Admiral David G. Farragut

“Admiral Farragut, born at Campbell’s Station, near Knoxville, Tenn., July 5th, 1801, died in Portsmouth, N. H., August 14th, 1870. He was appointed to the navy from his native State, and as a midshipman saw active service as early as 1810. In the Essex, under commodore Porter, he took part, in 1812-’13, in her famous cruise against the English commerce in the Pacific. After the capture of the Essex he served on board the line-of-battle ship Independence, and afterward as lieutenant on the Brandywine. In 1847 he was given command of the Saratoga, and in her took part in the naval operations of the Mexican War. When the Civil War broke out Farragut was given command of the Gulf Squadron. The Missippi River below New Orleans was defended with forts, chains stretched across the stream, fire ships, torpedoes, and every kind of appliance. Before commencing actively the attack a council of war was held in the cabin of the admiral’s ship, at which all the commanders of the various vessels in the fleet were present. With the exception of two the opinions were unanimously in favor of making the attack; and then was inaugurated the series of naval triumphs which surpassed anything of the kind ever before attempted. The capture of New Orleans was thus secured on April 28th, 1862. The next year Admiral Farragut commanded the attack on Mobile, and in this engagement went into action lashed to the rigging of his ship. He served in the navy more than fifty years, and of this time spent only eleven unemployed on the sea."— Frank Leslie, 1896

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