William B. Cushing in the Far East: A Civil War Naval Hero Abroad, 1865-1869Fresh from success in sinking the Albermarle in the Civil War, the young Captain Cushing was assigned to command the gunboat USS Maumee in Hong Kong to aid the restoration of America's naval power in Asia. By linking such aims to British policy, and by courting Chinese and Japanese officials, he succeeded in re-establishing American naval and commercial power in the Far East. In his letters to his fiancee, he brilliantly recorded his travels and observations of people and places (and the difficulties of reconciling his naval career with his devotion to her, whom he married in 1870). |
Contents
Preface | 1 |
Introduction | 3 |
1 The Challenge of a Paci fic Empire | 13 |
2 Cushing Embraces a Fredonia Sweetheart | 20 |
3 Route to the Far East by Sail and Steam to Match the Power of Ocean Water | 34 |
4 Cruising on the Troubled Waters of the Far East | 49 |
5 From Tropical Heat to Northern Turbulence | 85 |
6 Wandering Among the Crumbling Remnants of the Celestial Empire | 109 |
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Common terms and phrases
Admiral Rowan American anchored arrived Asiatic Squadron Beijing British Canton captain Chautauqua County China Chinese Civil coast Commander conflict crew Cushing explained Cushing informed Kate Cushing observed Cushing received Cushing to Kate Cushing wrote Cushing’s Diary dinner dollars dress East emperor fifteen fifty filled final find fine firm first five flagship fleet flow Forbidden City foreign Fredonia friends gunboat harbor Higgins Hong Kong honor hundred imperial island Japan Japanese July June June 13 June 21 junks Kate’s ladies letter Mandarin Mary Barker Cushing mercantile merchants miles mother naval officer official opium Osaka Pacific pirates reflected reported River Russell 86 sail San Francisco Sept Shanghai ship ship’s shogun shore silk society sought sufficiently trade treaty ports United USS Maumee viceroy wall Western William Barker Cushing Yokohama York young