Vol. Lt. William Flye, U.S.N.
BACKGROUND:
William Flye was born in Newcastle, October, 1814. On taking his degree
he engaged in teaching one year as principal of St. Alban's Academy, and
two years as master of the Young lien's High School at Eastport. From
1838 to 1841 was attached to the United States seventy-four "Ohio,"
Commodore Isaac Hull, as captain's clerk, on the Mediterranean station,
and was then appointed by the commodore acting professor of mathematics.
On his return after a three-years' cruise he passed examination, his
appointment was confirmed, and thus he was permanently connected with
the navy. From 1841 to 1857 he served in that capacity in the "John
Adams," during a cruise of three years on the coast of Brazil, again for
the same time in the ''Jamestown" on the west coast of Africa, and then
was attached six or seven years to the United States Naval Observatory,
Washington. While in Europe in 1855 he took command of a large clipper
ship on a voyage around Cape Horn to the west coast of South America.
Resigning his commission in 1857, he connected himself with the merchant
marine in command of large-class vessels.
At the opening of the
war he returned to the navy as a volunteer lieutenant, and served in
various positions involving at times important responsibilities, as
commander of gunboats and ironclads on the North Carolina coast and the
Mississippi. Wrecked on the " R. B. Forbes "on the North Carolina coast,
and taken off with officers and men by the frigate "Roanoke," he was on
board that frigate when the rebel "Merrimac" sank the United States
frigates " Cumberland " and " Congress," and the United States "
Monitor" to the astonishment of friends and foes appeared for the
rescue. After Capt. Worden of the " Monitor" was wounded, Flye was
ordered to join her as first lieutenant and executive officer, and
served in her several mouths. Subsequently he served for a time as first
lieutenant, United States Navy Yard, Memphis, on the ironclad "Benton,"
as commander of the fifth division of the Mississippi squadron, and
again on the gunboat " Lexington " and seventh division of the same.
After the surrender of Gen Lee, sixty-four vessels of that squadron were
placed under his command to be dismantled and prepared for sale out of
the service. In 1866 he was honorably discharged from the service "with
the thanks of the department." Capt. Flye passed through the exposures
and perils of such active service unharmed by shot or shell, but was
unfortunate in suffering serious injury to his hearing caused by the
discharge of heavy guns. From 1866 to 1871 was engaged in business in
Georgia, and from 1872 to 1879 has been cashier of the First National
Bank, Damariscotta.
OBITUARY IN BOWDOIN COLLEGE: For the
decade ending 1 Jun 1909, published 1911.
William Flye, son of Daniel
and Huldah (Barker) Flye, was born 25 October, 1814, at Newcastle, Me.
He was probably prepared for college at Lincoln Academy. On completing
his course at Bowdoin he was for a year preceptor of the academy at St.
Albans, Me., and for two years principal of the Young Men's High School
at Eastport, Me. In 1838 he went to the Mediterranean as captain's clerk
on the "Ohio," Commodore Isaac Hull commanding the squadron. While in
this service he was appointed by the commodore Acting-Professor of
Mathematics in the U. S. Navy. Returning to the United States, he passed
the required examination: the appointment was confirmed, and he held
this position till his resignation in March, 1857. During this period he
made two long cruises, each of three years, one in the "John Adams" off
the coast of Brazil, the other on the west coast of Africa in the
"Jamestown," and was for seven years attached to the Naval Observatory
at Washington. After employment for four years as a captain in the
merchant marine, Mr. Flye returned to the U. S. Navy at the outbreak of
the Rebellion as a volunteer. He was placed in command of the U. S.
gunboat "R. B. Forbes," which was lost on the coast of North Carolina in
February, 1862. With his officers and men he was on board the U. S.
frigate "Roanoke" and under fire when the rebel steamer "Merrimac" came
out of Norfolk harbor and destroyed the U. S. frigates "Cumberland" and
"Congress." The following day after the defeat of the "Merrimac" by the
U. S. "Monitor" he was ordered to the latter as her first lieutenant and
executive officer, a position he held in October of that year. He
subsequently commanded the gunboats "Underwriter" and "Kensington." In
1864 he was transferred to the Mississippi squadron under Admiral D. D.
Porter and commanded successively the monitor "Osage," the ironclad
"Benton" and the fifth division of the squadron, the gunboat "Lexington"
and the seventh division of the squadron. At the close of the war
sixty-four vessels were placed under his command that they might be
dismantled and sold out of the service. In January, 1866, he was
honorably discharged with the thanks of the Navy Department and the rank
of lieutenant commander. The next five years were spent in business in
Georgia. From 1872 to 1879 he was cashier of the First National Bank at
Damariscotta, Me. He then retired to his home in Topsham, Me., where the
most of the closing years of his life were spent. Though he had passed
through his long and active war service untouched by shot or shell, his
hearing had been seriously affected by the close discharge of heavy
guns. He died of old age at Ashland, Boyd County, Ky., 12 June, 1898.
