And yet Commander Cushing’s reputation was not increased nor was it through any fault of his own.  It was not long after the war that his friends were pained to observe unmistakable signs of mental unsoundness in the young hero.  These increased until his brain was all askew, and he died in an insane asylum in 1874.

CHAPTER XXIX.

The Greatest of Naval Heroes—­David Glasgow Farragut.

David Glasgow Farragut was the greatest naval hero of modern times.  There are many honored names connected with the American navy, but his towers above them all.  The highest honors that his country could give were freely bestowed upon him and no one will deny that he earned them all.

His father, although a native of Minorca, came to this country in 1776 and lost no time in joining the ragged, starving patriots in their struggle for independence.  His skill and gallantry won him the rank of major.  When the war ended he settled on the western frontier, near Knoxville, Tenn., where at a place called Campbell’s Station his son David was born in 1801.  When only nine years old he was appointed midshipman under Captain David Porter, the heroic commander of the Essex.  Captain Porter and Major Farragut were old friends, to which fact was due the privilege extended to a lad of such tender years.

In the sketch of Captain Porter the reader will recall the incident in which young Farragut learned of the conspiracy among the 500 prisoners on board the Essex, and, by giving his commander warning, prevented the capture of the ship by the savage plotters.

The boy was on the Essex when, disabled and helpless, she was pounded into a surrender by two British ships while in the harbor of Valparaiso, in January, 1814.  It was one of the most sanguinary battles of the war, when the decks ran with blood and the dead and dying were stretched on every hand.  Amid the terrible carnage the boy Farragut conducted himself with such coolness and bravery that he was specially complimented by Captain Porter in his report.  Although wounded, he stood unflinchingly to his guns, winning the admiration of the grim heroes around him and demonstrating the wonderful qualities which later were to raise him to the position of the foremost naval hero of the age.

Peace came, and, although Farragut was in continual service, promotion was slow.  He became lieutenant in 1825, commander in 1841 and captain in 1851.  His first wife, whom he married in Norfolk, became an invalid and did not live long.  His second wife was also a native of Norfolk.  Thus he was not only a Southerner himself, but his wife was a native of that section.  When, therefore, civil war came and it became fashionable for people to express secession sentiments, it was taken for granted that Farragut would cast his fortunes with the South; but upon being approached he indignantly replied:  “I would see every man of you damned before I would raise my hand against that flag!” Being told that it would be unsafe for him to remain in the South, he added that he wanted only two hours to find another place of residence.  He moved away at once and with his wife and only son took up his home on the Hudson near Tarrytown.