the Mississippi. As his headquarters were to be at New Orleans, the family moved to a plantation on the banks of Lake Pontchartrain. This lake is near the city.
When not on duty on the gunboat, George Farragut was very fond of sailing on the lake. He had a little sailboat in which he would take the children, even in severe storms.
Sometimes the weather would be so bad that they couldn't come home; and then they would sleep all night on the shore of some island. The father would wrap the children in a sail, or cover them with dry sand to keep them warm.
One day a neighbor told him that it was dangerous to take the children on such trips. George Farragut replied, "Now is the time to conquer their fears."
When fishing in the lake one morning, GeorgeFarragut saw a boat in which there was an old man all alone. Pulling alongside, he found that the stranger had become unconscious from the heat of the sun.
He was taken to the Farragut home, and, although he was nursed for some time with the greatest of care and everything was done for him that could be done, yet he grew no better.
Finally Mrs. Farragut also was taken very ill, and in a few days both she and the stranger she had nursed so tenderly, died. This was a sad day for the family of George Farragut.
Not long after the funeral, a stranger called at the Farragut house. He said that his name was David Porter and that he was the son of the old gentleman who had died there. He thanked George Farragut for his kindness to his father, and offered to adopt one of the Farragut boys.
There were now five children in the family, and David's father was very glad to accept this offer. The oldest son, William, already had a commission as midshipman in the navy, and so it was decided that David should be the one to go.
Captain Porter was at that time the commander of the naval station at New Orleans. His handsome uniform, with its belt and shining buttons, seemed very attractive to little David, and he was eager to go with his new guardian.
David spent a few months with the Porter family in New Orleans. Then Captain Porter took him to Washington and placed him in school there.
One day David was introduced to a great man, the Secretary of the Navy. He asked the boy many questions, and was so pleased with his intelligent answers that he said to him, "My boy, when you are ten years old I shall make you a midshipman in the navy."
This was a proud moment for little David Farragut. The great man did not forget his promise. The appointment came six months before the time that was named. It was arranged that the lad should go with Captain Porter in the frigateEssex.
It was several months, however, before the vessel was ready to sail. In the meantime, David attended a school in Chester, Pennsylvania.
For a long time England had been at war with France. British men-of-war and privateers were in the habit of attacking any vessel going to or from the ports of France. More than this, the British government claimed the right to search American vessels to see whether any English sailors were on board.
Nor was this the worst. Numbers of American seamen were falsely accused of being English deserters, and every year many were taken from their own vessels and forced to serve on British ships.
The Americans tried to induce the British government to cease this unjust treatment. They tried to settle the matter peaceably, but the British were haughty and overbearing and would not agree to give up any of their claims.
On June 18, 1812, things had gone so far that our country was obliged to declare war against Great Britain. A squadron was fitted out and ordered to cruise along the Atlantic coast, in order to protect American vessels from the British.
Captain Porter's vessel, theEssex, was to be one of this fleet. It was not ready, however, to sail with the others; but orders were given that it should follow as soon as possible and join the squadron in the Atlantic.
If Captain Porter could not find the squadron, he was to do whatever he thought best.
On October 28, 1812, theEssexsailed down the Delaware River, and through the bay into the ocean. There was a pennant flying from the mast-head on which were the words, "Free Trade and Sailors' Rights." It was for these things that Captain Porter was ready to fight. By his side stood the little midshipman, David Farragut, in his shining uniform. There was no prouder boy in all America than he was on that day.
CAPTAIN DAVID PORTER.CAPTAIN DAVID PORTER.
For several months, Captain Porter cruised about the Atlantic. He captured several Englishvessels, and then, as he could not find the American squadron, he decided to make a trip around Cape Horn, and cruise in the Pacific.
The passage around Cape Horn is one of the most dangerous in the world, but Captain Porter was not afraid. TheEssexwas one of the best ships in the navy, and the crew had been drilled very thoroughly.
Sometimes Captain Porter sounded a false alarm of fire on shipboard. This was to test the courage of the men and prepare them for accidents. Sometimes he even caused a smoke to be made. The sailors soon became so accustomed to a cry of "Fire" that it caused no confusion.
The courage of the crew was severely tried in going around Cape Horn. The weather was bitterly cold, and for twenty-one days the ship was buffeted by furious storms.
