.1 ^*V^ "v^^V°'^ \^^\ \y .. •^ ^ "c* ■< REAR-ADMIEAL William Branford Shtibeick. A. SKIETOK EEAR-ADMIRAL William Branford Shubrick, Reprinted from Harper's Magazine, witli the consent of the publishers. WILLIAM BRANPORD SHOBRICK. The country can ill afford to lose the memory of its best men. Every pure and upri<2:ht life has an inherent value much beyond ordinary calculation. But when a manly life thus pure, thus upright, and prolonged to a period of more than fourscore years, is given with noble fidelity to the public service, it attains a dignity which commands our grateful homage. William Branford Shubrick, the sixth son and ninth child of a family of sixteen, was born October 31, 1790, on Bull's Island, one of those islands of the Southern sea- board yielding the beautiful long cotton of Carolina. The island, which derived its name from Governor Bull, was then the property of Colonel Thomas Shubrick, who had rendered o-allaut service to the country in the war of the Revolution, entering the army when little more than twenty, and acting successively as aid to General Lincoln and to General Greene in the most important campaigns of the Southern department. From Belvedere, the home plantation of Colonel Thomas Shubi'ick, six sons passed into the military service of the country, the two elder, Thomas and Richard, who both died young, in the army, the four younger in the navy. John Templar and William Branford Shul)rick entered the naval service in the same year, in 180G. Lieutenant John Templar Shubrick, after heiug engaged in several import- ant actions of the war of 1812, and receiving a medal for his gallant conduct in the Hornet, was taken prisoner in the President in 1815, and carried to Bermuda. At the proclamation of peace, a few weeks later, he returned home, and in May sailed again with the squadron of Com- modore Decatur, bound for the Mediterranean to settle the difficulties with Algiers. Forty days after the squadron sailed from America, Commodore Decatur compelled the T>Qy to sign a satisfactory treaty, at Algiers. Lieutenant Shubrick was then placed in command of the EperDicr and sent home, bearing with him the treaty of peace. But the Epervler never made her port. She was seen to pass the rock of Gibraltar early in July, but from that hour nothing- is known of her coui'se. Her fate remains one of the solemn mysteries of the deep. The two younger sons of Colonel Shubrick, Edward Rutledge and Irvine, entered the navy rather later. Cap- tain Edward Shubrick died at sea in 1844, when connected with the Brazil squadron. Captain Irvine Shubrick, after serving as a midshipman at Algiers in 1815, rendered gal- lant service in the expedition against the piratical Malays of Sumatra in 1832, commanding the detachment of sea- men and marirjcs which landed at Quallah Battoo and captured the town by assault, after a vigorous resistance. He died at "Wilmington in 1849. The life of William Branford Shubrick was [irolonged many years beyond those of his brothers. Born but a few months after the final adoption of the Constitution, which merged a weak confederacy into a nation soon to become powerful, he lived to see the country pass through phases of existence which among older races have required cen- turies of time, and many successive generations of men to etfect. The vast panorama of vigorous national develop- ment unfolded al)oiit him, year after year, with marvelous rapidity. And in the midst of this impressive growth there came one great crisis after another — ^foreign wars, political changes, financial struggles, and at last treachery, conspi- racy, and civil war threatening the very life of the nation. During all those fourscore years, and in the midst of those convulsions, he held with simple manly dignity the position he had taken in early youth : brave, upright, faithful, gen- erous, a true American gentleman. It was in the summer of 1806 that the lad of sixteen received his warrant as a midshipman, and made his first cruise in the Wasp, Captain Smith. The navy was then in a very feeble condition. There was little, one should sup- pose, to attract a youth of spirit to the service. At that date the country had not a single ship of the line. The miserable policy of defending the harbors, bays, and sounds of a vast coast l)y gun-boats alone, had been adopted by the government. With a commerce that already carried the flag of the republic into all the seas of the known world, the armed marine of the nation was treated with a neglect strangely short-sighted. The commercial shipping of the country already amounted to a tonnage of 1,200,000. And yet there was but one station where an American cruiser was ever seen. The insolence of the Barbary pirates had rendered it imperatively necessary to keep a small squadron of two or three vessels in the Mediter- ranean. This was the only foreign station. Neither was there any regular home squadron, although there were con- stant complaints of irregular proceedings and molestations on the part of the English and French cruisers at the very 6 mouths of the principal harl)ors of the country. But with all thits neglect of tlie navy on the part of the government, the spirit of the people was thoroughly maritime, as, indeed, it always had been from the time of the earliest colonists. There were in every generation many gallant youths to whom the life of a sailor was full of attraction, for