Chapter I: Front Matter

THE AMERICAN BOOKS

A LIBRARY OF GOOD CITIZENSHIP

“The American Books” are designed as a series of authoritative manuals, discussing problems of interest in America to-day.

THE AMERICAN BOOKS

THE AMERICAN COLLEGE BY ISAAC SHARPLESS
THE INDIAN TO-DAY BY CHARLES A. EASTMAN
COST OF LIVING BY FABIAN FRANKLIN
THE AMERICAN NAVY BY REAR-ADMIRAL FRENCH E. CHADWICK, U. S. N.
MUNICIPAL FREEDOM BY OSWALD RYAN
AMERICAN LITERATURE BY LEON KELLNER
(TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY JULIA FRANKLIN)
SOCIALISM IN AMERICA BY JOHN MACY
AMERICAN IDEALS BY CLAYTON S. COOPER
THE UNIVERSITY MOVEMENT BY IRA REMSEN
THE AMERICAN SCHOOL BY WALTER S. HINCHMAN
THE FEDERAL RESERVE BY H. PARKER WILLIS

(_For more extended notice of the series, see the last pages of this book._)

_The American Books_

The
American Navy

By
Rear-Admiral French E. Chadwick
(_U. S. N., Retired_)

GARDEN CITY NEW YORK
DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY
1915

_Copyright, 1915, by_
DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY

_All rights reserved, including that of
translation into foreign languages,
including the Scandinavian_

TO
MY COMRADES OF THE NAVY
PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Rear-Admiral French Ensor Chadwick was born at Morgantown, W. Va., February 29, 1844. He was appointed to the U. S. Naval Academy from West Virginia (then part of Virginia) in 1861, and graduated in November, 1864. In the summer of 1864 he was attached to the _Marblehead_ in pursuit of the Confederate steamers _Florida_ and _Tallahassee_. After the Civil War he served successively in a number of vessels, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander in 1869; was instructor at the Naval Academy; on sea service, and on lighthouse duty (1870-1882); Naval Attaché at the American Embassy in London (1882-1889); commanded the _Yorktown_ (1889-1891); was Chief Intelligence Officer (1892-1893); and Chief of the Bureau of Equipment (1893-1897).

During the war with Spain he was Admiral Sampson’s Chief of Staff, and also commanded the flagship _New York_. He participated in all the more important engagements in the Atlantic during the war; was advanced five numbers in rank for conspicuous conduct in battle, and was presented with a sword of honor by citizens of his native state.

From 1900 to 1903 he was President of the Naval War College at Newport; was promoted Rear-Admiral October 11, 1903, and in 1904 became commander-in-chief of the South Atlantic squadron. He retired February 28, 1906.

Rear-Admiral Chadwick is one of the most influential friends of the United States navy; he has written extensively on diplomatic and naval topics, and is the author of “Causes of the Civil War” in the “American Nation Series.” He is also much interested in problems of municipal government, is a member of the Newport Representative Council, a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters, corresponding member of the Massachusetts Historical Society, member of the American Historical Association, etc.