The New York herald., 1862-10-03
Sketch of Admiral Porter.

Sketch OF Admiral Porter.
Acting Rear Admiral David D. Porter, just appointed
the chief officer OF the Mississippi feet native OF
Pennsylvania the youngest son OF the well known
Commodore David Porter, of the Essex the vessel In
which Admiral Farragut made his first voyage, and
which vessel, with its commanding officer, achieved
a IN enviable distinction in the last with Eng.
nowned father.
Previous to his entry in .vv ha s,,od w,,, H.
| father during the whole of the expt-.... -. a.,
West Indian pirates, and when his father rcllre
naval service in 1925 the prepared to hand ao, =
name with equal, greater, honors. lie entered
from the State Of Pennsy ylvana of which he is
citizen, on the I'd Of February, 1920 which day his
OF midshpman dated. He was ordered to The
frgae Constellation, thrtysix guns, stationed in the
Mediterranean, under Commodore Bdde and Captain
Wadsworth.
In 1881 the Constellation was ordered home and laid up
in ordinary at Norfolk and Porter granted leave of
| absence, after which, in 1892 he ordered back to
the Mediterranean the new flagship United States
forty -four gun rigate under Captain Nicholson Commo
dore Patterson having charge Of the squadron On the
Sd Of July, 1885, he passed his examination and
commented for early promotion. During the years 1886
to 1s41 he appointed the Coast Survey and ex-
plorng expeditions and stood the list of passed mid
shpnen at the following numbers:-January 1888, No
ILL., January 1882 No. 81 January 1910, No 81 and
| January /, 1871, at No. 4s.
On the 9th Of February, 1S4l he was commissioned
lieutenant and ordered to the frgate Congress, forty
four gun vessel-ofwar He then rejoned the Medter
squadron, and after short time this vessel
ordered the Brazilian station He still retained his
position on the same craft and was on her over four
years for his name Is recorded of he lieutenans
the rolls OF tho Navy Department for 'he years com
mencing January 1912, 1s43, 1s41 ana lS45 He had
not risen much during these yea~ ior on the first men,
49, y0 liat Nf
tenants on the second asSo 25S on the third No.
245 and On tho last No 49, A. the latter end G 1s45
he was attacheA to the Observatory at Washington 81
special drty, which position he still held at the COM
mencenent and during portion Of 1S46 He then stood
No 22S the list. On January l, 1S47 after having
performed some brilliant exploits the Gulf OF Mexco
during the Mexican war; he recorded being in charge
the rendezvous at New Orleans, from which he was
detached to again join the Coast survey, on which
service his name is recorded January !! lS4S
During this year he was appointed to the COM
mand Of the schooner Petrel engaged on is survey
in February, 1S49 he left New York the commander
Of the steamship Panama. the third OF the vessels con-
stutng the line Of American mail steamers hrst estap-
shsd service the Pacific The pioneer passage Of
the Panama attended with incidents which displayed
the part Of the commander courage caution patience
and thoroughly compatent qualifications for the post TO
which he had been assigned After taking the vessel
safely TO Panama Bay he ordereo New York
command OF the mail steamer Georgia. which command
he held during tho part Of 1850 the years 1851 and
1882 and great portion Of 1868.
On the 1st Of January 1854, he is recorded absent
again on leave and at the beginning Of the next year
awaiting orders. His stood at No lbs. During
1855 he was ordered to the command OF the storeshp
supply and this command during the next year. until
February 1857 He then ordered shore duty and
on the 1st OF January $780, at the Navy Yard at
Portsmouth third in command
Al the beginning of the year 1861 he was under orders
10 Join the Coast Survey the Pacific, but, tortu
uately had not left when the rebellion broke out his
name nj this time stood pamber six on the list OF leute
nans The resignation OF several naval traitors lett room
for his and the Nava Register for August
81 1901 places him number seventyseven on the list OF
commanders with twenty others between him and the
next grade OF rank below He then placed In com
mand Of the steam sloopof-war Powhatau, vessel Of
about twenty-five hundred tons aud armed with eleven
guns In her he took part In section of the block
aiding squidron aud left that ship take the special
charge the expedition The active part he took
reduction OF the forts below New Orleans will mike
his memorable in connection with the mortar
feet or bummers, the sailors term them. After the
capture Of New Orleans he with his neet went IN the
Mississippi river and engaged in several affairs on
that river including that Of vicksburg From that place
he was ordered to the James river and returned in the
Monroe he fell in with and captured the Anglo.rebe
steamer Tuba Cain II was at Grst supposed that he
would have been placed command of the James river
hotilla but from this plan changed He
was allowed Of absence TO recruit his health while
his mortar feet engaged the Chesapeake and In
front Of Baltimore He has been appointed TO very
important command the Mississippi being nothing less
than the supreme control Of all the naval forces on that
river with the rank Of acting rear admiral The force
under his ORDERS vessels guns and men, will DO larger
! than ever before under the command Of any United
| States naval officer His squadron will be distinct IN
every way from that Admiral Farragut who will st II
| command the western Gulf Blockading squadron.
Amongst tho many gallant exploits OF Admiral Porter
was that OF running the Crescent City appropri
ately namcd the harbor OF Havana during the ex-
ctement between the two countries relative to the ship
Black Warrior The Spanish government had refused to
pomt any United States vessel to enter that port Run
ming under the shotted guns Of Moro Castle he was or
| dcrcd to halt. Hol promptly replied that he car.
| ried the United states flag and the United States
| mails, and, by the Eternal, no would go in and
| he did, the Habancros fearing to fro upon him.
He said afterwards that he intended firing his six
FOUNDER at them once, defiance after which he would
| haul down his flag During the Mexican war, Admiral
Porter thon lieutenant took very active part IN the
naval portion Of that campaign He the executive
officer and srst lieutenant under the famous Commodore
Tatnal who had charge OF tho mosquito fleet in tho
waters Of the Gulf Their adventures before Vera Cruz
are not likely soon TO be forgotten.
Admiral Porter has had much experience in the
navigation OF the Lower Mississippi and his knowledge
OF the stream must have greatly aided him in his late
pedion up that river Besides bsng skiliu navigator
and posscssor Of many manly qualities, Asmira
Porter is an accomplished scholar. He speaks several
languages aueuty, and plays the harp guitar and otncr
musical instruments very credablya least so say tho
c,s,,lan senorItas Of Chile and Peru. He Is man O
wirv. muscular frame, handsome features Of medium
bcsbt and few years ago, universally admitted TO bt