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Lt. Beverly Kennon Admits His Fondness of Alcohol.

by Terry Foenander.

Beverly Kennon, a native of Virginia had served a number of years in the United States Navy before the outbreak of the war, and, at the commencement of hostilities, resigned his commission to fight for his native state. He was assigned to the Ordnance Section of the Navy Department at New Orleans, but, on being ordered to the Patrick Henry as a junior lieutenant, he tendered his resignation in December 1861.

Shortly after he had second thoughts and decided to retract the resignation, at which time he penned the following letter to President Jefferson Davis, dated at Richmond, Virginia, February 23, 1862, in which he admits his major fault (during this period he continued serving without pay):

SIR: I have the honor to address you for the second and last time in regard to my being reinstated in the Navy. In a conversation with the Honorable Mr. Mallory a few days since, I was told by him that he had heard that I was or had been dissipated, otherwise my resignation would not have been accepted. If such is the case, I feel sure that my dissipation has been greatly exaggerated, or Commodore Hollins would not have asked that I should be retained in command of the ordnance, where I had performed my duty with great credit to yourself and satisfaction to me. Many of the leading merchants in New Orleans signed a petition to have me kept there, and I feel confident that had they thought that my drinking caused me to neglect my duty there, they would not have done this. I admit I have often, within the last eight years, drank too freely, yet there are few men in either this Navy or the United States Navy who ever saw me stagger or found me unfitted for duty. I have never caused a difficulty with any one while under the influence of drink, nor have I ever in that state injured any one as much as the report from one person has injured me. I resigned because I thought that injustice had been done me by Captain Buchanan. I was then angry, which made me hasty - both anger and pride got the better of me, and it was not until all was over that I saw wherein I was wrong, and ever since I have been upon the stool of repentance for having done so. As soon as I saw my error, and learned why it was that I was refused the privilege of withdrawing my resignation, I hastened to repair the error and remove the only obstacle in the way. But one stronger in influence and power threw obstacles in my way which I could not remove, nor will I be able to do so, unless my voice is heard as well as his. It has been some weeks since I drank a drop of strong liquors, nor will I do so, it matters not where I may be, as long as the war lasts. I voluntarily swore that I would not drink any sort or description of liquor so long as the was lasts, if my commission should be given me as it was when I resigned, and yet I have received no answer. Many persons have been pardoned after having done all manner of vile things, yet Captain Buchanan is unwilling to receive even a promise like that of which I speak, because "he never knew one to keep it." Others may have broken their promises, but I will defy any man to say I have ever broken one of mine. When I went to New Orleans I was almost a perfect stranger. Had I just arrived from Europe, I could hardly have been more so. I found out with all dispatch where I could get the various articles made that an ordnance department required, when I drew the models for everything (I except nothing), superintended their making, and finally left in a fine and healthy state an ordnance second only to this one in Norfolk. I had no assistance. Besides attending to its duties, I fitted the batteries of all the steamers on the lakes, the floating batteries on the river, and all the steamers except three. I fitted, complete, the launches and the Tuscarora at the same time, the work on the latter occupying but two and a half days. A drunken man could not have performed any one of these duties; and I flatter myself that but few sober men could have performed them in the little time that I had. I know I filled my position with no discredit to myself. I feel, and shall ever feel, proud of having had it. It was natural that I should feel hurt and wounded, to be ordered as a watch officer, when my juniors were left in command of various points. The only thing that kept life in me was the fact of so many friends unknown to me until then, who gave me so many proofs of their appreciation of my labors. I spent more than what my pay amounted to to facilitate all operations which would have been much retarded if I had not done so. I know that I have over 200 cousins and one brother in the Army who have given up their all in our cause. My parents have over 40 nephews and great-nephews in the service, and I think that the request of the only outsider might be listened to, particularly when you consider that I have given up my whole soul to my profession and to service on foreign stations. The prime of my life has been wasted on the water, where for years I have been far from the comforts of a home and society of my family and friends. Captain Buchanan's relatives are Northerners. he has come wit us. As to my qualifications, I refer you to all my associates and acquaintances. I am as good an infantry and artillery soldier as a sailor, and as good a draftsman and nautical surveyor as navigator or observer. I hope you will do me the favor to read this, and I feel sure that justice will be done me.

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, BEVERLY KENNON.

SIR: Pardon me for adding a P.S. to my long letter, but I do so to let you know that I have command of a fine screw steamer which will soon leave a Southern port as a privateer. She is the finest vessel in our waters, and with her heavy battery and large crew I feel confident that ere long I will win from you what I now ask of you. I feel wounded to know that one has actually refused to listen to me in regard to this matter. I, like him, condemn a man as much as any one for allowing himself to be placed below the level of a beast, but at the same time I equally condemn a man who expresses an unwillingness to allow that "beast" to better his condition and prove to friend and foe that he is not as black as he is painted.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, BEVERLY KENNON.

Kennon was reinstated in the Naval service in August, 1862, but prior to this, continued serving in a volunteer capacity, without pay. He commanded the Governor Moore when that vessel rammed and sank the Varuna below New Orleans in April, 1862. At the close of the war he was captured at Appomattox, Virginia, and paroled.

Source:

The letter reproduced above, and other details of the Kennon saga, can be found in the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 2, Volume 1, pages 558-568.

November, 2000.