whom perils and adventures found an additional charm from their connection with the ocean. And already in 1806 the per- sonal character of the navy, if we may use the phrase, stood very high ; the gallantry of its small but l^rilliant corps of officers had given dignity to the service in spite of neglect by the government. " Perhaps no service./' says the historian of the navy, " ever had so large a pro- portion of what was excellent, and so small a proportion of that which was defective, as the navy of the United States the day peace was signed with Tripoli. It united a stern discipline, a high moral tone, with rare models of seamanship." It was at this period that the young Shu- brick brothers left the plantation at Belvedere to enter the naval service. The four j'ears' war with Tripoli had just closed, and the glow of its daring achievements was still felt throughout the country. During the first years of his life as a midshipman, Mr. Shubrick, in common with all his brother officers, must have had many annoyances to endure from the uncertain, short-sighted policy of the government concerning that arm of the public service. It was the period of the im- pressment of American seamen by the English authorities, and the period when commanders of British cruisers held themselves authorized to search American vessels of war for deserters — in short, it was the day when the Chesapeake lowered her flag to the Leopard. In May, 1807, Mr. Shubrick was ordered to the Wasp, a beautiful sloop carrying eighteen guns, under the command of Captain Smith, and destined for the Mediterranean. On the 10th of June the Wasp sailed for England, bearing dispatches. The vessel had been but a few days in English waters when her officers received the news of the blow to the Chesapeake. They were burning with indignation at this insult to the flag. War was looked for immediately. Guns were overhauled, magazines examined, and all pre- pared for a desperate conflict. The officers and crew were constantly put through all the manoeuvres of a severe naval battle. And every other ship in the navy carried on the same practice, not only at the moment, but until the dec- laration of war, five years later. This vigilance and severe discipline prepared the way for future victories. In Octo- ber the Mediterranean squadron returned to Boston. Mr. Shubrick remained in the Wasp, which was employed in enforcing the embargo, until 1810. Not only the com- mander, Captain Lawrence, but " all the officers," wrote Mr. Shubrick, at a later day, " were of high character, and in such a school and at such a time a young aspirant was in the way to learn his duty." Captain Lawrence became his fast friend. And at this time he also formed an inti- macy with one of his messmates, a midshipman like him- self, whose home was in the Otsego hills. It was an inti- macy which ripened into a manly friendship, warm, deep, and lasting, remaining unln-oken until the last hours of life. Mr. Shubrick's friend left the navy a year or two later, on his marriage, and became a farmer, and later still a writer, but he was through life a sailor at heart, and the sympathy between them remained singularly true and deep from early youth to old age. The war cloud hanging over the country varied frequently in aspect, now apparently dispersing under negotiation, then growing darker, laden with fresh outrage of the laws and rights of nations. At length, in 1812, came the crisis. It found the naval service of the country utterly inadequate to the duties of protecting a vast mercantile marine and of defending 2,000 miles of sea-board. In the year 1812 the navy of Great Britain registered 1,060 sail, of which be- tw"een seven and eight hundred were in effective condition — much the most powerful naval force the world had ever seen ; more powerful, indeed, at that hour than the armed marines of all other Christian powers together. America at the same date had just seventeen vessels of loar in effective condition, and nine of these were of a class less than fri- gates. It is true, there were the gun-boats ; but of what avail that entire diminutive fleet against any one of the twenty powerful squadrons which England could at a mo- ment send upon the American coast? " It is not to be con- cealed," says the author of the History of the Navy, " that at this precise moment three two-decked ships of the enemy could have driven the whole of the public marine of Ame- rica before them." This inconceivable apathy, as regards the navy, has been explained in a manner as extraordinary as the apathy itself. To keep American vessels of war at sea, in face of the overwhelming marine force of Great Britain, was believed by some political leaders to be impossible, and a project is said to have been entertained by the cabinet of laying up all the naval vessels in ordinarj^ to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy ! Happily, two distinguished officers. Captain Bainbridge and Captain Stewart, were then at Washinofton, and made a written remonstrance 9 against tlie seheine, so vigorous that the idea was ahan- doned. Proofs that such a pi'oject was formed, and tliat those two ofiicers remonstrated on the occasion, are said to exist in the archives of the department at Washington. One can imagine the indignation with wliich a phxn of this nature would be discussed l>v the spirited young men fining forecastle, wardroom, and