The old navy and the new

Front matter

■^ ' vW.VIi wj .^

The

Old Navy

Preface

During the more than half a century covered by this chronicle, so marvellous have been the changes in naval architecture and armament, in the development of means of locomotion both on shore and afloat, and in the establishment of rapid communication over the whole inhabited globe, that the intelligent reader can hardly realize that they have occurred within so brief an historical period of time.

A principal object of these memoirs has been to note these mutations in their order, and to present a picture of naval life as affected by them. The writer does not assume that his experience and service differ materially from those of many other officers who might with equal propriety give their memoirs to the public. His intention has been to make the narrative as impersonal as possible, representative not only of his own experience, but also of that of many other officers, varying from his only in time and circumstances.

If this volume cannot be read with interest by the youth, as well as by those of more mature years, the fault must be attributed to the narrator, and not to the character of the scenes and incidents he has endeavored to depict.

If, through the over-appreciation of friends who have persistently urged the writer to publish his memoirs, he has been betrayed into an indiscretion in placing before the public what may prove lacking in interest at present, he would fain hope that at some future time, perhaps after the lapse of a century or more, the book will be quoted as an authority upon the history of the memorable period during which he served, if not with distinction, at least without reproach.

Ammendale, Maryland, March, 1891.

298657

Contents

CHAPTEK I.

PAGE

Entry into the Navy as Midshipman, and Service afloat in the Gulf of Mexico — Father of the Author in the War of 1812-15— He moves from Virginia to Ohio — Early Eecollections — Neighbor and Companion of General Grant— The Author rescues Young Grant from drowning— Letter from General Grant in 1877 referring to the Incident — The Great Mood in the Ohio in 1832— Concludes to enter the United States Navy — Appointed Midshipman — Trip to Washington and Baltimore— Sketch of Hon. Thomas L. Hamer 15

Chapter III

Cockroaches — Mediterranean Wingless ones — Impure Water — Bread filled with Bugs — Some Remarks on the Officers — " How we did Things in the Navy" — The Gulf of Mexico — Eating Dolphin — French Vessels blockading Vera Cruz — The Island and Castle of San Juan— Turtles — Want of Bread— The Aguacate, or Alligator-Pear — The Caterer and the Doctor — Off for Tampico — Sharks — Mosquitoes 34

Chapter IV

Sails for Pensacola — Billy B. and Hamilton G., the Society Men — A Duel settled — Fulano — A Boat in a Norther — Taking of San Juan de Ulloa by the French — The Prince de Joinville — A Weil-Known and Popular Officer presents a Pig — The Mess gives a Dinner — A viii CONTENTS.

PAGE

Temperance Society — Commander Uriah P. Levy takes command of the Vandalia — An Irate Landlord — Cleopatra's Barge — Changes in the Wardroom — Lieutenants Gist and Maffit — The Fall of the Temperance Society 43

CHAPTEK V.

Sails from Pensacola — Getting over the Bar — Bagdad — Trouble in getting Water — "Pooh! pooh!" from the Captain — Drilling at a Great Gun — Under Way for the Mexican Coast — Lieutenant Gist's Lawyer's Fee in Tennessee — Drowning of Lieutenant Paul — Arrival at Vera Cruz — Collision with a French Brig-of-War, with Loss of Life — The Author, chased by a Bull, takes to the Water — Getting rid of an Unpleasant Messmate — Hamilton G. " in Trouble" — The South Pass of the Mississippi — A Water-Spout 52

CHAPTEK VI.

Cruising on the Coast of Texas after Slavers — Colonel David Crockett — General Sam Houston — The Coast of Texas — Keeping the Lookout— Scarcity of Water — Commander Levy gets excited, and suggests the Proper Pronunciation of his Name — A Threatened Court-Martial — Calling an Officer a r- Semiquaver" — Two Old Stories — The Captain's Wooden Horse — Want of Fresh Air — The Author had tendered his Eesignation, but the Commodore retained it and advised against it 62

CHAPTEK VII.

