Joseph N. Miller

As printed in 1881

JOSEPH N. MILLER, United States Navy; son of Reuben Miller, and grandson of Rev. Robert Miller, pioneers of Clark County; was born in Springfield, Ohio, Nov. 22, 1836; after passing the required examination, was appointed an Acting Midshipman at the Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., Oct. 1, 1851; in February, 1852, was advanced one year, and was graduated No. 3 of his class in June, 1854, having made two summer cruises in the practice ship Preble, in 1852 and 1853; from Sept. 1, 1854, to Sept. 20, 1856, served on board the United States flag-ship Independence, in the Pacific Squadron; Nov. 22, 1856, passed his final examination, and was warranted as a Passed Midshipman in the navy; from Feb. 20, 1857, to Oct. 26, 1858, was an assistant in the department of Ethics and English Studies at the Naval Academy; was warranted as Master in the navy Jan. 22, 1858; from Nov. 2, 1858, to Sept. 24, 1860, served on board the United States ship Preble in the Paraguay expedition, and in the Home Squadron; assisted in the capture of the steamers Gen. Miramon and Marquis de la Habana, off Vera Cruz, Mexico, on March 6, 1860; was commissioned as Lieutenant in the navy Feb. 19, 1860; was assistant in the department of Ethics and English Studies at the Naval Academy from October, 1860, until the breaking-out of the rebellion in April, 1861, when he was detached and ordered to the brig Perry, fitting out in New York; the vessel was employed on the blockade, and captured the privateer Savannah, off Charleston, June 3, 1861; the Savannah was the first privateer captured in the war; in November, 1861, was transferred to the United States steamer Cambridge as Executive Officer, and was in the action when the Cumberland and Congress were destroyed by the Merrimac, on March 12, 1862; in May, 1862, was transferred to the practice ship John Adams, and in August was detached, on application, for active service; was commissioned as a Lieutenant Commander in the navy July 16, 1862; from September, 1802, to June, 1863, served on board the ironclad Passaic as Executive Officer, and was present at the naval attack on Ft. McAllister March 3, 1863, and the attack on Ft. Sumter April 7, 1863; in June, 1863, was assigned to duty with Admiral Gregory in New York, superin-

"PUO P Ne tt Mins es = tending the construction of ironclads; in September, 1863, was ordered as Executive Officer of the United States steamer Sacramento, and in November was transferred to the ironclad Sangamon, on the blockade off Charleston; in April, 1864, was transferred to the command of the ironclad Nahant, and in May, 1864, was engaged in an attack on Ft. Sumter; in July, 1864, was detached from the Nahant and granted sick leave; in August, 1864, was ordered to the ironclad steamer Monadnock, and was present in both attacks on Ft. Fisher, Dec. 24 and 25, 1864, and Jan. 13, 14 and 15, 1865; in February, 1865, was detached from the Monadnock and ordered to the Naval Academy as head of the department of Seamanship; commanded the practice ship Marion during the summer cruise of 1865; was detached from the Marion on Sept. 30, 1865, and was assigned to duty at the Naval Academy as head of the department of Ethics and English Studies; in September, 1867, was detached from the Naval Academy and ordered to the United States steamer Powhatan, South Pacific Squadron; served in that vessel in the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico until Jan. 5, 1870, when he was detached and placed on leave; was commissioned as a Commander in the United States Navy Jan. 25, 1870; was ordered on duty at the New York Navy Yard in February, 1870, and in April, 1870, was detached and ordered to the South Pacific Squadron as Chief of Staff; in February, 1871, was assigned to the command of the United States steamer Ossifer, in addition to the duties as Chief of Staff; in December, 1872, was detached from the Ossifer, and placed on waiting orders; in January, 1873, was ordered as Executive Officer of the naval station at New London, and in February, 1873, was transferred to the Hydrographic Office at Washington as Assistant Hydrographer; in November, 1873, was ordered to command the ironclad Ajax, which joined the fleet at Key West, assembled in anticipation of difficulty with Spain; in June, 1874, was detached from the Ajax and again assigned to duty as Assistant Hydrographer; in August, 1875, was detached from the Hydrographic Office and ordered to command the United States steamer Tuscarora; ran a line of deep sea soundings with that vessel from the Sandwich Islands to Fiji Islands and Australia; in September, 1876, was detached from the Tuscarora and placed on leave; in December, 1876, was ordered as Assistant to the Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks; in March, 1877, was detached from the Bureau of Yards and Docks and ordered as Inspector of the Eleventh Lighthouse District, which embraces Lakes Huron, Michigan and Superior; on Oct. 1, 1880, was detached from lighthouse duty and ordered on special duty at the Naval Department, Washington,

As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.