S SAMUEL FRANCIS DU PONT. AMUEL FRANCIS DU PONT, rear-admiral in the United States navy, was born at Bergen Point, New Jersey, September 27th, 1803. His grandfather, Pierre Samuel Du Pont de Nemours, well known in French history as a political economist, and a representative in the Chamber of Notables and the States-General, emigrated to America with his two sons, Victor and E. S. Du Pont, at the close of the year 1799. The elder of these resided in the state of New York until 1809, when he removed with his family to the neighborhood of Wilmington, Delaware, of which state his son, Admiral Du Pont, is a resident and citizen. The latter was, in 1815, when but twelve years of age, commissioned by President Madison a midshipman in the United States navy; and it is an interesting fact that Mr. Jefferson, alluding to the appointment in a letter to his grandfather, expressed the hope that he might live to be an admiral. He sailed on his first cruise in 1817, on board the Franklin, seventy-four, under Commodore Stewart, and thenceforth for many years performed the ordinary routine duties of his profession, which, owing to the peaceful relations subsisting between the United States and foreign powers, were of no special importance. He, however, showed himself an active and able officer, in whatever capacity employed, and saw a fair proportion of sea-service. In 1845, being then a commander, Du Pont was ordered to the Pacific, in command of the frigate Congress, bearing the broad pennant of Commodore Stockton, and was on the California coast at the commencement of the war with Mexico. He was soon after put in command of the sloop-of-war Cyane, and, in the varied and difficult service which fell to his lot, acquitted himself with prudence and gallantry, taking a conspicuous part in the conquest of Lower California. Four different commodores commanding on that station testified to the faithful manner in which he discharged his duties, and the secretary of the navy added the unqualified approval of his department. Early in February, 1848, Commander Du Pont, while lying off La Paz, ascertained that a brother-officer, Lieutenant Heywood, with four midshipmen and a few marines, was beleaguered in the mission-house of San José by an overpowering force of Mexicans under Colonel Piñeda. He immediately sailed for the latter place, landed on the 15th of the month a force of one hundred and two men of all ranks, and, defeating and dispersing the besiegers, who outnumbered him four or five to one, rescued the hard-pressed but dauntless little band of his countrymen. "I want words," wrote Commodore Shubrick, the commanding officer of the station, "to express my sense of the gallant conduct of these officers, but feel that I am perfectly safe in saying that the annals of war cannot furnish instances of greater coolness, of more indomitable perseverance, of more conspicuous bravery, and of sounder judgment." In 1856, Du Pont attained the rank of captain, and in the succeeding year was placed in command of the steam-frigate Minnesota, which conveyed Mr. Reed, the American minister, to China. Arriving during the Anglo-French war with the Chinese, he was one of the first who visited Canton after its bombardment, and was also an eye-witness of the capture by the allies of the forts at the mouth of the Peiho River. He returned to the United States in 1859, having extended his cruise to Japan and the coast of southern Asia, and on January 1st, 1861, was appointed to the command of the Philadelphia navy-yard. The outbreak of the Southern Rebellion found Du Pont on the active list of captains, and with a reputation for professional capacity and fidelity of which the government was not slow to avail itself. As a means of crushing the naval power of the rebels, and cutting them off effectually from supplies, it was early determined to occupy one or more important points on the Southern coast, where the blockading squadrons or cruisers of the government might resort for shelter or supplies, or rendezvous for expeditions; and to Captain Du Pont was intrusted the selection of such a place. After consultation between Mr. Fox, assistant secretary of the navy, and himself, the harbor of Port Royal, on the coast of South Carolina, was fixed upon; and during the summer and autumn of 1861, preparations for a joint naval and military expedition thither were vigorously but quietly pursued. The land-forces, under the command of General Thomas W. Sherman, assembled at Annapolis, whence on October 21st they were conveyed in transports to Fortress Monroe, to join the fleet of war-vessels under Commodore Du Pont with which they were intended to co-operate. On the 29th, the whole fleet, numbering upward of fifty sail, weighed anchor and stood out to sea, led by the steam-frigate Wabash, bearing the broad pennant of Commodore Du Pont, as commander of the South Atlantic blockading squadron. On the afternoon of November 1st, a heavy gale set in, which increased in violence during the night, and raged with fury until the next evening, dispersing the fleet in al! directions, and causing the loss of several transports and a quantity of material. On Monday, the 4th, the greater part of the fleet had assembled off Port Royal bar, which lies ten miles seaward, and is about two miles in width; and the small steamer Vixen was immediately dispatched to find the channel, and replace the buoys removed by the rebels. This having been accomplished early in the after noon of the same day, the gunboats and lighter transports were immediately sent forward, dispersing a fleet of small rebel steamers, under Commodore Tatnall; and a reconnoissance discovered that Hilton Head and Bay Point, commanding the entrance to Port