The life of the late Rear-Admiral John Drake Sloat, of the United States navy, who took possession of California and raised the American flag at Monterey on July 7th, 1846.

Front matter

THE LIFE

OF

THE LATE

Chapter I

In the terrible, merciless, long and bloody wars between Spain and the Netherlands, in the latter part of the Sixteenth Century, so vividly described by Motley in his history of "The Rise and Fall of the Dutch Republic," in which the cruelty of the Spaniards wrought its full fur>' in the most diabolical inventions of torture, mutilation and death, sparing neither age, sex or condition, and when the City of Leyden, after a long, successful resistance of a siege, was about to fall, there came relief from the northern isles of Holland and Leyden was saved.

"On September i, 1574, in the great battle for the relief of Leyden, Admiral Boisot, of the Dutch Navy, returned from Zealand with a small number of vessels and eight hundred veteran sailors of the most daring character. Many had been engaged in severe conflicts with the Spaniards, who showed no mercy, and these in return gave no quarter. They wore Crescents in their caps, and bore the name of 'The Sea Beggars.'" Indicating by the above device, that the Saracen was more merciful than the Spanish Crusader.

With their assistance the siege of Leyden was raised and its inhabitants saved from cruel massacre at the hands of the Spaniards.

Not long after this war had ceased, and the Dutch having acquired territory in the New World, they founded New Amsterdam, now the City of New York, and took possession of the Hudson, Mohawk and other valleys, in what is now the State of New York. For their defense, some of these same Zealanders, who had rendered efficient service at the relief of the City of Leyden, had been sent to act as a Coast Guard, and some had been knighted by William, the Prince of Orange (the Silent), for their bravery and assistance rendered upon that memorable occasion; and those who had been especially conspicuous for their gallantry, were authorized to emblazon the Crescent upon their Coats of Arms.

Among these so knighted, was the ancestor of the founder of the Sloot or Sloat family in America, from whom the late Admiral John Drake Sloat was descended.

We here give the half-tone sketch of the Coat of Arms of the Sloot or Sloat family, kindly furnished by his great-grandson, Mr. J. B.

Whittemore, of San Francisco, for this work. Besides being upon the shield, the Crescent, winged, is the crest, signifying celerity of movement and attack. The device, being so significant, required no motto, and the family name was sufficient under it, showing the origin of the founder of the family and from what the insignia of the Crescent was derived.

We now come direct to the immediate history and biography of Admiral John Drake Sloat himself.

n j]oHN Drake Sloat was born July 26, 1781, at Sloatburg, near Goshen, Rockland County, New York. He was the posthumous son of Captain John Sloat, whose unfortunate fate it was, to be accidentally shot by a sentinel near his quarters, in Rockland County, New York, just before the close of the War for American Independence, and in which he served with credit. His widow survived her sudden bereavement but a short period, and the care of this, their only son, devolved on his maternal relatives, who seem to have been properly impressed with the responsibility they had assumed.

Their protege- was well instructed in mathematics, and in the rudiments of an English education — all that our country schools afforded at that period. As his Grandfather Drake (a descendant of a collateral branch of the family of the celebrated Admiral and circumnavigator) was wont to relate the adventures of his illustrious relative, he did not fail to inspire his charge with a thirst for travel and enterprise. The taste thus inculcated so fully displayed itself in youth as to induce our young adventurer to quit an endeared fireside for a berth in the Navy, that he might the better gratify his predilection.

This was during our quasi-war with France, and in the heyday of our Naval successes over the haughty flag of the Directory. It was at a period, too, when the Revolutionary service of the sire presented an irresistible claim for the public employment of the deserving son; and we find, by the Navy Register, that a Midshipman's Warrant was granted to the aspiring and ambitious young man on the twelfth of February, 1800.

Midshipman Sloat, on March 18, 1800, was ordered to the frigate "President," Commodore Truxton, who took command of her soon after his gallant exploit in the "Constellation" (the capture of the French frigates " L' Insurgente " and "La Vengeance"). It was young Sloat' s good fortune here, also, to serve under that strict disciplinarian and accomplished officer, Commodore Chauncev, at that time First Lieutenant of the "President." With such models before him, during a lengthened service in the south of Europe, he was enat"' l r\

MU^ '

r>

"THE ARMS OF THE STOAT FAMILY

Placed with those of Van den Voort at Amsterdam, are to be found in the Book of Arms from 1500 to 1700 of Liebmacher Verooby, Vol. v., page 46.

