ALBERT KAUTZ
KAUTZ, ALBERT, rear-admiral United States navy, has had a career in the service of his country distinguished for its usefulness and unusual in its opportunity for brilliant gallantry. Three episodes in his life are particularly interesting and deserve honorable mention in any sketch of what he has done during his fifty years in the navy. The earliest of these three events occurred during the first days of the Civil war, when as a lieutenant he was given command of the prize brig, Hannah Balch, of Portland, Maine, bound from Matanzas, Cuba, for Savannah, Georgia, with a cargo of molasses. In his own words he says: "In the month of June, 1861, I found myself a young lieutenant serving on board the United States steamer Flag, then forming part of the South Atlantic blockading squadron, when we discovered the sail. There was nothing exciting about the capture, as the wind was light and the brig could not possibly escape us. We soon overhauled her, took her in tow, and steamed up the coast as far as Charleston. Preparations were made for my going aboard with a crew of five men to take charge of the prize and proceed to Philadelphia. On the morning of the fourth day out, I made Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, and shortly after discovered the black smoke of a steamer coming out of Hatteras Inlet. She soon came near enough to fire a 32 pounder, the shot passing between our fore and main mast. I at once hove the brig to, and a boarding officer immediately came alongside from the Rebel steamer. I had already thrown overboard my arms and the mail, as I could see a company of soldiers in gray uniform drawn up on the deck of the steamer. My presence was required on board the rebel craft, and as soon as I reached her deck, I was informed that I was a prisoner to the state of North Carolina, and was captured by the steamer Winslow, Captain Thomas Crossen, of the navy of that state. He soon made me feel at home by kind treatment. He took a week's leave of absence after landing, and took me to his home, in Warrenton, North Carolina. The military secretary and acting governor of the state, Warren Winslow, offered me a parole to go anywhere within the state of
