BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 OP 
 
 COMMODORE HENRY EAGLE, 
 
 FROM 
 
 Encyclopaedia of Contemporary Biography 
 
 OF 
 
 N^EA\r YORK, 
 
 VOL. III. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY 
 ATLANTIC PUBLISHING AND ENGRAVING COMPANY, 
 
 NEW YORK. 
 
 1883. 
 
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 OP 
 
 COMMODORE HENRY EAGLE, 
 
 FROM 
 
 Encyclopaedia of Contemporary Biography 
 
 OF 
 
 ISTE^^T YORK, 
 
 VOL. in. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY 
 ATLANTIC PUBLISHING AND ENGRAVING COMPANY, 
 
 NEW YORK. 
 
 1883. 
 

 
 
COMMODORE HENRY EAGLE. 
 
 COMMODORE HENRY EAGLE, United States 
 Navy, was born on Broadway, New York city, 
 April 7th, 1801, and died at his residence in East 
 Thirtieth street, New York, November 36th, 1882. 
 His father, a native of the city of Dublin, Ireland, 
 was major of an Irish brigade, belonging to the troops 
 of his adopted city, and during the war of 1812 was 
 stationed on Long Island, and assisted in throwing 
 up and preparing earthworks near Fort Greene. The 
 family residence, though on the site since rendered 
 famous by Stewart's retail store, was then in the 
 country, a mile and a half distant from the settled 
 portion of the city. The mother of our subject, 
 (Christiana Bull), also of Dublin, died in 181G, but his 
 father lived until 1852. Two brothers of the elder 
 Eagle were in the British military service ; one was a 
 surgeon: the otlier went to the East Indies, rose to 
 the rank of major, married a titled lady, and died in 
 1814. Henry Eagle, Jr., entered the United States 
 Navy on New Year's Day, 1818, and passed about a 
 year on the seventy-four-gun ship Independence, then 
 used as a school-ship for midshipmen in Boston Har- 
 bor. His naval service began on a vessel whose his- 
 tory was calculated to awaken his youthful ardor and 
 keep his patriotic duty in mind. In 1813 Commodore 
 Decatur, commanding the frigate United States, cap- 
 tured the British frigate Macedonian, after a despe- { 
 rate resistance, with slight American loss. The vessel 
 was greatly damaged, but had been refitted and at- 
 tached to the American navy. Midshipman* Eagle 
 sailed in the frigate, under command of Captain 
 Downs, for the Pacific coast of South America, then 
 passing from the feeble grasp of Spain. Seven days 
 after leaving Boston the vessel lost her masts in a se" 
 
 vere storm, but succeeded by the aid of jury masts in 
 reaching Norfolk, Va., where damages were repaired. 
 While at Panama an incident occurred illustrating his 
 generous impulses, not yet fully curbed by conven- 
 tional rules. A young English surgeon, named Ker- 
 nan, belonging to the expedition of Sir Gregor 
 McGregor, had been captured with others during the 
 attack on Porto Bello, and marched across the country 
 to Panama, where he was placed in the chain gang 
 and condemned to be a street scavenger. The owner 
 of a drug store ascertaining his profession, obtained 
 permission to employ him. Young Eagle, who visited 
 the store, learned the facts, and taking another mid- 
 shipman into his confidence, rescued and secreted the 
 prisoner on board the ship, though fired on six or eight 
 times while making the attempt. On demand of the 
 viceroy. Captain Downs made search, without discov- 
 ering the surgeon until after he had put to sea. One 
 of the most valued souvenirs in possession of the Com- 
 modore's surviving family is a letter written by Ker- 
 nan, warmly expressing his gratitude for deliverance 
 from a captivity which would doubtless have ended in 
 death. At this period the gallant General SanMartin, 
 who had conquered liberty for Chili, was engaged in 
 efforts for emancipating Peru. Aided by the govem- 
 emments of Chili and Buenos Ayres, he had fitted out 
 an expedition to attack Lima, while a naval armament, 
 the command of which had been given to Lord Cock- 
 rane, blockaded Callao. Having occasion to visit the 
 port, Captain Downs was informed by the American 
 consul at Valparaiso, that the Chilian commander 
 had sent word that he would sink the Macedonian if 
 she attempted to enter the harbor. The independence 
 of Chili not having yet been acknowledged by any na 
 
CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF NEW YORK. 
 
 tion, Captain Downs proceeded on bis way. On his 
 approach Lord Coclirane came out to meet liim witli 
 several vessels of war, and the decks of tlie jMacedo- 
 niaii were cleai'ed for action. To Lord Cockrane's de- 
 mand, Captain Downs returned answer that he could 
 not respect the blockade, as it was not enforced by a 
 national squadron. The Macedonian sailed up the 
 harbor, followed by the Chilian fleet, expecting an at- 
 tack every moment, and cast anchor just beyond reach 
 of the forts on shore. Midshipman Eagle was Captain 
 Downs' aid, and familiar with all the correspondence 
 and intentions of the commander. The next day, as 
 they neared the shore, two of the forts commenced 
 firing on the American frigate, under the impression 
 tliat it belonged to the Chilian squadron, but when the 
 mistake was discovered an apology was offered. A 
 few weeks later, about midnight. Midshipman Eagle 
 ■was on deck and saw a line of Chilian boats approach- 
 in;; the ship with nmffled oars. Order was at once 
 issued for oflicers and men to assemble at their quar- 
 ters. On communicating with the boats it wa.i learned 
 that they were bound for the Spanish frigate Esmer- 
 alda, moored with other war vessels under the guns 
 of the Peruvian forts. In a short time the firing and 
 clashing of small arms and cutlasses denoted the at- 
 tack, and after a half-hour of desperate fighting the 
 groans of tlie wounded and dying, and the shouts of 
 the victors proclaimed the result. The Esmeralda 
 was cut out, and the last vestige of the Spanish naval 
 power in the Pacific annihilated. As the captured 
 frigate drifted near the Macedonian, the forts com- 
 menced firing on both vessels, and the Macedonian re- 
 ceived considerable damage before she could get out 
 of range. A boat was sent ashore the next morning, 
 which was received with a volley of musketry, wound- 
 ing several of the men. It subsequently appeared 
 that these acts of hostility liad been occasioned by the 
 belief that the Macedonian was rendering aid to the 
 Chilian fleet. A- demand for redress was treated with 
 courtesy, but the viceroy was unable to do much more 
 than furnish an escort from Lima for Captain Downs 
 and twenty masters and supercargoes of Amcrcau 
 merchantmen, who were taken by the Macedonian's 
 boats to their respective vessels. The frigate returned 
 to Boston in June, 1831, and a few days afterwards 
 Midshipman Eagle was attacked on Charlestown 
 
 Bridge by one of the sailors whom he had caused to be 
 punished for mLsconduct, and who had threatened to 
 kill him. While defending himself, other persons ap- 
 proached and the man fled. It was the custom of the 
 period for midshipmen to go into the merchant service 
 to gain experience. Accordingly, after being sta- 
 tioned at the Brooklyn Navy Yard until the latter part 
 of 1822, }'Oung Eagle took a voyage as a sailor on the 
 American ship Beaver to the East Indies and China, 
 without special incident, except that he came near be- 
 ing lost overboard in a heavy squall. His salary on 
 this cruise was half pay from the Government, $115 
 per annum. After this voyage, he was for a time on 
 duty in the Navy Yard, and was then transferred to 
 the man-of-war brig Enterprise, fitting out for a cruise 
 in the West Indies after pirates. Five or six mouths 
 were passed in this way, when the vessel was totallj- 
 wrecked on the uninhabited island, called Little Cu- 
 racoa. One of the lieutenants and Midshipman Eagle 
 were sent to Curavoa to charter and prepare a vessel 
 for taking home the officers and crew. This was sat- 
 isfactorily accomplished, and on his return he was or- 
 dered to the sloop of war Erie, of the Mediterranean 
 squadron. In the harbor of Syracuse, where the ves- 
 sels were quarantined, two of the Erie's boats were 
 torn from their moorings by a violent gale. Young 
 Eagle was dispatched to tow them back, and a second 
 boat was sent to his assistance from the flag-ship Con- 
 stitution. Night coming on, the Constitution's boat 
 was driven ashore and dashed to pieces in the surf, 
 and the Erie's boat was in imminent danger. After 
 exhausting efforts one of the men mutinied, and Eagle 
 applied force personally to compel him to do his duty. 
 The night was consumed in abortive attempts to re- 
 gain the ve.ssel, from which rockets and blue-lights 
 were thrown up to show its position. In the morning 
 the Constitution was reached, but as the midshipman 
 was going up the stern ladder he fell back into the wa- 
 ter from sheer exhaustion. A violent sickness was 
 induced by the night's exposure, and five attending 
 surgeons of the fleet gave up all hope of his recovery, 
 but on arriving at Messina he was taken to a hotel for 
 better accommodations, and in a few weeks was able 
 to resume duty. The squadron touched at several of 
 I lie Grecian islands. War was raging between the 
 Greeks and Turks, and the massacre on the Island of 
 
CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPIIV OF NEW YORK. 
 
 8cio had taken place a short time before. While at 
 jinchor iu the Archipelago, a boat manned by Turks 
 approached and offered some of the captive women 
 and children for sale. Meeting with refusal, they 
 threatened to take their victims ashore and kill them, 
 but were pursued and the prisoners were rescued. 
 Some weeks were spent at the port of Smyrna, and 
 then the fleet separated, and the Erie sailed for Al- 
 giers, arriving there just after the British consul had 
 been falsely accused by the Dey of appropriatiug to 
 himself a portion of the English tribute and had em- 
 barked for Malta, leaving his residence, property and 
 papers in the care of the American consul, Mr. Shaler. 
 That official refused the demand of the Dey for de- 
 livery, and threatened to haul down his flag if he was 
 interfered with. The officers of the Erie were invited 
 to visit Mr. Shaler, and Mr. Eagle shared his hospi- 
 tality. Sailing from Malta, they were again enter- 
 tained at a grand fete given by the authorities to the 
 Marquis and Marchioness of Hastings, who had ar- 
 rived there. The British consul and his family were 
 present, and extraordinary marks of attention were 
 lavished on the American officers, on account of the 
 assistance rendered by our consul at Algiers, whose 
 •course, when known, was sustained liy our Govern- 
 ment. During the year 1825 the Erie visited the Bay 
 of Naples, Lord Byron being there at the time cruis- 
 ing in the yacht on which he wrote one of his cele- 
 brated poems. B3'rou would frequently invite parties 
 of ladies and gentlemen to enjoy a sail with him, but 
 when he felt inclined to write, no matter under what 
 circumstances, he would immediately take up his pen 
 and in a dictatorial manner command all the noise and 
 revelry to cease, and then write until he was wearied. 
 He visited the Erie often, and on one occasion re- 
 mained on board quite late, forgetting, in his conviv- 
 iality, an engagement he had to escort Lady Blessing- 
 ton to the opera, until she appeared in her launch 
 alongside and her name was announced to the startled 
 company. Mr. Eagle was commissioned lieutenant 
 March 3, 1837, and in that and the following year 
 cruised again in the West Indies in the sloop-of-war 
 Natchez, where on one occasion he commanded the 
 launch, and with another boat's crew attacked and 
 routed a pirate schooner. Toughened by his adven- 
 tures, and being a good sailor, brave and judicious, 
 