By this time the provisions were almost gone. Each man had but a small daily allowance of bread and water. Little David Farragut was having his first real experience as a sailor.
From Cape Horn, Captain Porter sailed northalong the west coast of South America, and stopped at an island near the coast of Chili. The sailors went on shore with their guns and killed some wild hogs and horses. They were in such need of fresh meat that they ate even the flesh of the horses with great relish.
For months theEssexcruised about in the beautiful Pacific. Captain Porter captured several English vessels, and warned American whaling-ships of danger. Some of these had been at sea for many months and had not heard of the war.
Sometimes theEssexwould stop at an island, and the crew would go on shore to kill seals; sometimes they would anchor in shallow bays and fish for cod.
On one solitary island there was a strange postoffice, a box nailed to a tree. Here passing vessels would leave messages and letters, to be taken up by other vessels that chanced to be going in the right direction.
TheEssexstopped at this island for some time. The crew found prickly pears to eat. They killedpigeons, which the cook made into pies, and they made soup of the turtles they caught. Those were great days for David Farragut.
TheEssexfinally left this island in May, 1813. Soon more English vessels were sighted and captured. One of these was to be taken to Valparaiso, and Captain Porter put David Farragut in charge of it. The young commander was then but twelve years of age.
The gray-haired English captain was very angry at having to take orders from a boy. He tried to ignore David, and when he failed in this, attempted to frighten him. He threatened to shoot any man who obeyed David's orders, and went below for his pistols.
David knew that the American sailors were loyal to him. So he sent word to the captain that if he did not obey, he would have him thrown overboard.
After this there was no more trouble. David brought the vessel into the port of Valparaiso in safety. He soon afterward rejoined theEssex.
Captain Porter now decided to go to someislands far out in the Pacific, where he could refit the ship.
As theEssexapproached one of these islands, she was met by a canoe filled with natives. The bodies of these people were tattooed, and they were gayly ornamented with feathers. They invited the sailors on shore, and promised to give them fruit and provisions.
During the six weeks that were occupied in refitting the ship, the sailors rested on the island. David and the other boys of the crew were given lessons by the ship's chaplain each day, and when school hours were over, they were allowed to visit the islanders.
The young natives taught the American boys many things. They showed them how to walk on stilts, and how to use a spear skillfully and with ease. Best of all, they taught them how to swim. The people of this island could swim as easily as they could walk. Even the babies could float in the water like ducks.
TheEssexleft this island in December, 1813, and sailed for Valparaiso.
One day in the following February, two English war vessels appeared in the harbor of Valparaiso. TheEssexwas lying quietly at anchor, and many of her crew were on shore.
The British vessels bore down upon theEssexin a very hostile manner. Captain Porter was afraid they would attack him. They had no right to do this, for Chili was not at war with either England or America.
One of these British vessels was a frigate called thePhoebe. The other was a sloop named theCherub. ThePhoebeapproached theEssexuntil she was within fifteen feet of her side.
Captain Porter, standing on the deck, hailed, saying: "If you touch a single yardarm, I shall board you instantly!" ThePhoebepassed by with no reply.
After this, the British vessels anchored at the entrance of the harbor. They could thus keep theEssexa prisoner.
The vessels remained in this position for several weeks. On the 28th of March, a furious galesprang up. The cables of theEssexgave way, and she began to drift out toward the English vessels. Captain Porter now made a desperate effort to escape. He set all sails and made for the open sea.
Suddenly something snapped. The main top-mast came crashing down, carrying sails, rigging, and some of the crew into the water. In this disabled condition escape was impossible. TheEssexwas driven toward the shore and was finally brought to anchor within pistol shot of the beach.
TheEssexhad but four guns that would shoot as far as the cannon of the English. ThePhoebeand theCherubtook a position out of range of nearly all theEssexguns, and then poured broadside after broadside into the unfortunate vessel.
Captain Porter and his gallant crew fought against these odds until one hundred and twenty-four of the men had been killed or wounded. Then theEssexsurrendered.
During all this dreadful battle there was no braver officer than the little midshipman, DavidFarragut. Sometimes he was carrying messages for the captain; again, he was bringing powder for the guns.
Once when going down the hatchway a wounded man fell upon him. David barely escaped being crushed to death.
Captain Porter was so pleased with his conduct that he mentioned his bravery in his official dispatches to the government.