Pan in silver. Watchfulness, indicating Vigilance tLU& Courtesy.

"For W. H. Zimmerman, in the Book Store, and it is noted that the family issue from a Brunswick stock about 1400.

Haakzaamheid es Hoflykheid.

Vigilance and Courtesy.

"The German sent from Amden with the coat of arms. The following was translated by me from an engraving in Vol. iv. of Lievemacher Hirroly, published about the year 1620. Vol. i. was published 1609, the other volumes each several years later.

Crescent, Red. 11', White and Silver.

"The arms, embossed, was engraved from the same engraving by A. Kuner Engraver, who owned the book from which they were copied. L. W. S1.0AT. "

[NOTE-t. W. Sloat was the son of the late Rear.Admiral John Drake Slo^t and his private secretary when on the Pacific Station. — E. A. S.l

FAMILY RECORD

Admiral John Drake Sloat

Wife, Abbv Gordon

Born Sloatburg, Rockland Co.,

New Yoik.

July 26th, 1781.

Bloomingburg, Orange

Co., New York.

November 6th, 1795

Married November 27th, 1814.

Golden Wedding November 27th, 1864.

November 27th, 1814.

Golden Wedding November 27th, 1S64.

Their children, Lewis Warrington Sloat November 26th, 1815.

JEANNETTE ELIZA SLOAT had two children by first marriage,

James Bayard Whittemore,

Jeanuette Sloat Whittemore By second marriage one,

Mary Anna McKeon.

Navy Yard, Kittery Island,

Maine.

September 19th, 1821.

John Drake Sloat, Jr.

Had one child, John Drake Sloat, Jr.

December 29th, 1849

Never married.

Married first husband .

December nth, 1839, James Bavard Whittemore.

Born April 8th, 1815.

Married second husband May 24th, 1854, Hon. John McKeon.

Died New Brighton, Staten Island.

Nov. 28th, 1867

New York Citv Nov. 15th, 1878

New York Citv Mar. 3d, 1886."

New York City Dec. 10th, 1889

Born March 19th, 180S. Nov. 22d, 1883.

April 29th, 1869.

Maria Lonita Robson.

New York City.

bled to lay the foundation of a professional reputation, which has proved no less creditable to himself than honorable to his country.

Disappointment so common in life soon interposed to blast for a time the prospects of our Naval debutant. The profligate sway of the Directory being overthrown, Napoleon, the First Consul, happy to relieve his new-born power from the difficulties and unpopularity of an American war, accepted terms of peace. Those terms proffered by Mr. Adams, and by which he expected to retain power, were far from being advantageous to us. By stipulating to restore the national vessels of France, which had been captured, we gave up the trophies of victory, and purchased peace at the cost of fourteen millions of dollars (the amount of her spoliations on our commerce), without an equivalent. A bill for compromising these claims, thus assumed by our Government, was passed by Congress in 1845, and vetoed by the Executive.

At the reduction of the Navy, which took place upon the accession of Thomas Jefferson to the Presidency, in 1801, Midshipman Sloat took a furlough, and the prospect of active employment being so remote, he, with many others, neglected to report himself at its expiration; thereby virtually abandoning the service, in the time of profound peace, and when absent at sea in a merchant vessel trading with Europe, his furlough expiring before he could return. He was discharged May 21, 1801, under the "Peace Establishment Act." There was then no Naval Academy, and the knowledge of the science of navigation by sailing vessels alone (for steam vessels were then unknown) had to be acquired by practical experience, and when our Navy was in its infancy, with but a little canvas for its swaddling clothes, and then not sufficiently aired. It was comparatively so at that time with our merchant marine.

But young Sloat, however, acquired such knowledge of seamanship as enabled him to command merchant vessels, which he navigated with success several years before he attained his majority. His Grandfather Drake, having deceased about this time, bequeathed him a valuable property, including twelve slaves, to whom he gave their liberty as soon as they came into his possession.

