The spirit of devotion to this country and its interests always manifested by its Jewish inhabitants has not failed to leave its impress on the rolls of the United States Navy. From the time of the organization of that branch of the national defense many Jews have been present in the service. That they did their full duty the records indisputably show, and from the man before the mast to flag officer, from stoker to chief engineer, sons of Israel have given their efforts in behalf of the American cause. At the time of our Civil War their ranks were especially reinforced, and at the present day a considerable number of Jews are at posts of duty on the vessels of our navy.
Instances of personal distinction on the part of these defenders are numerous, but specific reference need here be made only to the great advance accomplished by Uriah Phillips Levy in behalf at once of the Navy and of humanity at large, by the abolition through his influence of the degrading practice of corporal punishment in the navy of the United States. He had long opposed the brutal system of flogging, and when promoted to the position of Flag Officer—the highest rank registered before the Civil War—he used his authority to promote the self-respect and well being of the sailors of his fleet. The records of others besides Commodore Levy are creditable in a high degree, and all comprised in the list are examples of men who devote to the cause in which they are enlisted "their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor."
S. American, U. S. Gunboat Seneca.
Benjamin Abrahams, Acting Assistant Paymaster.
Simon Arnbach, Mexican War.
Solomon Asher, U. S. Gunboat Wissahickon,
promoted to Acting Assistant Yeoman (1862-1863).
Paymaster Jonas Barnett, U. S. Steamer Essex,
lost his life by falling from the rigging of his vessel while at sea.
Lieutenant Henry Barnett.
Major David M. Cohen,
fourteen years an officer of the U. S. Marine Corps; appointed Lieutenant, 1855, subsequently appointed Major and placed on retired list on account of physical disability.
Jacob da Silva Solis Cohen,
Acting Assistant Surgeon under Rear-Admiral S. F. Du Pont (1861-1864).
Midshipman Joseph Cohen (1826).
Gustave Duval, U. S. Steamer Pawnee.
William Durst, U. S. Monitor,
one of the few survivors of the memorable fight between the Monitor and the Merrimac. Admiral Worden expressed himself that Durst was not only a brave, fearless and patriotic man, but eminently worthy to be recognized by some action on the part of Congress (1862-1864).
Charles Edelman, U. S. Steamer Ohio.
Jonathan Manly Emanuel,
Past Assistant Engineer, served under Commodore Mead. Twice shipwrecked (1862-1891).
Purser Gratz Etting.
Captain Henry Etting,
entered as Midshipman, promoted to Purser, Navy Paymaster and retired with the rank of Captain—1818-1861.
Lieutenant Theodore Minis Etting,
was appointed Acting Midshipman when a little over sixteen years old, promoted Midshipman, Ensign, Navy Paymaster, Lieutenant (1862-1877).
Acting Ensign Isaac N. Goldsmith,
Mate, Acting Ensign (1863-1865).
Mate Nathan A. Goldsmith,
Jerome Haas.
Lieutenant E. C. Hamburger;
promoted step by step, finally commissioned Lieutenant.
Captain Levi Myers Harby (1793-1870).
At the age of fourteen he was Midshipman in the U. S. Navy. During the War of 1812-1814, he was captured by the British and confined for eighteen months in "Dartmoor Prison," from which he finally escaped by swimming. In December, 1823, he served as sailing-master on the U. S. Vessel Beagle. He served for fifty-two years under the U. S. flag and rose to the rank of Captain. He participated in the Texan War of Independence and in the Mexican War. He also served in the Seminole War of Florida, and had command of a vessel in the expedition against the pirates of Algiers and Tripoli. On leave of absence he also fought in the Bolivian War of Independence. In 1861 he resigned his commission and entered the Confederate service with the rank of Commodore, distinguishing himself as Commander of the Neptune, capturing the Harriet Lane at Galveston, Texas. He was subsequently in command of a fleet of Confederate gunboats on the Sabine River.
Solomon Harby,
J. Harrison, U. S. Steamer North Carolina.
Samuel Herford, U. S. Steamers Richmond and Wyoming.
Frederic D. Henriques,
Acting Second Assistant Engineer (1864-1865).
Midshipman Israel Israel,
Midshipman Joseph Israel,
distinguished himself, died in the service (1801-1804).
