Holland Sentinel, March 30, 1921 Sailor, Who Served With Farragut, Dies James W. Reeve James W. Reeve, for many years a resident of Holland, and one of the last survivors of Admiral Farragut’s fleet, which won the memorable victory, at Mobile Bay, during the Civil War, died Tuesday morning at his home, 530 Lafayette Avenue, N. E., Grand Rapids. His age was 88 years. Reeve enlisted July 20, 1863, at New York City as 2nd class fireman, to serve on the U. S. sloops North Carolina, Seminole and Savannah, for a year, but when receiving an offer of an increase in pay of one-third, he remained in the service after his term had expired. He often related to his friends, this story of the Battle of Mobile Bay: "On August 5, 1864, we were called to quarters and ordered to get ready for action. There were 15 ships in our fleet, including Admiral Farragut’s flag ship. I was aboard the sloop Seminole. We proceeded down the channel to the bay, the boats moving in pairs, being lashed together with cables and chains so that if one ship became disabled, the other could tow her out of danger. Fort Morgan frowned down upon us from the right and Fort Gaines, on the left, looked equally formidable. Two of our ships struck mines laid in the channel and sank, carrying 120 men down. Only ten of the crew were saved. "We moved on down the bay under a heavy fire from the forts. Our vessels were badly splintered up before we got out of the range of the forts. We anchored and were just preparing for dinner when that old ram, the Tennessee, came up and was going to clean up the whole fleet. We poured shot into her from all sides and thus made her helpless. She surrendered after a two hour fight. My share of the prize money was $80.00." From 1861 until 1862, Reeve served in Company I of the Third Michigan from Grand Rapids. In 1864 he joined the Fifteenth Infantry in which he served until the end of the war. Some twenty-eight years ago the Reeve family came to Holland from Fennville, Michigan, and resided on College Avenue. Ten years ago the family moved to Grand Rapids where they have been living ever since. Mr. Reeve was a member of the A. C. Van Raalte Post, G. A. R. while a resident of Holland, and had many friends among the local vets. Besides his widow, Mr. Reeve leaves five daughters; Mrs. Hattie Crane, Mrs. N. A. Herbert., Miss Daisy Reeve, Mrs. Eda Mulder and Mrs. Mamie Bender of Grand Rapids, one son, Leon, of Grand Rapids, and three grandchildren; Helene Mulder, Eelyn Mulder and Jack Bender. Funeral services were held at two P. M. Thursday from Spring’s Chapel. Burial in Greenwood Cemetery.

Transcriber: Joan Van Spronsen
Created: 22 September 2008