Fond of the sea, he disposed of his estate, and embarked his all in a vessel of which he took command, and suffered great loss during several successive voyages; commerce being more of a lottery during the European wars than now. Nothing daunted, however, by these frowns of fortune, the young master-mariner pursued the course he had marked out for himself with various success, until the war with England threw him out of business. Thus circumstanced he gladly availed himself of an offer made bv his old and esteemed friend, Commodore DECATUR, to become Sailing Master of the frigate "United States," on January 10, 1812, with promise of an early opportunity to attain by promotion the rank to which he would have been entitled if he had continued in the service.

The promise was soon fulfilled, for on the twenty-fifth of October, 181 2, the British frigate "Macedonian" was captured in single combat under the following circumstances: The enemy, tenacious, maintained the weather-gauge for some time, which enabled him advantageously to discharge his long guns at a distance, beyond the reach of the carronades of the "United States." At length an unfortunate maneuver of the enemy enabled Sloat to bring him to close quarters, whereby the battle came to a speedy and successful issue. Though wounded in the face, he did not quit his post during the action. For his gallantry and skill, at the recommendation of Commodore Decatur, Sloat was immediately promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, and, with the rest of the officers of the frigate "United States" received a vote of thanks from Congress January 29, 1813. The "United States" arrived off New London on the fourth of December, 181 2, where she was blockaded for the remainder of the war. He was appointed Acting Lieutenant April 28, 1 8 1 3, and commissioned Lieutentant of that frigate, July 24, 1813.

Sloat related the following incident to his family and friends, of the action of Commodore Decatur in connection with the fight between the Frigate ' ' United States ' ' of the American Navy and the British Frigate "Macedonian" when the latter surrendered:

A short time before hostilities actually broke out between the United States and Great Britain, when both vessels lay at anchor in the River Mersey, Captain Corden of the British Navy, commanding the "Macedonian," happened to meet Commodore Decatur in the streets at Liverpool, and said to the latter, "Commodore Decatur, if Great Britain and America go to war, I will bet you a new hat that I will whip you, and take your ship, the Frigate ' United States.' ' "I'll bet you a new hat that you don't," said Decatur. They thus parted, and it was not long before war was declared between the two countries, and the two ships met in combat, and after severe fighting, the "Macedonian" lowered the British ensign as the signal of surrender to the ' ' Stars and Stripes." It was but a few moments when Decatur's feet were on the deck of the captured vessel, and Captain Corden came forward unbuckling his belt and tendered his sword in surrender to Decatur. "Oh, damn your sword; keep it," said Decatur. "You bet a new hat that you would take the ' United States ' frigate, and I bet you a new hat that you wouldn't, but as we are a thousand miles away from any hatter, I'll take the hat on your head instead;" and so he did, keeping it as # a trophy of that engagement, which was largely owing to the splendid skill of Sloat, who, as Sailing Master, in maneuvering the "United States" frigate, brought the "Macedonian" to close quarters, which

settled the fight.

-

A HISTORIC AMERICAN WARSHIP IN AN ENGLISH DOCK.

[The gallant old American frigate "President," which carried Stephen Decatur to many a hard fought victory in the war of 1812, is still lying in a London dock. Shortly after Decatur's capture of the British man-of-war "Macedonian" he was overtaken bj' a fleet flying the banner of St. George, and the heroic Yankee captain was forced to surrender. His stout flagship was taken to the British capital and is now used as a drillship for naval reserves.]

As stated in the beginning of this Chapter, that he was the son of Captain John Sloat, who was killed by the mistake of a sentry during the Revolutionary War, shortly before the birth of his son, that his lineage and descent may be preserved by his descendants, we give the following, which is a copy of a letter received by his grandson, John Drake Sloat, Jr., which gives the abstract from the records:

[copy]

Mr. John D. Sloat,

2322 Franklin Ave., St. Louis, Mo.

"Dear Sir: — Mr. Frank Drake of this place has returned a letter over to me that he received from you. Frank is a busy man and would have cheerfully undertaken to get you the information if possible.

"I find from the old records of the Presbyterian Church of Goshen, that on March 17, 1778, John Sloat was married to Ruth Drake, by the Rev. Nathan Ker; and on Oct. 21, 1781, the same minister baptized John Drake Sloat, son of John Sloat and Ruth Drake, born July 26, 1781.