cal)in of every American naval craft then ailoat. After the declaration of war, Mr, Shubrick made one cruise in the Hornet, Captain Lawrence, and saw the fine chase of the Belvidera by the frigate Constitation, Commo- dore Rodgers, and the escape of the English vessel, so skillfully managed by her commander. In January, 1813, he was promoted, and transferred as lieutenant to the Con- stellation, Captain Stew^art, fitting out at Washington. As soon as the vessel was ready for sea, she dropped down abreast of Craney Island to cover the fortifications recently begun on that ground. Some twenty ships of the line of the enemy's force, among them the flags of two admirals, were cruising before Hampton Roads. On the 18th three frigates came into the roads, one, the Janon, moving up to the quarantine ground and destroying some small vessels. On the 20th, in a misty night, a flotilla of fifteen gun-boats, one under Lieutenant Shubrick, was sent out to attack the English vessel. Form- ing in a crescent, the flotilla poured a brisk cannonade into the frigate. It was some time before this fire Avas returned, as the commander of the Janon would appear to have been taken by surprise, and, indeed, the defence was so feeble that this vessel might possibly have been captured by the gun-boats had it not been for her two consorts moving to her support. When the engagement liad continued about 10 ail hour, tlio flotilla was signaled to witlidraw. The hoat coraniauded l)y Lieuteiumt Shuhrick happened to be nearest to the enemy. " That brave young otRcer," said Commo- dore Tatnall, an eye-witness, " obeyed the order very slowly, and continued to blaze away at the fi'igate. This caused the concentration of the enemy's tire upon that single boat. Still he moved otf slowly, firing as he retreated, until a signal made especially for him directed him to withdraw and take in tow a disabled gun-boat." This he did without losing a single man. With the next flood tide a fleet of fourteen sail of the enemy came into the roads, and, ascend- ing to the moutli of the James, prepared to send up a large force in boats. As the defence of the batteries on Craney Island was of great moment, Captain Cassin, then in com- mand at Norfolk, sent three lieutenants of the Constellation, among them Lieutenant Shubrick, with 100 seamen, to take charge of the principal batteries. On the morning of tlie 22d the enemy landed a large force at a point beyond the reach of the gun-boats, and, rather later, a landing was also attempted on Craney Island at a point protected from the gun-boats, but exposed to the fire of the seamen's bat- tery. The fire from this batterv, one gun of which was commanded by Lieutenant Shuhrick, is said to have been delivered with singular coolness and precision. It was so eftectual that the enemy was repulsed. The officers and men of the Constellation gained great credit for their steadiness, discipline, and spirit on this occa- sion. Captain Cassin declaring that 'the fire from their bat- tery resembled, in precision and efiectiveness, the shooting of riflemen. There was a large force of the enemy then lying in Hampton Roads, and there could be little doubt that an 11 attempt would he made upon the Consteff.ati.oii by [nirtu'- in boats. Captain Stcwai't took \'ery peculiar measures to protect his vessel against a surprise. The Constellation was anchored in the middle of the narrow channel, and on each side of her were moored seven gun-boats, one under the command of Mr. Shuljrick. A circle of booms protected the gun-boats against boarders, and enabled them to kee[) up a flanking fire on all assailants of the frigate. The gun-deck guns of the Constell'ition were housed and her ports shut. Not a rope was allowed to droop from the vessel. The stern ladders and gangway cleats were re- moved. Boarding netting was made of ratline boiled in half-made pitch, of a hardness to defy a knife ; while nail- rods and small chains were secnred to this netting in lines about three feet apart. This netting, a sort of chain armor, was spread outward and upward towards the yard-arms, rising twenty-five feet above the deck ; while it was so ar- ranged above that by cutting the ropes which held it in position it might be made to fall and enclose in a trap an enemy who might succeed in coming alongside the ship. The carronades were charged to their muzzles, and de- pressed to the nearest range, in order to sweep around the hull. The Constellation was high out of water, and, thus metamor[)hosed into a nautical citadel, seemed in a con- dition almost impregnable, so far as boats were concerned. Nevertheless, the enemy attempted to take her by surprise. A large force from the English fleet, some 2,000 strong it is said, on a dark and drizzling night, advanced stealthily upon the ship. But the vigilant guard-l)oat gave the signal of alarm at their approach, and they retired. The follow- ing night the attempt was renewed with no better success. Again, a few nights later, in dai-k, rainy weather, a third 12 expedition came up in force. Again the watchful sentinel in the gaard-boat discovered them, and moved stealthily so close to the enemy that he could hear the officers speaking. He was discovered, sprang to his oars, and retired ; l>ut not being pursued, he returned to watch the enemy's proceed- ings, and actually kept company with the party, following their movements step