Jr. Commodore Reigart B

1. Auflage 2021
ISBN: 978-1-0983-7325-2
Verlag: BookBaby
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 266 Seiten

Biography of Reigart B. Lowry who was a career naval officer who spent 40 years in the U.S. Navy. He played an active role in many of the major operations of the Navy from 1840 to 1880. He graduated from the first class at Annapolis, fought in the Mexican War, went to Japan with Commodore Perry, and was in a ship off of Fort Sumter when the first shots of the Civil War were fired. He played an active role in many of the important naval operations of the Civil War. After the Civil War, military operations lessened, government corruption increased, and politicians tried to gain more influence in the Navy. Reigart Lowry fought against these influences, and in his last year, he led the fight against a fellow naval officer who was trying to take advantage of this atmosphere. This book is a story about the struggle of a man against political influence and corruption, and it is also a story about the man himself and about the Navy in which he served.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Jr.,

Leseproben

2.
Catherine Elizabeth Courtright Lowry One cold morning in November 1879, Reigart lay in bed half asleep, half awake. Someone was knocking at the door, but he was trying to ignore it. It was too cold to get up from under his warm blankets, and he had a headache from drinking too much the night before. Even though he had been in St. Catharines for nearly a year and a half, he knew no one and hoped the person would just go away. The knocking persisted, so he finally got up, cursing whoever it was all the way across the room. Opening the door, he found a boy there holding a telegram for him. Reigart snatched it from the boy and slammed the door in his face. Staggering back across the living room, Reigart slumped into one of his easy chairs. He had a good mind to get back under those nice warm blankets, but it would take too much energy to get out of the chair and back into bed. He did not feel like reading anything with the headache he had, but his curiosity finally got the best of him. Ripping open the envelope, he pulled out the telegram. When he saw Erie, Pennsylvania, in the heading, his heart skipped a beat. He wondered whether it was good news or bad news. The telegram was from a lawyer. He was notifying Reigart that Catherine Elizabeth Courtright Lowry had divorced him on November 8, 1879. Reigart read the telegram two or three times. Even though he had been separated from his wife for a year and a half, he had always hoped for reconciliation. He should have expected it, but Reigart could not accept the fact that his marriage of twenty-two years was over. This fact just would not sink in. As he sat there, he began to think about Bess and his marriage to her. He had been assigned to the Michigan in Erie, Pennsylvania, when he met her. He reported to the Michigan in August 1857, knowing that sailing on Lake Erie could be nothing like the ocean voyages to which he had become accustomed. Much to his regret, also, Reigart found that the Michigan spent most of its time stationed in Erie. In the winter when the lake froze over, the Michigan could not leave dockside for several months. In desperation, Reigart roamed the town looking for something to do. One day, shortly after his arrival in Erie, Reigart was walking through a park when he noticed a girl sitting alone on a bench. She was very pretty and petite, being only a little over five feet tall. Nineteen years old, Bess was twelve years Reigart’s junior. It was love at first sight, and the Reverend James Abercombie of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church married them at the Milton and Hannah Courtright home less than two months later, on October sixth. Reigart had married into a prominent family. Bess’s father, Milton Courtright, was a canal and railroad builder. He later introduced rapid transit to New York City and became the first President of the elevated railroad there. He built the Canada Southern Railway, later renamed the Michigan Central Railway, and became its first President. Milton had become one of the most wealthy and prominent citizens of Erie. Reigart hit it off with Milton. Milton was only sixteen years older than his new son-in-law and the men became great friends. Reigart was interested in Milton’s railroad building, but, even more, he liked to talk to Milton about canal building. For his part, Milton enjoyed talking with someone who understood canals. At the time of Reigart and Bess’s marriage, Milton was working on the Chesapeake and Albemarle Canal. Reigart had saved up some money, and when Milton asked him to become a partner, Reigart jumped at the chance. Now that he had a stake in the canal, Reigart studied the charts of the area until he knew every river, creek, inlet, and bay anywhere within fifty miles of the canal. Reigart’s divorce from Bess was terrible, but it also cost him a wonderful and close friendship with Milton. The fact of his divorce was beginning to sink in. It was all over. His depression began to deepen. The fact that he had a terrible hangover came back to him. He staggered into the kitchen, got a bottle of bourbon, and returned to his easy chair. He