After the surrender the wounded were removed to shore. David offered his services to the surgeons. He worked early and late, preparing bandages and waiting upon the injured men.
In speaking of this afterward, he said, "I never earned Uncle Sam's money so faithfully."
The British put all the American prisoners on board an unarmed vessel, and made them promise that they would not take up arms against the English until they had been exchanged for an equal number of English prisoners.
After this the Americans were allowed to sail for the United States. They arrived in the harbor of New York on July 7, 1814.
Although a prisoner of war, David Farragut was glad to get back to the United States.
While waiting to be exchanged he attended a school in Chester, Pennsylvania.
It was a strange school. The pupils had no books. The teacher, Mr. Neif, told them the things he wished them to learn, and the boys wrote them down in notebooks. They would sometimes be examined on these notes to see whether they had paid proper attention.
In the afternoons, Mr. Neif would take the boys for long walks. They made collections of minerals and plants, and learned many curious and useful facts about them.
Mr. Neif, who had been a soldier, gave the boys military drill. He also taught them to swim and climb.
David Farragut was not a handsome boy. But people liked to look at him, for his face was honest and good. He was short for his years, but he stood very erect, and held his head as high as he could.
"I cannot afford to lose any of my inches," he said.
In November, 1814, the British and the Americans made an exchange of prisoners, and David Farragut was now free to return to the navy. As a treaty of peace was made a few weeks later, he did not have to serve against the British.
During the next two years, David made but one short cruise. He was quartered, the rest of the time, on a receiving ship. This is a vessel stationed at the navy yards, where recruits are first received into the service.
In the spring of 1816, David went on a cruise that proved to be most interesting. He was ordered to theWashington, a beautiful new ship of seventy-four guns. This was to carry the American minister to Naples, in Italy.
While waiting at Annapolis for the minister they had a visit from the President, James Madison. Among his suite was Captain Porter, who was then a naval commissioner. He came to say good-bye to David.
The voyage across the Atlantic was one to beremembered. The captain was very proud of his "crack" ship. He kept the crew so busy cleaning decks and scouring "bright work," that sometimes they had no food for eight hours at a time. Once all the crew were kept on deck for several nights in succession.
During the summer months, theWashingtoncruised about the Mediterranean, stopping at many places. This was a wonderful experience for David. He visited the bay of Naples. The great volcano, Vesuvius, was then in eruption, and the sight of this alone was worth the voyage.
While in the bay, the king of Naples and the emperor of Austria made a visit to theWashington, and a grand display was made to entertain them.
TheWashingtonstopped at the coast towns of Tunis, Tripoli, and Algiers, and finally wintered in a Spanish harbor. The Spaniards were very kind to the captain. They allowed him to use their navy yard, in which to refit his vessel.
During all this cruise, the boys on the ship were taught by the chaplain, Mr. Folsom.
He was very fond of David, and in the autumn of 1817, when he was appointed consul to Tunis, he wrote to the captain of theWashingtonfor permission to take David with him.
This request was granted, and David spent a delightful year with his old friend. He studied mathematics and English literature. He also learned to speak French and Italian.
He and Mr. Folsom took many trips about the Mediterranean, and these were of great benefit to him. In October, 1818, he returned to theWashington, in which he cruised for another year.
While David Farragut was at a port in the Mediterranean, he was summoned to America to take his examination for the lieutenancy. He was then eighteen years of age.
In November, 1820, he arrived in New York, where he passed his examination successfully. He did not receive any appointment, however, for some time, as there were no vacancies in the navy.The next two years were spent with the Porter family at Norfolk, Virginia.
In 1822, he sailed for a short time on a sloop of war, that was cruising about the Gulf of Mexico. On his return to America, he learned that Captain Porter was fitting out a fleet to cruise against the pirates of the West Indies.
These robbers had small, fast-sailing ships. They would attack unarmed merchant vessels, seize all the valuables they could carry away, and destroy the remainder. Sometimes they killed the crew; at other times they put them ashore on some desert island.
For years, Americans and English had been waging war against these pirates, but without success. With their small boats the robbers would run into the shallow bays and creeks, where no other vessels could follow them; and so they had grown bolder and bolder every year.
Ever since peace had been declared with England, Captain Porter had been a commissioner of the navy, and had made no sea voyages. But now he offered to resign his position, and drivethe pirates from the sea. He said he would do this upon one condition. He must have a fleet of small vessels that could follow the pirates into their lurking places.
