The Life and Services of John Newland Maffitt
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This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. https://books.google.com F | º º: ------- ººze - FROM. The BRIG-HT LEGACY. One half the income from this Legacy, which was received in 1880 under the will of JonATHAN BRowN BRIGHT of Waltham, Massachusetts, is to be expended for books for the College Library. The other half of the income is devoted to scholarships in Harvard Uni versity for the benefit of descendants of HENRY BRIGHT, J.R., who died at watertown, Massachusetts, in 1686. In | the absence of such descendants, other persons are eligible to the scholarships. The will requires that this announcement shall be made in everybook added to the Library under its provisions. The Life and Services of John Newland Maffitt '*** * **o-oº-, ... 1 * : /* FRONtispiece - - * * * * .*, ‘. A . .. s . - . * . ; ; ; ; T - ** - . • . *. * . * . * . º. *". * . * . *. * *. * *. *. * . * * *; * 1... ... ." § º . º r ºr “ , * * , , , • *. F 1', ' , ; ; ; ; . NY --ow - --or o---------- - - -se /* trowtispiece ! . *. ;, , , , NY THE LIFE AND SERVICES OF John NEWLAND MAFFITT BY EMMA MARTIN MAFFITT (His Widow) ILLUSTRATED º NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON THE NEALE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1906 W = [e i-, 3.7 s NOV 24 1915 LIER KASL Copyright, 1906 By Emma Martin Maffitt II (5ratefully ſingcribe Qſo (Dr. 3ame3 $5prunt (Ibe faitbful frieno wbo, more than amp One, bag encourageO amo aideo me in this work, amo wboge untire ing Öevotion to my buge bamb's memory begerves thíg recognition CONTENTS CHAPTER I Rev. John Newland Maffitt—Extracts from his Autobiography—Early boyhood—Emotional nature and conversion to Methodism—Sketch of him by A. H. Redford, D. D.—Personal appearance and persuasive eloquence make him the most popular preacher in the Emerald Isle— Marriage—Graduate of Trinity College—Family—Fields of Work— Western Methodist issued, now The Christian Advocate–Personal incident of his work in Tennessee—Elected Chaplain to the lower House of Congress—“Historic Eras”—Death—Children. I9 CHAPTER II John Newland Maffitt the younger—Birth and parentage—Adopted by his uncle, Dr. William Maffitt, and brought to “Ellerslie,” near Fayetteville, N. C.—Sent to White Plains, N. Y.-At age of thirteen enters U. S. Navy—Letters home—Ordered to U. S. frigate Con stitution, “Old Ironsides”—Extracts from “Nautilus, or Cruising under Canvas,” being the relation of the events of his three years' cruise in the Constitution—Visit of Queen of Greece to the frigate— Duel and its sad consequences—Examination. 30 CHAPTER III Promotion and visit home—Ordered to the Vandalia—Letters home— Appointed acting lieutenant—Ordered to U.S. frigate Macedonian— Letter relating events of cruise in Gulf of Mexico. 52 CHAPTER IV Marriage—Ordered to the Navy Yard, Pensacola—Birth and baptism of “Florie” on board Macedonian–Detached and ordered to the U. S. Coast Survey under Prof. F. R. Hassler—Death of Professor Hassler—Prof. A. D. Bache, LL. D., takes charge—Report of Professor Bache—His tribute to Professor Hassler—His report of work of Survey for year 1844—Report of work for 1845, with mention of work of Lieut. John N. Maffitt on the Survey.......... 56 CHAPTER V Removal to Baltimore—His first son, Eugene Anderson, born–Tragedy —Report of Professor Bache embodying work of Lieutenant Maffitt in the hydrography of Boston Harbor, 1847—Hydrography of Nan 8 CoNTENTs tucket shoals for 1848 and 1849—Hydrographic Survey of Hatteras cove and inlet, N. C., and report and sketch of same by Lieut. Comdg. Maffitt—Survey of Charleston Harbor—Maffitt's report in relation to a lighthouse at Bull's Bay, S. C.—Discoveries by Coast Survey, 1850—“Maffitt's Channel”—Maffitt made assistant on Coast Survey— Survey of Beaufort Harbor and Cape Fear bars, N. C.—Maffitt's letters in regard to lights, beacon, and buoys on coasts of North and South Carolina—His sailing directions. 64 CHAPTER VI Arrival at Smithville, N. C., of surveying party of Maffitt in U. S. schooner Gallatin—Reception by citizens and comments on life at this resort—Maffitt organizes dramatic company—Dramatis personae —Letter of Dr. W. G. Curtis—Incidents of sojourn—Description of an entertainment by the “Lord of Orton”. 85 CHAPTER VII Report of Professor Bache for year 1852—Hydrographic work of Lieu tenant Commanding Maffitt for year on the coast of Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia................................. CHAPTER VIII Second marriage and return to Smithville, N. C.