156 EULOGY ON THE LATE GENERAL JOSEPH G. TOTTEN. 



appoiiitmont as Chief Engineer, 1838, he was, at the invitation of the Secretary 

 of the Na%'^y, ordered to visit the navy yard at Peusacola, and to prepare plans 

 for dry-docks, wharves, sea-walls, and other improvements. Save a wretched 

 failure in the shape of a wharf, the place — a navy yard in name — had been, up 

 to this period, destitute of everything that characterizes such an establishment, 

 except an imposing row of officers' quarters, and some few storehouses. A 

 board of naval ciftieers had been convened two years previously to consider the 

 wants of the yard, and had recommended an extensive system of improvements, 

 involving, among other things, no less than four dry-docks. Such constructions, 

 reaching thirty or more feet below the level of low water in the loose sand of 

 the bay shores, were difficult, demanding all the resources of the engineer, and. 

 it was on account of General Totten's eminent abilities and high authority in 

 such matters that the Navy Department had recourse to his services. He made 

 a report on the manner of construction, with plans which, if I mistake not, have 

 been a guide in the subsequent operations. Unfortunately, to this day no per- 

 manent dry-dock exists, a floating wooden one having, through some influence, 

 been substituted, at enormous expense, for the intended masonry structure.* 



The legislature of the State of New York having, March 30, 1855, passed 

 " An act for the appointment of a commission for the preservation of the harbor 

 of New York from encroachments, and. to prevent obstructions to the necessary 

 navigation thereof," the commission so appointed invited and obtained the co- 

 operation, as an "advisory council," of General Totten, Professor Bache, and 

 Commander Davis, United States uavy. The nature of the services thus ren- 

 dered is best understood by reference to the reports of the commissioners them- 

 selves : 



" The distinguished reputation of General Totten, Professor Bache, and 

 Commander Davis for scientific attainments, their diversified experience in the 

 construction of hydraulic works, and long observation of the influence of tidal 

 currents in the formation and removal of shoals, indicated them as the best 

 qualified to assist the commissioners in the discharge of their duties, while their 

 high personal character precluded the possibility of their advice being affected 

 by other than the single purpose of arriving at a just decision on the questions 

 submitted to them." And again, after a particular allusion to the services of 

 Professor Bache : " It is the gratifying duty of the commissioners to present to 

 the notice of the legislature the important services which have been gratuitously 

 rendered to the State by General Joseph G. Totten, chief engineer of the 

 United States army, and Commander Charles II. Davis, of the United States 

 nav-y, who, with Professor Bache, formed the advisory coiincil of the commis- 

 sioners. Animated by the single desire of preserving the port of New York 

 in all its usefulness, they brought to the consideration of the subjects referred 

 to them the diversified experience of many years spent in the examination and 

 improvement of harbors. The several reports they have made on the exterior 

 lines, on the improvement of Plell Gate, and on the preservation of Gowanus 

 bay, are profound dissertations on the forces and actions of currents, and, while 

 they evince, in some degree, the extent of the labors of those gentlemen, they 

 demonstrate how just is the public estimate of their scientific attainments." 



Pollowiug the example of New York, Massachusetts soon organized a similar 

 commission for the port and harbor of Boston, on which the same gentlemen 

 were invited to serve, receiving similar testimonials of the high value of their 

 services. 



* The "questionable shape" and suspicious object of this novel craft, set afloat and towed 

 ont into the baj' by the rebels in IdGl, caused anxious surmises on the part of Colonel Brown 

 and the gallant garrison of Fort Pickens, reminding us of the famons " Battle of the Kegs"' 

 of the Revolution. The jirobable object was to sink it in the channel to prevent the entrance 

 of our gunboats. But Colonel Brown's interference prevented the accomplishment of the 

 design. It was abandoned by the rebels, and set fire to by Colonel Brown's orders. 



