Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 12.djvu/16

6 like Rousseau, Forrest and Tatnall, had commanded squadrons, could now only aspire to command a few converted river steamers; while commanders and lieutenants of many years' service were risking their reputations in command of canal boats. They came out of the war with the rank they had first, for there were few promotions. Under the circumstances, this was unavoidable; but it should be borne in mind by the present generation.

These officers with unparalleled devotion cast their lot with their people. No class of men had less to do with bringing the war about, and no men suffered more. At the close of the war they had literally lost all save honor and there was much honor. But the coming of peace found these gentlemen unknown, and almost unhonored. Yet they have stood shoulder to shoulder since the war with nothing but their "wants, infirmities and scars to reward them;" they have felt the "cold hand of poverty without a murmur, and have seen the insolence of wealth without a sigh," and not one of them has cried, Peccavi!

Some of the Southern officers were at the beginning of the war in command of United States vessels on foreign stations. Upon being ordered home, they honorably carried their ships to Northern ports, and then, throwing up their commissions, joined the South. And what was before the Confederate naval officer? A nation with absolutely no navy, and with almost no facilities for building one! Professor Soley, assistant secretary of the navy under President Harrison, well says in his work, "The Blockade and the Cruisers:"

Except its officers, the Confederate government had nothing in the shape of a navy. It had not a single ship of war. It had no abundant fleet of merchant vessels in its ports from which to draw reserves. It had no seamen, for its people were not given to seafaring pursuits. Its only shipyards were Norfolk and Pensacola. Norfolk, with its immense supplies of ordnance and equipment was indeed valuable; but though the 300 Dahlgren guns