.D- \J \J I \J Hollinger pH8.5 Mill Run F3-1 955 E 473 .2 .C71 Copy 1 PENNSYLVANIA COM- ^ MANDERY OF THE NAVAL ORDER OF THE UNITED STATES^ .^^^^ S49JS l'-'<^c£^i^ fuJ^^^-^iijuo ^' /J T THE meeting of the Pennsylvania Commandery, Naval Order of the United Slates, held at the Hotel Bellevue, on the evenifig of March pth, i8p8, on motion of Hejiry M. Dechert, Esq., it was RESOL VED, ' ' That the description of the fight between the Monitor and Merrimac on the pth of March, 1862, given by Major R. S. Collum, U. S. M. C, and the copy of the letter written by Lieutenant S. Dana Greene, the Executive Officer of the Monitor, to his father and mother, be published, and that a copy be sent to each mcTnber of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States.''^ E4 75 Published by order of the Pennsyl- vania Commandery, Naval Order of the United States. James V. P. Turner, Recorder. Room 517, City Hall, Phila. was built over, the sides being at an angle of 55 de- grees, a roof of oak and pitch pine extending from the water line to a height of seven feet above the gun deck. Both ends of this structure were rounded, so that the pivot guns could be used as bow and stern chasers, or quartering; over the gun deck was a light grating, making a promenade twenty feet wide, "The wood backing was covered with iron plates rolled at the Tredagar works in Richmond. These plates were eight inches wide and two inches thick. The first covering was put on horizontally ; the sec- ond up and down, making a total thickness of iron of four inches, strongly bolted to the woodwork and clinched inside. "The ram was of cast-iron, projecting four feet, and, as was found subsequently, was badly secured. The rudder and propeller were entirely unprotected. The pilot-house was forward of the smokestack and covered with the same thickness of iron as the sides. "Her battery consisted of two 7-inch rifles, which were the bow and stern pivots, in broadside two 6-inch rifles and six 9-inch smooth bores ; in all ten heavy guns. "She represented at the moment the most power- ful fighting ship in the world. When this formidable vessel on the 8th of March got under way and proceeded down Elizabeth River, the following vessels composed our fleet at anchor off Fort Monroe : The Minnesota, of 40 guns. Captain Van Brunt ; Roanoke, of 40 guns, Captain Marston ; St. Lawrence, 50 guns, Captain Purviance ; and several 6 THE memorable action between the Monitor and the Merrimac in Hampton Roads on March 9, 1862, was commemorated at the Hotel Bellevue, Philadelphia, on the evening of March 9, 1898, by a dinner given by the Pennsylvania Com- mandery, Naval Order of the United States. The distinguished guests were Hon. C. A. Boutelle, Chairman of the House Naval Committee, Rear Admiral Bancroft Gherardi, U. S. N. , and Hon. Charles F. Warwick, Mayor of Philadelphia. The following description was given by Major R. S. Collum, the Historian of the Pennsylvania Commandery, who was an eye witness of the historic struggle: — "On the 8th of March, 1862, a great disaster overtook the Union in Hampton Roads, filling the country with dismay, and even bringing the people to doubt the success of the cause for which they had labored so hard. "When our officers set fire to the buildings of the Norfolk Navy Yard it was supposed that every pre- caution had been taken to destroy everj^thing of value. The Merrimac had been sunk, but the lower part of her hull and her engines and boilers were not injured. This vessel was raised by the Confederate authorities. Both ends for a distance of seventy feet were covered over, and when the ship was in fighting trim were just awash. On the midship section, a length of 170 feet army transports. Seven miles above, off Newport News, lay the Congress, 50 guns, and the Cumberland, 30 guns. Newport News was well fortified and garri- soned by a large Union force. ' ' I will not take up your time by a description of the appalling disaster to the Union arms on that fatal day. Our re-union to-night is to celebrate the most gallant encounter between two fighting machines, a pigmy and a giant, and which marked a new era in naval warfare. "At sundown when the Merrimac returned to Sewall's Point and anchored, an avenger was then approaching from the sea, destined to revive the droop- ing spirits of loyal hearts and turn the tide of victory to defeat for the Confederates. "At 9 o'clock at night Ericsson's little Monitor, under the command of lyieutenant John I^. Worden, arrived from