Theodore Timby-- Part 4: A Writer, Inventor and John Ericsson

During his later years, as a resident of  Brooklyn, New York,  he occupied himself with literary avocations, publishing several small volumes of  poems and essays, including "Bridging the  Skies" (1883),  "Beyond" (1886), "Stellar Worlds and Other Didactic Literature" (1896) and "Lighted Lore for Gentle Folk" (1902).

He died in Brooklyn, New York, on November 9, 1909, and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C..

ACHIEVEMENTS

He is credited as the inventor of the revolving gun turret that was used on the USS Monitor.

He also patented a wide variety of other inventions such as a door sash, water wheel, paper cutter, needle case and a globe clock that was sold in such numbers that some can be seen today at auctions.

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

The Washington Post stated in 1909, shortly after Timby's death,  that "John Ericsson has for years monipolized all of the credit for inventing and building the Monitor, but as a matter of fact he was joint inventor with  Theodore Timby."

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

In 1844, he married  Charlotte M. Ware.

His father was George  W. Timby and mother was  Sarah (Johnson) Timby.

--Old B-Runner

Henry Walton Grinnell: Even More-- Part 1: About That Wilmington Expedition

From the "Howland Heirs:  Being a Story of a Family and a Fortune"  Published 1919.

Some more on Mr. Grinnell.  Until this year, I had never heard of him, but, he definitely lived an interesting life.

This short account of his life includes him receiving "honorable mention from the Navy Department for carrying dispatches from his ship through the Confederate line, undercover of darkness."  This is the very first of my many posts about this man and what started this thread.  This is the first I've come across that story since then.

This is when he delivered dispatches from the Union forces in Wilmington, North Carolina to William T. Sherman's Army at Fayetteville, North Carolina, and it was through enemy lines.  A very daring attempt.

It also says he enlisted in the U.S. Navy on June 23, 1862, and became a mate and within the same year raised to the rank of acting ensign.  Two years later, he was master of his own ship.

As far as his service in the Japanese Navy, it says he "helped build up the Navy which subsequently riddle the Russian fleet.  This would be the Russo-Japanese War in 1905.  He also was a reason japan was able to so soundly defeat the Chinese fleet in the Sino-Japanese War.

When the book was written, Grinnell was residing in St,. Augustine, Florida.  He had two wives.  The first was Louisa I. Platt, whom he married in 1874.  The second was Florence G. Roche, who he married in 1910.  She was the daughter of poet James Jeffrey Roche.

--Old B-Runner

The Yankee Devil-- Part 3: "Scow-Like Across the Deep He Came"

The blackest, bluest from below,
The prince of all is he,
Who leads the Yankees where they go,
On land, or on the sea.

The news is true, all doubts dispel,
All grief and fears be o'er!
The chiefest from the perdition's well
Lies on a Southern shore.

On South Carolina's beach he lies,--
His majesty ashore!
Ah! well we know that the devil dies
Who enters at that door.

His name and hue, and shape and size,
Identify the beast;
Tis he -- the father of all lies,
Of devils not the least.

Scow-like across the deep he came,
Blood-red his iron sides;
With beak, and claws, and fins of flame
To plough the vernal tides.

Sure A Lot To Do With Just A Raft.  --Old B-Runner

Some More On Ericsson's "Devil"-- Part 2: A Poem About the "Yankee Devil"

More than you ever thought you'd know about Ericsson's "Devil."

And, then someone wrote a poem about "The Devil."

"THE YANKEE DEVIL"  by W.F. Rivers

HURRAH!  Hurrah! good news and true,
Our woes will soon be past;
To Charleston, boys, all praise be due,
The devil's caught at last.

He's caught, he's dead, he's met his fate
On Morris Island's sands;
His carcass lies in solemn state,
The spoil of Rebel hands.

Hurrah!  Hurrah! let Dixie cheer!
What may not Charleston do!
The devil's caught at last, we hear;
A Yankee devil, too!

And, you didn't think this was a high-class blog!!

More Poetry Coming.  --Old B-R'er