Daniel Ammen (May 15, 1820-July 11, 1898) was a U.S. naval officer during the U.S. Civil War.
Born in Brown County, Ohio, his brother was Jacob Ammen, who became a General in the United States Army. They both attended the same school as Ulysses S. Grant and the two were best friends. As children, Ammen rescued Grant from drowning.
Ammen entered the Navy as a midshipman on 7 July 1836. He served in Vandalia during 1838.
In 1861-1862 he commanded the gunboat Seneca in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. His bravery was conspicuous in the battle of Port Royal , November 7, 1861. Later, under Samuel F. Dupont's command, he took part in all the operations on the coasts of Georgia and Florida. In the engagements with Fort McAllister, March 3, 1863, and with Fort Sumter, April 7, 1863, he commanded the monitor Patapsco. In the attacks on Fort Fisher, in December, 1864, and January, 1865, he commanded Mohican.
He was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1877, and was retired June 4, 1878.
Afterwards he was a member of the board to locate the new Naval Observatory, and a representative of the United States at the Interoceanic Ship Canal Congress in Paris. He designed a cask balsa to facilitate the landing of troops and field artillery, a life-raft for steamers, and the steel ram Katahdin.
His publications include The Atlantic Coast in The Navy in the Civil War Series; Recollections of Grant; and The Old Navy and the New.
He died in Washington, D. C., and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Two ships in the United States Navy have been named USS Ammen for him.
From: (1901) Encyclopaedia of United States History