—Interesting report of work of Lieutenants Commanding Maffitt and Craven in hydrography of Gulf Stream—Compliment of zeal and perseverance of Acting Master J. Pembroke Jones—Changes noticed on Cape Fear bar by Maffitt—His work on hydrography on coast of South Carolina and Georgia . Q9 CHAPTER IX Beaufort Harbor—Survey completed—Survey of James River, Va., and interesting reports of Lieutenant Commanding Maffitt on the survey of Beaufort Harbor, N. C. IO6 CHAPTER X Interesting report on discoveries in survey of Gulf Stream by Lieu tenants Commanding Maffitt and Craven, 1855—Destiny of Cape Fear country, its resources and enterprises, dependent in great degree on facility of entrance to its river—Survey on coasts of South Carolina and Georgia—Hurricane of 1854—Officers of party of Lieutenant Commanding Maffitt, Acting Masters S. B. Luce, Hunter Davidson and others—Work of years 1856 and 1857–Loss to the Coast Survey of services of four of its chiefs—Final work and detachment of Lieutenant Commanding Maffitt—Ordered to com mand U. S. brig Dolphin. CoNTENTs 9 CHAPTER XI “Retiring Board” or Naval Commission and their arbitrary and unjust proceedings—“Case” of Lieut. J. N. Maffitt, U. S. N., before the Naval Court of Inquiry requested by him—Abstract of his services— Testimony of witnesses—Orders offered in testimony by Lieutenant Maffitt, etc.—Promptly restored and placed in command of the U. S. brig Dolphin—Extract of decree of U. S. District Court in trial of slaver Echo captured by the Dolphin while under command of Lieutenant Commanding Maffitt—Letter... 136 CHAPTER XII Removes to James River, Va.-Family of Col. J. Jones—Disposes of his home and removes to Washington, D.C.—Life in Washington—Men of mark and hours of relaxation at 1214 K street—Death of Mrs. Maffitt—Lieutenant Maffitt ordered to command U. S. steamer Crusader—Duties—Capture of slaver Bogota—Description of scenes on board—Letters home—Memorandum of captures—Seizure of forts below New Orleans—The Crusader's visit to New Orleans and Mobile, Ala.—Events of her stay at Mobile, etc.—Secession of Alabama—Intention to seize the Crusader by desperadoes frustrated —Letter of Lieutenant Craven, U. S. N. 204 CHAPTER XIII Passing of old life and loved associations—Resignation accepted— Extracts from private journal—Leaves Washington and starts South—Arrives in Montgomery and interviews Mr. Davis—Receives a lieutenant's commission with orders to report to Commodore Tatnall—Ordered to command the Savannah—Various proposals— Coming of Admiral Dupont's powerful fleet and battle of Port Royal, S. C.—Joins the staff of Gen. Robert E. Lee—Duties and Incidents— Letters home. 218 CHAPTER XIV Ordered to the C. S. steamer Cecile, blockade-runner—Extracts from his article on blockade-running in The United Service Magazine— Establishment of blockade-running—Passing the blockaders by the Cecile—Their phantom forms suddenly appear—The moment of trial—Blaze of drummond-light and roar of guns and bursting shells —Perils of position—Cecile escapes—Chased by U. S. Steamer— Arrival at and departure from Nassau on return trip—Fired upon by three Federal men-of-war—Passing out of range, is called on deck by call of burning vessel—Goes to rescue—While passing between two blockaders is ordered to heave-to, but escapes—Ordered to command the Nassau (late Gordon)........................... 228 CHAPTER XV Arrives in Nassau and is visited by Lieutenant Low, who presents a letter from Captain Bulloch, and gives information in regard to the Oreto—Lieutenant Maffitt resigns the Gordon and takes charge of 10 CONTENTS the Oreto—Secretly prepares for sea and sends report to Secretary Mallory—Oreto seized and put in Court of Admiralty—The Gordon, in charge of Capt. G. Walker, returns—“Florie” and her step-brother Laurens return in her—Vessel is captured and “Florie” is taken to New York–Presents letter of her father and is treated with courtesy and sent home—Letter to Maffitt from Secretary Mallory—Letters from Commander Maffitt. 238 CHAPTER XVI Yellow fever in Nassau–Oreto is free and steams out of the harbor, Commander Maffitt, and other officers, on board—Lieutenant Strib ling with tender approaches and is taken in tow—Oreto anchors at Green Key—Hoisting guns, etc., on board–Herculean task in which all join—Important essentials of battery wanting—English colors hauled down and Confederate banner raised amid cheers—Florida christened—Reported illness of men—Fears of yellow fever epidemic confirmed—Starts for Cardenas, Cuba—Sends Lieutenant Stribling to Havana for medical aid and nurses—Is taken ill—Given up by physicians—Death of step-son, J. Laurens Read—Sails for Havana —Decides to enter Mobile Harbor. 245 CHAPTER XVII Sails direct for Mobile–U. S. S. Oneida attempts to cut Florida off, but is prevented—Pours broadside into Florida and is followed by other ships of the squadron—Terrible baptism of fire continues for more than two hours—Final escape—Florida anchors under guns of Fort Morgan and is visited by officers of the fort—Hospital ship sent by Admiral Buchanan—Letter from Admiral Buchanan, who later visits the Florida and compliments the officers and crew—Stribling ill with fever—Dies, lamented—Repairs begin—Officers reporting— Letter from Navy Department—Long tarry in port unavoidable— Captain detached, then restored by action of President—Prepares to run through Federal squadron—Succeeds—Is chased, but escapes..