jjares reviewed 19th Century America?s Most Influential Naval Officers: The Lives, Careers, and Battles of Stephen Decatur, Oliver Hazard Perry, David Farragut, David Dixon Porter, and George Dewey on + 3413 more book reviews
These are some of America's finest naval officers. Each of these men has his own story published by Charles Rivers Editors. My purpose is to give the reader some idea of the bravery and brilliance of their actions. They each made important decisions that had powerful effects on America and the high seas.
Charles Rivers offers a singleton story about each of these men. In this book, the lives of five sterling naval officers are told.
STEPHEN DECATUR --
Stephen Decatur's most famous action came in 1804 in Tripoli. His job was to rescue or destroy an American ship that had been taken. In the end, it had to be destroyed. During action in Tripoli, Stephen's brother, James, was mortally wounded. Finding that James was wounded after he had surrendered; Stephen went to fight the cowardly Tripoli commander. During the hand-to-hand fighting, another Tripolian sailor swung his saber at Stephen. Ruben James stepped between Decatur and the saber, taking a blow to the head. He did not die and later continued in the Navy. This is the source of the famous song, "Reuben James."
Son of a commodore, Stephen flew the pennant of a commodore during the War of 1812. Then, Decatur was able to bring about peace with the Barbary pirates. Decatur was named to the board of Navy Commissioners in 1816. There was bad blood between Decatur and James Barron. It came to light that Barron did a poor job protecting his seamen from impressment. Barron challenged Decatur to a duel and killed Decatur on March 22, 1820, in Washington, DC. The information about dueling in general (during this era) and this duel, in particular, is fascinating and should not be missed.
OLIVER HAZARD PERRY --
Like Decatur, Perry was in the Quasi-War with France and the Tripolitan War against Barbary pirates. However, he played a small part in these actions. When the War of 1812 began, Perry requested action and received a commission to lead the building of a flotilla under construction on Lake Erie. He was successful in both building the ships and winning the Battle of Lake Erie. These were both arduous tasks.
On his next ship, Perry worked to quell the continuing problems with the Barbary pirates in 1815. During a shocking incident in which Perry slapped another officer, John Heath and Oliver Hazard Perry were both court-martialed and found guilty. Mild reprimands were issued to each man. Heath challenged Perry to a duel. Heath missed and Perry refused to pull the trigger.
While Perry was on a diplomatic mission to South America, crewmen caught yellow fever; five died. While underway to Port of Spain, Perry woke up with the illness and died on his 34th birthday, only a few miles from help.
DAVID FARRAGUT --
Because of the untimely death of his mother, James Farragut left one naval family to live with another. Later, James adopted the name 'David' in honor of his foster father. David went to sea with his foster father when he was 9-years-of-age, as a midshipman. He would be a foster brother to both David Dixon Porter, a Civil War admiral, and Commodore William D. Porter.
Incredibly, David served in the War of 1812, under his foster father. By 1822, he was named lieutenant and roamed the West Indies, ferreting out pirates and making the shipping lanes safer. Farragut saw action in the Mexican-American War. When the Civil War started, mistrust was rife in the Union military.
The Union was going to leave Farragut out of the fighting because of his southern birth, his southern wife, and his long residence in southern states. His adoptive brother (David Dixon Porter), however, drew Farragut into the war. Porter wanted Farragut to help him take New Orleans. The description of the battles related to taking New Orleans (and the other Civil War battles) is very interesting reading. In 1862, in recognition of Farragut's exemplary service, Congress created the title Rear Admiral and gave it to Farragut.
By the way, it was David Farragut who yelled, "Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead." He said it during an amazing battle at Mobile Bay with Confederate ships. Congress again awarded Farragut with a new title -- Vice Admiral in late 1864. By July 1866, Congress created another title and promoted Farragut to Admiral. He died just 4 months shy of being in the Navy, on active duty for 60 years.
DAVID DIXON PORTER --
David came from a very long line of exemplary naval men and he was a bit cocky about his status. Others saw David as a 'born fighter,' who was born for war. David had an incredible range of naval jobs during his life. When his father, Commodore Porter left the US Navy and accepted command of the Mexican Navy, David went along as a midshipman.
