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Henry Glass—born in Hopkinsville, Ky., on 7 January 1844— entered the Naval Academy in 1860; but, due to the exigencies of war, graduated a year ahead of schedule in May 1863 and saw considerable action during the Civil War, while attached to the steam sloop Canadaigua. He took part in engagements with Confederate batteries at Charleston, S.C., between July and September 1863; in the Stono River in December 1863 and July 1864; and in the North Edisto River in February 1865. He also participated in the capture of Georgetown, S.C., in February 1865.

Henry Glass—born in Hopkinsville, [[Kentucky]], on 7 January 1844— entered the Naval Academy in 1860; but, due to the exigencies of war, graduated a year ahead of schedule in May 1863 and saw considerable action during the [[Civil War]], while attached to the steam sloop Canadaigua. He took part in engagements with [[Confederate]] batteries at [[Charleston]], S.C., between July and September 1863; in the Stono River in December 1863 and July 1864; and in the North Edisto River in February 1865. He also participated in the capture of Georgetown, S.C., in February 1865.

   

   

After the war, Glass was advanced to master in November 1865; to lieutenant in 1866; and to lieutenant commander two years later. Sea duty came in a succession of ships: the steam sloop Powhatan in the Pacific Squadron (1865-1868); the steam sloop Tuscarora on the North Atlantic Station (1869); and the steam sloop Mohican on the Pacific Station (1870-1871). During his time in the last-named ship, he was assigned to temporary command of the wooden-hulled, screw gunboat Nyack for six months during 1870. Also whilst serving in Mohican, he performed duty as an aide on the staff of the Commander, Pacific Squadron, Rear Admiral John Lorimer Worden.

After the war, Glass was advanced to master in November 1865; to lieutenant in 1866; and to lieutenant commander two years later. Sea duty came in a succession of ships: the steam sloop Powhatan in the Pacific Squadron (1865-1868); the steam sloop Tuscarora on the North Atlantic Station (1869); and the steam sloop Mohican on the [[Pacific]] Station (1870-1871). During his time in the last-named ship, he was assigned to temporary command of the wooden-hulled, screw gunboat Nyack for six months during 1870. Also whilst serving in Mohican, he performed duty as an aide on the staff of the Commander, Pacific Squadron, Rear Admiral John Lorimer Worden.

   

   

Glass next traveled to the Asiatic Station, where he served in the screw sloop-of-war Iroquois from 1872 to 1873, before he returned to the United States for the first of several tours of duty at the Mare Island Navy Yard, first serving in the receiving ship Independence, before he was given command of the State of California's State Marine School Ship, Jamestown, which was recommissioned for this service on 21 July 1876.

Glass next traveled to the Asiatic Station, where he served in the screw sloop-of-war Iroquois from 1872 to 1873, before he returned to the United States for the first of several tours of duty at the Mare Island Navy Yard, first serving in the receiving ship Independence, before he was given command of the State of [[California]]'s State Marine School Ship, Jamestown, which was recommissioned for this service on 21 July 1876.

   

   

Returned to the Navy on 3 March 1879, Jamestown refitted at Mare Island and sailed from San Francisco for Alaska on 22 May 1879 to protect American lives and property threatened by "the disturbed condition of affairs" on shore. She arrived at Sitka on 14 June and remained there into the following year "preserving the peace and furnishing security to persons and property . . . and . . . surveying the waters and bays adjacent to Sitka." Promoted to commander in 1879, Glass served as the senior naval officer in Alaskan waters in charge of Indian affairs in that territory in 1880.

Returned to the Navy on 3 March 1879, Jamestown refitted at Mare Island and sailed from [[San Francisco]] for [[Alaska]] on 22 May 1879 to protect American lives and property threatened by "the disturbed condition of affairs" on shore. She arrived at [[Sitka]] on 14 June and remained there into the following year "preserving the peace and furnishing security to persons and property . . . and . . . surveying the waters and bays adjacent to Sitka." Promoted to commander in 1879, Glass served as the senior naval officer in Alaskan waters in charge of Indian affairs in that territory in 1880.

   

   

   

   

Upon the outbreak of war with Spain in 1898, the twin-screw protected cruiser Charleston was readied for service as expedi-tiously as possible, and Glass was chosen to command her. Commissioned on 5 May 1898, Charleston set out for the Hawaiian Islands 16 days later. Escorting three transports—City of Pekin, Australia, and City of Sydney—she sailed from Honolulu on 4 June, bound for Manila, Philippines. When clear of land, Glass opened his confidential orders, which directed him to take the island of Guam while en route to the Philippines. Her mission thus outlined, Charleston altered course for Guam, and the cruiser and her three consorts reached their interim destination at daybreak on 20 June. Leaving the transports anchored outside, Charleston boldly entered the harbor and fired a challenge, only to receive no return fire of any kind. Spanish emissaries soon called upon Capt. Glass and were astonished to learn that a state of war existed between their respective countries. As the island was virtually undefended—the forts were in ruins—the Spanish governor surrendered; and the Ladrones came under the stars and stripes when Glass took possession of Guam for the United States on the afternoon of 21 June 1898.

Upon the outbreak of war with [[Spain]] in 1898, the twin-screw protected cruiser Charleston was readied for service as expedi-tiously as possible, and Glass was chosen to command her. Commissioned on 5 May 1898, Charleston set out for the Hawaiian Islands 16 days later. Escorting three transports—City of Pekin, Australia, and City of Sydney—she sailed from Honolulu on 4 June, bound for [[Manila]], [[Philippines]]. When clear of land, Glass opened his confidential orders, which directed him to take the island of Guam while en route to the Philippines. Her mission thus outlined, Charleston altered course for Guam, and the cruiser and her three consorts reached their interim destination at daybreak on 20 June. Leaving the transports anchored outside, Charleston boldly entered the harbor and fired a challenge, only to receive no return fire of any kind. Spanish emissaries soon called upon Capt. Glass and were astonished to learn that a state of war existed between their respective countries. As the island was virtually undefended—the forts were in ruins—the Spanish governor surrendered; and the Ladrones came under the stars and stripes when Glass took possession of Guam for the United States on the afternoon of 21 June 1898.

   

   

   

   

Later, with New York requiring extended repairs at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Glass and his staff proceeded to San Francisco, and he briefly wore his flag in the cruiser Boston from 28 to 30 September 1903 before he transferred to the cruiser Marblehead on the 30th. On 3 November, a revolution broke out on the isthmus of Panama which soon won the independence of that strategic region from Colombia. Upon learning of the trouble, Glass, in Marblehead, sailed for Panama's Pacific coast and arrived there a week later. During the period of tension, Glass stationed one ship at Darien harbor to protect American lives and property and, with the permission of the Panamanian government, sent small observation parties from his ships offshore to explore the rivers, roads, and trails of the region, thereby gaining "much information ... of a country of which very little was known."

Later, with New York requiring extended repairs at the [[Puget Sound]] Navy Yard, Glass and his staff proceeded to [[San Francisco]], and he briefly wore his flag in the cruiser Boston from 28 to 30 September 1903 before he transferred to the cruiser Marblehead on the 30th. On 3 November, a revolution broke out on the [[isthmus]] of [[Panama]] which soon won the independence of that strategic region from [[Colombia]]. Upon learning of the trouble, Glass, in Marblehead, sailed for Panama's Pacific coast and arrived there a week later. During the period of tension, Glass stationed one ship at Darien harbor to protect American lives and property and, with the permission of the Panamanian government, sent small observation parties from his ships offshore to explore the rivers, roads, and trails of the region, thereby gaining "much information ... of a country of which very little was known."