 he was well fitted for such expeditions. The pirates, 
 whenever found, were chased to their retreats, their 
 huts and boats burned, and property recovered. Re- 
 turning, he was sent to the Brazils in the frigate Hud- 
 son, the flag-ship of the squadron, and remained on 
 that station for some years. In 1833 he married Mi- 
 nerva, the daughter of Sheldon Smith, a gallant Con- 
 necticut soldier of the war of 1812, and at one time a 
 part owner with Cornelius Vanderbilt of the steamboat 
 Caroline, named after his eldest daughter, which plied 
 between Bridgeport and New York. Selling out to 
 Vanderbilt, he went to Newark, N. J., where he 
 planned and constructed its reservoirs and water- 
 works. Mr. Smith was also associated with Anson G. 
 Phelps in founding the manufacturing village of Bir- 
 mingham, Conn., and afterwards in promoting its in- 
 terests. His death occurred in 1863. Lieutenant Eagle, 
 after his marriage, was attached to the receiving ship 
 at New York, and in 1834 sailed again for the Br.t- 
 zilian station in the sloop Erie, where he passed a sec- 
 ond period of several years. He was stationed at the 
 rendezvous at New York in 1840, and the next two 
 years cruised in the Pacific Ocean on the sloop-of-war 
 YorktowD, when he was placed in command of the 
 schooner Shark, and served two years more on the 
 Pacific station. He was commissioned commander 
 June 4th, 1844. On his return he was detailed to 
 superintend the construction of the Stevens iron bat- 
 tery at Hoboken, to which he devoted several years, 
 acting as inspector in New York in 1846. The Mexi- 
 can War called him to the Gulf, where he commanded 
 the bomb vessel ^Etna and a division of five vessels 
 of the squadron. Taking Frontera, the seaport of the 
 fertile province of Tobasco, in southern Mexico, noted 
 for its superior dye-woods and mahogany and other 
 valuable timber, he was appointed civil and military 
 Governor of the province and Collector of the Port. 
 The imports were principally from this country. He 
 performed the duties of his dual oftlce so acceptably, 
 increasing the revenue, opening schools, and encour- 
 aging people to industry, that on the restoration of 
 peace they besought him to remain, declaring that he 
 had lightened their burdens and elevated their condi- 
 tion. Subsequently to the war he was on special 
 service. In 1853 he was sent to the Gulf of St. Law- 
 rence and adjacent waters, in command of the steamer 
 
CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF NEW YORK. 
 
 Princeton of the home squadron, to protect the inter- 
 ests of our fishermen. After a year or more spent in 
 this service, Captain Eagle was, in November, 1854, 
 ordered to cruise in the Princeton in search of the 
 missing sloop-of-vrar Albany, commanded by his old 
 friend. Commander Gerry, who had sailed from As- 
 pinwall September 25th, 1854. After a fruitless 
 cruise of two months through the Caribbean Sea and 
 the West Indies, all hope was abandoned : the Albany 
 was never heard from. September 14th, 1855, he was 
 commissioned captain. On the first overt act of re- 
 bellion in 1861, he was the bearer of important com- 
 munications from the commandant of the Brooklyn 
 Navy Yard to Washington. Having accomplished 
 his mission, he asked for immediate active service. 
 The only command then available was that of the 
 gunboat Monticello, which, though not equal to his 
 rank, he willingly accepted, arriving in Hampton 
 Roads within a few days after the fall of Fort Sumter. 
 During the remainder of April and the month of May 
 he blockaded the James and Elizabeth Rivers. On 
 the 19th of May he made the first naval attack of the 
 war and silenced the guns of the battery at Sewell's 
 Point, one of the defenses of Norfolk. In connection 
 with this memorable attack, he subsequently received 
 an official letter from Hon. Gideon Welles, then Sec- 
 retary of the Navy, in which was stated: "The De- 
 partment cannot withhold the expression of its high 
 appreciation of your promptitude and gallantry." 
 The command of the frigate Santee was now ready 
 for him, and he sailed for the Gulf, and passed two 
 years principally in blockading Pensacola, Florida, 
 and Galveston, Texas, during which time he captured 
 several vessels, including the privateer Royal Yacht. 
 While blockading Galveston, Captain Eagle requested 
 of Farragut that he be assigned to duty in the contests 
 on the Mississippi River, to which Farragut wrote in 
 reply : "Your turn will come, I hope soon, for active 
 employment in rougher work." This wish to have 
 Eagle with him in the Mississippi fight, was not, how- 
 ever, to be realized, for the Santee, although a splen- 
 did frigate, was unfit and unable to do the work of a 
 steamer in running past forts, etc. It was Eagle's 
 misfortune that in volunteering so soon for service, he 
 had to be given a sailing vessel. He received his com- 
 mission as commodore, July 16th, 1863, and on the 
 
