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Home Town San Antonio, Texas
Last Address Died: June 30, 1920 (aged 75) at Mare Island, California. Place of burial: San Francisco National Cemetery, San Francisco, California
Date of Passing Jun 30, 1920
Location of Interment San Francisco National Cemetery (VA) - San Francisco, California
Oscar Walter Farenholt was the first enlisted man in the Navy to reach flag rank. Born 2 May 1843 at San Antonio, Texas to German immigrants, he learned English at a French school in New Orleans before joining the merchant marine. After three years, he enlisted in the Navy as a seaman 24 April 1861 on the outbreak of the Civil War.
Attached thereafter to the steam screw frigateWabash, he participated in the Battles of Hatteras Inslet, Port Royal and Fort Pulaski before being wounded at Pocotaligo, South Carolina on 22 October 1862. In 1863, after recovering, he was assigned to the monitorCatskill for the siege of Charleston, April 1863–April 1864. Appointed Acting Ensign on 19 August of that year, he commanded the mortar schooner Henry James during operations in the Sounds of North Carolina and the capture of Fort Fisher at Wilmington.
Promoted to ensign and then master in 1868, lieutenant in 1870, lieutenant commander in 1882 and commander in 1892, he assumed command of the gunboat Monocacy, which Admiral Dewey used as a base at Shanghai during the Spanish American War.
After tours at the Boston Navy Yard and at the Naval War College, Farenholt was promoted captain in 1900. He served as Commandant of the Navy Yard at Cavite in the Philippine Islands and commanded the monitor Monadnock, and was promoted rear admiral in 1901. He retired on 1 September of that year and died 30 June 1920 at Mare Island, California. He and his wife Ella are buried at the San Francisco National Cemetery in San Francisco.
Other Comments:
Civil War:
Farenholt entered the Navy as a seaman April 24, 1861, after 3 years in the merchant service. He participated in engagements and battles at Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries, Battle of Port Royal, Battle of Fort Pulaski, and numerous others. On Oct 22, 1862 while serving as a member of the howitzer gun crew aboard the USS Wabash, ordinary seaman Farenholt was severely wounded at the battle of Pocotaligo, South Carolina and was discharged from the Navy. He reentered the U.S. Navy in February, 1863 after recovering and was assigned to the monitor USS Catskill participating in almost daily engagements with defenses of Charleston, South Carolina from April 1863 to April 1864. He participated in the unsuccessful storming party of Fort Sumter in September, 1863. Distinguished service led to his appointment as Acting Ensign on August 19, 1864 and he was in command of the mortar schooner USS Henry Janes attached to the squadron in the Sounds of North Carolina later that year. He also participated in the recapture of Plymouth, North Carolina, and several engagements on the Roanoke, Chowan, and Blackwater rivers as well as the capture of Fort Fisher, North Carolina.
Spanish-American War: During the Spanish-American War, Farenholt was put in command of the USS Monocacy. The ship was an old vessel with about 50 crew members. The Monocacy was once said to be "only fit for a museum shelf." His ship was used as base of procurement at Shanghai for Dewey's fleet. Farenholt spent no time in the Caribbean during the war, even though that was where the majority of the fighting took place. He was given the task of obtaining a source for coal and supplies for the Asiatic Squadron through a Chinese intermediary. The efforts were kept secret, because this was against the neutrality laws.
Namesake: Two ships have been named for Farenholt, USS Farenholt (DD-332) and USS Farenholt (DD-491). USS Farenholt (DD-491) was commissioned in 1942.
His Son: Rear Admiral Ammen C. Farenholt, MC, also served in with Admiral Dewey at Manila in the Philippine Insurrection and on the China Coast. He received battle awards and a special letter of commendation during the First World War and retired as a Rear Admiral in 1936.
Passaic Class Monitor: Displacement: 1,875 tons. Dimensions: 200 x 46 x 10.5 feet/60.96 x 14.01 x 3.2 meters. Propulsion: Ericsson VL engines, 2 boilers, 320 hp, 1 shaft, 4-5 knots. Crew: 75. Armor: Iron: 3-5 inch sides, 1 inch deck, 11 inch turret. Armament: 1 dual turret with 1x15 inch Dahlgren smoothbore, 1x11 inch Dahlgren smoothbore.
Operational and Building Data: Contracted to John Ericsson; construction subcontracted to Continental Iron Works, Greenpoint, NY. Launched 6 December 1862, outfitted at New York Navy Yard, commissioned 24 February 1863. Served exclusively in operations around Charleston. Decommissioned to reserve 26 July 1865. Renamed Goliath 15 June 1869, then Catskill 10 August 1869. Repaired and prepared for service at New York Navy Yard 1874-1875; recommissioned late 1875 or early 1876. Decommissioned to reserve late 1877 or early 1878. Recommissioned for Spanish American War service 26 April 1898; decommissioned 22 September 1898.
Fate: Sold for scrapping 4 December 1901.
Chain of Command Farenholt entered the Navy as a seaman April 24, 1861, after 3 years in the merchant service. He participated in engagements and battles at Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries, Battle of Port Royal, Battle of Fort Pulaski, and numerous others. On Oct 22, 1862 while serving as a member of the howitzer gun crew aboard the USS Wabash, ordinary seaman Farenholt was severely wounded at the battle of Pocotaligo, South Carolina and was discharged from the Navy. He reentered the U.S. Navy in February, 1863 after recovering and was assigned to the monitor USS Catskill participating in almost daily engagements with defenses of Charleston, South Carolina from April 1863 to April 1864. He participated in the unsuccessful storming party of Fort Sumter in September, 1863. Distinguished service led to his appointment as Acting Ensign on August 19, 1864 and he was in command of the mortar schooner USS Henry Janes attached to the squadron in the Sounds of North Carolina later that year. He also participated in the recapture of Plymouth, North Carolina, and several engagements on the Roanoke, Chowan, and Blackwater rivers as well as the capture of Fort Fisher, North Carolina.