Royal harbor, called Broad River, which is here about two and a half miles wide, were protected by works of great strength, scientifically constructed, and mounted with guns of heavy calibre. Fort Walker, on Hilton Head, at the southerly entrance of the river, mounted twenty-three pieces, many of which were rifled, and was the defence mainly relied upon for the protection of the harbor. The works on Bay Point comprised Fort Beauregard mounting fifteen guns, and a battery of four guns about half a mile distant. On Tuesday morning, the 5th, the Wabash crossed the bar, followed by the frigate Susquehanna and the larger transports; and another reconnoissance, made by the gunboats, satisfied the commodore of the superiority of Fort Walker, against which he determined to direct his chief efforts. Wednesday being a stormy day, the attack upon the forts was deferred until Thursday morning, the 7th. The plan was, for the ships to steam in a circle or ellipse between the forts, running close to Hilton Head as they came down the river, and pouring broadsides into Fort Walker; and, on their return, attacking in a similar manner Fort Beauregard. The squadron was drawn up in two columns, the larger being headed by the Wabash, and at half-past nine in the morning stood into Broad River, and moved up past Fort Beauregard. At a few minutes before ten the action became general, and for four hours a continuous stream of shot and shell was poured upon the rebel forts. The Wabash, directed by Commodore Du Pont in person, was carried by the soundings as close to the shore as possible, the engines working with barely enough power to give her steerage-way, and proceeded with such deliberation, that but three circuits were accomplished during the fight. At the same time her signals were given as regularly as on an ordinary occasion. Her heavy guns played with terrible effect upon the enemy, and she was herself a prominent target for the guns of either fort. The commo- . dore estimated that he saved a hundred lives by keeping under way and bearing in close, and subsequently stated that he never conceived of such a fire as that of the Wabash in her second turn. She also bore in great measure the brunt of the enemy's fire; as, after the first circuit, the small gunboats took their positions at discretion, and the Susquehanna and Bienville were her only companions. At two o'clock, the enemy's fire began to slacken, and he was soon discovered in rapid flight from Fort Walker toward a neighboring wood. At half-past two, the work was occupied by a party from the Wabash, and on the succeeding morning Fort Beauregard was found deserted by its garrison. The casualties of the fleet were eight killed and twenty-three wounded; and the rebel loss is supposed to have amounted to between one and two hundred. In the hurry of their flight they also abandoned every thing but their muskets. This victory, the most considerable gained since the defeat at Bull Run, excited universal enthusiasm throughout the loyal states, and contributed very materially to restore confidence in the ability of the government to crush the rebellion, as well as to increase the éclat which had attended the naval operations in the war. Commodore Du Pont immediately took active measures to follow up his success; and his fleet has since been busily employed in expeditions along the coast, or in co-operating with the land-forces under General Sherman and the other military officers. During the year that he has commanded the South Atlantic blockading squadron, the vigilance of his subordinates has very materially checked the violations of the blockade so frequent in the early part of the war, and numerous captures of valuable vessels and cargoes have added to the resources of the government. In August, 1862, he was nominated by the President one of the seven rear-admirals on the active list authorized to be appointed by act of Congress. Apart from his sea-service, which covers a period of nearly a quarter of a century, Admiral Du Pont has been employed on shore in numerous important public duties requiring the exercise of high professional knowledge and experience. He was one of the officers consulted by Mr. Bancroft, when secretary of the navy, in regard to the formation of a naval school; and a member of the board which organized the academy at Annapolis on its subsequent efficient footing. He has also served on boards convened for the purpose of making codes of rules and regulations for the government of the service, for the examination of midshipmen, and similar purposes, and was for three years a prominent member of the lighthouse board, taking an active part in the creation of the present system for lighting the coast. He also performed the unwelcome duties of a member of the naval retiring board of 1855. More important than any of these services, perhaps, were his investigations with reference to the introduction of floating batteries for coast defence, which were embodied in a report esteemed of so much value, that it has been republished separately, and very generally consulted by officers of the engineer-corps. The late Lieutenant-General Sir Howard Douglas, the chief English authority on the subject, in a recent edition of his standard work on gunnery, has cited its opinions and conclusions with respect, and styles it "an admirable work." The private as well as the public career of Admiral Du Pont is without reproach. "No man," said Mr. Clayton, of Delaware, in the United States Senate, in allusion to his services, "is more beloved or honored by his brother-officers in the navy, or more respected as an accomplished officer, sailor, and gentleman. No man living stands in higher repute wherever he is known." |