A Ball on a French Frigate — A Boat that smelt of Fish — Disgusted Old Lady — Society — Sails for Norfolk — Midshipman E. C. Anderson — The Cable parts — Goose-Quill Pens and Cockroaches — Parting with Captain Levy — Accounts of Lieutenants Gist and Maffit, Midshipmen Marcy and Barbot, and others of the Vandalia — The Author starts for Home on Three Months' Leave — Ordered to the Sloop-of- WTar Preble — Commander Breese — Service on the Coast of Labrador and in the Mediterranean — The " Ammen Kock" — Fogs — Sir Colin Campbell and his Daughter — The McNabb — A Bright Yankee Girl — Visit to a Coast Kesidence 72

CHAPTEK VIII.

Whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence — Story of a Sword-Fish — Sea-Fowl, Fish, and Seals — Kun on a Ledge of Kocks — The Bay of Fundy — Halifax — Portland — John Savage, alias Hans Wildemann — Crossing the Atlantic, and Service in the Mediterranean— Lisbon — The Carnival — Port Mahon — The Author transferred to the Ohio, Commodore Hull— Kear- Admiral Dupont— A Sirocco— The Andalusians —Gibraltar— Death of a Sailor— Arrival at Boston— Three Months' Leave— Naval School at Philadelphia— David McLure— Small-Pox in the Naval School — Professor Chauvenet— John Hogan, " from the South" 85

CONTENTS. ix

CHAPTEK IX.

PAGE

Coast-Survey Duty on the Delaware — Lieutenant Charles H. Davis, commanding the Nautilus — Lieutenant George B. Blake — The Gallatin— Ordered to Keceiving-Ship Experiment, at Philadelphia Navy- Yard — Lieutenant Albert E. Downes, of the Grampus — A Proposed Visit to the White Mountains — Interrupted by a Trio of Musicians — Ordered as Navigator to the Lexington — Life in the Wardroom — A "Tartar" — Minorca— Port Mahon — "Old Nance" — The Missouri — The Columbus — The Lexington arrives at New York — Lieutenants Green, Grey, White, and Black — Visits Mississippi — Adjutant- General Koger Jones — Lieutenant Lay — Visits Home — Ordered to the Vincennes — Cruise to China and Japan — A Case of Small-Pox — Dolphins — Dan on the Lookout — Brazil 98

CHAPTEK X.

The Brazilians— Sail with the Columbus — Accident to a Brazilian Midshipman— Tristan d'Acunha and Nightingale Islands — Sea-Birds — Island of St. Paul — Straits of Sunda — Batavia Roads — Anjier Point — Turtles, Monkeys, Baboons, and Crocodiles — Malays operating a Pile-Driver— The Banyan-Tree — A Malay Village — Tigers — A Wild- Boar Hunt — Water filled with Animalcules — The " Biche de Mer" — Sea-Serpents — The East India Dysentery — Straits of Macassar — Sea of Celebes — Monkeys and Baboons as Commissaries — Hong-Kong — Chinese Vessels under Arms — Duck-Boats — Going to Canton in a Sanpan — Buying Wives — Chinese Modes of Burial 113

CHAPTEK XL

Arrival at Canton— Flower-Boats — Pigeon English — Markets — Shops — Billy Poole, "the Biggest Toad in the Puddle" — Chinese Dinners and Customs— Price of a Wife— Dwarfing Feet— Parsee Merchants — Buffaloes— Milk not from Cattle — Cholera on the Columbus— The Grave of the Portuguese Poet Camoens— The Columbus and Vincennes sail for Northern China — Amoy — Dining with the Governor — The Chusan Islands — Yeddo Bay — The Daimio — Nagasaki — Lieutenant Mcintosh throws the Poles off the Bows placed there by the Japanese— Japanese Artists — A Squall— Object of the Visit of the American Vessels— Dual Government— The Japanese Officials visit the Columbus to reply to the Commodore's Letter — A Mishap and an Explanation — Presents declined 128

CHAPTER XII.

The Vessels weigh Anchor and are taken in tow— The Columbus and Vincennes part, never to meet again — The Ladrones — Apra Harbor — Island of Guam— Flying-Fish and Sea-Fowl — Pilot-Fish— Coral and Cocoa-nut — No Snakes or Scorpions — Description of the Inhabitants

X CONTENTS.