by step, anchoring when they an^ chored, and only leaving them when the ebb tide made, and they withdrew. ]^o farther attempt to capture the' well-guarded American vessel was made by the enemy. So great was the British force, however, before Hampton Roads that the good ship ConstdUition was not able to work her way out to sea. She remained blockaded throughout the war. It is said that durmg those three years of naval warfare England had 100 pennants of admirals and com- modores flying on the American coast. Lieutenant Shu- brick, unwilhng to remain idle, left the blockaded ship, and was transferred, as third lieutenant of six, to the ComtlUdion, Captain Stewart, which had just been refitted at Boston! This celebrated vessel, always a favorite with ofiicers and men, had already received in nautical parlance the name of - Old Ironsides." In February, 1815, the Constitution was cruising between Portugal and the Cape Verd Islands, where, on the 20th, two vessels of the enemy were seen in the ofiing, one a small frigate, the other a large sloop of war. After much nautical manoeuvring to prevent a junc- tion between the enemy's vessels, the Constitution, at six in the evening, showed her ensign as a challenge, and pre- pared for immediate action, engaging both vessels of the enemy at the same time. The battle was fought by moonlight. Nothing could exceed the beautiful ma- noeuvring of the Constitution between her two antagon- 13 ists ; often shrouded in a dense cloud of smoke, her guns were then silent; aguin, a moment later, when the moonHght revealed her foe, one hroadside was poured out after another with terrihle rapidity. At a critical moment, as the cloud of smoke rose, hoth vessels of the enemy were seen close at hand, and hoth in positions favorahle to themselves. The CovMitution poured a l)roadside into the sliip ahreast of her, and at the same moment handled her sails with such singular skill that the instant she had delivered her fire she backed swiftly astern, compelling the vessel in her rear to move her position, in order to avoid a raking tire in the opposite direction. The larger ship soon after struck. It was the Cyane. An hour later the Con- stitution was looking for her enemy's consort, which had been partially disabled, but which now prepared to renew the action. The fire of the Constitation was so well de- livered, however, that every gun told, and the vessels were so near that the ripping of the enemy's planks was heard by the American officers. The gallant Englishman was compelled to strike. The vessel proved to be the Levant, and Lieutenant Shubrick was sent on board to take posses- sion. In this remarkable moon-lit battle Captain Stewart, with one vessel opposed to two, handled the Constitution with sucli consummate skill that the conflict has always been considered as among the most brilliant nautical ma- noeuvring on record. Lieutenant Shubrick had a narrow escape after the battle was over. He was standing on deck, attending to his du- ties, when a portion of the mast fell and struck him on tlie head. He was stunned and would probably have been killed had it not been for the iron boarding cap which he still wore. The iron was indented by the blow, and he re- 14 ceived a wound on the .skiill which, in heaUng, left a small protuberance. This at a later day proved a puzzle to phre- nologists, to his own great amusement. On the 10th of March Captain Stewart took his prizes into Porto Praya. The next day Lieutenant Shubrick, then first lieutenant, his senior being absent in the prizes, discovered three large English vessels in the offing, looking into the harbor. Their hulls were concealed by a heavy bank of fog, but their rigging was seen dimly through the ligliter mist above. Fourteen minutes later the Coustltutlon and her two prizes had cut their cables and were standing out to sea. Captain Stewart was well aware that England, at that date, paid no regard whatever to the rights of a weak neu- tral. If he remained in the harbor he would, beyond all doubt, be attacked. The Constitution was scarcely out of port when the enemy made chase with her three ships. The chase continued until the afternoon. Captain Stewart then signalled the Cyotic to change her course, which she did, and in time reached ^ew York in safety. The Lerant ran back into Porto Praya, where, under the very guns of the Portuguese fort, she was recaptured, in spite of the rights of neutrals. Strange to say the three large vessels of the enemy were engaged in this recapture, leaving " Old Ironsides," meanwhile, to walk rapidly away from tliem. A few weeks later peace was signed. Lieutenant Shubrick was made an honorary member of the South Carolina branch of the Order of tlie Cincinnati, at tlie close of the war, after the loss of his elder In'other in the Epervier, and in especial acknowledgment of his own personal services. During the years of peace which followed the war of 1812 Lieutenant Shubrick was much in society, where he 15 was always a great favorite. Tliere was a peculiar charm ill bis manner which, from early manljood to old age, made him a delightful companion. This rare charm of mam)er was, indeed, in him a high personal merit, for it was en- tirely frank and unstudied, the healthful outflow of a gen- erous, courteous, manly nature. There was the polish of high-breeding, but it was the harmony of a liiie individual character, underlying