Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/462

 WINSLOW

WINSLOW

son of John Ancruni. anil a descendant of Jolin Winslow and Mary Chilton. He studied in Ded- harn. Mass.: was appointed midshipman, Feb. 1, 1827; advanced to passed midshipman, June 10, 1S33, and was commissioned lieutenant, Feb. 9, 1839. He was married, Oct. 18, 18:J7. to his cousin, Catherine Amelia, daugliter of Benjamin Win- slow of Boston. Mass. In 184') he was ordered on the Cumberland; took part in the naval opera- tions of the war with Mexico, fighting at Tabas- co, Tampico and Tuspan, and because of his gal- lantry was given command of a schooner that had been captured and named the Morris. His vessel was lost off Vera Cruz, and after serving a sliort time on the Mississippi, he returned home. He was i)romoted commander, Sept. 14, 1855; in 1801 joined Foote's Mississippi river flotilla, and wliile conducting the Benton down to Cairo, 111., in December, was injured by the breaking of a chain, sent home to recover, and on May 10, 1862, rejoined Foote. He was given command of the fleet division at Mempliis on July 1; was pro- moted captain, July 16. and relieved of duty on the Mississippi, Oct. 22, 1862, lie was later as- signed to the command of the Kearsarge, search- ing for the Alabama, and met tiie Kearsarge in the neutral port of Fayal in the Azores in April, 1863. Ily protected the sides of his vessel with chains preparatory to an attack outside the har- bor, which Semmes declined. He blockaded the Florida, at Brest, France, for a sliort time, and while at the Scheldt, off Flushing, Holland, he learned that Semmes with the Alabama was at Cherbourg. France. He steamed to Dover, Eng- lau'l, for dispatches, and on June 14, 1804, arrived at Cherbourg. The following day, Semmes sent a challenge, but not until Sunday morning, June 19. did the Alabama appear. Captain Winslow was at the time conducting divine service, and putting aside his pra_ver-book, he hastened on deck, steamed for some distance away from the enemy, to increase the distance to neutral waters, and then turning, bore down upon the Alabama, presenting a starboard l>attery. Semmes fired at long range, but Winslow, desiring to fight at close quarters, increased his speed, received two more broadsides, and replied to the fourth with liis starboaril battery. Eacli vessel fought with a strong porthelm. and this, added to the west- ward current, gave the vessels a spiral track. The Kearsarge gunners throughout the engage- ment fought deliberately, and with careful aim. When the Alabama struck her colors, Winslow ceased firing, but upon Semmes re-opening fire, he recommenced firing and laid across the Ala- bama's bows for raking. The displaying of a white flag, however, over the Alabama's stern, and the ensign half-masted union down, re- strained Winslow from sinking the enemy. Cap-

tain Winslow permitted the boat that announced the surrender to return to the sinking Alabama to aid in the rescue of the survivors, and also re- quested the English yacht, Deerhoand. which liad been watching the engagement, to give what as- sistance she could, sending two of his own boats in addition. Picking up some of the prisoners of war. the Deerhonnd edged to the leeward, and steamed rapidly away. Three times officers on the Kearsarge requested Captain Winslow to fire a shot to bring the yacht to, but he refused, be- lieving that an officer who had surrendered would not escape before delivering himself up. This was the only naval engagement of its kind dur- ing the civil war, and put an end to the devasta- tions of the Alabama, which already amounted to the destruction of 06 vessels, and the loss of many millions of dollars to American shipping. Winslow was honored throughout the nation; received a vote of thanks from congress, and was promoted commodore, his commission being dated the day of the fight. He was promoted rear-admiral, March 2, 1870, and died in Boston, Mass.. Sept. 29, 1873.

WINSLOW, Josiah, governor of Plymouth colony, was born in Plymouth, Mass., in 1629; sou of Gov. Edward (q.v.) and Susanna White Winslow. He was educated at home; com- manded the Marshfield military company, 1652; was deputy to the general court, 1653; assistant governor of Plymouth colony, 1657-73, and gov- ernor, 1673-80. During his gubernatorial admin- istration the first public school of the colony was established, and the first lieutenant-governor elected in 1680. He was married, in 1657, to Pen- elope, daughter of Herbert Pelham of Boston, Mass., first treasurer of Harvard college and as- sistant-governor of the colony, 1646-49. Gov- ernor Winslow was a commissioner of the United Colonies, 1658-72; was commissioned major in 1058; became commander of the Plymouth forces, 1659, taking Alexander, son of Massasoit, pris- oner in 1662; signed, with five others, the new confederation articles of the New England colo- nies, Sept. 5, 1672, and the declaration of war against King Philip, Sept. 9, 1075; was elected general-in-chief of all the forces of the United Colonies in 1675, engaging in the severe battle against the Narragansetts, Dec. 19, 1675, and commanded the English army at the great Swamp fight of 1676. He petitioned the king of England for a charter for Plymouth, Sept. 5. 1680, but no royal charter was ever granted to the col- ony. Governor Winslow is the author of a me- morial poem (1657) to Governor Bradford, pub- lished in " Duyckinck's Cyclopaedia of American Literature" and George Morton's " Memoriall." His portrait, and also that of his wife, hangs in Plymouth Hall, Plymouth, Mass. His inherited