SEADOG vs SCHOLAR - The Erben Mahan Feud by Capt. John M. Ellicott.

In 1848 an eighteen-year-old, robust, stocky New York youth, named Henry Erben, received an appointment as midshipman in the Navy and was assigned to the frigate ST. LAWRENCE for training. About a year later, he passed an examination for the new Naval School at Annapolis as passed-midshipman and later graduated seventeenth in the Class of 1855. Next he was ordered to the USS POTOMAC then engaged in intercepting filibustering expeditions of the American sympathizers endeavoring to aid Cuban insurgents against Spain.  

Shortly afterwards, the POTOMAC captured the filibuster barque AMELIA and young Erben, having been commissioned master, was put in charge of her with a prize crew to take her to New York. He had scarcely sailed when the AMELIA ran into a West Indian hurricane which completely dismantled her. Drifting helplessly for about seventy days under a jury rig, she got into St. Thomas a useless hulk with an almost starving crew. The heroism, fortitude, and endurance of the blue jackets under his command made a lasting impression on Erben.

He was then ordered to the SUPPLY which had been assigned to transporting camels from Egypt to Texas in connection with a War Department experiment to determine the practicability of using camels to freight supplies across the arid areas in the Southwest U.S. 

Promoted to lieutenant, he was next ordered to the steamer VIXEN and from transporting camels went to deep sea sounding for the Atlantic cable. These kaleidoscopic changes were followed by orders to the steam frigate MISSISSIPPI on the China Station. This ship was engaged in obtaining Chinese treaty ports for the world commerce. When the Civil War came, Erben was again ordered to the SUPPY which was part of the Gulf Squadron at Pensacola. Almost immediately, the Pensacola Navy Yard and neighboring forts were captured by the Confederates. Erben in retaliation, made a daring night landing, spiked guns and destroyed ammunition and material. The next day, the SUPPLY evacuated all Union personnel from the navy yard and adjacent forts and transported them to New York: then she returned to the Gulf Blockade. 

Erben had now become recognized as an officer with extensive combat experience and was transferred to the Admiral Farragut's fleet which was opening the Mississippi River. He was given command of the ironclad ST. LOUIS and participated in the bombardment of Fort Pillow and capture of Memphis. 

Promoted to lieutenant commander in July 1862, Erben received another unique assignment. From the bombardment of forts and engagements against Confederate rams on the Mississippi, he was ordered to command a battery of howitzers in the Army of the Potomac before Richmond and participated in the second battle of Bull Run.

In October of the same year, he was again afloat as executive officer of the monitor PATAPSCO and took part in blockading operations along the Atlantic Coast until May 1864, when he was given command of the PONOLA of the West Gulf Squadron. He captured two blockade runners off Galveston, Texas, and in a bold landing expedition, destroyed a torpedo station under the batteries of Matagorda.

Just when Erben began to wear sideburns or Burnsides, I have been unable to ascertain, these masculine facial adornments became fashionable when General Burnside was commander-in-chief of the Army of the Potomac. Erben's adoption of this style made him so strikingly resemble the pictorial personification of the John Bull that he received the nickname of Bully Erben.  In later years he allowed these facial adornments to grow long and spiky, probably to nullify the nickname. 

Continuous assignments afloat and ashore took him to the South Atlantic in 1867-68; to the New York Navy Yard as ordinance officer; to the North Pacific again making deep sea soundings for an ocean cable; to command of the school ship SARATOGA; to Commandant of the Portsmouth (N.H.) Navy Yard, and to command the school ship St. MARYS.

So efficient had Erben been in all his varied and important assignments that when promoted to captain in 1879,  he was given the prize command of the steam frigate PENSACOLA, about to set out on a cruise around the world. At the completion of this cruise he had his first period of "waiting orders" which lasted for six months. After that he was promoted to commodore and made commandant of the New York Navy Yard.

At this point however, the College received new impetus through the publication of a book by Capt. Alfred T. Mahan (Scholar) entitled The Influence of Sea Power Upon History. Luce got the Secretary of the Navy to assign Mahan to the War College as a lecturer and later to succeed Luce as its President. It seems not unlikely that by detaching Luce from the War College and giving him an usually long term of service afloat and by acquiescing in the selection of Mahan who was therorist with no experience as an administrator, the Chief of Bureau of Navigation hoped to doom the War College. But Mahan made good and when later he was again selected for President of the College there was no reasonable pretext for opposing it. 

The next countermove was to detach Mahan, who was long overdue for duty afloat, from the College and order him to sea. So in May 1893, he was assigned command of the cruiser USS CHICAGO on the European Station. Less than a month later Erben's tour of duty a Commandant of the New York Navy Yard was curtailed. He was commissioned an acting rear admiral, ordered to command the European Station, and assign the USS CHICAGO as his flagship. Thus, Erben, the old seadog opponent of the War College, was placed over Mahan, its most brilliant exponent. Was this by chance? 

Erben's almost first act was to hold admiral's inspection disregarding the fact that his new captain had scarcely had time to become acquainted with his officers, his ship, and its crew. The result was, as might have been expected, not creditable; Erben sent in an unfavorable report of fitness. Many of Mahan's admirers seems to think this was done with malice aforethought. I, knowing Erben's habitual extreme impatience, do not think so. Nevertheless, it started a coldness between the two which lasted a long time. In view of the excellent report on Mahan by Rear Admiral Kirkland who succeeded Erben and under whom Mahan completed his cruise, Erben's report would seem to have been premature and unreasonable. Nevertheless, Erben and Mahan avoided each other personally. In official contacts, Erben was severely critical of Mahan and at times almost abusive.