the surface, which gave the charm of life and reality. For a gentlemanly naval officer a man- ner more happy could scarcely be conceived. And his per- sonal appearance was equally in his favor; feature, form, and carriage were all manly and distinguished ; the posi- tion of his head was fine, slightly thrown back, but as easy as possible, while the frank, fearless, often joyous look from the brown eye, and the smile, always kindly and often del- icately expressive of wit or humor, gave additional attrac- tion to the face. In September, 1815, Lieutenant Shuln-ick was married to Miss Harriet Cordelia Wethered, daughter of John "Wethered, Esq., of the Eastern Shore of Maryland — a mar- riage which remained unbroken for nearly fifty-nine years. He went to the Mediterranean rather later, as flag-lieu- tenant of Commodore Hull. In 1820 he received his com- mission as commander. In 1829 he was ordered to the command of the Lexington, and made a cruise on the coast of Labrador for the protection of the American fisheries. At the close of the fishing season he went to the West Indies and brought home the remains of Commodore Perry. In 1830, the period of the NuUification troubles, he was at the navy-yard in Washington. His commission as captain dates from 1831. During four years, from 1833 to 1837, he was employed on ordnance duty, and from this 16 . period, as experience gave additional value to liis services, he was often engaged in various practical duties of impor- tance connected with the navv, and repeatedly received the assurance of the entire confidence of successive Secretaries at the head of the department. His high reputation for fi- delity, integrity, promptness, and business capacity was, in- deed, well earned l)y earnest devotion to every duty in- trusted to him, whether ashore or afloat. In 1839 Captain Shubi'ick first hoisted his broad pennant as commodore, in command of the West India squadron. On his return, in 1840, he was placed in command of the navy-yard at Norfolk. In 1844 ho received from the Gov- ernor of South Carolina a sword of great l)eauty in design and execution, as a testimonial of the just appreciation in which his services were held l)y his native state. " State of South Carolina. — Columbia. " In the Senate, Dec. loth, 1834. " Resolved, That the Grovenior be authorized to purchase and cause to be presented to Capt. Wm. B. Shubrick, of the U. S. N., and a native of South Carolina, a sword, with suitable emblematical devices and inscrip- tions, in the name and in behalf of the State, in testimony of the high sense of this legislature of his distinguished gallantry and good conduct in the remarkable engagement of the U. S. Constitution and His Britannic Majesty's two ships, the Cyane and Levant, which resulted in their cap- ture, on the 20th of February, 1815, and for the admirable skill and cool- ness displayed by him, as first lieutenant of the Constitution, during the subsequent chase of that ship by the whole British squadron, off the island of St. lago, as well as for his devoted and valiant services during the whole war, which were so well calculated to reflect lustre on his native State. "Resolved, That the Senate do unanimously agree. Ordered to the House of Kepresentatives for concurrence. " By order of the Senate : Jacob Waeley, C. S. " In the House of Representatives, Dec. 15, 1834. " Resolved, That the House do concur in the resolution. " By order of the House : R. Anderson, C. H. R. " Secretary of State's Office, " Charleston, S. C, " R. Q. PiNCKNEY, Secretary of State." 17 This resolution is engraved on a shield just. ])elow the hilt, and on the opposite side is a star, with the motto, " Honor the Brave." On the scabbard, halfway between the hilt and the point, in relief, is the engagement between the Comtitatioii and the Cijane and Levant. On the 13th of May, 1846, war was declared against Mexico. Commodore Shubrick was thou in command of the navy-yard at Washington. May 14 he otFered himself to the department for active service, and a few days later was informed that the Secretary wished him to go to the Pacific to take command of the squadron on the western coast. June 1 the Secretary, Mr. Mason, wrote to him as follows : "Commodore: You will hold yourself in readiness to proceed in the United States ship Independence to the Pacific, for the command of the United States naval forces on that station." Again, July 9, the Secretary wrote as follows : " Commodore : You are herein appointed to the command of the United States naval forces in the Pacific Ocean, to relie^ e Commodore John T. Sloat." The Independence was lying at Boston in an unfinished state, and with a new crew, but the broad pennant of the commodore was hoisted on the vessel August 10, and on the 29th she was reported outside of Boston Light. The Independence arrived at Valparaiso December 2. Commo- dore Biddle had arrived at the same port only a few hours earlier with the squadron from the East Indies. There was a singular inconsistency in the orders he had received from the department and those given to Commodore Shul)rick. The orders to Connuodore Biddle were worded as follows : "i>/a// 16,1846. "Commodore: A state of war has been declared ))y Conj>;ress to exist between the United States and the republic of Mexico. You will, there- fore, with all possible dispatch, appear with the squadron under your command off" California, and take command of the Pacific squadron." 