New York, after experiencing trials and difficulties sufficient to have appalled an ordinary officer. ' ' It was a great relief to the officers and men of the squadron to know that an iron-clad of any descrip- tion was at hand to assist them, but when they saw the little 'nondescript,' her decks level with the water, and appearing above it only her pilot-house and a small turret, in which latter were two 11 -inch guns, they could not feel very sanguine of the result of the com- ing conflict. ' ' Lieutenant Worden was ordered to proceed at midnight and take position alongside the Minnesota to be ready to receive the Merrimac. "The morning dawned clear and bright, and it was difficult to realize that 250 men had on the pre- vious day lost their lives in the defense of their flag in a hopeless contest. "The flag still floated from the Cumberland, while the smoke from the Congress ascended to heaven. The Minnesota lay hard and fast aground, while the Roanoke and St. Lawrence were a few hundred yards down towards the fort, the officers and men at their quarters, where they had been all night ; marks of the destructive shot and shell from the Merrimac visi- ble. At 8 A. M. the Merrimac was perceived ap- proaching. When she had come within a mile of the Minnesota that vessel opened upon her and signalled the Monitor to attack. Then came the contest which was to exert so important an influence upon naval architecture. Running down the wake of the frigate, the tiny Monitor placed herself alongside of her huge antagonist and fired gun after gun, which were re- turned by whole broadsides without effect. After a time the little vessel began manoeuvring, shooting by her antagonist and sending her shots first into the bow, and again raking her stern, while broadside after broadside was fired from the Merrimac, either passing quite over, or, if they struck, glancing harmless from her bomb-proof turret. ' ' The Merrimac attempted to ram her antagonist, but before the vessel could gather headway the Monitor turned, and the prow of the Merrimac gave a glancing blow, which did no harm whatever. The Monitor came upon the Merrimac' s quarter, her bow 8 actually against the ship's side, and at this distance fired twice. Both shots struck about half way up the Merrimac's armor, abreast of the after pivot, and so severe was the blow that the side was forced in several inches. "It is said that Lieutenant Jones, the Executive Ofi5cer of the Merrimac, having occasion to visit the gun deck, saw a division standing at ease, and inquir- ing of the ofl&cer in command why he was not firing, that individual replied : 'After firing for two hours I can do the enemy about as much damage by snapping my fingers at him every two minutes and a half.' ' ' Finding that she could make no impression on the Monitor, the Merrimac again gave her attention to the Minnesota, returning a tremendous and futile broadside from the frigate with a shot from her rifled bow gun, which went crashing through the vessel, bursting in the boatswain's room, and setting fire to the ship. The fire was, however, promptly extin- guished. The second shell exploded the boiler of the tug alongside. The Monitor by this time came between the contending vessels, forcing the Merrimac to change her position. In doing this she grounded. As soon as she got off she stood down the bay, chased at full speed by the Monitor. Suddenly she turned and made for her antagonist, and for a time the contest between this seemingly ill-matched pair was again hot and furious. After a time the Merrimac seemed to tire of the fray, and again headed towards the frigate. It was a trying moment for the Minnesota, fast aground and badly crippled, but the enemy had no mind to renew the experience of the morning, and it being shortly after noon, retreated to Sewall's Point. During the night Captain Van Brunt succeeded in getting his ship afloat, and next morning was safely anchored at Fort Monroe. Towards the close of this terrific en- gagement a percussion shell exploded against the look- out of the pilot-house of the Monitor, where Lieutenant Worden, who so brilliantly fought his vessel, and who thus made himself in a few hours the hero of the day, was stationed during the engagement. The result was a serious injury to the eyes of that officer, which, with the effects of the concussion, so disabled him as to oblige him to place the vessel in command of Lieu- tenant S. Dana Greene, the Executive Officer. "The Monitor saved not only the