PAGE

— A Eide to Agaiia — Keceived by the Governor and invited to a Dinner — Mr. Eobinson, an Old British Navy Officer, sings, and is in Disgrace — Bread-Fruit — School-Houses — Koberts, the Pilot, proposes to leave the Island, but is persuaded to remain — Remarks on the Island, its History, Inhabitants, etc. — Sail for Hong-Kong — Anchor in Blenheim Eeach — Sail for Baja Bassa in Sumatra — A Fishing Town — Curiosity of the Inhabitants — Description of the Island and People— Cape Town — Leaving Cape Town the Writer has a " Windfall"— Arrive at the Navy- Yard — General Hamer — Leave of Absence— Calls on the President — Mr. Mason, Secretary of the Navy — An Appointment in the Navy for General Hamer's Son — Ordered on Coast Survey Duty 141

CHAPTEE XIII.

Duty on the Coast Survey near Nantucket in the Spring of 1848 — Ordered to the Surveying-Steamer Bibb — Professors Agassiz and Desor — The Discovery of the First Viviparous Scale-Fish — Some Eemarks on Nantucket and Adjacent Country — Mother Carey's Whale-Ships — A Lady in Green Spectacles has her say about a Man drowned — Eockport, Massachusetts — The White Eock, alias the Ammen Eock — Engaged on the Nautical Almanac— A Meeting with Hon. Jefferson Davis— A Visit to Hon. John Quincy Adams —A Practical Joke— John Y. Mason— California Gold Excitement — Wars in Europe 161

CHAPTEE XIV.

Voyage to London, and Travels on the Continent — The German Language—Arrive in London— The Custom-Officer— Eambles in London — Sail for Antwerp — Captain Fitzgerald, of the British Navy — Aix-la-Chapelle — Charlemagne — Frederick Barbarossa — The Cathedral of Cologne— Brunswick — Lessons in German — Eheumatism — A State Dinner at the Duke of Brunswick's— Visit to Captain Gese vault — A Game of Chess — Baron Eudolphi — A Christening — Baron Humboldt's Theory of the Spread of Yellow Fever— Visit Berlin— Call on Mr. Hannegan, the American Minister — Leipsic and Munich — Ex-King Ludwig and Queen — Duchess of Mecklenburg — Trip in a Diligence — Genoa — Milan — Pisa 173

CHAPTEE XV.

Florence— The Flower-Girl— The American Colonel— Captain Neuhauser— Spezia — Vesuvius — Herculaneum and Pompeii — Naples — The Temple of Neptune at Pesto— Temple of Ceres 192

CHAPTEE XVI.

Service on Board the Frigate St. Lawrence— Messina— Mount Etna— Eobbers— Burial- Vaults of the Capuchins— Santa Eosalia— Eemit-

CONTENTS. xj

PAGE

tent Fever at Palermo— The British Squadron— A Lieutenant Court-martialled for Kissing— Kailroad Travel at a Penny a Mile— B.'s Little Joke — Bremerhaven — A Country Fair — Bremen— Sail for Home 208

CHAPTER XVII.

Pay a Visit to Ohio— Details of the Trip— Throckmorton — A Belle at Louisville — Chattanooga — Lookout Mountain — Kenesaw Mountain —Marietta— Atlanta— Macon— Coast-Survey Service on the Southern Coast— Savannah— Captain Maffit— Lieutenant Anderson— Some Reflections on Slavery— Mr. Legare — A South Carolina Secessionist- Special Service in California— Site for a Navy- Yard at San Francisco—Senator Gwin 216

CHAPTER XVIII.

From New York to Havana— Lieutenant David D. Porter— Count Medem — Aspinwall — Panama — Acapulco — Santa Barbara — San Pedro — Lieutenant Alden — San Francisco — Vallejo — Foster's Bar — Fleas — The Sierra Nevada — Mr. Maccarty — Start back on Foot — Perils of the Road— Get a Ride for a Dollar— Rats— Arrive at San Francisco— Return Voyage— Details of the Trip— New York to Baltimore—Charles Carroll's Library — Commodore Matthew C. Perry — Secretary Kennedy— Join my Vessel at Norfolk — Georgetown- Cayenne— Maranham — The Amazon 229

CHAPTER XIX.

Pernambuco — Rio Janeiro — Montevideo — Fever on Shipboard — A Pampero— The Frigates Congress and Jamestown — General Urquiza besieging Buenos Ayres— Ostriches— The Rio de la Plata— The River Parana— Point Diamante— Capturing a Buck— The Jaguar— The River Paraguay — Remarks on the Country and People — Lopez gives the Naval Officers a Reception— The Water- Witch— Assumption- San Pedro — A Grand Ball— The President and his Family— Customs of the People — A Visit to the Indians — Securing Specimens of Animals—Excursion to Villa Rica— A Tiger-Hunter — Expedition of Commodore Shubrick 249

CHAPTER XX.