18 Commodore Biddle was the senior officer. The orders to Commodore Shul)rick were essentially the same, and of hiter date. Serious difficulties might, under less favorable circumstances, have resulted from this irregularity in the orders from the department. But it was the first wish of both officers to serve the country faithfully. In accordance with naval etiquette, Commodore Biddle, as senior officer, took command. Commodore Shul)rick sailed immediately for Monterey, where he arrived in eight days from Valpa- raiso, the voyage from Boston round the continent, includ- ing delays, having l>een made in the remarkably short time of 146 days. He proceeded immediately to organize and discipline the forces. On the arrival of Commodore Biddle, in April, he hoisted the red pennant of a subordinate com- mander, and was sent to l)lockade Mazatlan. He was soon recalled to Monterey, however, when Commodore Biddle informed him officially that he was about to give up the command and return home. Commodore Shubi'ick then laid before the department the plans he had already made for taking possession of all the ports on the western coast of Mexico. On the 19th of July the command was for- mally transferred to him, and he immediately prepared for active operations. A supply of small-arms was procured, and having drilled tlie seamen of the squadron thoroughly in their use for service ashore, the commander-in-chief di- rected Captain Lavalette to proceed to the Gulf of Califor- nia with the Congress and the Portsmouth, and to commence operations by taking possession of Guaymas, nearly at the head of the gulf — an order which was handsomely executed. On the 27th of October Commodore Shubrick sailed from Monterey for Cape San Lucas with the Independence and the Cyane, Captain Dupont. At San Lucas he was joined 19 by Captain Laviilette in the Conf/ress. After taking pos- session of San Jose, tlie pi'incipal mart of Lower California, and a resort of our whalers, and quieting some (iisturl)anees at Todos Santos, he sailed for Mazatlan with the Indepen- dence, the Congress, and the Cyane. Mazathm was then the most important point on the west- ei-n eoast of North America, containing 11,000 inhabitants, witli a garrison of some 1,200 regular troops. On the 10th of Xoveml)er the American fleet came in sight of the town. A plan of the coast and harl)or had been given to the com- manders, and the position to betaken by each vessel marked on this chart. The wind was moderate, aud evening was at hand. The commander-in-chief incjuired if the ships could take their positions after dark. The answer from all was affirmative. They were then ordered to proceed. Maz- atlan is built on a peninsula. There is a bend in the outer shore called the " Old Harboj-." The Congress led off in line style, and swept into position in this outer harl)or. The shore being low here, the ship from this point could com- mand several of the roads leading from the town, and ef- fectively cover the landing, should the surf allow this i-each of the shore to be chosen for the purpose. It was consid- ered a hazardous anchorage, but a position favorable for attack, and boldly taken in the dim evening light. The Cg- //;/ of the United States to the deep-sea fishing, wliich it did not deny, and the primlege of the in-sliore fishing, declared to be abrogated by the war. It was not until 1818 that the question was partially settled by a convention, which awarded to the United States the right to fish in the waters of certain parts of the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, and other 23 British possessions iu Xortli Aineriea, providorl tlie Amer- ican vessels ; the flag-ship, were all very actively employed, during the entire cruise, visiting every point of any importance within the wide range of the fisheries, and carrying the flag of the country into waters where it had never been borne before by a man-of-war. And while dis- charging this duty with the utmost fidelity, Commodore Shubrick succeeded, by a wise combination of firmness and courtesy, in conciliating the British authorities. At Hali- fax he met Admiral Seymour, then commanding the Brit- ish forces on the fishing grounds. The conference vvith Admiral Seymour settled satisfactorily the most pressing questions under temporary arrangements, looking forward to a treaty of reciprocity on the same subject then under consideration, and which was signed the following year. The English authorities in the l^rovinces, both civil and military, were very decided in their gratification at the just and conciliatory course taken by Commodore Shubrick and his officers on this occasion. As usual, the discipline of the fleet was excellent. A brilliant public entertainment was given by the civil and military authorities of Prince Edward Island to Commodore Shubrick and his officers at the close of the cruise. The authoritios at Washington on the re- turn of the squadron expressed their approbation very strongly. The department " was struck with the amount of service rendered, and with the good judgment with which it was combined," and expressed its " admiration for the promptness, energy, and cheerful zeal shown by the flag- officer and all under his command.'" After a renewal of difficulties a few years later, Commo- dore Shubrick lived to see the inauguration of a happier era 25 in 