He was in the Florida war in 1841, and was on the sloopSt. Louis for its circumnavigation of the world in 1843–1845, taking ashore the first American force to land in China. In the Mexican–American War, he participated in the capture of Alvarado, Veracruz, and Tuxpan. He became master on July 15, 1847, and lieutenant on February 5, 1848. While serving on the frigateSt. Lawrence, he went with Matthew C. Perry to Japan in 1853, during which Preble surveyed various harbors in the Far East.
When the Confederate cruiser CSSFlorida eluded him, Preble was dismissed from the Navy, but was reinstated[3] after the captain of Florida testified that superior speed alone had saved him.
Additionally, each of the officers on Oneida testified that Preble had done no wrong.[4] According to their accounts, Florida appeared at around 5:00 pm on September 4, 1862, bearing the ensign of a ship of the English Navy. Preble was in command of Oneida and Winona. Because the other ships were in for repairs, the usual complement of six ships had been reduced to two. Winona had been dispatched to chase another blockade runner and was returning from that chase when Florida began her run. One of Oneida's iron boilers had been shut down for repairs, leaving only one in operation. (One of the officers stated that the Navy's choice to use cheaper iron rather than steel was the actual cause of the problem.)
When Florida began her run, Preble moved to placeOneida in front of Florida. At 6:00 pm, he ordered shots fired across her bow. Believing that the ship was English, two warning shots were fired over her bow and a third shot into her forefoot (The part of a ship at which the prow joins the keel) instead of the customary single warning shot. All three shots were fired within three minutes of her being in range of Oneida's guns. When Florida did not stop, Preble ordered the fourth shot be sent into the enemy ship. This shot missed, at which time Florida lowered her false ensign, and made directly for Fort Morgan. It was not until this point that Preble could be sure that the ship was a Confederate vessel. With one boiler out of commission, Oneida was unable to keep pace with Florida, which escaped into the bay. However, Oneida kept up fire on the ship for 29 minutes until it was safely under the protection of Fort Morgan. In addition to the speed issue, the reports state that there were some visibility issues that contributed to poor marksmanship of Oneida's gun crew.
After being reinstated, Preble commanded the sailing sloop St. Louis, only to have Florida escape him once again, off Madeira.
Writing career
Preble was also known as a writer on naval and historical topics and as a collector of naval documents. His extensive personal library of books and documents related to the sea is located in The George Henry Preble Collection[5] at the Navy Department Library. He was also active in various learned and genealogical societies of the time. In 1868, he published a genealogical history of the Preble family in North America, which included his biography and portrait, as well as that of his famous uncle, Edward[6] The book also set forth a defense of his actions that led to his dismissal from the Navy, as well as the efforts of himself and others that led to his exoneration and reinstatement. In 1872, he published his Our Flag: Origin and Progress of the Flag of the United States of America, which is still cited as a source. He also took care of the original "Star-Spangled Banner" which had flown over Fort McHenry and had the flag sewn to a piece of sailcloth in order to preserve it.
Later life and death
After the war, Preble commanded the steamer State of Georgia, and rescued 600 passengers from the wrecked steamer Golden Rule. He was at the Boston Navy Yard from 1865 to 1868, where he was promoted to captain on March 16, 1867, then commanded the screw steamerPensacola until 1870. He became commodore on November 2, 1871, commanding the Philadelphia Navy Yard from 1873 to 1875. Preble became rear admiral on September 30, 1876, commanding the South Pacific Station from 1877 to 1878. He retired from active duty on February 25, 1878.[1]
Preble died while living at the home of his son in Brookline, Massachusetts near Boston, on March 1, 1885.[8] He is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Portland, Maine.
Dates of rank
Midshipman - 10 October 1835
Passed Midshipman - 22 June 1841
Master - 15 July 1847
Lieutenant - 5 February 1848
Commander - 16 July 1862
Captain - 29 January 1867
Commodore - 2 November 1871
Rear Admiral - 30 September 1876
Retired List - 25 February 1878
Publications
Chase of the Rebel Steamer of War "Oreto" (Cambridge, 1862)
12Hamersly, Lewis Randolph (1878). "Rear-Admiral George Henry Preble". The Records of Living Officers of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps: Compiled from Official Sources. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: J. B. Lippincott & Co. pp.48–51. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
↑Davenport, Charles Benedict; Scudder, Mary Theresa (1919). "Family History of Edward Preble". Naval Officers: Their Heredity and Development. Norwood, Massachusetts: The Plimpton Press on behalf of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. pp.183–184. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
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