While under the Mexican flag, David saw considerable action. In one instance, he and his cousin, David Henry Porter were on the same ship. His cousin was killed, and David was injured. He was taken to Havana as a war prisoner. After that, the Commodore wanted David to return to the US Navy.
Just as David was going to leave the Navy, the Civil War began. He was assigned to take and hold New Orleans, which was the largest city in the Confederacy. By taking the city, the Union could cut off supplies to the troops and citizens. Both David Porter and his foster brother, David Farragut, saw considerable action. Then, the Union ships moved up to Vicksburg, hoping to split the Confederacy. However, it was a more difficult job.
David was promoted to Rear Admiral. He was called on to assist General Ulysses S Grant, in Grant's efforts to take Vicksburg. The story of how Grant, Sherman, and Porter achieved their aim is rousing. At the end of the battle, the temporary rank of Rear Admiral was made permanent.
After the Civil War, Porter was named Superintendent of the Naval Academy. He revolutionized the buildings, training, and curriculum. In 1866, he was promoted to vice admiral. When his foster brother, Admiral David G. Farragut died in 1870, Porter filled his place. He was named admiral in 1871 (the second person to achieve that position) and spent the last 20 years of his life writing. He is buried at Arlington Cemetery.
GEORGE DEWEY --
After his training at the Naval Academy, Dewey saw action in the Civil War. However, his greatest claim to fame would be the Spanish-American War. In 1897, he requested to be moved to the US Asiatic squadron because he saw war with Spain coming.
He studied the Spanish-owned Philippine Islands and prepared for war. When it broke out in April 1898, he entered Manila Bay, where the Spanish fleet was anchored. He opened fire at about 6 am. Dewey's famous command was, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley." His four cruisers and two gunboats had sunk or destroyed most of the Spanish warships by the time he withdrew at 7:35 am.
His victory gave the US the Philippine Islands and increased America's stance in the western Pacific. Dewey was promoted to rear admiral in May 1898 and the next year, he became a full admiral. In 1903, Congress honored him with the special rank of Admiral of the Navy (but took retroactive effect from 1899).
This was the highest rank to be held by a US naval officer and Dewey was the only Naval officer to receive it. He also received other honors including the Battle of Manila Bay Medal and a special sword (especially crafted by Tiffany and Co.) from President McKinley in October 1899.
Charles Rivers offers a singleton story about each of these men. In this book, the lives of five sterling naval officers are told.
STEPHEN DECATUR --
Stephen Decatur's most famous action came in 1804 in Tripoli. His job was to rescue or destroy an American ship that had been taken. In the end, it had to be destroyed. During action in Tripoli, Stephen's brother, James, was mortally wounded. Finding that James was wounded after he had surrendered; Stephen went to fight the cowardly Tripoli commander. During the hand-to-hand fighting, another Tripolian sailor swung his saber at Stephen. Ruben James stepped between Decatur and the saber, taking a blow to the head. He did not die and later continued in the Navy. This is the source of the famous song, "Reuben James."
Son of a commodore, Stephen flew the pennant of a commodore during the War of 1812. Then, Decatur was able to bring about peace with the Barbary pirates. Decatur was named to the board of Navy Commissioners in 1816. There was bad blood between Decatur and James Barron. It came to light that Barron did a poor job protecting his seamen from impressment. Barron challenged Decatur to a duel and killed Decatur on March 22, 1820, in Washington, DC. The information about dueling in general (during this era) and this duel, in particular, is fascinating and should not be missed.
OLIVER HAZARD PERRY --
Like Decatur, Perry was in the Quasi-War with France and the Tripolitan War against Barbary pirates. However, he played a small part in these actions. When the War of 1812 began, Perry requested action and received a commission to lead the building of a flotilla under construction on Lake Erie. He was successful in both building the ships and winning the Battle of Lake Erie. These were both arduous tasks.
On his next ship, Perry worked to quell the continuing problems with the Barbary pirates in 1815. During a shocking incident in which Perry slapped another officer, John Heath and Oliver Hazard Perry were both court-martialed and found guilty. Mild reprimands were issued to each man. Heath challenged Perry to a duel. Heath missed and Perry refused to pull the trigger.
