Theodore Ruggles Timby

From Prabook.

He was born  on April 5, 1822,  in Dutchess County, New York,.  He was the son of George W. and Sarah (Johnson) Timby, formerly of Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

He grew up on his father's farm and attended common schools.

During his teens, he is said to have invented a form of floating drydock.  As early as 1841, he exhibited a model and plans for a revolving  battery for coast desfense to the War Department in Washington, D.C..  He siad he came up with the idea from Castle William on Governors Island in New York.

He seems to have come up with a similar idea for ships of low freeboard (the Monitor was a ship of low freeboard).

On January 18, 1843,  he filed a caveat covering the invention of  the revolving turret for use on land or sea.  It appears that  in the spring of the same year, he sent a model to China by Caleb Cushing, the United States minister there.  In June he exhibited a model to President  Tyler and his cabinet.

Nothing came of these efforts.

--Old B-Runner

So, Who Was This Caleb Cushing the Revenue Cutter Was Named After?-- Part 1

I'd heard of the revenue cutter before, but not the man it was named after.  He also played a role in the Civil War as it turns out.

From Wikipedia.

CALEB CUSHING  (January 17, 1800 to January 2, 1879)

Was an American Democratic politician and diplomat who served in Congress from Massachusetts and was attorney general under President Franklin Pierce.  He was an eager proponent of American territorial and commercial expansion, especially regarding the acquisition of Texas, Oregon and Cuba.

He believed that enlarging the American sphere of influence would would fulfill  "the great destiny reserved for this exemplar American Republic."

He also secured a treaty with China in 1844, which opened  five ports to American trade..  After the Civil War, he secured a treaty with Colombia to give the United States a right-of-way  for a transoceanic across the isthmus of Panama. 

In addition, he also helped obtain a favorable  settlement of the Alabama Claims, and as the ambassador to Spain in the 1870s, helped defuse  the troublesome Virginius Affair.

An Important Man in U.S. History Even If I Didn't Know About Him.  --Old B-Runner

John Julius Guthrie Biography-- Part 1: A Varied Early Career

From "Civil War Biographies from the Western Waters" by Myron J. Smith, Jr..

JOHN JULIUS GUTHRIE

(1814, Washington, N.C.-- November  24, 1877, Nags Head, N.C.; CSN)

Appointed  a USMA cadet in 1833, but preferring the life of a sailor, Guthrie resigned from West Point and was appointed a midshipman on February 26, 1834.  He achieved the rank of lieutenant by the 1850s.

Active at sea, the Mexican War veteran participated in the Allied attack on the Chinese barrier forts at Canton (Second Opium War) in November 1856, where he hauled down the Chinese flag, which he presented to the state of North Carolina in 1858.  (I wasn't able to find out if that Chinese flag was still in North Carolina.)

While on patrol off the Congo River in Africa in 1861, he led a boarding party from the USS Saratoga in the capture of the slaver Nightingale, with 900 slaves aboard.

--Old B-Runner

A Rebel Captured Last Slave Ship, John J. Guthrie-- Part 4: Another Exploit in China

Second Opium War in China

After American ships were fired upon during passage on the Canton River  by Chinese forces in the river's Barrier Forts, the USS Levant, accompanied by the USS Plymouth, were ordered to return fire.  

During the first night of the engagement, John Guthrie led a reconnaissance mission to evaluate  the strength of  the strongholds.  Under heavy fire the next morning, Guthrie directed a party of sailors and marines ashore  to storm the forts. 

After a fierce battle , Guthrie's men forced the Chinese ton retreat, personally hauling down their flag.

No doubt, memories of his exploits on the Canton River in China and now his most recent exploit on the Congo River in Africa (capturing the slaver Nightingale)  gave him good reason to believe he would get a promotion and perhaps command of the USS Saratoga when he got back.

--Old B-Runner

A Rebel Captured the Last Slave Ship for the Union-- Part 3: Service in the Far East and the Mexican War

Visiting Portsmouth and Gosport, Virginia, for the first time,  he was ordered to serve on the sloop of war John Adams.  He next served on the frigate USS Columbia on her voyage to China and after three years passed his his naval officer's examination.    Returning to Portsmouth, Guidry took some time in 1840 for a courtship and married a local girl from one of the city's prominent families, Louisa S. Spratley.  The couple settled in what is today Swimming Point.

After service in the Mexican War on blockade duty, Guthrie was sent in 1852 to the frigate USS Brandywine on the Brazil Station.  There he learned how to speak Spanish and translate a history of his host nation.  (Well, this should be Portuguese).  Unfortunately, that translation was lost at sea while in route to its publishers.

Guthrie next received orders to report to  Captain Matthew  Fontaine Maury, who was establishing the  U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C..

Guthrie's second tour to China was aboard the USS  Levant, proved very eventful.  He arrived in time for the Anglo-French War in the Far East as the two European powers fought for control over the tea and spice in the Orient.  This is also called the Second Opium War.

--Old B-R'er

John Julius Guthrie Obituary-- Part 1

From the Newspapers.com site.

Clipped from the December 1, 1877, Raleigh News.

