LIFE OF JAMES DWIGHT DANA 



agents of the Southern Confederacy. Such is fame. The 

 incident of an hour brought more renown than four years 

 of exploration. Wilkes, the bold navigator, is known to 

 a few; Wilkes, the gallant captor, to every one. For 

 example, in more than one recent biographical notice, his 

 expedition to the South Seas is passed by with a bare 

 allusion, while his story of the seizure of the Trent is 

 fully given. Wilkes rose to the rank of Rear- Admiral, and 

 died in Washington, February 8, 1877, at the age of 

 seventy-nine. 



Next to Wilkes stood the commander of the Peacock, 

 Lieutenant William L. Hudson (1794-1862), senior to 

 Wilkes by four years in life and two years in service. 

 On account of this seniority he was at first unwilling to 

 accept an appointment under Wilkes, but he yielded to 

 the urgency of the government and to the counsel of 

 Capt. C. G. Ridgeley, well known at that time for his 

 high sense of honor and for his excellent judgment. 

 During the long voyage, Captain Hudson encountered, 

 in the Peacock, extraordinary dangers, but everywhere 

 showed himself skilful and brave. After the second Ant- 

 arctic voyage, full of perils and escapes, Wilkes placed 

 on record a generous recognition of Hudson's coolness, 

 decision, and seamanship. . " Officers and men," he says, 



in the perilous situations where they were placed, were 

 worthy of the highest encomiums." Again, after the 

 wreck of the Peacock, at the mouth of the Columbia 

 River, the commander of the squadron bore testimony, 

 in his official report, to the coolness, presence of mind, 

 unremitted exertions, and noble example of Captain 

 Hudson, to whose efforts must be attributed the safety 

 of all his officers and men. He was the last person to 

 leave the wreck, and on his landing at Baker's Bay he 

 was received with three hearty cheers from his officers 

 and crew.* In later life, Captain Hudson was distin- 



* C. Wilkes to the Secretary of the Navy, October 30, 1841. 

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