Service on Board the Brig Bainbridge— A Shooting-Expedition— The Captain of the Bainbridge — A Second Shooting-Expedition — The Captain in his Cups — Proposes the Capture of the Governor of the Falkland Islands— The Water-Witch fired on from a Paraguayan Fort — Sail from Montevideo— Paranagua— Arrival at Rio— Visit to Count Medem at Petropolis— The Captain's Idiosyncrasies— A Spiritualist—Barbadoes— Arrival in the United States— Some Retrospections 269 xil CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXI.

PAGE

Ordered to Duty at the Naval Observatory, Washington, under Commander M. F. Maury — Observations on Commander Maury and other Officers on Duty — " Duke" Gwinn — Jefferson Davis — Service on Board the Saranac, on a Voyage to the Pacific — An Account of the Voyage from Philadelphia — Incidents of the Voyage, and Mention of the Different Points touched— Service on Board the Merrimac — Sail for Tumbez — Payta — San Lorenzo — Callao — Randolph Clay, Minister to Peru — Mummies — Gathering Skulls — Ancient Temples . 290

CHAPTER XXII.

Sandwich Islands — Acapulco — Leon — Realejo — Nicaragua — A Tropical Forest — Mr. Lamar, United States Minister — General Tomas Martinez— Native Rum — A Trip to the Country — The Solteras — Hammocks— A Shooting-Excursion — Alligators — Mr. Lamar's Archives — Visit from the President — The "Wardroom Steward and the Black Dog — The Decatur, Vandalia, and Saranac — The British Minister — Panama — Valparaiso — Reach Norfolk 313

CHAPTER XXIII.

Changes in Norfolk — Meet Mr. E. C. Anderson in Washington, and Visit Senators Toombs and Jefferson Davis — Service at the Naval Rendezvous in Baltimore — Condition of the Slaves in Maryland — Talk of Secession — Mr. Porcher — Remarks on the Beginning of the Civil War— Hon. A. H. Stephens— Peeling of Naval Officers— Mrs. Mactavish — Mr. Anderson discusses the Prospects of Secession and War — Lieutenant Powell — Visit to Columbus — Governor Chase — Discuss the Organization of Ohio Troops — Letter from Mr. Chase . 326

CHAPTER XXIV

Beginning of the Civil War — The Sixth Massachusetts Regiment jeered at and stoned — Secession — Excitement in Baltimore — To Washington on Horseback — Hon. John P. Kennedy — Bladensburg — Black Horse Cavalry — Commodore Stringham — On Duty as Executive Officer at the Navy-Yard — An Ohio Belle — Aspire to the Command of a Gun- Boat — Lieutenant Nelson, of the Navy, appointed Brigadier-General of Volunteers — His Influence in Kentucky — Colonel Jacob Ammen, commanding Brigade, reports to General Nelson — Ammen 's March to Savannah, Tennessee — Goes in Advance, and his Command the First of Buell's Army to engage in the Battle of Shiloh — The Killing of General Nelson by General Jefferson C. Davis — General Rosecrans tells a Story of General Ammen — President Lincoln, accompanied by Thurlow Weed, visits the Navy- Yard— Hand-Shaking by the President— Ordered to the Roanoke — A Wrathy Captain 334

CONTENTS. xiii

CHAPTEK XXV.

PAGE

Service on Board the Koanoke as Executive Officer— Captain W. C. Nicholson — Hampton Koads — Commodore Pendergrast — Blockade Duty off Charleston— The Yandalia— The Seminole— Return of the Roanoke to Hampton Roads — Assigned to the Seneca — Naval Life as an Officer in Command of a Vessel— Admiral S. F. Dupont— Sail for Hampton Roads— General T. W. Sherman— Port Royal— Charleston — An Engagement with Steamboats— Commodore Tatnall— General Horatio G. Wright — Captain John Rodgers — General Drayton — A Naval Engagement— The Confederates abandon the Port at Port Royal — General Sherman — Admiral Dupont issues a Proclamation — North Edisto — Burning Cotton— Rockville— Shelling Port Royal Ferry— The Black Colony at North Edisto— Demonstration against Savannah— Hilton Head— General R. E. Lee 343

CHAPTER XXVI.