The government accepted his offer, and gave him orders to fit out such a fleet as he chose. He bought eight small schooners similar to those used by the pirates. To these were added five large rowboats or barges, which were called the Mosquito Fleet. David Farragut was assigned to one of the vessels named theGreyhound.
This fleet of Captain Porter's had many encounters with the pirates. At one time, when theGreyhoundwas off the southern coast of Cuba, some of the crew went on shore to hunt game, and were fired upon from the thicket by pirates. The Americans returned this fire without effect, and then went back to their ship.
Young Farragut was ordered to take a party of men to capture the pirates, and at three o'clock the next morning they set out in the barges.
After landing, David and his men tried to go around to a point at the rear of the place wherethe pirates were supposed to be. This was no easy thing to do. They had to cut their way through thickets of cactus, thorny bushes, and trailing vines. Their shoes were cut from their feet with walking over the sharp rocks; and the heat was so intense that some of the men fainted.
At last they found the pirate camp. It was deserted. The robbers had seen theGreyhoundand the barges, and had fled to some other hiding place. In the camp, which was protected by several cannon, there were some houses a hundred feet long. There was also an immense cave filled with all kinds of goods taken from plundered vessels.
The sailors burned the houses, and carried the plunder and cannon to their boats. The prize that David himself took away was a monkey, which he had captured after a fierce struggle.
As the sailors were returning to their boats, they heard a great noise in the thicket behind them, and thought that the pirates had come back to attack them. David Farragut made a speech to his men. He urged them to stand their ground and fightbravely. Imagine their surprise and amusement at finding their foes to be thousands of land crabs, making their way through the briars!
This was only one of many encounters that the Mosquito Fleet had with the pirates. Through all the time, the American sailors suffered much from yellow fever and exposure. David Farragut afterward said: "I never owned a bed during my cruise in the West Indies, but lay down to rest wherever I found the most comfortable berth."
The pirates were finally driven from the seas. Their boats were burned or captured, and their camps destroyed.
While on this cruise, David got leave of absence to visit his sister in New Orleans. She was the only one of the family still living at the old home. It was hard for her to recognize in the stranger the boy who had left home so long before.
When young Farragut was on his way to the north and within sight of Washington, he was taken ill with yellow fever. He had nursed many a poor sailor, and had hitherto escaped the disease.
After a short time spent in a Washington hospital,he was able to return home. Soon afterward, he was married in Norfolk, Virginia, to Susan Marchant. But it was nearly two years before he was entirely well, and strong enough to resume his duties in the navy. In the meanwhile, he and his bride spent much time with the family of Captain Porter.
In August, 1825, David Farragut at last received his commission as lieutenant. He was ordered on board the shipBrandywine, the vessel which was to have the honor of taking the Marquis de Lafayette to France.
This great Frenchman had always been a warm friend of the United States. Fifty years before, he had taken a leading part in the Revolutionary War, and had been one of General Washington's most trusted officers.
After the Revolution, he had returned to his home in sunny France. He had always loved America, and in his old age he felt that hewould like to visit again the great nation which he had helped to establish. So in 1824, though old and gray, he had come back to America as the honored guest of the nation.
From one end of the land to the other, his tour had been one grand ovation. And now that he was to return home, the good shipBrandywinewas detailed to carry him safely across the Atlantic.
LAFAYETTE.LAFAYETTE.
The voyage was an uneventful one for Lieutenant Farragut. After landing Lafayette in France, theBrandywinecruised about the shores of England and in the waters of the Mediterranean for about a year.
On his return to America, Lieutenant Farragut found that his wife was in very poor health, and he obtained leave of absence from the navy, in order that he might take her to a famous doctor in New Haven, Connecticut.
During his stay in that city, he regularly attended the lectures at Yale College, for DavidFarragut never wasted an opportunity for self-improvement. When his wife was better, they returned to Norfolk, where he was placed in charge of the receiving ship in the navy yard.
Most of the boys on the ship were uneducated and did not know one letter from another. Lieutenant Farragut therefore established a school on board. This proved to be of great value to these poor boys.
One boy had run away from home to avoid going to school, and he was determined that he would not study. It was only after many severe punishments that he was conquered. When once started in the right direction, he learned rapidly.
