The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-22
ABOUT ADMIRAL FApp.cr1T.
His Quarrel with Porter, and His Dislike OF
the English,

His Quarrel with Porter and His Dislike of
the English.
"Gath's'' New York Letter.
DO You recollect any instance of Farragut be-
ing mad with Admiral Porter!"
i fecollect one case, which is a good instance
of Falraguts philosophy The officers of the
navy carry their flags which denote their rank
or relative superiority, on the different 1nasts.
Porter came to see Farragut one day. and as he
came along observed to the Admiral that his
flag was on the mast one grade above him Far
ragut said, Well, that's just like him. AS
Porter rounded to he came the superior
side of FaTagut's vessel instead of
following the usage of taking the oppo-
site side, indicative that he was coming up
to his superior officer They went into the cabin
together, and after they had talked on a number
OF topics, Farragut, who was pretty well disposed
toward the Porter family because of their early
kindness to him, said: Dave, you have got your
flag on the wrong mast is that soY" said
Porter. why, so L have. l will fix it when l
go aboard He did go aboard and instead of
changing that flag to the inferior mast he hoisted
it at the mainmast, setting himself at the top of
the feet Said 1 to the Admiral There goes
Porter's flag to the top of the main-mast Far
ragut looked up gTiimly, and a rather contemptu-
Gus smile came to his face and said he, Well,
what can you expeetP Porter's object, proba-
bly,, was to make it appear to the foreign vessels
in the river-France and England both being
represented there-that he was the ranking
officer of the fleet
Dlu FdfIaSuJ nave any trouble with those Tor
eign vesselsf'
well, he hated the English. There was a YES
sci there called the Styx. which was guilty of ono
Of the neivilities that brutal domineering off
GER could give. The French vessels we've always
courtly to the Americans and seemed to rejoice
in our national successes. The British vessel
was engaged perpetually in fomenting disorder
and encouraging rebellion. On one occasion,
when Farragut had seen Vicksburg anti Port
Hudson surrendered within few DAYS of each
WA fba ,;xr cd
a French man-of-war, and her band of music
began to play, and her colors ran up and we were
heartily cheered. Then we came to this British
vessel, the StyX and not one sound came from
her. Her officer was pacing on her wheel house.
God damn him. said Farragut, give
him the news Another officer sprang
on the box, put his hand to
his mouth and shouted: Vicksburg taken
with $4,000 prisoners: Port Hudson taken with
5000 prisoners and be God damned to YOU OF
course the last remark was rather suppressed.
The British officer paid not the least attention,
and never lost one pace that he was making, but
at him grimly as he passed, and exclaimed: BY
God, hope to live to throw shell into Liver
poolr"
"He did not like the English, Them
mot bit. Their incivility, selfshness, spite
fulness and desire to get into conflict with us
when we had our hands full nettled the old man
a good deal. Do you remember how Banks
treated that vessel, thu Styxg" said Mr. Davis.
, mo"
% think that one of the best things Banks did
in the war. The Styx had a band of music on
board which was constantly playing The Bon
ME Blue Flag and all the rebel tunes, for the de-
lectation of the women of New Orleans who
went out to dance on the ship. Admiral Porter
went on board one day and said Captain, there
is some complaint among our officers of the
music we hear from this vessel 'Ohr said the
British officer, Admiral, we do have a dance
every now and then, and should like to have you
come, but of course you would not find the
company agreeable If you could | would ask
you to come tonight Never mind, said Por-
ter, L am obliged to you and he sent word to
Banks, who commanded on Shore that there
was to be another rebel hop on the British
on both sides of the river, at New Orleans and
at Algiers, to allow no boats whatever to land
that night. So they had a t. "iec me or.
the Styx, and played nothing much but rebel
airs that night, and laughed at the Yankee squad
ron. Word was sent down stairs after a while
that there was a thunderstorm coming up, and
they has better get off before it struck theriver
where, you know, there are tremendous storms
of wind and rain and thunder. So they started
out on the different boats of this British vessel
and as they came toward shore word was shout
ed Boat ahoy! stand off or we'll fire into YOU
They Fowed TO the other side of the river to land
at Algiers. There came the hail again: Stand
off or we'll fire into you They Went from point
to point, but nowhere could come ashore, the
orders being general that nothing should land
So back they went to the British vessel, and
every officer had to give up his state room to
some woman, and even the British sailors had to
turn out of their hunks and let women occupy
them. The most awful rain ragged nearly all
night, and the whole British crew got wringing
wet and that broke up the parties on the Styx
Old Farragut smiled when he heard of it"