"I have not omitted any part of names, but have given you the full record, and trust it will be* what you want. I find nothing else in relation to the Drakes or Sloats. Yours Very Respectfully,

Charles T. Deming."

During the period which intervened of the blockade until the close of the last war with Great Britain, he improved the opportunity of contracting a matrimonial alliance, and married Miss Abby Gordon, a daughter of the late James Gordon, Esq., a Norwich merchant of high respectability. She was born at Bloomington, Orange County, New York, on November 6, 1795, and their marriage took place November 27, 1814.

The Family Record of the fruits of this marriage, in brief, will be found later on.

Chapter II

At the restoration of Peace between the United States and Great Britain, Lieutenant Sloat took another furlough on March 16, 1815, and again engaged in commerce. He took command of the clipper schooner "Transit," and loaded her for France. It so happened that he was with this schooner at Nantes, at the period when the public life of the great Napoleon was closed forever. Jn order to rescue the Emperor, several schemes were entertained; and, amongst others, Sloat arranged to receive him, with his suite, on board the "Transit," and to transport them to the United States. This plan, so happily alluded to in the journal of a French officer, was frustrated by the indecision that marked the conduct of the friends of the Emperor on this occasion, and which eventuated in the Surrender of the fallen hero, to the British blockading squadron.

[It is a historic, interesting, coincidental fact, that the vessel "Natalia," upon which Napoleon Bonaparte made his escape from the Island of Elba to France, shortly before the Battle of Waterloo, some years afterward, made its way to the Pacific Ocean, and subsequently was purchased by the Mexican Government and used as a revenue cutter or coast guard ship. She first arrived at Monterey, Cal., in 1834, and in 1843, while her officers were ashore attending a ball, the crew also concluded that they would go ashore and have a good time as well. A strong northwest gale sprang up, the ' ' Natalia ' ' dragged her anchor and was driven ashore at Monterey, becoming a total wreck, fragments of which are still preserved as curios, and thus in this condition she terminated her existence at Monterey — just three years before Sloat' s arrival on July 2, 1846.]

At the expiration of this furlough, he returned to his Naval duty, and on June 4, 1816, he was ordered to the Navy Yard, New York, where he was engaged for nearly four years, when, on March 9, 1820, he was ordered to duty at the Navy Yard at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. After five years of constant shore duty, on June 11, 1821, he was ordered to the "Washington," and two months afterwards, on August 6, 1821, he was ordered to the "Franklin," and was First Lieutenant under the veteran Commodore Stewart, during a large portion of that vexatious cruise in the Pacific, from 1820 to 1822, while on her borders were exhibited continued scenes of revolutionary contest.

On September 30, 1822, he was ordered to the frigate " Congress," as First Lieutenant to Commodore Biddle, and in 1823, Lieutenant Sloat, by great skill, saved that ship when in imminent peril, during a convulsion of nature which occurred at La Guayra, in the autumn of that year. Mr. David Winton, an inmate of that invaluable institution, the Sailors' S?wg Haibor, at New York, relates the following circumstances of it:

"Commodore Biddle was ashore when an earthquake suuk the southwest part of the city. This was succeeded by a hurricane which drove from their moorings, and entirely destroyed twenty-two merchant vessels, and a Colombian man-of-war, with their crews, five only out of the whole were saved, being picked up by a boat from the 'Congress.' This boat and crew, consisting of a quarter-master and four men, were lost directly after, in endeavoring to afford further relief.

"At the beginning of the blow Lieutenant Sloat ordered the boatswain to pipe all hands, when he urged us to obey the officers and stand by the ship — promising full pay and rations, till we should reach home, in case the ship was wrecked. We parted our chain and other cables, excepting the best bower which so dragged as to bring us near enough to pitch a biscuit to the rocks. I have never witnessed so hopeless a prospect as ours at that moment, and thank God we were enabled to ride it out. Soon as the blow abated, Commodore Biddle came on board ou a catamaran (a raft of two logs lashed together), and praised Lieutenant Sloat in the highest terms, for his skill in saving the 'Congress,' 1 when every other vessel in the port was lost.

