LE ROY PENNYSAVER - SEPTEMBER 7, 2008 The Flagship USS Alliance by Lynne Belluscio We recently received a paint- painting didn’t look at all like Italy. I discovered that soon after December 10, 1888. His funeral ing from the estate of Seely Pratt. the Trenton. So I Googled more Admiral LeRoy was transferred was described in the New York He had told me a long time ago Navy history and discovered to the Alliance, General Ulysses Times: The service was held at the that it was meant to come to that in 1877 the USS Alliance Grant visited the ship on his Church of the Transfiguration in the Historical Society. East Twenty-ninth He had bought it many Street. “It was the years ago at an auction Admiral’s wish that in Clifton Springs. The the services should painting is supposed be of as simple a to be the flagship of character as pos- Admiral William Edgar sible and there LeRoy. were accordingly As it turned out, the no pall bearers nor auction was the estate any flowers, with of Cornelia LeRoy, the the exception of granddaughter of Ad- a small pillow of miral William Edgar violets, a wreath LeRoy. William was the of white roses and nephew of Jacob LeRoy a few palm leaves (who lived in LeRoy which rested on the House). William was the casket. son of Jacob’s brother, Attending the Herman and was born service was Loyall on March 24, 1818, in Farragut, the son Pelham, New York. of Admiral David When he was just Farragut. The Wil- fourteen he became a liam Edgar LeRoy midshipman and served aboard sailed from Hampton Roads for world tour. His visit was followed was buried in the family vault in the Delaware and the Ohio in the European Squadron, which by the King and Queen of Greece Tarrytown, near Pelham where the Mediterranean. He also saw at that time was commanded by who after inspecting the flagship, he was born. service aboard the Constitution Rear Admiral Lorimer Wordon “remained a considerable time on In the collection of the LeRoy in the Pacific. He was promoted (best known for his role in the board.” Soon the Alliance sailed Historical Society is the Admi- to Lieutenant in 1843. During the battle between the Monitor and for Messina and Naples, Italy on ral’s flags, presented by Mrs. C. Civil War, he served under Admi- the CSS Virginia during the Civil the 28th of March 1878. Brown, a LeRoy descendant. Six ral David Farragut at the battle War.) “Once more back in the As far as I can determine, the years ago, a miniature portrait of Mobile Bay. When floating Eastern Mediterranean, Alliance Navy does not have a picture or of the Admiral was offered to mines, known as torpedoes, de- became flagship for Rear Admi- painting of the Alliance. Rear the Historical Society, but it was stroyed the Federal ship Tecum- ral William E. LeRoy (who had Admiral LeRoy remained in out of our budget, however we seh, Farragut exclaimed “Damn relieved Worden as commander the Navy until 1884 and retired were able to obtain a very good the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!” of the European Squadron) in and moved to Newport, Rhode scanned copy for our files. (See Commander LeRoy, ordered his early March (1878), the admiral Island. He was often referred to LeRoy Pennysaver, April 15, ship, the Ossippee to ram the transferring his flag from the as the “Chesterfield of the Navy.” 2002.) iron-clad Tennessee and accepted Trenton. Alliance then sailed for He died in New York City on the surrender of its captain. the Pireaus, Greece - - - " And so After the war, Farragut be- I have become to believe that the came the Admiral of the Euro- painting is of the Alliance. pean Squadron. LeRoy served This was the second ship in the as Captain under Farragut from American Navy with this name. It APPLES 1867 to 1868, and continued with was “laid down” as the Huron – a the European squadron after Far- screw gunboat of the third rate – ragut’s retirement. in 1873 at the Norfolk Navy Yard Jonamac LeRoy was promoted to Com- and launched on March 8, 1875 modore in 1870 and Rear Admi- but soon after launching, before Paula Red ral in 1874. His flagship was the the ship joined the fleet, she was USS Trenton, a 3900 ton frigate, renamed Alliance. She was com- Bartlett Pears • Prunes built at the New York Navy Yard missioned on January 18, 1877 and commissioned in February before joining the European Mums 1877. It was the largest warship Squadron. built for the Navy after the Civil The painting shows the ship Oatka Trail War, before the introduction of at anchor in the harbor in Naples, OPEN DAILY 9-6 pm steel ships in 1883. But I pulled Italy, so I was interested in seeing up pictures of the Trenton from if I could find information about 768-7094 the Naval History site and the when she might have been in .