|
A memorial appearing in: Appleton’s Journal of Popular Literature,
Science, and Art |
|
THE Great Admiral who died at the Portsmouth Navy-Yard, New Hampshire, on the fourteenth day of August, and whose remains were temporarily interred there until the United States Government shall make a final disposition of them, was the most illustrious naval commander our country has produced. What Nelson's achievements are to England, Farragut's are to America, forming, as they do, the brightest page in the annals of the United States Navy. His deeds are among the noblest legacies, which this generation can bequeath to posterity, and illustrate the truth of Lord Nelson's maxim, which Farragut once quoted to the writer, that "in sea affairs nothing is impossible and nothing improbable." When the French admiral who, having been at Forts Jackson and St.Philip, assured him that it was impossible to get past them, Farragut replied: " My orders are to go to New Orleans, and I intend to obey my instructions." DAVID GLASGOW FARRAGUT, nearly sixty years of whose life were spent in the service of his country, was born July 5, 1801. His father, George Farragut, was a native of Ciudedela, the old capital of the Island of Minorca; but, at an early age, taking to the sea for a livelihood, became cosmopolitan in habits, and, at length, came to anchor in this country. Here he served through the Revolutionary War, rising to the rank of major, and, at the conclusion of the war, married a Scotch girl in North Carolina, of the old family of MacIven. Soon after their marriage, they removed to the new and attractive territory of Frankland [sic], since known as Tennessee, where they began the business of fighting Indians and subduing the soil. It was here, at Campbell's Station, near Knoxville, that our young hero was born. As early as his tenth year he became seized with the boyish thirst for salt-water which makes the sailor, and that hankering for the smell of "villanous saltpetre" that makes the hero. Through the influence of Commodore Porter, a midshipman's warrant was obtained for him, dated December 19, 1810, and he was ordered on board the Essex, under the eye of his father's friend, the redoubtable Porter, whose son Is the present vice-admiral. This vessel rated as a thirty-two gun ship, but carrying forty thirty-two pounders and six long twelves, with a crew of three hundred and nineteen men, was a terror to the British in the war of 1812. In fourteen months after the declaration of war the Essex captured fifteen ships, eight brigs, and two schooners, with an aggregate of one hundred and fifty guns. Proceeding to the Pacific, Porter, in his gallant ship, captured nearly every British whaler known to be in the South Pacific, converting many of them into cruisers, In the memorable engagement between the Essex and the English vessels Phoebe and Cherub, the young midshipman not only distinguished himself, but nearly lost his life, being knocked down the hatchway. He, however, soon recovered from the effect of his severe fall, and continued to fight his gun until Porter's surrender. On the return of peace, Farragut was sent to a school at Chester, Pennsylvania, where, under the tuition of a French officer who had served under Napoleon, he pursued the study of military and naval science. Here be remained two years, when be returned to the navy through the influence of his faithful friend Porter, serving under Commodore Stewart on board the Franklin, the same gallant ship in which, half a century later, he made his almost royal progress through the principal seaports of Europe. In those days there was no naval school, candidates being taught on board ship, and in the division of the large number of young middies on board the seventy-four gun line-of-battle ship, it was the good fortune of young Farragut to fall into the hands of the chaplain, Rev. Charles Folsom, afterward distinguished as a scholar and a critic, and recognized at that time as a man of superior culture and attainments. Mr. Folsom has related the growth of a warm attachment which had begun previous to Farragut's becoming his pupil. On the promulgation of the order assigning him to his care, Mr. Folsom writes: " Our mutual joy was complete. The intent was that I should be literally ‘his guide, philosopher, and friend,' according to my discretion; but officially accountable for him as his superior officer. While clothed with this complete authority, I do not remember that I ever issued an ‘order’ or had occasion to make a suggestion that amounted to a reproof. All needed control was that of an elder brother over an affectionate younger brother." There can be no doubt that the example of the dauntless David Porter, and the admirable example and training of Charles Folsom, who is still living, had great influence on the character of Farragut. From his commander he obtained that peculiar training which made him in after-life quick to decide and prompt to act; from his friend the chaplain he obtained the moral training which made him a true Christian gentleman, whom slander had never assailed, and idle gossip never wounded. When Mr. Folsom was appointed consul at Tunis, he obtained a year's leave of absence for his young friend, who, during his residence there, continued his studies and acquired a partial knowledge of Arabic, adding in later years French, Spanish, and Italian, to his stock of languages. Before his departure, Mr. Folsom