thought that maybe a few drinks would make him feel better. As he gulped his first mouthful of bourbon, he began thinking about Bess again. The first few months of marriage were among the happiest times of Reigart’s life. At about the same time as his marriage, the Michigan had gone into dry dock for seven months because Lake Erie had frozen over. Reigart had welcomed this opportunity to become acquainted with his new wife and family. These seven months would be the longest they would be together for many years to come. Reigart’s orders to report to the Cyane at Norfolk, Virginia, came as a terrible shock to the couple. Reigart reluctantly went, but his heart was not in it. He had become used to the easy life in Erie and all the pleasures of marriage. As he sat there, slumped in his chair in St. Catharines, Ontario, he had to crack a smile as he thought of what he had done to get back to his wife. Reigart told his new commanding officer that his wife was sick and that he had to get back to her side. He must have been convincing because his commander fell for it hook, line, and sinker. Reigart returned to Erie after being away for only one month, and miraculously, his wife’s health soon improved. Reigart’s good fortune did not last forever, however, and within a few months he became assigned to a ship that was scheduled to go to South America. This time, he was away from his wife for eight months. He was “condemned” by a medical survey as unfit for service when he returned. As on previous voyages, Reigart had suffered from rheumatism and had to be confined to a hospital in Norfolk. Before returning to Erie, he visited the Chesapeake and Albemarle Canal to review his investment. The Courtrights were happy to welcome Reigart back to Erie. Bess had missed her husband and Milton wanted to hear about the canal. Reigart spent many evenings with Milton going over the charts of the canal. Bess seemed happy that her husband got along so well with her father. Reigart’s life with his wife and in-laws was again interrupted after about five months when he became reassigned. He was relieved from this assignment because he had not completely recovered from his illnesses, and within a month, he again returned to Erie. When he was well, Reigart was assigned to the ship he would be on when the Civil War began. He would not see Bess again for over two and a half years. They corresponded, of course, but even that had to be sporadic because of the difficulties of the war. This period was a lonely one, for both parties. Reigart missed Bess, but he was kept so busy during the war that he had little time to think about her. At night when things settled down, he would think about her and write to her. During this time, Bess, too, tried to keep busy. She and Reigart had moved to Philadelphia just before the war. There, she joined social circles where she found other women in similar situations. Whenever one of the women received a letter, it was cause for a meeting. A letter from one husband would often have news about several other husbands. As Reigart took another swig of bourbon, he recalled the spending spree Bess went on when he came home in 1863. He felt bitter as he remembered how she blamed him for their financial difficulties. Spending money came naturally to Bess. She went to New York about once a month to buy clothes, often spending hundreds of dollars. Money had never been a problem for Bess. Her father had become wealthy from building railroads and canals. Bess always bought the best, whether in clothing, food, or any other merchandise, though she spent more on herself than on other members of her family. Just before Reigart returned from the Civil War, Bess went to New York on one of her wildest shopping sprees. She went to several of the finest shops in the city, including Mme. Anastasie Gigon-Russel, Couturiere de Paris, where she bought a gray silk dress for $250.00! When Reigart arrived in New York, Bess was waiting for him on the dock. Bess had arranged for a hotel for the night and had a coach waiting to take them there. They had a lot to catch up on. They retired early that evening. The couple returned to Philadelphia the next morning where they began to resume their regular home life at 132 S. 18th Street. Reigart was completely free from naval duties for his first month home. He and Bess got right into the social whirl of Philadelphia, going to parties and social events nearly every night. Reigart, the returning war hero, was always the hit of the party. By this time, Reigart had consumed most of his bourbon and was feeling no pain. As thoughts of his marriage flashed past him, he thought that his wife had not really had it all that bad, at least until the last year or two. At home, though Bess did all the shopping, she never lifted a finger inside the kitchen. She had cooks, maids, and servants do all the household work. The Lowrys ate and drank well. Liquor was a common commodity around the Lowry household. Reigart favored bourbon and brandy, and usually had a drink in his hand. Whenever a guest arrived, he was immediately offered a drink. At the dinner table, there was always a selection of wines, Claret and Catawba being the favorites. The food was always good. The most popular entree was chicken croquettes, and ice cream...