squadron but the honor of the nation, and her gallant commander is fully entitled to the honors he received. " Thus ended this remarkable engagement, which, in the bravery and ability displayed on both sides has never been excelled." In response to the toast, "The Monitor, Her Officers and Crew." A. C. Oliphant, of Trenton, N. J., read a copy of a letter from Lieutenant S. Dana Greene, the young officer who took charge of the Monitor after Lieutenant Worden was wounded. This letter was written on March 14, 1862, to Lieutenant Greene's mother, and is considered the best account of the battle and the perilous trip of the Monitor from New York to Hampton Roads, extant. [copy] "U. S. Steamer 'Monitor,' t^ "Hampton Roads, March 14, 1862. " My dear Mother and Father: " I commence this now but I don't know when I shall finish, as I have to write it at odd moments, when I can find a few minutes rest. When I bade Charley good-night on Wednesday, the 5th, I confidently ex- pected to see you the next day, as I then thought it would be impossible to finish our repairs on Thursday, but the mechanics worked all night and at 11 a. m., on Thursday, we started down the harbor in company with the gun-boats Sachem and Currituck. We went along very nicely and when we arrived at Governor's Island the steamer Seth Low came alongside and took us in tow. We went out past the Narrows with a light wind from the west and very smooth water. The weather continued the same all Thursday night. I turned out at 6 o'clock on Friday morning, and from that time until Monday at 7 p. m. I think I lived ten good years. About noon the wind freshened and the sea was quite rough. In the afternoon the sea was breaking over our decks at a great rate, and coming in our hawse pipes, forward, in perfect floods. Our berth deck hatch leaked in spite of all we could do, and the water came down under the tower like a water fall. It would strike the pilot house and go over the tower in most beautiful curves. The water came through the narrow eye-holes in the pilot house with such force as to knock the helmsman completely round from the wheel. At four o'clock the water had gone down our smoke-stacks and blowers to such an extent that the blowers gave out, and the engine room was filled with gas. Then, Mother, occurred a scene I shall never forget. Our engineers behaved like heroes, every one of them. They fought with the gas, endeavoring to get the blowers to work, until they dropped down apparently as dead as men ever were. I jumped in the engine room with my men as soon as I could and carried tliera on top of the tower to get fresh air. I was nearly suffocated with the gas mj^self, but got on deck after every one was out of the engine room, just in time to save myself. Three firemen were in the same condition as the engineers. Then times looked rather blue, I can assure you. We had no fear as long as the engine could be kept going, to pump out the water, but when that stopped, the water increased rapidly. I immediately rigged the hand pump on the berth deck, but as we were obliged to lead the hose out over the tower, there was not force enough in the pump to throw the water out; our only resource now was to bail, and that was useless as we had to pass the buckets up through the tower, which made it a very long operation. What to do now we did not know. We had done all in our power and must let things take their own course. Fortunately, the wind was off shore, so we hailed the tug boat and told them to steer directly for the shore in order to get in smooth water. At eight p. m. we managed to get the engines to go, and ever5^thing was comparatively quiet again. The Captain had been up nearly all the previous night, and as we did not like to leave the deck without one of us being there, I told him I would keep the watch from eight to twelve, he take it from twelve to four and I would relieve him from four to eight. Well, the first watch passed off very nicely, smooth sea, clear sky, the moon out and the old tank going along five and six knots very nicely. All I had to do was to keep awake and think over the narrow escape we had in the afternoon. At twelve o'clock things looked so favorable I told the Captain he need not turn out; I would lay down with my clothes on, and if anything happened I would turn out and attend to it. He said very well, and I went to my room and hoped to get a little nap, I had scarcely got to my bunk, when I was startled by the most infernal noise that I ever heard in