212 HEREDITY AND DEVELOPMENT OF NAVAL OFFICERS. 



67. JOHN ANCRUM WINSLOW. 



JOHN ANCRUM WINSLOW was born at Wilmington, North Carolina, Nov- 

 ember 19, 1811. He was appointed a midshipman in February 1827. In 1839 he 

 was commissioned a lieutenant; during the Mexican war he took part in various 

 skirmishes on the coast, and was left for six weeks at Tampico to guard the 

 arsenal. After the war he was commissioned a commander, was a light-house 

 inspector for two years and, on the breaking out of the Civil War, was ordered 

 to join Foote's Mississippi River flotilla, which, with half a dozen other officers, 

 he practically constructed. Winslow took two of the flotilla down the river to 

 Cairo. In 1863 he was given command of the Kearsarge and was sent to Europe 

 to destroy Confederate cruisers. While off Cherbourg he found the Alabama 

 there and received a challenge from her to fight. The fight ensued. The Ala- 

 bama fired rapidly, aimed badly, and was sunk. Winslow fought his ship coolly 

 and with special admonitions against too rapid firing and careless aim. The 

 Kearsarge also had the advantage of two 11-inch Dahlgren guns. Promoted to 

 commodore and later to rear admiral, Winslow for two years was in command of 

 the Pacific squadron. He died in 1873. His striking traits were: 



Nomadism. As a boy he frequented the docks and shipping of Wilmington, 

 North Carolina, and at the age of 10 years induced his brother Edward to "accom- 

 pany him upon an impromptu voyage. They cast themselves adrift in a ship's 

 boat, erected a bush for a sail, and, favored by the wind and tide, were swept 

 rapidly to sea." Fortunately they were rescued by an incoming vessel. He 

 liked to roam the woods with his dog. When ready for college he desired to enter 

 the navy and secured a commission. 



Fearlessness. He early learned to use firearms, and was given dogs and a 

 gun that he might hunt wild beasts. 



He was simple, persevering, steadfast, of indomitable energy, iron will, and 

 defiant courage, yet modest, unassuming, and gentle; he looked more like a divine 

 than a fighter. He combined "in his inheritance the simplicity, perseverance, 

 integrity, and fortitude of the Plymouth Rock Pilgrims with the courage, chivalry, 

 and dash of the gentry of Carolina. 



He married his cousin, Catherine Amelia Winslow, daughter of Benjamin 

 Winslow, of Boston, and had, among others, two sons who were in the navy: 



Herbert Winslow, born in 1848, was graduated at the United States Naval 

 Academy in 1869; he commanded the United States steamer Fern at the battle 

 of Santiago; was in the Boxer Rebellion in China, and landed the first detachment 

 of marines at Taku. He became a rear admiral in 1909 and died in 1914. 



William Randolph Winslow was a paymaster in the navy, and died in 1869. 

 He had a son, Eben Eveleth Winslow, who was graduated from West Point at the 

 head of his class in 1869, and became a captain, corps of engineers, United States 

 army. 



John A. Winslow's mother's mother's mother's father was Colonel William 

 Rhett, speaker of the House of Commons of South Carolina when he was com- 

 missioned as vice admiral in 1704 and placed in command of an improvised naval 

 force. With this he defeated a force of French and Spaniards who sailed against 

 Charleston. In 1716 he captured "Blackboard," a well-known pirate. Later he 

 was appointed governor general of the Bahamas, but he never accepted the posi- 

 tion. "From this hero of Carolina, Winslow inherited the ambition to become 

 a naval warrior and the qualities necessary for success in such a calling." 



