The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-26
ADMIRAL DA vTD y. pORTER.


1T is announced that yice-Adnral Porter has been
appointed Admiral in the United States navy 70 nh
the vacancy occasioned by the death OF Admiral
Farragut His commission is dated August 10.
This naval ofilcer was the son OF Commodore
David Porter, who was distinguished of1cer IN the
war OF 1872 at which time he commanded the fr1pate
Essex. The son David ID. was born in Pennsyva-
mia at the beginning OF the war, and Afterwards
served with his father In the West Indies. He re.
ceived rudmentary education, and in 1929 entered
the navy as midshipman from his native State. In
1880 be went to the Mediterranean, attached to the
frgate Constellation, and served in the Mediterra
mean squadron until 1885, being successively
with the frgate United States and the line battle
ship Delaware. He became passed midshipman in
1885, and was then ordered to the coast survey.
Ieutenants commission was given him in 1s4i, and
In 1s43 he was again ordered to the Mediterranean
with the frigate Congress. In the Mexican war he
did active service both at sea and land and took
part in all the Important naval operations and seye.
raj OF the land attacks. When the war was con-
cluded he was again ordered to the coast survey
and afterwards commanded the United States mar
steamer Georgia, running to Panama In which posi-.
ton he became very well known ,.,.-r
In 1851, at the beginning of the late war; he oh.
tained the rank OF commander, and took charge of
the rigate Powbatan in the expedition TO reinforce
Sumter. After the fall of that fort he dsembarked
troops at Fort Pckens who were able to re-
tain the possession Of the stronghold to the Govern
ment
On being ordered North, he took charge OF the
mortar notlla then fitting out to aid Admiral Farra-
gut in the attack on New Orleans.
He began the bombardment of Forts jackson
and ST. Philip, which, with the iron-clad neet con-
sttuted the defenses OF the city OF New Orleans on
the 11th OF April 1862 For six days and six nights
the fleet kept up continuous and steady fire. when
the powerful forts were SO weakened that It
was thought possible for the vessels to pass. These
forts, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Higgins,
and the coast defenses, under Brigadier-Genera
Duncan, surrendered TO Porter on the 2Sth of the
same April. The capture of New Orleans was
effected with terrific lighting with the iron-clads,
rams, and gunboats. ti ai
Porter remained in charge OF the mortar fotilla
until july 1862 cooperating with Admiral Farrague
in all the operations on the Mississippi from New
Orleans to Vicksburg.
At about this time he obtained the rank of acting
Rear-Admiral and took charge of the Mississippi
squadron. This squadron he himse6 created and
formed into good lighting body. He had here
command Of one hundred and twenty-five vessels
which were before but river steamboats,, but which
were made good war vessels by means Of plating,
and by their armament and equipment. In this fleet
there were thirteen hundred officers, of whom not
more than twenty-five belonged to the regular navy
The rest were mostly Western steamboat men, with
no knowledge whatever Of naval tactics and disci-
pline. aa lir9
BY dint Of hard labor these all became in short
time, valuable and trustworthy. This feet captured
Guf 1t also greatly assisted at the capture OF vcks-
burg by General Grant on July 4, 1868. Daring the
siege Of this place. the fleet shelled the city the
works beyond for folty successive days. Heavy
guns also were landed from the fleet and manned
by men from Porter's command. These naval land
batteries, the mortar boats and the gunboats COM
bined threw about sixteen thousand shells into the
city and works previous 10 the surrender. -.
The fleet co-operated in the Ohio river In the chase
Of five hundred miles and the recapture of Morgan
the raider They also cleared the Yazoo river and
assembled the Red river to Springfield Landing where
the news Of the disaster of General Banks army
compelled them to draw back. At Grand Boore the
safety OF the vessels mperilled by the falling OF
the water In the river, but By the device OF one OF
the officers they were all gotten safely the bar
By means OF the fleet the Mississippi was kept open
to Its mouth during the whole OF this timeys aEg
In 1864 Rear-Admiral Porter was ordered to the
North to command the North Atlantic SQUADRON
which had been greatly enlarged both for the pur-
poses OF blockade and the attack on Fort Fisher,
with the object OF obtaining command of the port
of Wilmington. The feet consisted OF all the avail
able vessels commanded by the best ofacers. 1t
sailed in December from Hampton Roads for Beau
fort, N. c. Thirty vessels, five iron-clads, and q
reserve OF nineteen other vessels, were made ready
for the attack on the works at the mouth of Cape
Fear river. These slenced, but the failure OF
General Butler to cooperate, and his withdrawal,
lost the advantage for a time. Subsequently the
arrival OF $500 fresh men under General Terry
caused the operations to be recommended. On
the 10th OF January increased number OF
vessels-forty-four and a reserve OF fourteen-l
poured an incessant fire upon the works. Fourteen
hundred soldiers and marines were landed, who
took part In the assault After desperate fighting.
the works were taken at 10 o'clock at night The
capture embraced that OF seventy-fve guns, many
of them the finest OF rihed pieces and nineteen
hundred prisoners. For services here rendered,
Rear Admiral Porter received the thanks OF Con-
gress and the promotion to the rank OF vce-Admira
In place Of Farragut, who was then made Admiral.
From 1866 to 1869 vice-Admiral Porter has been
In charge OF the Naval Academy at Annapolis on
the Inauguration OF Pre- sident Grant he was called
to Washington to act adviser In the Navy De-
partment here he has remained until the present
ia al la1 dufv in hat r. aoftv 10