TERRY, Silas Wright  - U.S.N.

Admiral Silas Wright Terry, U.S. Navy

 Silas Wright Terry was born in 1842 in the Wallonia precinct in Trigg County, Kentucky to Abner Robinson and Eleanor Dyer Terry. The family moved to Cadiz when he was 2 years old. He entered the United States Naval Academy at the age of 16 as an acting midshipman and before completing has course at the outbreak of the Civil war he was ordered to active sea duty. From June of 1861 to September 1862 he served on the “Dale” in the Atlantic Coast blockade. He was promoted to Ensign and was made an aid on the staff of Rear Admiral Lee until July of 1863. In the autumn of that year he was transferred to the “Black Hawk”, of the Mississippi Squadron.

     He took part in the Red River expedition, and because of his bravery, he was placed in command of the transport “Benefit”, to carry dispatches and supplies for Admiral Porter. For this work he was commended by the Admiral in an official report to the Secretary of the Navy, and was advanced five numbers in the grade of   Lieutenant for gallantry by President Lincoln. Admiral Porter appointed him a detail officer on his staff, retaining him in that capacity to the end of the war. He was present at the fall of Richmond, and attended President Lincoln when he entered that city.

     In January, 1882, while commanding the “Marion”, he rescued the crew of the bark “Trinity”, which had been wrecked in October, 1880, off Heard Island in the Indian Ocean, and in February of 1882, while at Cape Town, he hauled the English ship “Poonah” off the beach, saving her from total loss, for which he received the thanks of the Government of Cape Colony and England.  In March of 1900, Admiral Terry became the junior flag officer of the service by promotion to the highest grade. He was commandant at the navy yard at Washington from 1900 to 1903 and at the U.S. Naval Station in Honolulu from 1903 to his retirement in 1904, retiring after 46 years of service to his country. He died in 1911 in Washington, D C, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Submitted by Stan White of Cadiz, Kentucky - Great grand nephew