The ships Charles V. Gridley served upon ran the whole history of the U.S. Navy from 1860 (actually back to 1798) to 1898. A lot of years.
The ships went from wooden to steel, sails to steam.
USS Constitution (USNA)
USS Oneida
USS Brooklyn (This ship was at the Battle of Mobile Bay and the Battles of Fort Fisher. Gridley served on it after the war.)
USS Kearsarge
USS Michigan (1871)
USS Monongahela (1873)
USS Trenton
USS Marion (his first actual command 1892)
USS Olympia
--Cooter
Charles Vernon Gridley of Hillsdale, Michigan, was appointed to the USNA in 1860, by Michigan Congressman Henry Waldron. At the academy, which moved to Newport, Rhode Island for safety in the strongly pro-Confederate state of Maryland, he attained no particular distinction and graduated in the bottom half of his class. But, he was well-regarded and somehow picked up the nickname of "Steve."
His first assignment was to the USS Oneida which then took part in the Battle of Mobile Bay where he achieved commendation.
After the war it was difficult for younger officers to rise in the ranks because the Navy had more officers than it had postings. Even so, Charles rose through the ranks fairly fast. (See yesterday's post.) In 1892, he received his first command on the USS Marion and was posted to the Asiatic Squadron.
Finally in 1897, he received promotion to captain and given command of the USS Olympia of the Asiatic Squadron. The Olympic was one of the most modern ships in the Navy at the time, having been commissioned in 1895, and this was a highly desirable posting.
He proved to be a popular commander, somehow managing to run a tight ship without having to be a strict disciplinarian.
--Cooter
The year 1894 found Charles "Steve" Gridley back with his family as he served again as Inspector of the 10th Lighthouse District. Happy times for him. During his duties, he would have contact with the senior member of the Lighthouse Board, George Dewey, and the Board's secretary, Robley Evans.
In March of 1897, Gridley was finally promoted to captain. On June 10, he was ordered to take command of the USS Olympia, relieving J.J. Read in Yokohoma, Japan. He embarked on the steamer Gaelic and arrived aboard the USS Olympia.
He didn't stay on board long, though, and returned to Yokohoma to visit friends he knew from his days on the USS Marion. The formal transfer of command came four days later. Captain Read's voice cracked as he read his farewell comments, and he was heartedly cheered by his men. Gridley evidently had some "large shoes to fill."
Apparently he did well. During his brief tenure aboard the Olympia, he appears to have been well-liked and respected by the ship's crew. In one instance during Christmas of 1897, he raised all of the crew one class (meaning he reduced the length of punishment of any man on report, and restored "liberty" privileges to many).
This had never been done on the Olympia before. One crewman recorded that Gridley was "one that loves his fellow men" an unusual sentiment between a crew and their captain.
--Cooter
In 1821, he was detailed to the Washington Navy Yard as Ordnance Instructor. This was not a favorite duty of his. Ordnance was not one of his major interests or areas of expertise. In the spring of 1892, however, he found himself back at sea. Gridley was detailed to the USS Marion and ordered to report to Admiral David Harmony, the commander of the U.S. Asiatic Squadron.
His duties in the Far East led him to visit Manila Bay in 1893. Knowledge of the harbor he gained on this visit was undoubtedly useful to him in the future (as we know).
He almost did not return from the Far East, however. The Marion was caught in a terrible typhoon as it was beginning to cruise to the U.S. West Coast. The force of the storm broke the ship's boilers loose from their saddles.
Things were so desperate that Gridley even released prisoners he had in the ship's brig believing that they should at least have an equal chance in case the ship was lost. Luckily the ship survived and limped back to Yokohoma, Japan, for temporary repairs before making a second successful trip to Mare Island, California.
--DaCoot