my life. The Merrimac's firing on Sunday last was music to it. We were just passing a shoal and the sea suddenly became very rough right ahead. It came up with tremendous force through our anchor well, and forced the air through our hawse pipes, where the chain comes, and then the water would come through in a perfect stream clear to our berth deck over the ward room table. The noise resembled the death groans of twenty men, and certainly was the most dismal, awful sound I ever heard. Of course the Captain and my- self were on our feet in a moment and endeavoring to stop the hawse pipe. We succeeded partially, but now the water commenced to come down our blowers again, and we feared the same accident that happened in the afternoon. We tried to hail the tug boat, but the wind being directly ahead they could not hear us, and we had no way of signalling to them as the steam whistle which Father recommended had not been put on. We commenced to think then the Monitor would never see daylight. We watched carefully every drop of water that went down the blowers, and sent con- tinually to ask the fireman how the blowers were going; his only answer was ' slowl)', but could not be kept going much longer unless we could stop the water from coming down.' The sea was washing completely over our decks and it was dangerous for a man to go on them, so we could do nothing to the blowers. In the midst of all this our wheel ropes jumped oflf the steering wheel (owing to the pitching of the ship) and became jammed. She now com- menced to sheer about at an awful rate, and we thought that our hawser must certainly part. For- tunately, it was a new one and held on well. In the course of half an hour we fixed the wheel ropes and now our blowers were the only difficulty. About three o'clock on Saturdaj^ morning the sea became a little smoother, though still rough and going down our blowers to some extent, and the never failing answer from the engine room ' blowers going slowly, but can't go much longer.' From four o'clock until daylight was certainly the longest hour and a half I ever spent. I certainly thought old Sol had stopped in China and never intended to pay us another visit. At last, however, we could see, and made the tug boat understand to go nearer in shore and get in smooth water, which we did at about eight o'clock. A. M. Things were again a little quiet, but every- thing wet and uncomfortable below. The decks and air ports leaked and the water still came down the hatches and under the tower. I was busy all day making out my station bills and attending to different things that constantly required my attention. At three p. m. we parted our hawser, but fortunately, it was quite smooth and we secured it without diffi- culty. At four p. M. we passed Cape Henry and heard heavy firing in the direction of Fortress Mon- roe. As we approached it increased, and we immediately cleared ship for action. When about half way between Fortress Monroe and Cape Henry we spoke a pilot boat. He told us the Cumberland was sunk and the Congress was on fire, and had surrendered to the Merrimac. We did not credit it at first, but as we approached Hampton Roads we could see the fine old Congress burning brightly, and we knew then it must be so. Sadly indeed did we feel to think those two fine old vessels had gone to their last homes, with so many of their brave crews. Our hearts were very full and we vowed vengence on the Merrimac if it should ever be our lot to fall in with her. At nine p. m. we anchored near the frigate Roanoke, the flag ship. Captain Mars ton (the Major's brother). Captain Worden immediately went on board, and received orders from Newport News to protect the Minnesota (which was aground) from the Merrimac. We immediately got under weigh and arrived at the Minnesota at eleven p. m. I went on board in our cutter and asked the Captain what his prospects were of getting off. He said he should try to get afloat at two A. m., when it was high water. I asked him if we could render him any assistance, to which he replied no. I then told him we should do all in our power to protect him from the attacks of the Merrimac. He thanked me kindly and wished us success. Just as I arrived back to the Monitor, the Congress blew up and certainly a grander sight was never seen, but it went straight to the marrow of our bones. Not a word was said, but deep did each man think, and wish he was by the side of the Merrimac. At one A. M. we anchored near the Minnesota. The Captain