Pass through Cumberland Sound— Take Possession of St. Augustine- Occupation of Jacksonville— White Flags— George Huston kills Lieutenant Sproston, and is himself killed — Neils Jonson — A Desperate Man— A Present of a Bear— Sounding Depth of Water at Charleston — Ossabaw Sound — In Command of the Sebago— Henry M. Blue— The Water-Witch— Relieved from Command of the Sebago — Assigned to the Monitor Patapsco at Wilmington — An Engagement— On Sick-Leave — Fort Sumter — Attack on Forts Moultrie and Beauregard— A Scout— A Council of War— Opinions in regard to the Monitors 362

CHAPTER XXVII.

Sent North by the Admiral — Rumors of relieving Admiral Dahlgren of his Command — Report of Officers under Admiral Dahlgren to the Navy Department — Courts-Martial and Courts of Inquiry — Ordered to Temporary Command of the Shenandoah — She goes to Philadelphia to be put out of Commission — Lieutenant-General Grant visits Rear-Admiral Lee, on the Minnesota, at Hampton Roads — Leaves an Invitation for Commander Ammen to visit him at Culpeper — Letter from General Grant— Visit Mrs. Grant— Visit General Grant at Culpeper— Details of Visit— Talk of Boyhood Days— Ride over the Country— General Grant's Opinion of Generals Lee, Joseph E. Johnston, and Bragg — Present of a Meerschaum Pipe — Return to Baltimore 378

CHAPTER XXVIII.

In Charge of a Draft of Men on board the Ocean Queen — Boatswain Bell reports for Duty with Two Hundred and Twenty Men— The Steamer gets under Way— At Midnight the Commander is sent for xiv CONTENTS.

PAGE

by some of the Men — They complain of having to sleep on Deck — Assault upon the Captain and Chief Engineer — Statement of Commander Ammen — Justice Field, of the United States Supreme Court, a Passenger — Desertions at Aspinwall — Eeturn in the Ocean Queen to New York from Panama, and make a Full Keport to the Navy Department — Remarks on the Mutiny — The Court-Martial — Courts- Martial organized, one to acquit and one to condemn — Decline to employ Counsel — Letter from General Grant — In command of the Mohican — A Clerk — A Swiss Steward who receives more Pay than the Commanding Officer 386

CHAPTER XXIX.

At City Point — Meet General Grant — The General's Horse Cincinnati — Return to Hampton Roads — Beaufort — Bombardment of Port Fisher — General Butler — Re-embark for Fortress Monroe — General Terry reaches Beaufort ready to co-operate with the Navy — Generals Terry and Comstock visit the Commander — Dressing the Ship with Green — The Mohican anchors at Port Royal — Message from Admiral Porter to General Sherman — News of the Capture of Wilmington — Return to Savannah — Call on Mrs. Anderson before leaving Savannah— Hardee escapes with his Army — Letter from Mr. Anderson — The Ogeechee — Hampton Roads — Washington Navy-Yard — Boston — Surrender of Lee's Army 401

CHAPTER XXX.

In Command of the Miantonomah — Description of the Vessel — She is sent abroad — The Author detached — Consult with General Grant as to the Practicability of a Ship-Canal across the Isthmus — Proposed Visit to Secretary Seward — Discuss the Ship-Canal — Acquisition of Alaska — Visit to Francis P. Blair — An Unruly Horse — General Grant tells a Story of being thrown by a Colt, when a Boy — Visit to the United States of Admiral Tegethoff, of the Austrian Navy — The French in Mexico — General Grant "swinging around the Circle" with President Johnson and Admiral Farragut — Am appointed on a Board to examine Volunteer Officers of the Navy — General Grant as Secretary of War — He discourses of President Johnson — Governor Swann, of Maryland — Am ordered in Command of the Flag-Ship Piscataqua 420

CHAPTER XXXI.