"We immediately left for Curacoa to get a supply of cables acd anchor?, for the want of which, we had to hazard a run on the wash."

On April 12, 1823, Lieutenant Sloat was ordered to duty at New York, but being at sea, it was several months before he was able to comply.

On December 12, 1823, he was ordered to the command of the schooner "Grampus," which was the first vessel placed under his command in the U. S. Navy, when he was forty-two years of age, and when promotions among all commissioned officers was very slow. He was ordered to the African Station, where his services in suppressing the slave trade were highly commended by the Colonization Society. His activity and enterprise marked him as an efficient officer, for checking the piracies in the West Indies, in 1824-5; and he was ordered to cruise among the Windward Islands. While at St. Thomas, a fire broke out, and as no reliance could be placed on the slave population, the city must have fallen a sacrifice to the flames but for the intrepidity of Lieutenant Sloat, his officers and crew. A large subscription was made by the inhabitants and tendered, but which was respectfully declined by Lieutenant Sloat, on behalf of his officers and men.

The following is given by an officer of the ' ' Grampus ' ' at the period referred to:

"While at St. Thomas, in March, 1S25, information was obtained by Governor Von Scholten, that Cofrecinas, a pirate of celebrity, was off Porto Rico, and he immediately communicated it to Lieutenant Commandant Sloat, and laid an embargo on all vessels in port, that the expedition contemplated for his capture might not be made known.

"After cruising in vain for several days, Captain Sloat went into Ponce, Porio Rico, and had an understanding with the Governor of that place, that in case be heard any firing along the coast, he was to order his horsemen to assemble at tie spot. The next morning a suspicious sail was seen off the harbor, in a calm; and lest he should recognize and avoid the 'Grampus' (for she was well known to them all), a coasting sloop was filled below with seamen and marines, and sent in pursuit, under the command of First Lieutenant Pendergrast. When the breeze sprang up in the afternoon, Cofrecinas' piratical vessel was discovered m an obscure harbor called 'Boca de Inferno' (Mouth of Hell). He first ran for the sloop, which he knew, and felt sure of a prize; but when within pistol shot iu windward, the signal was given, and the seamen and marines, springing from below, fired a broadside into the astonished pirate, which cleared his deck for a moment of all but the undaunted Cofrecinas, who was at the helm. His men, however, shortly returned to their duty, and they kept up a running fight for more than an hour, displaying great skill in endeavoring to out-maneuver the sloop and escape. But after losing several of his men, he was forced to run bis vessel ashore; the survivors jumped overboard, and waded through the water, amidst the grape and musketry of the sloop, which killed several. The sloe p had a four-pound carrouade, as also had the pirate; but he was unable to fire it, as his men were shot down whenever they attempted it. On the shore they were surrounded by the soldiers, who, in accordance with the understanding, assembled on hearing the firing, and took the prisoners to St. John (San Juan), the Capital, where they were all shot by sentence of a court-martial.

"A gentleman who witnessed the execution, stated, that when they attempted to blind Cofrecinas, he spurned the handkerchief and the priest, and cried in a loud voice, 'I have killed hundreds with my own hands, and I know how to die. Fire/' He fell, the last and most daring of the pirates of that region. In his vessel were found a few goods, the remains of the cargo of a French brig, taken a short time before, and whose crew and passengers he had murdered.

"The manner in which the information was obtained, which led to the capture of this pirate, is worthy of record. Cofrecinas had taken, only a short time before he was discovered, the sloop in which he was cruising when captured. The master of the sloop proved to be an old acquaintance, and he appealed to Cofrecinas to spare his life, his men being compelled to join the pirates; but Cofrecinas told him that their rule was to kill all that did uot join them, and that he was unable to save him from his men, but that he could spare him until sunset. The master of the sloop then went below and brought up a demijohn of wine and handed it to the pirates, who were feasting on his provisions — his respite was confirmed by them.

