Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1862 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XVIII. THE FIRST TWO ASSISTANTS AT THE ACADEMY.--LIEUT. SAMUEL MARCY--CAPTAIN JAMES H. WARD.--" FLAG OF THE SEAS." Lieutenant Samuel Mabcy and Captain James II. Ward were the first two assistants at the Naval Academy, and were present at its organization in 1845; the former was then a passed midshipman, and the latter a lieutenant, ---fratres ambo. Lieutenant Marcy was a native of Troy, New York, and a son of the late Hon. William L. Marcy. He entered the service in 1838, and he was on duty, at sea, about thirteen years. In 1848 he was in the Pacific, where he served two or three years, .and after being relieved at the Naval Academy in 1856, he was, for three years, a lieutenant on board the frigate Congress, the flag-ship of the Mediterranean Squadron. In 1860, he was an assistant again at the Academy; then in service on the Pawnee, which was in service before Charleston, at the time of the storming of Fort Sumter; and, finally, he was ordered to the frigate Potomac, which has formed a part of the blockading squadron, in the Gulf of Mexico, since July, 1861. In November, he was appointed to succeed Captain Handy, in the command of the Vincennes, on duty at the mouth of the Mississippi river, and he remained in the efficient discharge of his duties, on this station, until the latter part of the month of January, 1862, when the mournful tidings was conveyed to his friends and the country, that a sad accident had terminated his existence. The circumstances attending his death are feelingly described in the following letter, from the Acting Gunner of the Vincennes, which exhibits also the high regard which was entertained for Commander Marcy, personally, by the men under his command: "united States Ship Vincennes, Jan. 31, 1862....
