"In 1865, he went to some European port and brought a blockade runner, the name of which I have forgotten. In the early part of 1866, he was mustered out of service and went to New Orleans, intending to go into business. In the July riots he was shot through the shoulder; and, thinking the climate unhealthy, went to St. Louis. Here he fell in with a representative of the government of Chili, and went to South America.
"In an attack on Callao—for Peru and Chili were at war—he fell into the hands of the Peruvians, and with his usual luck was sentenced to be shot. By bribing the guards, he succeeded in escaping and making his way on board of an English vessel, and was landed at Panama. Crossing the Isthmus to Aspinwall, he found a vessel ready to leave for New Orleans; and, though without money, managed to secure a passage to that place.
"Without money he was naturally open for any adventure, and a representative of the Cuban rebellion was the first to offer him a chance. He sailed directly to Nuevitas, and before he had been in that port a week had fallen in love with a young Cuban widow, who, though childless, was possessed of an immense plantation. After the briefest possible courtship, they were married in the latter part of 1867 or early in 1868; within three months of the wedding she died from yellow fever; and before the end of the year her estate, which he had inherited, was confiscated, and he barely escaped with his life, landing in Florida in an open boat and in a half-starved condition, without friends or money. He managed to reach Indianapolis in July, 1869, when a naval acquaintance and friend, James Noble, gave him an outfit of clothes and money sufficient to take him to Chicago. Here he determined to locate, and went to work to find business. He got an agency for the sale of coal, and soon had quite a start in the coal business. When the Chicago fire broke out, on that dreadful Sunday night, he was out on the lake boating with a party of friends. When he got back, the conflagration had swept his little coal pile, his office and sleeping room, and he was again left in the world without a change of clothes, and with less than five dollars in money. The third day of the fire he was found by Otto Hasselman, of the Indianapolis Journal, who was on the ground with a corps of reporters; and by him sent to Indianapolis, where he was again furnished with an outfit and a ticket to St. Louis. Shortly after reaching that place he entered the service of the wholesale house of R. L. Billingsley & Co., and remained with them until a year ago, when he purchased a farm in Illinois."
January 16, 1866, I received a two month's "leave of absence," at the expiration of which I received the following discharge:
United States of America,
Navy Department.
The war for the preservation of the Union having, under the beneficent guidance of Almighty God, been brought to a successful termination, a reduction of the naval force becomes necessary.
Having served with fidelity in the United States Navy from the 22d day of March, 1864, to the present date, you are hereby honorably discharged with the thanks of the Department.
Given under my hand and seal, at the city of Washington, this 23d day of March, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy.
Acting Assistant Surgeon,
John M. Batten,
U.S. Navy.