Daniel Ammen, Rear Admiral, USN
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Annendale Near Beltsville, Md P.O. 18th March '86 E.C. Brown, Esqr Dear Sir: Your note and enclosure came to hand yesterday evening. Although my house is as good as I desire, and my grounds too they would not fill the bill "of a beautiful country place" in the mind of nine-tenths of the readers of the graphic. When in Charlestown Navy Yard a dozen years ago making an inspection as Chief of Bureau of Yards & Docks, Admiral Steed- man was then in command and Mrs. Steedman complained of the meagerness of the money allotted to rebuild a porch or portico around the house in which they |
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[page 2] lived. I said that it seemed to me sufficient, that it actually cost more than my house in which I lived and was certainly satisfied with. It is simply a house to live in and in explanation I send you a pamphlet on "Coun- try Houses & Their Improvement" were you to visit my place you would deem the question entirely pertinent "why don't you improve it?" Referring to the "physiology of be- lief" if I have not yet fully explained I will do so now nicely. After "The Atlantic Coast" was pub- lished I received a letter from Steed- man who enclosed a note from his executive that he was very much surprised that I had not done justice to the Bienville! |
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[page 3] I replied in very much the terms of my note to Steedman. He had the idea that when he saw me he could to use a vulgar phrase "talk me down." When he met me & opened the question I replied as indicated in the first letter in the "physiology" - But as a vain and stupid man, he resorted to a senti- ment of indignation at my not accepting his "personal recollections" that of his 1st Lieut and others. His indignation was so grievous that when my letter on the "physi- ology of belief" reached him knowing my handwriting he left it unopened and re enclosed it to me. Naturally I felt pro- voked and prepared the article for publication and read it to Ad- miral C.P.R. Rodgers who said it |
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[page 4] was very funny but hoped that I would not publish it. So I laid it in my drawer, until Roe attacked me in the Army & Navy Journal. Stupid men always band together & as soon as I felt there was a com- bination, I determined to open on them in time to prevent another one giving his views of the battle of Port Royal. Neither Steedman or Roe replied. I announced as a fact that figuratively I was a man with a bludgeon and if any one dared attack The Atlantic Coast "I would knock him down". I confess I was more amused than concerned at the attacks and Navy men who have read these letters say they have laughed more over them than any thing they have seen lately. Very sincerely yours Daniel Ammen |