1871. wlieii the old forms of a snl)tle diplomacy were ex- changed for the more manly principle of upright arbitration. By th(> treaty of Washington the old headland doctrine disappears as obsolete. American and British fishermen now have equal rights in those waters and in certain por- tions of our own coast. The commission appointed by the treaty to meet at Halifax, will, it is hoped, settle perma- nently all the difficulties of this question. In 1858 there was again an interruption to the duties of Commodore Sbubrick at the Light-house Board. He was once more afloat. For some years there had been difficul- ties between the government of the United States and that of Paraguay, proceeding from the jealousy of Lopez, who aimed at retaining a monopoly of the commerce of the country in his own hands. At that date in Paraguay the government was the chief merchant and manufacturer. True, a decree of 1845 had nominally opened the country to foreigners, and in consequence of this decree an Ameri- can company of some importance had purchased lands and established mills and factories on the Paraguay river, some miles below* Asuncion, the capital. The gross injustice of Lopez to this company, the ol)stacles thrown in its way, the vexations it endured, terminated at length in the arbitrary closing of the cigar factory by the government of Paraguay. Personal insults to the American consul and other citizens of the United States also required redress. And finally, when the Water Witch, Commander Page, ascended the river, prepared to exchange the ratification of a treaty already agreed upon between the two governments, she was fired upon by a Paraguayan fort. To settle these diffi- culties, and to show to the countries in the southern hem- isphere the force at the command of the United. States, a 26 powerful fleet was sent into those waters, consisting, said President Buchanan in his Message, of " nineteen armed vessels, great and small, carr\dng 200 guns and 2500 men, under the command of the vetei-an and gallant Shubrick." Commodore Shubrick sailed from New York in the Salnnr, his flag-ship, October 17. When three days out the ship was struck by a cyclone, which lasted three days, and threw her on her beam ends. For five hours she was kept down, straining under the terrible force of the hurricane, the roar- ing of the tempest sounding, said Commodore Shubrick at a later day, as the howling of infuriated wild animals in a forest might be supposed to sound. Every precaution had been taken at the approach of the gale, and the vessel was lying to under bare poles. Had she been scudding she must have foundered. Such at least was the opinion of her officers. An examination of her condition after the hurri- cane proved her to be too much crippled to proceed on the long voyage before her. She was taken to Bermuda, where the authorities courteously off'ered every assistance, and she was repaired in the dry-dock. With the exception of this delay the expedition was entirely successful. All difficulties were satisfactorily adjusted. The commissioner, Mr. Bowlin, arrived at Asuncion January 25, 1859, and in three weeks all the objects of his mission were thoroughly accomplished. A fleet of nineteen vessels so well commanded proved the best possible argument in favor of the just demands of the commissioner. "To the zeal, energy, discretion, and courte- ous and gallant Ijearing of Flag-oflScer Shubrick and the other officers under his command in conducting: an ex- pedition far into the interior of a remote country, encounter- ing not only great physical difficulties, but the fears and ap- prehensions and prejudices of numerous states, is the country 27 lariieh" indebted for the success of the enterprise and for tlio friendly feeling which now prevails toward the United States in all that part of South America." Such was the report of the Secretary of the Navy. The simple dignity and the kindly courtesy of beari'.ig natural to Conmiodore Shuhrick never failed to attract the respect and regard of all whom he met on othcial duty. " lie represented us abroad with men of high rank better than any officer we ever had," said Admiral Dupont. General Urquiza, Pres- ident of the Argentine Republic, received him with especial honors, and presented him with a handsome sword in testi- mony of " respect for his high character." Congress, by joint resolution, allowed him to accept this beautiful sword — -a graceful close to his last service afloat. The grave crisis which convulsed the entire country was now at hand. We all remember the firino- of the first e:un. the roll of the first drum, calling brother to arm against brother. Those were sounds which seemed to pierce our very heart's core. And we can all remember the deep anxiety with which we awaited intelligence of the course taken by this or that distinguished public man. One was wavering, another was steadfast, another had deserted the flag and the country. Probably among the mihtary officers, whether of the army or the navy, there was not one placed in a position more painful, not one more sorely tried, than Admiral Shuhrick. The first gun in that fratricidal strife was fired at Charleston, within sight of his paternal home at Belvedere. The first State to take the fatal step of seces- sion was his native State, in whose early history he had always felt a just and honorable pride. In many of the best homes in