And so matters went as the CHICAGO cruised in the Mediterranean and then finally anchored at Villefranche to give shore liberty to her crew. At nearby Nice, France were the families of several of the CHICAGO's officers, among them was Mrs. Erben. This colony of American naval expatriates brought Erben and Mahan together at frequent social gatherings. Gradually there was a noticeable change in Erben's attitude. During the CHICAGO's sojourn at Ville Franche the menacing Pullman strike which disrupted all mail transportation occurred in the United States. the news of it reached us one Sunday morning while church was being rigged. A lectern had been placed on the main deck with mess benches for the crew in front of it and a row of chairs for the officers behind it. 

Had this incident occurred a few months earlier it is more that probable that it would have resulted in an impatient and sever reprimand for Mahan. But Erben after reading the report carefully, sat in meditation for a few moments, then, with a grunt, handed it to his flag secretary, Ensign Kittelle, saying, "Take this endorsement, "As Chaplain S-------- claims this to be a matter between himself and his God. I do not feel that I have the authority to adjudicate it. I therefore refer it to the Navy Department. 

Nothing more was ever heard about the matter.

Mahan's writings had created an enthusiastic furore in England and our government was asked to sent the CHICAGO to British home waters so he could be heard and entertained in person. The ship was accordingly ordered to Gravesend in the Thames and a series of invitations and entertainments for Mahan followed at which Erben was, of course, properly invited. These included banquets, select luncheons, and dinners given by high government officials and diplomats; and eventually, presentations at Court. At first the two would go ashore separately, Erben in his barge with a few selected aides -- one of whom was usually myself. Gradually Erben became impressed by Mahan's talks and the eager and serious reception accorded them. He came to look upon Mahan as a brilliant prodigy and began to invite hime to accompany him in his barge when going ashore to these functions.

Finally, there came an invitation from Queen Victioria to dine with her at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. Erben took the CHICAGO to the Cowes for that purpose.

One evening, near midnight, Erben and Manhan returned from a dinner ashore while I was officer-on-the-deck. The latter went to his cabin with a brief "good night" but Erben remained on the gangway - grating gazing out pensively at the placid moonlit waters of the Solent. I joined him and ventured to say: "What's on your mind, Admiral?" - "Mahan makes me nervous," he said. "he seems to think there's a subversive group organizing in our country. He's a deep thinker and may be right, but he even thinks there may be subversives in this crew."

He was again silent when suddenly there was a loud report  close to his head. "Godamit!" he exclaimed, stepping aside and grasping the gangway railing. "What was that?" - "Admiral, it was your coxswain getting out of his hammock," I said. "He let the hammock-netting lid fall." (The CHICAGO's hammock netting had iron lids.) "Send for the damn fool!" said the Admiral. "Get him to the mast." I sent a member of the anchor-watch for the coxswain while the Admiral resumed his silent contemplation of the water of the Solent. Then he turned and came from the gangway onto the quarterdeck. As he did so a tall, shadowy figure loomed up near him. "Who's that?" he exclaimed,  stepping backward. "Your coxswain, Admiral," said I, "You sent for him". "Oh--oh yes," "Give him hell, Good night." And he went to his cabin. 

The climax of the entertaining in London was a banquet given by the British Admiralty at which were invited representatives of all the services, high government officials, and members fo the foreign diplomatic corps.  

I had the first dog-watch that day and shortly after four o'clock saw the Admiral come out of his cabin, totter about a bit, then slump into his quarter-deck chair. The Senior doctor who was on the quarterdeck at the time with a group of officers hurried to him. It was known that Erben was suffering from acute eczema. "Have you been taking those pills I prescribed for you?" asked the Doctor as he felt the admiral's pulse. "I've taken them all," he replied. "Good heavens!" exclaimed the Doctor. "I told you to take one every four hours." "You shouldn't have given me the box," said the Admiral. "You knew I was an impatient man." The Doctor went for an antidote while I remained by the Admiral's chair. "You shouldn't attempt to go to that banquet tonight, Admiral," I suggested. "I've got to go," he mumbled, "to balance up Mahan. He'll give 'em a talk which may go clean over their heads. they may not know what it's all about unless they read it in the paper tomorrow. I'll be called upon, of course, and I'm going to try to five 'em a little talk which may brighten things up."

I arranged for a relief and attended the banquet at Erben's request. Mahan spoke first. He was at his best and received prolonged applause. Then Erben was called upon, arose and said: "During the past few weeks I have heard many interesting talks about great naval heroes but there is one Navy hero who seems to have been entirely overlooked, and that is Jack, the man behind the Gun".  Tremendous applause interrupted him and when it subsided he went on to tell of the many acts of heroism on the part of enlisted men which had come under his observation during the Civil War. Loud applause followed when he sat down and the guest rushed forward to shake his hand, but Doctor DuBois who had requested a seat near him rose and waved them back, saying loudly: "The Admiral is not well. He must return to the ship." And he led him from the hall. A few mornings later Punch, the London Chrivari, printed an eight-verse poem which its publishers have recently given me permission to quote in full. Erben was within a few months of retirement for age and expected to be relieved, so he took the CHICAGO to Southampton where he was joined by Mrs. Erben who was returning home to the United States. The evening before she sailed, he gave a bon voyage dinner in her honor in his cabin. Only close friends were invited - included was Alfred Mahan.

ISLE OF WIGHT at Ventonor in the English Solent 

The Man Behind the Gun

("A bond of affection existed between the navies of England and America, and they were always glad to reciprocate the good feeling exhibited towards them by the British Navy, Nobody had said a word on behalf of JACK, the man behind the gun; but he was as good as he ever was, and blood was the thing that told." - Read Admiral Erben in response to the toast of "the United States Navy" at the banquet given a St. James Hall to the Officers fo the U.S Cruiser CHICAGO). Punch, the London Chrivari, wrote the poem below: