tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439626475683814389.post3372783292243693948..comments2023-11-04T14:26:39.499-04:00Comments on Lancaster at War: The USS Essex, CSS Arkansas, and 4th Master D. P. RosenmillerVincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07443492379769127484noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439626475683814389.post-56982792443023825312019-06-10T13:46:50.942-04:002019-06-10T13:46:50.942-04:00HON. DAVID PORTER ROSENMILLER
David P. Rosenmille...HON. DAVID PORTER ROSENMILLER<br /> David P. Rosenmiller was born March 21, 1841, in Dayton, Ohio, and received his education fro the most part at the schools of Lancaster, graduating from the Boys’ High School, after which he attended Franklin and Marshall College, leaving that institution when in the junior class, in order to enter the service of his country.<br /> On March 13, 1862, Mr. Rosenmiller was commissioned as fourth master in the gunboat service, Mississippi squadron, under First Flag Officer Foote. While on the U. S. S. “Essex” in 1862 he ran the batteries at Vicksburg; then proceeded down the river to New Orleans, and, after leave of absence, during which he visited Lancaster, Pa., he was promoted to the rank of ensign in the U. S. Navy, reporting to Admiral Porter on the Flagship “Black Hawk,” on which he served to toward the close of the war. He was then given command of the S. S. “Alexandria,” cruising on the vessel until the termination of hostilities, and having almost daily encounters with the Rebels.<br /> Mr. Rosenmiller’s naval experience may be briefly summed up as follows: Commissioned fourth master, March 134, 1862, in the U. S. Gunboat flotilla, by Flag Officer A. H. Foote; promoted to second master, in the same service, July 1, 1862, Flag officer C. H. Davis; commissioned by the Departmental acting ensign in the U. S. Navy, for duty in the Mississippi squadron, Nov. 12, 1862; promoted to acting master in the same service Aug. 18, 1863, by Rear Admiral David D. Porter (that distinguished admiral, by the way, having been a cousin of D. P. Rosenmiller’s father, the Admiral’s aunt having married the latter’s grandfather, Lewis Rosenmiller). The principal engagements in which D. P. Rosenmiller took part were: The attack on the rebel ram “Arkansas,” under the Vicksburg batteries at Baton Rouge; the destruction of the ram “Arkansas”; bombardment of Port Hudson; at Arkansas post and Haines Bluffs, and almost daily -- some days hourly -- in engagements when commanding the U. S. S. “Alexandria.” He was honorably discharged at New Orleans, Nov. 5, 1865, by reason of the close of the war. Such is the record, in brief, of the part taken in the war of the Rebellion by as gallant a sailor as ever commanded a gun. As a matter of justice -- and a thing to be proud of -- Mr. Rosenmiller received a bounty of $600 from the U. S. Government for the part he took in the affair with the Rebel ram “Arkansas.”<br /> The war ended, Mr. Rosenmiller returned to Lancaster and entered the office of Hon. J. B. Livingston as a law student. After reading there for a time, he entered the office of the late Hon. A. Herr Smith, where he completed his study, and in 1868 he was admitted to practice in the Supreme and Superior Courts. A stanch Republican in politics, standing well professionally, and commanding great personal strength, Mr. Rosenmiller was elected district attorney of Lancaster county, and not long after the expiration of his term as prosecuting attorney, he was elected to the legislature from the city district, serving two terms, 1875 and 1876. After his legislature experience, he was elected mayor of Lancaster by the Republicans, serving for two years, but after his retirement from the mayoralty, he took no active part in politics, but devoted himself assiduously to the practice of his profession, until his death May 3, 1891. He was a member of the G. A. R., of the Loyal Legion, and of Ireland City Lodge, No. 88, K. of P. In religion he was a Lutheran, belonging to Trinity Church.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com