One day, seven years afterward, a fine-looking, well-dressed man stopped David Farragut on the street. On being asked his name, the stranger replied, "I have grown probably a foot since we parted, but do you not remember the boy who once gave you so much trouble?"
"Oh yes," said Farragut, "but I should never have recognized him in you."
"Nevertheless," said the stranger, "I am thesame, and am ready to acknowledge you the greatest benefactor and friend I ever had in this world of trouble."
After leaving the receiving ship, Lieutenant Farragut spent the next ten years in short cruises along the South American coast and about the Gulf of Mexico. During all this time his wife was an invalid, and her health continued to fail until her death in 1840.
For two years before her death, Lieutenant Farragut was at home on leave of absence. He could then be constantly with her and wait upon her.
In speaking of his devotion to his wife, a lady in Norfolk said: "When Lieutenant Farragut dies, every woman in the city should bring a stone, and build for him a monument reaching to the skies."
In 1841 promotion came to Farragut, and he received a commission as commander in the navy.
In 1845, the state of Texas was annexed to the United States. This brought about a dispute with Mexico concerning the southwestern boundaryof the state, and the result was a short war, in which the Americans were victorious.
Commander Farragut was very anxious to serve his country in this Mexican War, and wrote many letters to the Navy Department, asking for the command of a ship. For a long time he waited in vain. When, at last, a vessel was assigned to him, it was too late for him to do his country any service. The war was about over, and there was no more work for the navy to do.
From 1850 until 1852, he was employed in Washington, drawing up a book of regulations for the navy. As when in New Haven he had attended the lectures of Yale College, so now he attended those of the Smithsonian Institution.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
"I have made it a rule of my life to do all things with a view to the possible future. You cannot come away from such lectures without being wiser thanwhen you went in," he said. When the book of regulations was finished, he went back to the navy yard at Norfolk, where he gave a series of lectures on gunnery to the officers.
About this time, England and France were at war with Russia. Farragut applied to Congress for permission to visit the English and French fleets engaged in this war. He wished to see whether he could learn of any improvements that could be made in the American navy.
But Congress had other work for him to do. There was to be a new navy yard built on the Pacific coast, at San Francisco. This would be a difficult task, and one requiring the services of a man having great knowledge and experience. No one was better fitted to undertake it than the lieutenant who had been so eager to make use of every opportunity for improvement.
In August, 1854, he was accordingly sent to California. Some time before this, he had married a second wife, Virginia Loyall, of Norfolk, and she accompanied him to the Pacific coast. There were then no railroads across the great westernplains, and they went by ship to the isthmus of Panama. After crossing the isthmus, they embarked upon a coasting vessel, and sailed to San Francisco.
Commander Farragut spent four years in laying the foundations of what is to-day the great navy yard on Mare Island, about thirty miles from San Francisco.
Before this work was completed he was promoted to the rank of captain. This was, at that time, the highest rank in the United States navy.
In July, 1858, Captain Farragut returned home. He was given, at once, the command of theBrooklyn. It had been ten years since he had been on a war vessel, and he found many changes. His ship had steam power as well as sails. It was one of the first steam war vessels built for the navy.
The arrangement of the guns was the same as in the old sailing sloops. But they were much larger, and of different shape. Explosive shells were used instead of solid cannon balls.
TheBrooklyncruised for two years in the Atlanticand the Gulf of Mexico. While on this cruise, Captain Farragut again visited New Orleans, for he wished to see his brother who was on duty at the naval station there. A sorrowful welcome awaited him, however, for his brother had died just before his arrival. The captain sadly returned to his ship, and soon afterward sailed home to Norfolk.
In 1861, at the beginning of the Civil War, the United States navy had but ninety vessels of all kinds. Twenty-one of these were not fit for service. Only eleven of those in commission were in American waters. The rest, which were scattered all over the world, were recalled at once.
Some of those in far away ports were commanded by southern captains, and it would take them several months to reach America.
It was feared that they would take their vessels into southern ports, and turn them over to the Confederate government. These fears, however,were groundless, for all the vessels were safely brought into northern ports. With few exceptions, all the naval officers were loyal to the United States.
Of all these naval officers, none was more loyal than Captain Farragut. In his home in Virginia, he had watched the growing troubles with a sad heart. He was a southerner by birth, and his most tender ties were in Virginia. It was there that he had spent many years with the Porter family, and there he had numerous friends. It was there, also, that he had married and made his home.