and myself remained on deck waiting for the Merrimac. At three A. m. we thought the Minne- sota was afloat and coming down on us, so we got under weigh as soon as possible and stood out of the channel. After backing and filling about for an hour, we found we were mistaken, and anchored again. At daylight we discovered the Merrimac at anchor with several vessels under Sewall's Point. We immediately made every preparation for battle. At eight a. m. on Sunday, the Merrimac got under weigh, accompanied by several steamers, and started direct for the Minne- sota. By this time our anchor was up, the men at quarters, the guns loaded, and everything ready for action. As the Merrimac came closer, the Captain passed the word to commence firing. I triced up the port, run the gun out, and fired the first gun, and thus commenced the great battle between the Monitor and the Merrimac. ' ' Now mark the condition our men and officers were in. Since Friday morning (forty-eight hours) they had had no rest and very little food, as we could not conveniently cook. They had been hard at work all night, ai'd nothing to eat for breakfast except hard bread, and were thoroughly worn out. As for myself, I had not slept a wink for fifty-one hours and had been on my feet almost constantly. But after the first gun was fired we forgot all fatigues, hard work and everything else, and went to work fighting as hard as men ever fought. We loaded and fired as fast as we could. I pointed and fired the guns myself. Every shot I would ask the Captain the effect and the majority of them were encouraging. The Captain was in the pilot-house directing the movements of the vessel. Acting Master Stodder was stationed at the wheel which turns the tower, but as he could not manage it he was relieved by Stimers. The speaking trumpet from the tower to the pilot house was broken, so we passed the word from the Captain to myself on the berth deck, by Paymaster Keeler and Captain's clerk Toffey. Five times during the engagement we touched each other, and each time I fired a gun at her and I will vouch the i68 lbs. penetrated her sides. Once she tried to run us down with her iron prow but did no damage whatever. After fighting for two hours we hauled off for half an hour to hoist shot in the tower. At it we went again as hard as we could. The shot, shell, grape, canister, musket and rifle balls flew about us in every direction, but did us no damage. Our tower was struck several times and though the noise was pretty loud it did not affect us any. Stodder 17 and one of the men were carelessly leaning against the tower when a shot struck the tower exactly opposite to them and disabled them for an hour or two. At about 11.30 the Captain sent for me. I went forward and there stood as noble a man as lives, at the foot of the ladder of the pilot-house. His face was perfectly black with powder and iron and he was apparently perfectly blind. I asked him what was the matter. He said a shot had struck the pilot-house exactly opposite his eyes and blinded him, and he thought the pilot-house was damaged. He told me to take charge of the ship and use my own discretion. I led him to his room and laid him on the sofa and then took his position. On examining the pilot-house I found the iron hatch on top had been knocked about half-way off and the second iron log from the top on the forward side, was completely cracked through. We still continued firing, the tower being under the direction of Stimers. We were between two fires. The Minnesota on one side and the Merrimac on the other. The latter was retreating to Sewall's Point and the Minnesota had struck us twice on the tower. I knew if another shot should strike our pilot-house in the same place our steering apparatus would be disabled and we should be at the mercy of the batteries on Sewall's Point. The Merrimac was retreating towards the latter place. We had strict orders to act on the defensive and protect the Minnesota. We had evidently finished the Merri- mac. As far as the Minnesota was concerned, our pilot-house was damaged and we had strict orders not to follow the Merrimac up ; therefore, after the Merri- 18 mac had retreated, I went to the Minnesota and re- mained by her until she was afloat. General Wool and Secretary Fox, both have complimented me very highly for acting as I did, and said it was the strict military plan to follow. This was the reason we did not sink the Merrimac, and everyone here capable of judging says we acted exactly right. ' ' The