In Command of the Flag-Ship Piscataqua — Objectionable Smoke-stacks— Sail for New York, and go into Dock — Proceed to Washington— Meet General Grant — An Unsatisfactory State of Affairs — President Johnson and General Grant — General Grant speaks of the Ship-Canal — A Drunken Hospital Steward — Desertions — Rio Janeiro — Mr. James Watson Webb, U.S. Minister — Consul Monroe — Visit

CONTENTS. xv

PAGE

to Corcovado — Simon's Bay — Description of the Country and City — Meet an Old Acquaintance, and commit a Faux Pas — Singapore — A Buddhist — The Eleventh Commandment — A Prodigal Son treated in a New Way — Manila — Lightning without Thunder — Cholera . . . 430

CHAPTEK XXXII.

Arrival at Hong-Kong — Changes in Twenty-One Years — Amoy — Nagasaki— Description of the City — Measure Height of Island — Yokohama — A Biting Stallion — Tattooing — Take Admiral Rowan on the Piscataqua to visit Mr. Van Valkenburg, the American Minister— Description of the Capital City — A Visit from Admiral Ennomotto, of the Japanese Navy — Something of the Admiral's Subsequent History — Yokohama — Hiogo — Admiral C. H. Bell — Mr. Consul Mangum — A Doubtful Compliment as to One's Age — Nagasaki — Shanghai — The Foreign Merchants — Dining with the Governor of the Province — Description of the Dinner 442

CHAPTEK XXXIII.

Sail for Amoy — The Admiral's Cabin-Ports stove in — General Legendre — Malodorous Amoy — Bengal Tigers — Visit to a Spanish Catholic Missionary — Keturn to Hong-Kong — Leave in the Steamer Great Kepublic for the United States — Yokohama — Measuring the Height of Fusi-yama — Arrive at San Francisco — Great Changes noted in San Francisco — Dr. A. J. Bowie — Arrive at Washington, and am assigned to Duty as Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks — Assigned to Duty as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation — Admiral Porter — The Isthmian Surveys assigned to me — A Commission appointed, General A. A. Humphreys President, Professor Peirce, and, later, Captain C. P. Patterson — Colonel Hopkins calls, at the Bequest of Cyrus W. Field, in Begard to Deep-Sea Soundings in the Pacific Ocean .... 456

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Commodore Wyman — Determining Longitudes by Telegraphy — Method of Signalling — Lieutenants Very and Wood— Coast Defence—Calculations of Weights and Displacements — Ram designed by the Author— Delayed on Political Grounds — " It will come by and by"— Admiral Tegethoff— The Battle of Lissa— Ironclads— Advantages of Rams over Armored Ships 467

CHAPTER XXXV.

The Nicaragua Canal — Report of the Commission — President Hayes approves in his Message— M. de Lesseps desires a Convocation of Engineers and Representatives from All Countries to meet in Paris and discuss the Isthmian Canal Question — President Hayes requests the Author to go as Representative from the United States — I prexvi CONTENTS.

PAGE

pare in Writing what I propose to say — The Secretary of State approves it — Mr. Menocal goes with me — General Grant consents to place himself at the Head of a Movement to construct the Canal — He is prevented from Action by Various Considerations — A Concession from the Nicaraguan Government — The Eads Ship-Eailway — History of Progress in obtaining a Charter for the Nicaragua Canal, with an Account of the Obstructions, both Open and Covert — The Matter mentioned to President Cleveland and General McClellan — The Ship-Kailway — General Kemarks on an Isthmian Canal .... 474

CHAPTER XXXYI.

Desultory Observations on Men and Things — Choose a Country-House — Benefits of Horseback-Riding and Exercise — Francis P. Blair — George Bancroft — Observations on the City of Washington — Its Great Improvement, Advantages in Climate, Health, Location, etc. — The City Government — " Boss" Shepherd — Ex-Governor Dennison — The Presidential Receptions — A Present of a Carriage from General Grant — Frequent Visits to him — The Ferry Story — Scurrilous Newspapers — Senator Conkling — The Cause of his Death — Mr. Colfax — General Beauregard — General Grant's Annoyances — Appointments in Louisiana— The Treaty with Santo Domingo — Fred Douglass — Race Prejudices not entertained by Naval Men — Senator Sumner and his Course on the Santo Domingo Matter 499

CHAPTER XXXVII.

President Grant mentions the Advantages to be derived from the Annexation of Santo Domingo — The Marked Features of General Grant's Individuality — The Craze to be President — A Quotation relating to the Death of Charles the Fifth of France — The Epizooty — Chlorate of Potash as a Remedy — General Sherman's Criticism on a Road — Commodore Guest — A Rattlesnake — Surgeon-General Wood bitten by a Snake — How he was cured — Attend the Reunion of the Army of the Cumberland at Columbus, Ohio — Meet General Sheridan for the First Time — Meet General, afterwards President, Hayes — A Visit to the Institution for Mutes — The Fate of General Grant's Horse, Cincinnati — Nicaraguan Ministers to the United States — Don Emilio Benard — Don Max Sonnestern — Hon. Alex. H. Stephens — Dining with Mr. George W. Childs — General Grant advised to get some " Lawyers" when he should reach the Island of Penang — Outcome of this Advice — A visit to Ohio with General Grant — General Grant's Trip abroad — The Author becomes a Rear- Admiral and is retired— Endeavor to promote the Construction of the Nicaragua Canal — Kindly Feelings between Comrades of the Old Army — The Motives of Actors in the Civil War to be considered, not the Objects — Closing Remarks 509

THE

OLD NAYY AND THE NEW.

Chapter I

Entry into the Navy as Midshipman, and Service afloat in the Gulf of Mexico — Father of the Author in the War of 1812-15— He moves from Virginia to Ohio — Early Kecollections — Neighbor and Companion of General Grant —The Author rescues Young Grant from drowning — Letter from General Grant in 1877 referring to the Incident — The Great Mood in the Ohio in 1832 — Concludes to enter the United States Navy — Appointed Midshipman — Trip to Washington and Baltimore— Sketch of Hon. Thomas L. Hamer.

During the War of 1812-15 with Great Britain, my father served in the army on our northwestern frontier, which was then in the vicinity of Lake Erie. After the conclusion of peace my mother, with her three children, two boys and one girl, were brought from Virginia to Highland County, Ohio, where an uncle had located some ten years previously. He migrated from Botetourt County, Virginia, and owned a considerable tract of land. In a year or two my father removed to Brown, an adjoining county, where I was born.

My earliest recollections are of the steep hills bordering the Ohio River, and of the ravines, and the streams that had worn their way through the limestone ledges, leaving precipitous banks of earth, covered with a dense growth of sugar-maple, walnut, and ash. The immediate borders of the larger streams were lined with immense sycamores, and the flat lands on the summit, extending into the interior, with superb beech-, hickory-, and walnut-trees. These forests were then almost continuous, passing

1(3 :•' i / .l ' , THE QX<D^ NA VY AND THE NEW.

into the back country. Usually at intervals of a mile or two a log house would be seen in the midst of a " clearing/' consisting of ten or more acres of dead trees, which had been girdled by the axe and had lost most of their limbs, through decay or through fire which had been applied to them after they had become sufficiently dry to burn. The lands were planted in maize, called by the inhabitants " corn," by which name it is known now throughout the United States.

From the age of seven or eight years I was a near neighbor of the late General Grant, who was two years younger than myself. We were constant playmates, and in the habit of fishing, swimming, and riding together. Our outfit in riding was quite simple, consisting only of a bridle, and we were either mounted on the bare back or rode with a blanket strapped on the horse.

We were so young then that when the streams were swollen we thought that the fish would be the more plentiful. A small stream greatly swollen one day invited our attention. A large poplar log that had lodged on the bank, and at an incline extended partly over the water, seemed to offer to my young companion a favorable seat from which to throw his line. Persons who have tried to walk on a poplar log after a rain have doubtless found a very slippery footing, as was the case with Grant. In a moment his heels were in the air and he plunged head downward into the rapidly-flowing muddy water. I had but a moment for thought, and rushed down the stream for a few yards, to where it narrowed considerably, and willows that had been undermined by the stream hung barely over the surface of the water. With the celerity of an active boy nine years of age, I ran out on one of these trees, and, as good luck would have it, when my companion came within reach, he was above the surface ; I grabbed him and drew him out of the water. He was clothed at the time in an upper garment that was my admiration, buttoning on a nether one. It was of Marseilles, with gorgeous red stripes ; and it seemed to me that this dress must be irretrievably ruined from its drenching in muddy water, and perhaps this fact impressed the circumstance on my mind. Half a century after, General Grant mentions this occurrence in a letter, as follows :