Charleston, on many plantations of the State, were men, women, and children with kindred blood to his 28 own flowing in their veins. Scarce a public man in Caro- lina of honoraljle name and character who was not known to him ; very many were his friends. His high standing as an officer and his personal character rendered his ex- ample of importance to the Confederate leaders. St^ennous efl^brts were made to shake his loyalty by those high in au- thority in Carolina. The natiu'al strength of his feelings, the unusual warmth of his attachments, must have given additional force to the trial. We draw the veil over what, to a man like himself, must have l)een hours of anguish. The result is known, l^o subtlety could mislead his honest mind. No flattery could lilind him to plain duty. ISTo force of cutting abuse could move him. He remained at his post in Washington, and after the defeat at Bull Run otFered himself to the government for active service. At this date he even volunteered to aid in defending the forts near Washington, In December, 1861, Congress passed a law creating a retired list, whereby all navy officers are considered " re- tired " after forty-flve years' service, or on attaining the age of sixty-two years. At the time of the passage of this law Commodore Shubrick had fulfilled both of these con- ditions. But the department used a discretionary power in the application of the law ; some exceptions were made, and Commodore Shubrick continued for ten years longer to discharge the duties of chairman of the Light-house Board. In 1862 he received his commission as rear-admiral on the retired list. Men of upright and unprejudiced minds, as they move anward through life, are often gradually led to raise their eyes higher. Such is the natural result of experience. Holy truths which, though acknowledged, are yet half for- 29 gotten in tlie passionate day of voutli, rise more clearly be- fore the mind at a period of greatei' calm and thoughtful- ness. Fidelity to every dnty, liowever severe and onerous, however trivial and irksome, was perhaps the most strik- ing virtue in the character of Admiral Shubrick. With him, to Iviiow a duty was to perform it at whatever sacri- fice. And there was also a manly humility in his nature, whicli was a fine element in a character so noble. This fi- delity to dut}^ this generous humility, led him 3'ear by year nearer to his God. Born and baptized in the Episcopal Church, he became in mature life a faithful communicant of tliat Church. His attendance at public worship was reg- ular, not only on Sunday, but at other ser\'ices. During Lent, in the cold gray dawn of the winter mornings, his manly figure was daily seen moving toward the parish church for the early prayers. Yes, and following in his steps came ajiother manly figure from the same household, more huml)le, less erect, with the gray head and dark face of " Un(;le Simon," a worthy freedman, honored and es- teemed bv manv who knew him in Washington. Master and servant knelt daily together at those early services. Years passed over-. Tie had counted the allotted three score and ten, and still he was engaged in public duties, giving faithful attention to his work, and making journeys of inspection from time to time to ditferent points of the coast. And he was still a charming companion, the rever- ence felt for his venerable character and increasing years adding a higher interest to the pleasure he had always car- ried ^^•itll him into society. His private life from early youth had been one of singular beauty, pure, faithful, gen- erous, manly, in all its varied relations. In 1871 Congress passed a law relieving all retired ofiftcers from duty. The 30 work of Admiral Shubrick, as chairman of the Light-house Board, ceased at that date, which closed a service of sixty- five years, during which he had been unemployed only six years and eight months. His general health had now iDecome impaired, and Ijis sight was seriously affected. He was compelled to give up reading, which through Hfe had l^een one of his greatest pleasures. The bright, joyous manner natural to him was now graduaUy passing away into the quiet of advanced age, though occasionally, with an old friend, he had still a great deal to say in his usual pleasant way. Attachment to his friends remained unabated, and his affections vividly warm to the last. And he was still interested in all public events of importance, whether at home or abroad, hearing the papers I'ead morning and evening. The blindness he had feared never darkened his sight entirely. The dignity of extreme old age was in him very touching, and those who were with him most frequently felt that the loveliness of his character and manner could scarcely be described with full justice. Surrounded by far more than common love, and rever- ence, and devotion, he died peacefully at his house in Wash- ington, May 27th, 1874, wanting but a few months of com- pleting his eighty-fourth year. The general order issued by the Secretary of the iSTavy on the same day, announcing the death of Rear- Admiral Shubrick, closes with the following passage : " In every trust committed to him during life he has deserved well of the republic, and, dying, he leaves tu the service the conspicuous example of a life of wis- dom, courtesy, courage, and spotless honor." U 19 89 ♦ .*'\. iw- >^'\. 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