Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/158

 RODGERS

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schooner irare, off the coast of Florida in 1839: was promoted lieutenant. Jan. C'2, lb40; was attach- ed to the schooner Jefferson, and took part in the war with the fcJemiuoles in Florida, 1840-4:]. lie was engaged in sur- veying duty, 1849-52, and made charts and sailing directions of the coast of Flor- ida; commanded the steamer JoJiii Han- cock in the U.S. ex- ploring ami survey- ing expedition in the North Pacific and China seas in 1852- 55; commanded the Viiicennes in the Arctic ocean in 1S55; was commissioned commander, Sept. 14, 1855, and served on special exploring dutj' until 1861. He was ordered to superintend the con- struction of the ironclad Benton at Cairo, 111., and in November, 1861, joined Du Font's ex- pedition to Port Royal and took part in the capture of Fort Walker. He was in command of the James river expedition in May, 1862; led the attack on Fort Darling, May 15. 1862; was in command of the Galena before Drewrj^'s Bluff, when two-thirds of her crew were killed; was commissioned captain, July 16, 1862, and com- manded the monitor Weehawken in 1863. He engaged the Confederate ironclad Atlanta in Warsaw Sound, Ga., June 17, 1868, and after a fight that lasted fifteen minutes the Atlanta struck her colors. He received a vote of thanks from congress and was promoted commodore, June 17, 1863; commanded the monitor Dictator on special service, 1864-65, and in 1866 he was in command of the monitor Monadnock, taking her through the Straits of Magellan to San Francisco. While stopping at Valparaiso, he strove to pre- vent the bombardment by the Spanish, proposing armed interference to the British admiral, which the latter refused. He was commandant of the Boston navy yard, 1866-69; was commissioned rear-admiral, Dec. 3, 1869, and commanded the Asiatic squadron, 1870-72, landing a force in Korea, and capturing five forts, after forty -eight hours' marching. He was in command of the Mare Island navy yard, 1873-77, and was super- intendent of the U.S. naval observatory at Wash- ington, 1877-82. He was president of the transit of Venus commission: was a corporate member of the National Academy of Sciences, and suc- ceeded Prof. Joseph Henry as cliairman of the liglithouse board in 1878. He died in Washing- ton, D.C., May 5, 1882.

RODMAN, Isaac Peace, soldier, was born in South Kingstown, II. I.. Aug. 18, 1822, son of Samuel Rodman, a woolen manufacturer, from whom Isaac, after attending the common schools, learned the business, subsequently becom- ing a partner of the firm. He was mar- ried to Sally, daugh- ter of Gov, L. H. Ar- nold (q.v.) and Sally (Lyman) Arnold. He was colonel of militia; a member of the state legislature for several j-ears, and a state senator in 1861, when he resigned to raise a I -

company of volun- teers for the 2d Rliode Island regi- ment, and of which he was chosen the captain. For his gallantry at the battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861, he was promoted lieutenant col- onel, Oct. 25, and assigned to the 4th Rhode Island volunteers, in which most of the 2d Rhode Island re-enlisted. At the capture of Roanoke Island, Feb. 8, 1862, he was colonel of the regi- ment in General Parke's brigade, and followed the 25th and 27tli Massachusetts regiments, mak- ing a demonstration through the swamp on the enemy's left. At the battle of Newbern, March 14, Colonel Rodman's offer to charge through an opening left in intrenchments for the railroad to pass through, was accepted; and the 8th Con- necticut and 5tli Rhode Island regiments haWng been ordered to his support, he passed the rifle- pits, entered the intrenchments, moving toward the right, and captured nine brass guns, driving the enemy from his intrenched position between the railroad and the river. For this brilliant action, which \vas the culminating point of the battle, and for his honorable part in the siege and capture of Fort Macon, April 11-26, 1862, he was promoted brigadier-general, April 28, 1862. He was an invalid at liis home, South Kingstown, until September; commanded the 4th division in Reno's 9th armj- corps, in the Maryland campaign, and on the morning of Sept. 13, 1862, he was ordered to support Pleasanton's cavalrj' recon- noitering the passes of Catoctin mountain, but through some misunderstanding his division was the last to arrive upon the summit on the after- noon of the 14th, and was straightway sent to the support of Sturgis and Wilcox, who were beat- ing back the enemy on the left. At the battle of Antietam immediately following, his division being exposed to the direct fire of the Confeder- ate guns, he crossed the ford and, joined by