CAPT. J.J. GUTHRIE

The Norfolk  Landmark says  of Capt. J.J. Guthrie who was lost on the wreck of the Huron:

He was a native of North Carolina, having been born at Raleigh; and had a sword of honor voted him by that State in recognition of an act of conspicuous  gallantry performed in the China Seas.  He had served with  credit and distinction in the navies of the Union and of the Confederacy, and recently had entered  on the discharge of his duties in connection with the Life Saving Service with generous enthusiasm.

The Landmark is mistaken as to the nativity of Capt. Guthrie.  John Julius Guthrie  was the son of Dr. John  Guthrie, of Washington, N.C.,  where he was born about the year 1814,  and was therefore in his 63rd year at the time of his death.

His father died when he was quite a boy,  and he came to this city  with his widowed mother, who is buried here in the old cemetery.  He was placed under the care of  Rev. Dr.  William McPheeters, and went to school to this distinguished preacher and educator  at the Raleigh Academy.

--Old B-Runner

From Tea Clipper to Slaver to U.S. Warship, the Saga of the USS Nightingale-- Part 3: Off to the Tea Races

OFF TO THE TEA RACES

Her first voyage was  on the famous "Tea to Silk Course" between Shanghai and London, which at the time had the  fastest ships afloat.  A race was arranged between her and  a British clipper, Challenger.  The course was from Shanghai to London with stakes of 2,000 pounds being placed by their respective owners.  The Nightingale lost, and her commander, chagrined at the result,  resigned, leaving the Nightingale in London Docks and took a Cunarder home.

The Nightingale's owners made light of the loss but immediately set out on arranging another race for similar stakes between the two ships along the same course.  On the return from Shanghai, the Challenger beat the Nightingale  by more than a week.

That ended the Nightingale's efforts to be No. 1.

*************************************

PASSENGER TRADE TO AUSTRALIA

In the spring of 1853, the Nightingale was chartered to carry mail, passengers and freight to Melbourne, Australia, from London.  From there she was to proceed to China where she would load tea and silk for London.  At the time, the Gold Fever was rampant in Australia and it didn't take long to sell the accommodations.

--Old B-Runner

Some More on Henry Walton Grinnell-- Part 2: Service With Japan, Ecuador and Spanish-American War

Now in the service of Japan, Grinnell was almost immediately appointed inspector-general of the Navy and given the rank of rear-admiral where he served in that capacity from 1868-1870.

In 1872-1873, he was naval advisor to the South American Republic of Ecuador.  He was still serving Japan as well, but also made various trips back to the United States.  His efforts resulted in well-trained Japanese sailors who defeated China in the Sino-Japanese War where he saw active service at the Battle of Yalu, the decisive naval battle of the conflict.

After the war, he was honorably discharged as a vice-admiral and received a substantial gratuity.

Returning to his homeland, he found the United States at war with Spain and reentered the U.S. Navy as a volunteer lieutenant. and served on the USS Iowa until peace was declared.

Thereafter, he lived in retirement in Puntarassa, Florida, (by Fort Myers) and Boston.

He died in St. Augustine, Florida, and is buried at Arlington.  (I don't know if this is Arlington National Cemetery or some other cemetery named Arlington.)

--Old B-Runner

Henry Walton Grinnell-- Part 5: Imperial Japanese Navy and Spanish-American War

In the China-Japanese War he saw active service in the Battle of Yalu River, the decisive naval engagement of that war.  When he was honorably discharged at the end of the war, as vice admiral, he received a substantial gratuity.

He was married  in 1874, in Sydney, Australia, to  Louise I.S. Pratt.  He married his second wife in June 1910, Florence G. Roche, of Boston, Massachusetts.

Returning to the United States he found his country at war with Spain and re-entered the Navy as a volunteer lieutenant and served on the USS Iowa until peace was declared.

Thereafter, he lived in retirement in Puntarassa, Florida, and Boston.

He died in St. Augustine, Florida, and is buried at Arlington.

--Old B-Runner

Henry Walton Grinnell-- Part 4: In the Japanese Imperial Navy and Adviser to Ecuador's Navy

After the war, he served on the USS Susquehanna of the Asiatic Squadron, where he declined appointment as an ensign in the regular U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged July 25, 1868.

He accepted instead, a commission as a captain in the Imperial Japanese Navy and began to train seamen at the Heigo Naval School.  Almost immediately, he was appointed Inspector General with the rank of rear admiral and served in that capacity from 1868-1870.

In 1872-1873, he was naval adviser to the Republic of Ecuador.  During the following years, although he did not devote his entire attention to the Japanese Navy as his many trips to the United States show,  he retained his commission and helped to develop the seamanship that defeated China in  the war.

--Old B-Runner

Henry Walton Grinnell-- Part 2: Veteran of Civil War, Spanish-American War and the Japanese Navy

From Wikipedia.

November 19, 1843-September 2, 1920.    Known as Walton Grinnell.  Naval veteran of Civil War and Spanish-American War.

He became a rear admiral  and Inspector-General of the Imperial Japanese Navy and served at the Battle of Yalu River in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895.