presented Farragut with a Turkish ataghan, the scabbard of which was ornamented with an embossed figure representing a frigate passing between the fire of two forts, having three tiers of guns - the very ordeal by which the then midshipman rose to be admiral! Returning from the Mediterranean, he was promoted on the recommendation of "Old Ironsides," and served through various grades on shore and sea, and in different navy-yards and ships, until we find him, at the breaking out of the war of 1861, on duty in New York as a member of the Naval Retiring Board. He was, however, at Norfolk, Virginia when the rebellion broke out, and his friends and relations endeavored in every way to induce him to desert the flag, but, as might have been expected from so loyal and true-hearted a man, without avail. Notwithstanding the distinguished position which be subsequently attained, Farragut had not then a brilliant reputation; less so, indeed, than many other officers of his grade who might be named. He was only known as a good sailor, and above all as an honest, straightforward man. The fifty years of service which he had seen had only served to mature his powers without in any respect impairing his mental or physical vigor. He told the writer that, up to 1861, he bad made a practice of taking a standing jump over the back of a chair on every birthday, "And," said the admiral, "I never felt old until my sixty-second birthday came round, and I didn't feel equal to the jump." The particulars of his great and glorious deeds during the war are so fresh In the minds of our readers that it is unnecessary for us to recapitulate them; but there is an incident connected with the passage of the forts at Mobile, when erect in his lofty post of danger presiding over the battle, which we desire to record here. His clergyman says: "On that occasion, while the admiral was lashed In the rigging of the Hartford, he offered up a prayer In the following words: '0 God, my Maker, lead me to do this day what is right and best for my country!' In answer to the prayer the admiral said he heard a voice from heaven, which seemed, in tones of thunder, to say, ‘Go forward!' He obeyed the voice, and moved on to victory in the 'dear old Hartford.’" The admiral saw no active service after the fight in Mobile Bay, although for a year and a half he commanded the European Squadron. After a brilliant reception on board the flag-ship Franklin, in New-York Harbor, which was attended by the President of the United States, the admiral set sail on a sunny day of June, 1867, for the Old World, the writer being one of a half-dozen friends who accompanied him to Sandy Hook. During his absence of eighteen months he visited the various courts of the Continent, and was everywhere received with the highest honors ever paid to an American citizen. In noble contrast to the conduct of many of our countrymen when in the Old World, was that of Admiral Farragut, who when invited to dine on the Sabbath day with an emperor, replied that It would afford him very great pleasure to accept a dinner Invitation for any other day but Sunday, as he never accepted invitations on that day. But no ovations received from royalty delighted the doughty admiral so much as his enthusiastic reception by the people of the Spanish Island of Minorca. While at Ciudedela, the old capital, and his father's birthplace, he was presented with a history of his family and his coat-of-arms - the golden horseshoe with a nail of the same material. In searching for information concerning the Farraguts, it was discovered that one of the admiral's ancestors was regent of Arragon, and that his coat-of-arms was four stars, and an anchor, and a horseshoe. How strange that Farragut should have won for himself in the New World the right to assume the same four stars and anchor worn by his proud old Spanish ancestor centuries ago! The admiral returned to the United States in November, 1868, and took up his residence in his beautiful New-York home, where he spent the winter of 1868-‘69. Not being called to fill the place at Washington to which his rank as admiral entitled him, he during the summer of last year paid a visit to California, where he was received with the most distinguished consideration by many old friends who remembered him as Captain Farragut, commandant of the navy-yard near San Francisco. On his return to the East, he was taken Ill at Chicago, and continued in a precarious condition for several days. A few months rest in his own loved home partially restored him to health, when the arrival of the remains of his old friend George Peabody induced him to proceed to Portland, and appear officially as the admiral of the United States Navy. Since that time he has gradually failed, rarely going out except to attend religious services, or for a short carriage-drive. Early in July he sought relief in change of air, proceeding in the steamer Tallapooss to Portsmouth, accompanied by Surgeon McMasters, who was with him during his cruise in the old frigate Franklin. Taking up his residence with his friend and kinsman, Commodore Pennock, commandant of the navy-yard, he was made as comfortable as lay within the power of human and medical skill. Gradually but surely he sank, daily growing weaker, until Tuesday, August 9th, when he was struck with paralysis, and lingered till the following Sunday morning, when the spirit of the Christian admiral quietly departed. |