"They asked him if he could swim, with great presence of mind, he answered in the negative, and begged not to be thrown overboard, but to have a more immediate death, which they smilingly promised. He then went into his little cabin, to collect his thoughts. He saw that the shore was about two miles off; it was falling calm, and the pirates carousing at anchor off Foxardo. He now cast off the boat and let her drift away. As soon as he supposed they might discover it, he slipped over the stern very quietly and swam to the bow. As soon as they perceived the boat adrift, their attention was absorbed in devising means to regain her, and the late Commander was forgotten in the confusion, or supposed to be at prayers in the cabin. He was an excellent swimmer, and struck out lustily for the shore. He was soon discovered and fired at; but dove at the flash, as he told it, and swimming under water, came up at a different place each time to breathe, and dove again instantly until out of reach of shot. There being no wind, they could not get under way, and he had secreted the oars, so that the boat could not be used to overtake him.

"After sunset, he gained the beach almost exhausted; crawled a little way up the shore, and slept in the sand until daylight, when he found his way to St. Thomas, to inform the Governor and the Commander of the 'Grampus' of his adventure. He accompanied Lieutenant Pendergrast, and on her recapture, his sloop was immediately restored to him by Commander Sloat, after repairing the sails, which were riddled by shot, and the hull, which was but slightly injured."

The following is an extract of a letter from Lieutenant Commandant John D. Sloat, commanding United States schooner "Grampus," to the Secretary of the Navy, dated St. Thomas, April 5, 1S25:

"Under date of the 19th of March, I had the honor to inform you that I had visited Porto Rico for the purpose of offering our testimony against the pirates, that made their escape from the vessel taken on the south side of the island, when the Captain-General assured me that these miscreants should have summary justice.

"On my arrival at this place yesterday, I had the satisfaction to receive the information, that all who made their escape from the vessel (eleven) were shot on the 30th ultimo. They all, except one, met their fate in the most hardened manner. The celebrated Cofrecinas refused to be blindfolded, saying that 'he, himself, had murdered three or four hundred persons, and it would be strange if, by this time, he should not know how to die.' From his, and others' confessions, twenty-eight others have been taken, and seventeen are to be executed in a few days, and the remainder in a short time after. Those already executed have been beheaded and quartered, and their parts sent to all the small ports around the island to be exhibited.

"This capture is thought by the government of the island to be of the greatest importance; and it is believed, from the number taken and convicted, that it will be for a long time a complete check to piracies about that island."

Thus, it will be seen that this most dangerous and hazardous of all naval duties; with but a single vessel, and that a schooner only, and under canvas alone; with an enemy to contend with, of the most desperate character, which never gave quarter; murderers and robbers on the high seas, whose motto was "dead men tell no tales;" with the black flag of piracy and death "nailed to the mast," a bloody terror to mankind afloat, and infesting every port, harbor, cove and inlet of the islands of the Mexican Gulf and Carribean Sea,— the Naval duties which devolved upon Lieutenant Commandant John Drake Sloat and his officers and men, in sweeping the seas of these tigers in human form, so skilfully and completely performed, entitled him to the eternal gratitude of his countrymen and the rest of mankind. Courage of the most daring character, persevering steadily to the end, and a campaign afloat and on shore, planned and executed with the most consummate skill and achieved with the greatest triumphant success, attest to his qualities as a Commander, worthy of the highest admiration and praise.

Chapter III

The arduous duties assigned to Lieutenant Commandant Sloat, as related in the last Chapter, having been so well performed, entitled him to be relieved for a while, and the Navy Department considerately ordered that he be detached from the "Grampus" and granted six months' leave of absence.

On March 21, 1826, he was promoted to Master Commandant, and July 21, 1828, he was ordered to duty at the Naval Rendezvous at New York.

On October 15, 1828, he was ordered to the command of the sloop-of-war "St. Louis," and for a long three years' cruise in the Pacific, where his good judgment, and firmness as an American Naval Officer in command, was in the interests of his country, to be well and thoroughly tested, requiring also the skill and tact of a statesman and a diplomat, in which he was not found wanting.

While lying at Callao, in the spring of 1831, a revolution occurred in the Government of Peru, which placed Lieutenant Commandant Sloat in a delicate and peculiar situation, as General La Fuente, the Ex-Vice-President of the Republic, and General Miller took refuge in his ship.

An interesting account of this affair is contained in a letter from General Miller, dated Callao Bay, April 19, 1831, from which we make the following extracts: