Philip Lansdale
Encyclopedia
Philip Van Horne Lansdale (15 February 1858 - 1 April 1899) was an officer in the United States Navy
.
, graduated as Passed Midshipman
from the Naval Academy
18 June 1879. Commissioned ensign 1 June 1881, he served on Asiatic, North Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Pacific Station
s. Promoted to lieutenant 15 May 1893, he became executive officer of Philadelphia
upon her recommissioning at San Francisco
9 July 1898.
After visiting Honolulu for ceremonies which transferred the sovereignty of the Hawaiian Islands
to the United States, Philadelphia, flagship of Rear Admiral Albert Kautz
, Commander, Pacific Station, arrived Apia, Samoa
, 6 March 1899. An unstable
political climate, created by rival Samoan factions and German
presence, erupted into open hostility during the month. A combined American and British
naval force sought to keep the peace, but natives attacked American and British consulates late in March.
A British and American landing party set out from Apia in late March . On 1 April during a mission to drive off the forces under King Mataafa. With Lieutenant Lansdale in command, the landing party was ambushed and forced to retreat after a fierce fight
near Vailele
.
While protecting the evacuation of a mortally wounded machinegunner, Lieutenant Lansdale was seriously wounded, his right leg shattered by an enemy bullet. Aided by two enlisted men, Ensign John R. Monaghan
carried him until he dropped from exhaustion. Despite Lansdale’s plea, “Monny, you leave me now, I cannot go any further,” Ensign Monaghan remained beside the fallen lieutenant. With only one rifle between them, they were soon overrun by pursuing Samoan forces; both officers died on the spot. Seaman Norman Edsall
and another sailor also were killed.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
Biography
Lansdale, born in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, graduated as Passed Midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
from the Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
18 June 1879. Commissioned ensign 1 June 1881, he served on Asiatic, North Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Pacific Station
Pacific Squadron
The Pacific Squadron was part of the United States Navy squadron stationed in the Pacific Ocean in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Initially with no United States ports in the Pacific, they operated out of storeships which provided naval supplies and purchased food and obtained water from local...
s. Promoted to lieutenant 15 May 1893, he became executive officer of Philadelphia
USS Philadelphia (C-4)
The fourth USS Philadelphia , also known as "Cruiser No. 4", was a cruiser of the United States Navy.She was laid down 22 March 1888 by William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, launched 7 September 1889, sponsored by Miss Minnie Wanamaker, daughter of merchant and philanthropist John...
upon her recommissioning at San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
9 July 1898.
After visiting Honolulu for ceremonies which transferred the sovereignty of the Hawaiian Islands
Territory of Hawaii
The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 7, 1898, until August 21, 1959, when its territory, with the exception of Johnston Atoll, was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth U.S. state, the State of Hawaii.The U.S...
to the United States, Philadelphia, flagship of Rear Admiral Albert Kautz
Albert Kautz
Albert Kautz was an American naval officer, born at Georgetown, Ohio. He graduated at the Naval Academy in 1861. In June, 1861, as commander of a prize brig, he was captured near Cape Hatteras, but was released on parole and proceeded to Washington, where he succeeded in negotiating the first...
, Commander, Pacific Station, arrived Apia, Samoa
Apia, Samoa
-Administration:Apia is part of the Tuamasaga political district and of election district Vaimauga West and Faleata East. There is no city administration for Apia. Apia consists of some 45 individual, independent villages...
, 6 March 1899. An unstable
Second Samoan Civil War
The Second Samoan Civil War was a conflict that reached a head in 1898 when Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States were locked in dispute over who should have control over the Samoan island chain, located in the South Pacific Ocean...
political climate, created by rival Samoan factions and German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
presence, erupted into open hostility during the month. A combined American and British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
naval force sought to keep the peace, but natives attacked American and British consulates late in March.
A British and American landing party set out from Apia in late March . On 1 April during a mission to drive off the forces under King Mataafa. With Lieutenant Lansdale in command, the landing party was ambushed and forced to retreat after a fierce fight
First Battle of Vailele
The First Battle of Vailele was fought during the Second Samoan Civil War in 1899. British, American and Samoan forces loyal to Prince Tanu were defeated by a superior force of Samoan rebels loyal to Mata'afa Iosefo...
near Vailele
Vailele
Vailele is a village situated on the central north coast of Upolu island in Samoa.Vailele is in the electoral constituency of Vaimauga East in the larger political district of Tuamasaga....
.
While protecting the evacuation of a mortally wounded machinegunner, Lieutenant Lansdale was seriously wounded, his right leg shattered by an enemy bullet. Aided by two enlisted men, Ensign John R. Monaghan
John R. Monaghan
Ensign John R. Monaghan was an officer in the United States Navy.-Biography:Born in Chewelah, Washington, Monaghan graduated from the Naval Academy in June 1895. For the next two years, as a Passed Midshipman, he served in the cruiser Olympia, flagship of the U.S. Asiatic Station...
carried him until he dropped from exhaustion. Despite Lansdale’s plea, “Monny, you leave me now, I cannot go any further,” Ensign Monaghan remained beside the fallen lieutenant. With only one rifle between them, they were soon overrun by pursuing Samoan forces; both officers died on the spot. Seaman Norman Edsall
Norman Edsall
Norman Eckley Edsall was a sailor in the United States Navy during the Spanish-American War.-Biography:Born in Columbus, Kentucky, Edsall enlisted in the Navy 27 June 1898. While serving on Philadelphia, Seaman Edsall went ashore with a landing party on 1 April 1899 to suppress hostile natives...
and another sailor also were killed.