 Ist of January following, having reached tlie age of 
 sixty-two, was placed on the retired list. He was, 
 however, assigned to active duty again, and was prize 
 commissioner in New York in 1864, and a part of 
 1865, and for a year later, inspector of light-houses at 
 the South. His later years were mainly passed in 
 New Y'ork in the companionship of his family and 
 numerous friends, by whom he was much esteemed. 
 From the year 1870, he was a member of the Military 
 Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, and 
 after serving for two or three years as vice-com- 
 mander, he was elected commander, and occupied that 
 station for two successive years. After his death, at a 
 stated meeting of the Commandery, held at Del- 
 monico's, February 7, 1883, the following report was 
 adopted : 
 
 "In the death of Commodore Henry Eagle the 
 Commandery has cause to deplore the loss of one of 
 its patriotic, gallant and distinguished companions. 
 He leaves to us a noble example of fidelity, devotion 
 and efficiency in the service of our country, and the 
 commendable character of an upright. Christian sailor. 
 **«*«** (^Here follows his official record). 
 Commodore Eagle was one of the oldest members of 
 this Commandery, and greatly attached to it : he at- 
 tended its deliberations, (often as presiding officer), as 
 long as his health and strength would permit. Be it 
 therefore. 
 
 Resolved, That this Commandery hereby desires to 
 commemorate and record its high appreciation of the 
 eminent services of its late companion, its esteem for 
 his generous and amiable character, and its deep re- 
 gret for the loss the Commandery has sustained. 
 
 Resolved, That this Commandery hereby tender to 
 his bereaved family, its heartfelt sympathy in this 
 their sore affliction. 
 
 Resolved, Tliat a copy of this memorial be sent to 
 the family of the deceased, and a copy be furnished 
 for publication in the Army mid Navy Journal. 
 Hbnet Walke, 
 
 Rear Admiral U. S. N., (Ret'd). 
 John M. Sghofield, 
 
 Major General U. S. A. 
 Henry W. Slooum, 
 
 Major General U. 8. V. 
 
 Committee." 
 
 Commodore Eagle was also a member of the Asso- 
 ciation of Mexican Veterans. Among his life-long 
 friends were such men as William E. Dodge, Admiral 
 Farragut, Hamilton Fish, Wilson G. Hunt, Alexander 
 S. Webb, and others distinguished in our State and Na- 
 
CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY OF NEW YORK. 
 
 tional history. His tastes were simple and his nian- 
 uers kindly and unostentatious. He never used 
 tobacco or liquor and was never heard to swear. 
 When grog was served in the navy he drew his allow- 
 ance the same as other officers, and it was often won- 
 dered what he did with it, until it was eventually dis- 
 covered that he used it for external application when 
 he went below after being wet through on watch. He 
 attended the same church that Admiral Farragut did, 
 and, after the latter's death, sat for years in a pew 
 facing the mural tablet erected to the memory of that 
 officer by the Loyal Legion, of which Farragut was the 
 first commander. Twice regularly, every Sunday, 
 during the latter years of his life, as long as his 
 strength would 'permit. Commodore Eagle was to be 
 seen at church, an earnest and attentive communicant. 
 He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery within a hun- 
 dred feet of his old comrade Farragut. Of the many 
 pleasant mementoes which the family have received 
 from admiring friends since the Commodore's death, 
 one is specially prized, it being a letter from a former 
 
 cabin boy of his, now seventy -one years of age, and 
 who had never seen or heard of his old commander 
 since, until informed of his death. He writes, "I 
 never forgot the favor to a runaway boy, as he first 
 taught me the compass, and was the means of my 
 promotion. * * * While on board the sloop-of- 
 war Natchez, Lieutenant Buchanan outranked Mr. 
 Eagle, and it was much talked of among the officers 
 and crew. The sailors all said Buchanan was a fine 
 gentleman, but Eagle was the best sailor, as he could 
 both throw the lead, hand reef and steer, and make 
 any knot or splice, while Buchanan could only give 
 orders." Commodore Eagle's widow survives him, 
 and four of their nine children, two sons and two 
 daughters. Clifford F. served as captain in the Union 
 army during the Rebellion; Clarence H. is in the 
 militia service, having been connected with^the Sev- 
 enth Regiment for eight years; Isabel C. married 
 Fitch W. Smith of New York; and Ida M. married 
 Thomas H. Messenger of Brooklyn. 
 
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