While Perry was on a diplomatic mission to South America, crewmen caught yellow fever; five died. While underway to Port of Spain, Perry woke up with the illness and died on his 34th birthday, only a few miles from help.
DAVID FARRAGUT --
Because of the untimely death of his mother, James Farragut left one naval family to live with another. Later, James adopted the name 'David' in honor of his foster father. David went to sea with his foster father when he was 9-years-of-age, as a midshipman. He would be a foster brother to both David Dixon Porter, a Civil War admiral, and Commodore William D. Porter.
Incredibly, David served in the War of 1812, under his foster father. By 1822, he was named lieutenant and roamed the West Indies, ferreting out pirates and making the shipping lanes safer. Farragut saw action in the Mexican-American War. When the Civil War started, mistrust was rife in the Union military.
The Union was going to leave Farragut out of the fighting because of his southern birth, his southern wife, and his long residence in southern states. His adoptive brother (David Dixon Porter), however, drew Farragut into the war. Porter wanted Farragut to help him take New Orleans. The description of the battles related to taking New Orleans (and the other Civil War battles) is very interesting reading. In 1862, in recognition of Farragut's exemplary service, Congress created the title Rear Admiral and gave it to Farragut.
By the way, it was David Farragut who yelled, "Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead." He said it during an amazing battle at Mobile Bay with Confederate ships. Congress again awarded Farragut with a new title -- Vice Admiral in late 1864. By July 1866, Congress created another title and promoted Farragut to Admiral. He died just 4 months shy of being in the Navy, on active duty for 60 years.
DAVID DIXON PORTER --
David came from a very long line of exemplary naval men and he was a bit cocky about his status. Others saw David as a 'born fighter,' who was born for war. David had an incredible range of naval jobs during his life. When his father, Commodore Porter left the US Navy and accepted command of the Mexican Navy, David went along as a midshipman.
While under the Mexican flag, David saw considerable action. In one instance, he and his cousin, David Henry Porter were on the same ship. His cousin was killed, and David was injured. He was taken to Havana as a war prisoner. After that, the Commodore wanted David to return to the US Navy.
Just as David was going to leave the Navy, the Civil War began. He was assigned to take and hold New Orleans, which was the largest city in the Confederacy. By taking the city, the Union could cut off supplies to the troops and citizens. Both David Porter and his foster brother, David Farragut, saw considerable action. Then, the Union ships moved up to Vicksburg, hoping to split the Confederacy. However, it was a more difficult job.
David was promoted to Rear Admiral. He was called on to assist General Ulysses S Grant, in Grant's efforts to take Vicksburg. The story of how Grant, Sherman, and Porter achieved their aim is rousing. At the end of the battle, the temporary rank of Rear Admiral was made permanent.
After the Civil War, Porter was named Superintendent of the Naval Academy. He revolutionized the buildings, training, and curriculum. In 1866, he was promoted to vice admiral. When his foster brother, Admiral David G. Farragut died in 1870, Porter filled his place. He was named admiral in 1871 (the second person to achieve that position) and spent the last 20 years of his life writing. He is buried at Arlington Cemetery.
GEORGE DEWEY --
After his training at the Naval Academy, Dewey saw action in the Civil War. However, his greatest claim to fame would be the Spanish-American War. In 1897, he requested to be moved to the US Asiatic squadron because he saw war with Spain coming.
He studied the Spanish-owned Philippine Islands and prepared for war. When it broke out in April 1898, he entered Manila Bay, where the Spanish fleet was anchored. He opened fire at about 6 am. Dewey's famous command was, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley." His four cruisers and two gunboats had sunk or destroyed most of the Spanish warships by the time he withdrew at 7:35 am.
His victory gave the US the Philippine Islands and increased America's stance in the western Pacific. Dewey was promoted to rear admiral in May 1898 and the next year, he became a full admiral. In 1903, Congress honored him with the special rank of Admiral of the Navy (but took retroactive effect from 1899).
This was the highest rank to be held by a US naval officer and Dewey was the only Naval officer to receive it. He also received other honors including the Battle of Manila Bay Medal and a special sword (especially crafted by Tiffany and Co.) from President McKinley in October 1899.
