The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-09-23
The POI ter Family, and tho Pirates and
Authorities OF Cubs
AN UNPUBLISHED CHAPTER OF AMERICAN NAVAL
HISTORY.
TO THs EDITOR OF THE HERALD.

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HISTORY.
TO THE EDITOR THE HERALD.
It appears that the Havana Diario has been amusing
itself n abusing tall the Porters" short history of
events IN which this family have been oonnecte With
tie Island Of Cuba, may not be just at this
moment. !.
In the year 1905 thereabout several vessels were
cruising in the Gulf of Mexico against Spanish commerce.
the Consulate of Havana offered large reward for
capture of these vessels Commodore David Porter fitted
out expedition, captured them and handed the
and vessels to the Captain General Of Cuba; the
former executed and the latter sold With the pro-
verbal honesty Of the Governors of Cuba the
refused at least disputed, the ground that
Commodore Porter, being officer under the American
government, bound to capture all pratss (libus.
teroes but finally after long discussion, the debt Of
$4,000 was admitted but never paid. This claim on
Cuba now amounts to the neat little Of $3.50 0O0
in 1921 '22 23, when the iousteross (piratss)
infesiDg the West Indies and fitted ont their crafts In
the ports Of Cuba Commodore Porter appointed by
the government Of tho United States to command .
squadron Of fishing and bay cratfor they nothing
else-to sweep the West Indies Of these Cuban flbus
eroes One Of his very FIRST acts inform tho Cap
tain Of Cuba Of certain baunts of the pirates the
sle Of Pnes and at Rga in the harbor Of Havana
The Captain General refused to aid the American squadron
in any way The next step Of Commodore Porter was to
fit out boats, capture the pirates fitting out at Rsga
and sweep the coast Of Cuba with his little vessels and
boats. The gallant officers and seamen who AIMED
ns% IN many marc i0pgnI battle 1n.y succeeded In
these Cuban fllibusteroes from the The affair OF
Fcxldo is too well known to make any comments At this
time. This action OF sent him into the
Mexican navy. He carried with him several American
officers and among them Lieutenant David 81. Porter.
Hs fitted out the Mexican navy bocradsd the coast Of
Cuba captured many Spanish vessels and prevented
leo. During this period Lieutenant Porter, with the
rank Of Captain In the Mexican navy bcckxded the coast
of Cuba with an eighteen guo brig called tho Guerrero,
ded often the coast penetrated to the interior of
the island and laid their towns under contribution Ia
the Bay Of MArie he fell In with two spanish briggs Of
equal force with himself and in twenty minutes oom-
peeled them to surrender. While lowering his boat to
take possession Of them Spanish trgats hove in sight
which compelled him haul off and prepare meet hi,
guns, with crew Of $50 persons on board; the brig,
eighteen guns AZ d 120 officers and men, TIE action be-
tween them lasted two hours aud fifty Eve minutes
until the brig had expended all Of her pc 1t falling
calm, and Captain Porter being killed. the brig
wounded the fnsss. had one hundred add "fn fty
killed and wounded. Lieutenant d. D. Porter, nos
the commander Of the Golden Age: vas at that time
SpaDAIds, with their usual magnsnimiy. ried the off,
GERS and men Of their vAIusbes, money &c, not
forgetting the capsirs watch Daring the action the
feates deserted their quarters twice. and 1t
with difficulty they could be dhven back to their gups
The constant annoy ance OF Com nodore Porters Mexi
PEELED the latter to offer peace TO Mexico Previous 10
Commodore Porters entering the OF Mexico
Sps nsh Minister offered to pay the Commodore $50 0O0
the just debt due him from Spain provided he would not
enter the service Of Mexico The Commodore refused
the bride with this remark IT the debt Is jus. ooe
which you have admitted to be- honorable
you Should pay It, but intend to enter the rervcs Of
Mex co."
In lS4S at the end Of the Mexican war Lieutenant W.
Porter entered the barber Of Havana in command Of
the u s. schooner Matoresa. of two gans and thirty
men There at that.ims held In bondage al Amsri
citizen free colored The Oousu Of the Uni
ted States William Corbe had ends avorsd to have hiu
released but without Lieutenant Porter sent
through Mr. Corbell age to the Ca GsnerA in
form Ii him the American citizen then held to slavery
not brought before tho proper tribunals and the
matter Investigated, he would BLOCKADE the port of Ha
vana The matter investigated the citizen released,
and through the efort Of Mr. Corbe damages awarded
him The late affair Of the Gsorgis, under mand OF
Lieutenant Porter, already esh in the minds Of
the PEOPLE. His determined conduct that occasion
sealed the fate Of all the Porters in the island Cuba
with ell future Captain Generals Of Cuba, All Cuban
papers please copy ONE OF rHE PORrER5
It expected that the family Of Portsrs win claim the
Island Of Cuba in payment Of their debt and IL not
prom pity com lied with hire q armed with long
nine and blockade the Cuban coast.