Dewey and Other Naval Commanders | Page 8

helped him to a floating piece of
wreckage and towed him safely to land.

The lieutenant was now transferred to one of the gunboats of Admiral
Farragut's squadron and engaged in patrol duty between Cairo and
Vicksburg.
[Illustration: GUNBOATS PASSING BEFORE VICKSBURG.]
The latter surrendered to General Grant July 4, 1863, and the river was
opened from its source to the Gulf. Early in 1864 the lieutenant was
made executive officer of the gunboat Agawam, and when attached to
the North Atlantic squadron, took part in the attack on Fort Fisher, one
of the strongest of forts, which, standing at the entrance of Cape Fear
river, was so efficient a protection to Wilmington that the city became
the chief port in the Confederacy for blockade runners. Indeed, its
blockade was a nullity, despite the most determined efforts of the
Union fleet to keep it closed. The Confederate cruisers advertised their
regular days for departure, and they ran upon schedule time, even
women and children taking passage upon the swift steamers with
scarcely a fear that they would not be able to steam in and out of the
river whenever the navigators of the craft chose to do so.
The first attempt against Fort Fisher was in the latter part of December,
1864, but, though the fleet was numerous and powerful, and the
greatest gallantry was displayed, the attack was unsuccessful. General
Butler, in command of the land troops, after a careful examination of
the Confederate works, pronounced capture impossible and refused to
sacrifice his men in a useless attack. Nevertheless the attempt was
renewed January 12, when General Alfred Terry had charge of the land
forces. The garrison made one of the bravest defences of the whole war,
and the hand-to-hand fight was of the most furious character. It lasted
for five hours, when the fort was obliged to surrender, the garrison of
2,300 men becoming prisoners of war. It was in this fearful struggle
that Ensign "Bob" Evans, who was with the naval force that charged up
the unprotected beach, was so frightfully wounded that it was believed
he could not live. When the surgeon made ready to amputate his
shattered leg, Bob, who had secured possession of a loaded revolver,
swore he would shoot any man who touched the limb with such
purpose. Perforce he was left alone, and in due time fully recovered,

though lamed for life.
Lieutenant Dewey was one of the most active of the young officers in
the attack on Fort Fisher, and conducted himself with so much bravery
and skill, executing one of the most difficult and dangerous movements
in the heat of the conflict, that he was highly complimented by his
superior officers.
But peace soon came, and a generation was to pass before his name
was again associated with naval exploits. In March, 1865, he was
promoted to the rank of lieutenant-commander and assigned to duty on
the Kearsarge, the vessel that acquired undying glory for sinking the
Alabama, off Cherbourg, France, during the previous July. Early in
1867 he was ordered home from the European station and assigned to
duty at the Kittery Navy Yard, at Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
While at this station he became acquainted with Miss Susan B.
Goodwin, daughter of the "war Governor" of New Hampshire. She was
an accomplished young woman, to whom the naval officer was married,
October 24, 1867. Their all too brief wedded life was ideally happy, but
she died December 28, 1872, a few days after the birth of a son, named
George Goodwin, in honor of his grandfather.
From 1873 to 1876 Dewey was engaged in making surveys on the
Pacific coast; he commanded the Juniata on the Asiatic squadron in
1882-83, and the following year was made captain and placed in charge
of the Dolphin, one of the original "white squadron." Next came service
in Washington as Chief of the Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting, as
member of the Lighthouse Board and president of the Board of
Inspection and Survey (he being made commodore February 28, 1896),
until 1897, when he was placed in command of the Asiatic squadron,
much against his will.
CHAPTER III.
DEWEY IN THE WAR WITH SPAIN.
While engaged with his duties in Washington, Commodore Dewey

found his close confinement to work had affected his health. Naturally
strong and rugged, accustomed to the ozone of the ocean and toned up
by the variety of the service, even in times of peace, the monotony of a
continual round of the same duties told upon him, and his physician
advised him to apply for sea service. He knew the counsel was wise
and he made application, which was granted.
Assistant Secretary of War Theodore Roosevelt, after a careful study of
the record of the different naval commanders, was convinced that
George