fight was over now, and we were victorious. My men and myself were perfectly black with smoke and powder ; all my under clothes were perfectly black and my person was in the same condition. As we ran alongside the Minnesota, Secretary Fox hailed us and told us we had fought the greatest naval battle on record and behaved as gallantly as men could. He saw the whole fight. I felt proud and happy then, Mother, and felt fully repaid for all I had suffered. When our noble Captain heard the Merrimac had re- treated he said he was perfectly happy and willing to die, since he had saved the Minnesota. Oh, how I love and venerate that man. Most fortunately for him his classmate and most intimate friend. Lieutenant Wise, saw the fight and was alongside immediately after the engagement. He took him on board the Baltimore boat and carried him to Washington that night. The Minnesota was still aground and we stood by her until she floated, about 4 P. M. She grounded again shortly and we anchored for the night. I was now Captain and ist Lieutenant, and had not a soul to help me in the ship as Stodder was injured and Webber useless. I had been up so long, had had so little rest and been under such a state of excitement that my nervous system was completely run down. Every bone in my body ached ; my limbs and joints were so sore that I could not stand. My nerves and muscles twitched as though electric shocks were con- tinually passing through them, and my head ached as if it would burst. Sometimes I thought my brain would come right out over my eyebrows. I laid down and tried to sleep, but I might as well have tried to fly. About 12 o'clock, acting Lieutenant Frye came on board and reported to me for duty. He lives in Topsham, opposite Brunswick, and recollects father very well. He immediately assumed the duties of ist LuflF, and I felt considerably relieved. But no sleep did I get that night owing to my excitement. The next morning at 8 o'clock we got under weigh, and stood through our fleet. Cheer after cheer went up from frigates and small crafts for the glorious little Monitor, and happy indeed did we all feel. I was Captain then of the vessel that had saved Newport News, Hampton Roads, Fortress Monroe (as General Wool himself said) and perhaps your Northern ports. I am unable to express the hapiness and joy I felt to think I had ser\'ed my countr}-, so well, at such an im- portant time. I passed Farquhar's vessel and an- swered his welcome salute. About lo a. m. General Wool and Mr. Fox came on board and congratulated me upon our victory, etc., etc. We have a standing invitation from General Wool to dine with him, but no officer is allowed to leave the ship until we sink the Merrimac. At eight o'clock that night Tom Sellridge came on board and took command, and brought the following letter from Fox to me : 'U. S. Steamer 'Roanoke,' Old Point, March i8th. My Dear Mr. Greene : ' Under the extraordinary circumstances of the contest of yesterday and the responsibility devolving upon me and your extreme youth, I have suggested to Captain Marston to send on board the Monitor as temporary commander, Lieutenant Sel- fridge, uutil the arrival of Commodore Goldsborough, which will be in a few days. I appreciate your position and you must appreciate mine, and serve with the same zeal and fidelity. ' With the kindest wishes for you all, Most truly, G. A. FOX. ' ' Of course I was a little taken aback at first, but on a second thought I saw it was as it should be. You must recollect the immense responsibility resting upon this vessel. We literally hold all the property ashore and afloat in these regions, as the wooden ves- sels are useless against the Merrimac. At no time during the war, either in the navy or army, has any one position been so important as this vessel. You may think I am exaggerating somewhat because I am in the Monitor, but the President, Secretary, General Wool,— all think the same, and have telegraphed to that effect, for us to be vigilant, etc., etc. ' ' The Captain receives every day numbers of anonymous letters from all parts of the country sug- gesting plans for him, and I think some people north of Mason and Dixon's Line have a little fear of the Merrimac. Under these circumstances it was perfectly right and proper in Mr. Fox, to relieve me from the command, for you must recollect I had never per- formed an}^ but midshipman's dutj' before this ; but between you and me I would have kept the command with all its responsibility if I had