James Alden Jr. was an American naval officer. He took part in the Mexican-American War and American Civil War.
Background
James Alden Jr. was born on March 31, 1810 in Portland, Maine, United States. He was the son of James and Elizabeth (Tate) Alden. His father being a ship-owner and fifth in direct line from the Mayflower Pilgrim, John Alden, whose descendants numbered many merchant seamen in colonial and revolutionary times.
Career
Alden was appointed midshipman in 1828, and made his first cruise on the Concord in the Mediterranean. In 1838-1842 served as a lieutenant in the Wilkes, or South Sea Exploring Expedition, which cruised along the Antarctic continent and later among the Samoan, Hawaiian, and Fiji islands. In the latter group, a landing party was attacked by natives, and Alden led a boat expedition to the rescue; though arriving too late to save two brother officers, he averted the massacre of the rest.
In 1844-1846 he made a second voyage around the world, in the famous Constitution, and met another exciting adventure commanding a boat expedition which cut out several war junks under the guns of the fort in Zuron Bay, Cochin China.
The Mexican War found him attached to the Home Squadron, with which he served at the captures of Vera Cruz, Tuspan, and Tobasco. Commissioned commander in 1855, at the outbreak of the Civil War he was put in command of the South Carolina, with which he reenforced Fort Pickens. He commanded the Richmond in the passage of Forts Jackson and St. Philip below New Orleans, as well as in the running of the Vicksburg batteries and the action at Port Hudson. He was promoted to the rank of captain in 1863, and commanded the Brooklyn at the van of the column of wooden ships in the battle of Mobile Bay. Appalled by the sudden sinking of the monitor Tecumseh and the report of torpedoes ahead, he stopped his ship and began backing. His action threw the fleet into disorder but evoked Farragut's decisive dash in the Hartford to the head of the column. Alden's conduct was the object of some courteous animadversion in Farragut's official report and aroused considerable controversy. There is little doubt that he was guilty of indecision and perhaps overcautiousness. Yet his fault has been kindly treated.
He rounded his war service by participating in the attacks on Fort Fisher, and was commissioned commodore in 1866. He rose to the rank of rear admiral, and after a brief command of the European Squadron retired in 1872.
He died in San Francisco.
Achievements
Views
Quotations:
"Damn the torpedoes! Go ahead!"
Personality
Alden was a man of fine appearance, and is described as courtly and accomplished.
Quotes from others about the person
"A good seaman, a skilful officer, whose battle-record attests his bravery, his hesitation . .. must needs be ascribed to an error in judgment. " - F. A. Parker
Connections
Alden was married to Sarah Ann Alden. They had no children.