Walter Grinnell's older sister,  Sylvia, born in 181830, married William Fitzherbert Ruxton, who became an admiral in the British Navy.

Their father, Henry Grinnell, was partner in Grinnell, Minturn & Co.  owners of the Swallowtail  shipping line which included  the Flying Cloud in 1851, the fastest clipper ship in the world.  He financed an expedition to discover the fate of Sir John Franklin who was lost searching for the Northwest Passage and Grinnell Peninsula on Devon Island is named after him.

--Old B-Runner

Rear Admiral Andrew Hull Foote-- Part 2: Abolitionist and 2nd Opium War

From 1849-1851 he commanded the USS Perry, patrolling the waters off the coast of Africa to stop the slave trade.  because of this he became an ardent abolitionist.

In 1856 he was promoted to commander and took command of the USS Portsmouth in the East India squadron.  While there, he got involved in the 2nd Opium War between England and China.

Foote commanded the Brooklyn Navy yard in 1858 and was there when the Civil War began.

--Old B-Runner

New York Times Reports Capture of Privateer Neva in San Francisco

From the November 16, 1861, New York Times.

"A dispatch from San Francisco fated the 14th inst., states that the privateer schooner Neva, from China, had been seized there by Captain Pease of the revenue utter Mary."

--Old B-Runner

Confederate Privateer Neva Fitting Out in China-- Part 4

From Capt. LUCKIE of the ship Lotus, we learn that this man ALLEN worked his passage over on the Surprise, which left this port about four months ago.  He expresses no doubt of the rebel proclivities of LYNCH, who was formerly a midshipman in the United States Navy.

He ran the Antelope for some time in the China Seas, and was perfectly familiar with the coast.

The Neva is a fore-and-aft schooner of about one hundred tons, and can mount not more than four effective guns.

The Naval Storekeeper, after fitting out the Neva with her armament from the property of "Uncle Sam," threw up his charge and went on board of the Neva.  Some ten days prior to the departure of the Lotus, te Saginaw left Hong Kong in pursuit of the rebel craft.  the Captain of the Lotus is of the opinion that her capture is inevitable.

The loyal feeling amongst Americans at Hong Kong is enthusiastic with the exception of Dr. LOCKHART, no prominent man is even suspected of secessionism.

Definitely Some Intrigue Going On Here.  --Old B-Runner

Confederate Privateer Neva Fitting Out In China-- Part 3

Commenting on this statement, the Alta Californian of October 9, 1861, says:  We learn from other sources that LYNCH was formerly a sportsman in San Francisco, and left here about a year ago on the Nor'wester.  For several years he was in command of a steamer on this coast.

The Neva is a small schooner of 60 or 70 tons, formerly a pleasure yacht on the coast of China, and said to be a pretty fast sailer.  Some are of the opinion that she is intended only to rob China men along the coast, as she was too small to carry any large gun..  ALLEN is in command of the Neva.

Old B-Runner

Confederate Privateer Neva Fitting Out at Shanghai, China-- Part 2

WARD is a desperate character, and has a large sum of money, which he has made in the Imperial service.  He was connected with WALKER, and is a sailor by profession.  LYNCH is a Northerner.  We fancy the affair will end in grief.  The craft is too small and a suitable crew can hardly be had in time.

We hear that two of the Saginaw's officers resigned, upon learning the objective of her trip, but subsequently withdrew their resignations.

--Old B-Runner

A Confederate Privateer Fitting Out At Shanghai, China-- Part 1

From the November 3, 1861, New York Times.  Continued from November 14, 2016.

Even before the supposed Confederate privateer Neva sailed to San Francisco and was captured by the Revenue Cutter Mary on November 14, 1861, there was knowledge about it.

Taken directly from the newspaper:

The Hong Kong Press of the 10th of Aug. says:  The United States storekeeper at Shanghai was a politician named 'Judge' Cleary.  We believe he earned the title from having been a magistrate in California.  It seems from the last advices from Shaghai that this man, in connection with Col. WARD, (the celebrated fillibuster), Capt. ALLEN, (who brought the steamship Surprise from California,) and Capt. LYNCH, (for some years in command of the steamer Antelope, and lately of the Contest,) purchased the schooner Neva, equipped her from the United States naval stores, and intend to cruise off the coast as a privateer.

"The steamer Saginaw hurried up yesterday, on the intelligence being made known, and, we make small doubt, will capture her."

So, it would seem that the schooner Neva was purchased by a group of Confederate sympathizers named Ward, Allen and Lynch with the goal of turning her into a privateer to cruise the Chinese waters and prey on U.S. shipping.

Even worse, they were able to arm and equip the Neva with U.S. naval stores supplied them by another Confederate sympathizer named Cleary who was in charge of them in Shanghai.

--Old B-Runner

Capture of the Privateer Neva Reported

From the Daily Dispatch, November 21, 1861.

"Our news from San Francisco also mentions the arrest of a supposed privateer -- the schr. Neca -- at that port, by the Captain of the revenue cutter Mary.  It appears that the Neva was fitted out at Shanghai, China, and that information of this fact preceded her arrival at San Francisco."

--Old B-R'er