my choice, and either the Merrimac or the Monitor should have gone down in our next engagement. But then you know, all young people are vain, conceited and without judg- ment. Even the President telegraphed to Mr. Fox to do so. Mr. President, I suppose, thinking Mr. Fox rather young, he being only about fort3\ Mr. Fox, however, had already done what the President tele- graphed to him, several hours before. ' ' Selfridge was onlj' in command two days until lyt. Jeffers arrived from Roanoke Island. Mr. Jeflfers is everything desirable ; talented, educated, energetic and experienced in battle. Well, I believe, I have about finished. Buttsy, my old room-mate, was on board the Merrimac; little did we ever think at the Academy we should be firing 150 lb. shot at each other, but so goes the world. Our pilot house is nearly completed. We have now solid oak, extending from three inches below the eyeholes in the pilot- house, to five feet out on the deck. This makes an angle of twenty-seven degrees from the horizontal. This is to be covered with three inches of iron. It looks exactly like a pyramid. We will now be invul- nerable at every point. The deepest indentation on our sides was 4 inches; tower 2 inches, and deck ^ inch. We were not at all damaged except the pilot- house. No one was affected by the concussion in the tower, either by our own guns or the shots of the enemy. " This is a pretty long letter for me, for you recol- lect my writing abilities. With much love to you all, I remain. ' ' Your affectionate son and brother, "Dana." [Copy.] I certify that this is a correct copy of the original letter now in my possession, written by my father, the late Captain S. Dana Greene, U. S. Navy, shortly after the fight between the " Monitor" and the " Mer- rimac. ' ' The fight took place in Hampton Roads, Va. , March 8th, 1862 ; at that time my father was execu- tive officer of the * ' Monitor, ' ' having been ordered to her when she first went into commission. He was twenty-two years old on February nth, 2862, and had had a lyieutenaut's commission for about six months, although only graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy in June, 1859. (Signed), S. DANA GREENE. Schenectady, N. Y., February 26th, i\ Colonel Porter then introduced Congressman C. A. Boutelle to respond to "The Navy." Mr. Boutelle thanked the president for the kindly words with which he had introduced him, and said that they more than compensated for the detraction which ' ' a momentary spasm of wildness that seemed to have taken possession of a portion of our press could have inflicted upon us." He paid a high tribute to Lieutenant Greene, whose intrepid valor had entirely missed fitting recognition in "the rapid hastening and thickening of events of such a critical character that they obliterated each other as do succeeding waves." Coming to the subject of the development of our modern navy, Mr. Boutelle said: "Standing as we do at peace with all the world, but still within the shadow of hostilities, I am glad to be able to congratu- late you upon the magnificent progress that has been made within the last ten years. There has been no domain in which the magnificent power and resources and splendid adaptability of the American people has been exhibited so mai^^elously as it has been in the rehabilitation of the American nav3^ "When I went to Congress in 1883," he con- tinued, " the United States had not one flag floating above a modern battleship. We have to-day nine first- class battleships, completed and under construction. The Massachusetts is believed to be able to fight any ship built, and if she can't, the Iowa will. The funda- mental principle on which our battleships are con- structed is that they must be able to distance any ship that can whip them, and whip any ship that can catch them. I have come over to Philadelphia to-night to meet with some of my old naval comrades, and assure them that I have been doing a little something at my end of the line. ' ' Preamble to the Constitution OF THE Naval Order of the United States Whereas, Many of the principal battles and fa- mous victories of the several wars in which the United States has participated, were fought and achieved by the Naval forces ; Whereas, It is well and fitting that the illustrious deeds of the great Naval commanders, their companion officers in arms, and their subordinates in the wars of the United States should be favored and honored and respected ; — Therefore, Entertaining the most exalted admira- tion for the undying achievements of the Navy, we, the survivors and descendants of participants of those memorable conflicts, have joined ourselves together and have instituted the "Naval Order of the United States," that we may transmit to our latest posterity their glorious names and memories ; and to encourage research and publication of data pertaining to Naval art and science, and to establish libraries in which to preserve all documents, rolls, books, portraits and relics relating to the Navy and its heroes at all times. OFFICERS OF THE GENERAL COMMANDERY. 