The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-07-01

Till all our heart within Is stirred
And having, unlike you, you see,
No other interests 1t stake,
" e give our best, and count that death
Is blest when suffering for your sake.
THE AMERICAN NAVY.
Admiral Porter's History of Its Ex-
ploits During The Rebellion.
Admiral David d. Porter is wri-
ting History OF the Navy During
the Civil War" Heexpects to COM
plete it during the coming autumn.
About one third of the manuscript
of the work is already in the hands
of the Sherman Publishing Com
pany. 1t will be an octave volume
OF over nine hundred pages. The
announcement will come as sur
prise to some of the younger ciu-
zens of the literary world when it is
remembered that Admiral Porter is
not only seyenty-two years OF age,
but that be has just issued to the
world a 900page novel written IN
six months, and that be has now
two books, each of 800 pages, in
press. And this vigor and industry
are accompanied by the fact that
hardly tinge of gray has made an
appearance in his chestnut-eolored
hair,a that his wiskers only show,
as he puts it, about one hair in
ten gray, and a little gray hair un-
der the Jaw"
The scope of the work embraces
not merely the service of the Navy,
but that of the Army where the
two co-operated. a great deal of
space is given to the narrative of
some of the graver issues OF the
war. For example, the chapter on
the momentous contest of the Iron
clads Merrimac and Monitor is of
sixty-fve large manuscript pages,
and on the siege Of Vicksburg three
long chapters are given In chat
ty note to the publishers, Admiral
Porter says: "a have spoken very
fairly of many of the Confederate
officers many of Them were gallant
men. and gave us great deal of
trouble; they showed indomitable
spirit and energy Following are
given extracts of the work, taken
somewhat at random
THE WORK OF TRAITORS
The manner in which the South
ern leaders prepared for rebellion by
crippling the Nations Navy, and
the success of the Government in
restoring it to usefulness, are des-
cribed as follows by Admiral Por-
ter.
When Mr.. Tousey handed over
the Navy Department to Mr.. Wells
it was in rather demoralized con-
dition. Southern officers were re-
signing right and left. Officers of
the Bureau even were talking of GO
ing with their State, and there was
a want of confidence in all quarters.
When men who had held the high
est aud most influential positions
in the Navy came forward and offer
ed their designations there was ap-
parently ne one upon whom the
Secretary could rely: distrust SEEM
ed to peryade every branch OF the
naval service. No commander could
be sure who would be faithful to
the flag, and the Secretary of the
Navy could not be certain OF South
ern men being true to the Govern
ment. 1t was bad state of affairs
for Secretary to commence bis ad-
ministration with, but the eventful
year 1S61-i62 will show that the op-
erations and achievements OF the
Navy were such that great credit
was reflected not only upon the De
partment but upon the personnel OF
the service, which so signally aided
the Department in carrying out the
measures tending so greatly to GRIP
pie the Confederate cause.
Some there were. who, r, bels at
heart and purpose, held for sever
al years previous TO the war high
positions in the Administration pre-
ceding that of Mr.. Lincoln, and had
done all they could TO dispose of
the Navy so that it could not be
used in event of trouble between
the North and South The object
was to destroy all Its resources, to
cripple the navy yards, 1ismantle
the ships, or have them at distant
stations. so as to render il impossi-
bic for the navy to strike an often
sive blow, or, if possible, to throw
the ships and yards into the hands
OF the Secessionists.
1t may be supposed by those un-
familiar with the events OF the times
that the Rebellion was the result
of measures forced upon the South
lust previous to the election of Abra-
ham Lincoln, and that in his cleo
ton they saw the death blow TO the
hopes they had cherished of extend
ing slavery into new States and Ter
ritories. If any ore supposes that
the Rebellion was al impulsIve
measure, let him dismiss such an
idea, for | was told By Southern
Senator in 1860 that as far back as
1855, when the Colorado class of
ships were built. he and Others had
voted to have them and all other
vessels built of such a size and such
draft of water that they could not
enter any Southern ports 30 1t
seems that the thought of secession
had been maturing for years and
while Southern statesmen were ap-
parently urging the building of large
vessels instead of small ones on the
ground that the dignity of the ma
ton called for these cumbersome
structures, it was really for the pur-
pose Of crippling the Government in
case the Southern States should Sc
cede. Had our Navy at
that time consisted of some gunboats
or a dozen monitors, the Rebellion
would have been unable to raise its
L..I yof Nth all the evueYiepea