He knew that, should war break out, he would be called upon to choose between his friends in the South, and his government in the North.
"God forbid," he said, "that I should have to raise my hand against the South." These very words showed that his decision had been made.
He felt that he owed his first allegiance to the United States government, which had given him his education, employment, and rank. He could not take up arms against the flag of his country. It was under this flag that he had received his firstcommission as midshipman. In that proud moment he had taken his oath to die in its defense.
On the ocean, he had seen the proudest colors lowered to the victorious stars and stripes. At Valparaiso, he had stood on the bloody deck of theEssex, and had seen men give their lives in order that the flag should not be hauled down. He had traveled from ocean to ocean, and had seen the star spangled banner respected by all nations.
For some weeks before the actual beginning of war, there was much excitement in Norfolk. Every day the men met together in the stores to talk over the latest news, and there were many lively discussions among them. In these meetings, Captain Farragut boldly asserted his loyalty to the government, and this caused him the loss of many of his friends.
One morning, when in discussion with some officers, one of them said to him, "A person of your sentiments cannot live in Norfolk."
"Well, then," he calmly replied, "I can live somewhere else."
He felt that the time for action had come. He went home at once, and told his wife that he was going to "stick to the flag," and that they must move to the North.
With sad hearts, they sailed away from Norfolk.
They went to New York, and made their home on the Hudson, in a town called Hastings.
Even there, Captain Farragut met with a cold reception. The people were suspicious of the southern officer who had come to live among them. They did not consider the great sacrifice that he had made in leaving home and friends.
Determined to do his duty, he wrote to offer his services to the government. Congress could not, at once, accept them. No minor position could be given to Captain Farragut; it must be one full of responsibility.
It was not long, however, until the government had need of his services. The Mississippi River separated two large sections of the southern states, and its control was of the greatest importance to both the North and the South.
At the beginning of the war, all the river fromCairo, Illinois, to the Gulf, was controlled by the South. The capture of the upper forts in this section was first attempted by the North.
Large armies marched against them by land, and a fleet of river gunboats sailed down from the north to assist them. These gunboats were river steamers which the government had covered with plates of iron and armed with cannon.
While the northern river forts were thus being attacked, an expedition was planned to capture the fortifications near the river's mouth.
The strongest of these were Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip. These were between New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico, and their capture would give New Orleans to the North. This was considered a very important undertaking.
After much discussion, the Navy Department decided that Captain Farragut was best fitted to command this expedition. So Commander David D. Porter was sent to Hastings to talk the matter over with him. This commander was the son of the Captain Porter who had adopted David Farragut when a boy.
When Captain Farragut heard of the proposed expedition he was very enthusiastic. He hurried at once to Washington, where he was appointed commander of the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron. This was in January, 1862. His orders were to capture Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and take New Orleans.
A few weeks before this an event took place which came near making serious trouble for the United States. The Confederate government had appointed two commissioners, John Slidell and James Mason, to go to England to see if they could not get help from that country.
As it would be dangerous for them to sail in a Confederate vessel, they went to Havana, Cuba, where they took passage in an English vessel named theTrent.
Although they had tried to do this very secretly, Captain Wilkes, commanding a warship of the United States, heard about it, and determined to capture these men, if possible. So he pursued theTrentand obliged her to stop.
The Confederate commissioners refused to leavetheTrent, and, therefore, Captain Wilkes sent an armed force on board and carried them off. He then took them to Boston harbor, where they were imprisoned in a fort of the United States.
This act caused great indignation in England, and it was only through the prompt and wise action of President Lincoln and Congress that war was averted. An apology was made and the Confederate commissioners were allowed to proceed on their voyage without further molestation.
On the 2d of February, 1862, Captain Farragut sailed from Hampton Roads in his flagship, theHartford. This was one of the new sloops of war having both steam and sails.
All the vessels of this expedition were to meet at Ships Island, about one hundred miles from the mouth of the Mississippi. When Captain Farragut arrived there on February 20th, he found only a part of his fleet awaiting him. The other vessels arrived one by one.
This was the most powerful squadron that had ever been under an American commander. It consisted of steam sloops, gunboats, and mortar boats, forty-eight vessels in all.
An army of fifteen thousand men was at hand to assist Captain Farragut. This army had been brought from the North on transports, and was under the command of General Benjamin F. Butler.