1895-1898. General Commander, Rear Admiral John Grimes Walker, U. S. N. (Penna. Commandery) . Vice-Ce7ieral Commanders, Rear Admiral Francis Asbury Roe, U. S. N. (Mass. Commandery). Chief Engineer George Wallace Melville, U. S. N. (D. C. Commandery). Colonel John Biddle Porter, (Penna. Commandery), General Recorder, Captain Henry Hobart Bellas, U. S. a. (Penna. Commandery). Assistant General Recorder, Frederick Bacon Philbrook, (Mass. Commandery). General Treasurer, Lieutenant Jarvis Bonesteel Edson, (late U. S. N.) (N. Y. Commandery). General Registrar, Charles Bunker Dahlgrkn, (late U. S. N.) (Penna. Commandery). 26 General Historian, Major Richard Strader Coi^lum, U. S. M. C. (Penna. Commandery). General Chaplain, Rt. Rev, W1L1.1AM Stevens Perry, D. D., LL. D., D. C. I. (Bishop of Iowa), (Mass. Commandery). Members of General Council, Major Horatio Barnard Lowry, U. S. M. C. (D. C. Commandery). Commodore Edward EE1.1.S Potter, U. S. N. (retired). (Penna. Commandery). ^Commander Fei,ix McCuri,ey, U. S. N. (Penna. Commandery). Commodore Norman H. Farquhar, U. S. N. (Penna. Commandery). Lieutenant LoYAti, Farragut (late U. S. A.) (N. Y. Commandery). *Hon. John Hoffman Coli^amore, (Mass. Commandery). Chief :Eagineer Louis J. Ai.i,en, U. S. N. (N. Y. Commandery). Henry Chauncey, Jr., (N. Y. Commandery). Lieutenant Robert S. Critchei.1-, (late U. S. N.) (Illinois Commandery). ♦Deceased. 27 Pennsylvania Commandery OF THE Naval Order of the United States. Com77ia7id£r, John Biddle Porter. Vice- Commander, Commodore Edward Eells Potter, U. S. N. Recorder, James Varnum Peter Turner, (Late U. S. N.) Treasurer, William Ellison Bullus. Registrar, Charles Bunker Dahlgren, (Late U. S. N.) Historian , Major Richard Strader Collum, U. S. ^L C. Chaplain, Reverend Horace Edwin Hay den. Council, Rear Admiral John Grimes Walker, U. S. N., Commodore Norman H. Farquhar, U. S. N., Henry Kuhl Nichols, Edward Trench ard. Captain Henry B. Seely, U. S. N., Captain Henry Hobart Bellas, U. S. A., Henry Kuhl Dillard, Edward Rutledge Shubrick, (Late U. S. N.) Henry M. M. Richards, (Late U. S. N.) 2S MEMBERSHIP ROLL OF THE Pennsylvania Commandery N. o. u. s. Barton, William Henry, (Late U. S. N.) Bellas, Henry Hobart, Captain, U. S. A., Breese, Edward Yard, BuUus, William Ellison, Burns, Charles Marquedant, (Late U. S. N.) Burns, Frank, Clay, Antony Alexander, (Captain U. S. Vols.) Collum, Richard Strader, Major, U. S. Marine Corps, Dahlgren, Charles Bunker, (Late Captain U. S. Vols.) Dahlgren, John A,, Dechert, Henry M., Dillard, Henry Kuhl, Dorcy, Ben Holladay, Emanuel, Jonathan M., Pass'd Ass' t Engineer, U.S.N., Engard, Albert C, Chief Engineer, U. S. N., Farquhar, Norman H., Commodore, U. S. N., Feaster, Joseph, Naval Constructer, U. S. N,, Forsyth, James McQueen, Commander, U. S. N. Forney, James, Colonel, U. S. Marine Corps, Frazer, James Patriot Wilson, 29 Frazer, Reah, Paymaster, U. S. N., Gill, William Harrison, Haddock, Stanley Brickett, Hayden, Rev. Horace Edwin, Heyl, Charles Heath, Captain, U. S. A., Hoff, William Baiubridge, Captain, U. S. N., Hoflf, Arthur Bainbridge, Ensign, U. S. N,, Jordan, John Woolf, Kaiser, JuHus A., Ass't Engineer, U. S. N., Lardner, James L., Marston, John, McMaster, Gilbert Totten, Morrell, Edward De Vere, Morris, Henry, M. D. , Nichols, Henry Kuhl, Oliphant, Alexander Coulter, (Late U. S. N.) Porter, John Biddle, Potter, Edward Eells, Commodore, U. S. N. , Rearick, Peter A., Chief Engineer, U. S. N., Reiter, George C. , Commander, U. S. N. , Richards, Henry Melchoir Muhlenberg, (LateU. S. N.) Robinson, Louis W., Chief Engineer, U. S. N., Ruschenberger, Charles Wister, (Late U. S. N.) Schofield, Walter K., Medical Director, U. S. N., Seely, Henry Bates, Captain, U. S. N., Shubrick, Edward Rutledge, Trenchard, Edward, Turner, James Varnum Peter, (Late U. S. N.) Walker, John Grimes, Rear Admiral, U. S. N. 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