Daniel Ammen – Rear Admiral, United States Navy

Daniel Ammen was born in Brown County, Ohio, 15 May 1820. He was a boyhood friend of future General and President Ulysses Grant. He spent a few months at the United States Military Academy at West Point where his brother and later army General Jacob Ammen taught.

He married Mary Jackson, then Zoe Atocha and they had five children. He resided in Beltsville and then Ammendale, Maryland. He died at the Naval Hospital in Washington D. C. on 11 July 1898 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

He was commissioned a Midshipman 1 July 1836. Later served as Chief, Bureau of Yards and Docks with the rank of Commodore, 1 May 1869. He was promoted to Rear Admiral 11 December 1877 and retired from active duty on 4 June 1878.

Career highlights: In May 1864 while in charge of some 220 conscripted seamen sailing from New York to Aspinwall on the California passenger steamer Ocean Queen, he suppressed an open mutiny. During his career and after retirement, he was involved with designing a number of crafts and weapons for the Navy, including the ram Katahdin for harbor defense and a cask life raft that became standard design for life boats in the naval service.

Daniel Ammen, Naval Officer, born in Ohio, 15 May 1820. He was appointed midshipman 7 July 1836, and served as passed midshipman in the Wilkes exploring expedition, in the Mediterranean, in the East India squadron, and on the coast survey. As lieutenant (from 4 November 1849) he was attached to a commission to select a naval station on the Pacific coast, accompanied the expedition to Paraguay River in 1853-’54, and was on the steam frigate “Merrimac” in 1859-’60. In 1861, at the outbreak of the civil war, he was executive officer of the North Atlantic blockading squadron. At the reduction of Port Royal, 7 November 1861, he commanded the “Seneca,” and was sent ashore to hoist the flag over the surrendered forts, and hold them till the army took possession. He was promoted to be commander 21 February 1863, was assigned to the monitor ” Patapsco,” and participated in the attack on Fort Macallister, 3 March 1863. In May 1864, he was dispatched to the Pacific in command of 220 seamen as passengers on board a California steamer. Two days out from New York a well-organized attempt at mutiny was suppressed by Commander Ammen and Boatswain Bell, aided by Captain Tinklepaugh, of the steamer, and a few volunteers from among the passengers. He participated in the two attacks on Fort Fisher in the winter of 1864-’65, was commissioned captain 26 July 1866, and was on special and sea service until 11 December 1877, when he was made rear-admiral and was placed on the retired list after 49 years and 6 months of service. He is the author of “The Atlantic Coast,” a volume in the series entitled “The Navy in the Civil War” (New York, 1883).

AMMEN, DANIEL
REAR ADMIRAL US NAVY

• VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown
• DATE OF DEATH: 07/11/1898
• DATE OF INTERMENT: Unknown
• BURIED AT: SECTION CENTE  SITE LOT 146

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

AMMEN, ULYSSES GRANT
PAYMASTER USN RETIRED

• VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown
• DATE OF DEATH: 10/21/1913
• DATE OF INTERMENT: Unknown
• BURIED AT: SECTION W SID  SITE 146-C

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard