GEORGE DEWEY 153 hidden behind a levee began firing. One of the shells exploded at the ship *8 side, mortally wounding the captain of the ship and slightly injuring Farragut's chief of staff who was on board. It seemed marvelous that Dewey, who was standing near these two, was not struck by some of the flying pieces. A. large naval force was not necessary on the river after the taking of Vicksburg, and Dewey was transferred to the Brook- lyn which was to report to Bear- Admiral Dahlgren at Charles- ton, South Carolina. From Charleston the Brooklyn was sent to the New York Navy Yard to be overhauled and Dewey had his first holiday since the beginning of the war. This he spent at his home in Vermont. On his return to service he was made executive oflScer of a third-rate wooden, side-wheel steamer, the Agawam^ on which he remained until November, 1864. His next assignment made him executive oflScer of the Colorado^ one of the big steam frigates which was in both attacks made on Fort Fisher. The training of the Colorado 's crew was a hard task for there were some ruffians in it who were insubordinate. The first time Dewey called for all hands some of the men remained below because they thought it was too cold to get up. The executive officer went among their hammocks and, whenever he found one occupied, turned the occupant out. The next time he called for all hands, every man appeared for they had learned that the new executive officer had to be obeyed. After the victory at Fort Fisher, Commodore Thatcher, who had been in command of the ColoradOj was promoted to rear- admiral of the Gulf Squadron and wished Dewey to go as his chief of staff. Again Dewey *s youth was against him, so he was finally made executive officer of the KearsargSy which post he filled for nearly a year. He then became executive of the Canandaigua. When the executive officer of the Colorado was detached, Dewey was given the place by Bear- Admiral Goldsborough, commander of the European Squadron, who said to him, **Now is your chancel Take the Colorado and make a man-of-war of her. * * Altogether, from 1862 to 1867, George Dewey had been the executive officer of nine ships. After the war was over the European Squadron was re-estab-