Jacob Jacobs, U. S. Steamer Portsmouth,
was on board the Ida when she was blown up by a torpedo.
Augustus Jacobson,
transferred from Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment.
Midshipman and Master Henry M. Jacoby, Shenandoah, Wachusett, Worcester, Yantic, Lackawanna (1866-1883).
Surgeon Gershom R. Jacques,
promoted from Surgeon's Mate to Surgeon (1800-1808).
Mate Samuel Jessurun (1863-1864).
S. S. Krauss, U. S. Steamer Raritan,
C. C. Keane.
David J. King, U. S. Steamer Wissahickon.
Isaac M. King.
Nathan Lang.
Alexander A. Lazarus, U. S. Steamer Horace Beals, also Rhode Island.
Henry Levi, U. S. Steamer Princeton,
transferred to New Ironsides, Vandalia, etc. (1862-1865).
Master Mears Levy (1812-1813).
Second Assistant Engineer Charles H. Levy (1857-1861).
Mate Charles Levin (1870-1874),
M. Lindheim, Pocahontas.
Henry Lyons.
Commodore Uriah Phillips Levy,
one of the best known American naval officers of former days. At the time of his death, 1862, he was the highest ranking officer in the U. S. Navy. He served in the War of 1812, being the master of the brig of war Argus, which ran the blockade to France with Mr. Crawford, the American Minister to that country, on board. The Argus destroyed twenty-one British merchantmen. In recognition of his valuable services to the nation the Common Council of New York City honored him with "the freedom of the city." Commodore Levy vigorously opposed the application of the lash to seamen. Upon his tombstone at Cypress Hill is recorded the fact that "he was the father of the law for the abolition of the barbarous practice of corporal punishment in the U. S. Navy."
Captain Jonas P. Levy,
commanded the U. S. Steamer America during the Mexican War and was active in the transportation of U. S. troops to Vera Cruz. At the surrender of that port he was appointed its captain by General Winfield Scott.
Marx Maas, U. S. Gunboat No. 29.
Jacob Maas, Gunboat.
A. Meyer.
Horace Moses,
served in the U. S. fleet during the Mexican War and was Secretary to Captain (afterwards Admiral) S. P. Lee.
Florian Moss,
on Commodore S. F. Du Pont's blockading squadron Vermont and Massachusetts (1862-1865).
Midshipman Philip Moses.
Joseph Moss,
Mate and Acting Ensign, (1861-1863).
Acting Master Edward Moses,
(1862-1864); died while in service.
William Noah.
Louis Newberger, U. S. Gunboat Pawpaw.
Joseph B. Nones, Guerriere.
In 1814, when seventeen years of age, he accompanied Henry Clay, Gallatin and John Quincy Adams on the Frigate John Adams to Europe on the Ghent Mission; severely wounded and obliged to resign from the service (1812-1822).
Master Newman Morris (1801-1803).
Captain Henry Benjamin Nones, Revenue Marine,
promoted from 3d Lieutenant; served from 1831; died in 1868.
Chief Engineer Henry Beauchamp Nones,
served on various vessels; rose from Second Assistant Engineer; has served since 1853.
Midshipman Jefferson H. Nones, 1840-1846.
Second Assistant Engineer Washington H. Nones (1850-1853),
Midshipman Abram Phillips (1812-1813).
Paymaster Emanuel J. Phillips.
Captain Isaac Phillips (1798-1799).
Assistant Surgeon Manuel Phillips (1809-1824).
Solomon Pinheiro, Juniata.
Wounded in the attack on Fort Fisher (1863-1866).
Milton Joseph Rosenau,
Past Assistant Surgeon in the Marine Hospital Service.
Acting Ensign Albert P. Sampson (1862-1865).
Acting Ensign Isaac P. Sampson (1863-1865).
J. Schlesinger, U. S. Steamer Pocahontas.
M. J. Siesel, U. S. Steamer Hartford.
Sergeant Siegmund Silverburg, U. S. Marine Corps.
Midshipman Benjamin Solomon (1809-1810).
Purser Ezekiel Solomon (1814-1816).
Charles Stein, Marine Corps,
Died of exposure in the service.
Lieutenant Edward Taussig,
served fourteen years on sea and did seven years' duty on land.
Charles Wiener
Leo Wise, U. S. Steamer Springfield.
