Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-19
BUTLER AND PORTER.
A Champion Arises to Defend the
Conduct of the Admiral.
THAT LITTLE FLEET OF MORTARS
Played an Important Part in the Capture
of fEeW Orleans,
ANY AMOUNT OF STRONG EVIDENCES
HAT LITTLE FLEET OF MORTARS
ANY AMOUNT OF STRONG EVDEECES
ruprrrrN roR rHn prsrLrcA.1

WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPLTcH.l
In vour issue Of May B / was very much
surnrised to find General Ben Butler accus-
inc Admiral David D. Porter of cowardice
and turning tail to the enemy. Now, 1 have
had the honor of a command in the navy
under Porter, and know that be has not a
cowsrdIy bone in his body. 1 have the
official reports. to the Secretary of Navy
Farragut, Porter, and all the other navy
commanders engaged in that celebrated con-
fict, and think il comes with very bad
grace from General who cannot truthfully
claim a single military success.
Now for the record. March Is, 1862, in
letter from Farrsgut 10 Secretary Welles
he says: captain Porter has arrived with
his mortar feet. 1 shall push things for
ward with all possible dispatch" April 2
he says: ''On the first days fire they put a
shot through one of the mortar vessels and
killed one man; the second day they sunk
one with rifle shot. They have sent down
five fire RATS. / sent Commander Bell last
evening to destroy the chain and raft across
the river, but be could accomplish but little
in consequence of one of his gunboatS get
ting on shore, and she was only saved by
great exertion, as the enemy were firing on
them all the time. Commander Porter, how
ever, kept up such tremendous nre on
them from the mortars that the enemy's shot
did the gunboats no injury, and the cable
was separated and their connection broken
sufficiently to pass through on the left
bank"
MORE PROOFS.
At anchor off New Orleans, April 25, he
saws: about 3:30A. NJ. / attacked Fort
ST. Phillip and Fort jackson with my little
feet, while Commander Porter most gal
lantiy bombarded them, and, beside, took
them in flank with his steamers. have
not heard what became of the gunboats
Kennebec, Itasca and Winona. L then
then pushed up for the city OF New Orleans,
leaving two gunboats to aid General Butler
in landing at the quarantine, and sent him
a communication by Commander Boggs, re-
questing him to come at once. 1 shall now
send down with this letter Commander
Smith in the Mississippi to look after Cen
eral Butler"
On the 29th he says: 81 am taking every
means to secure the occupation by General
Butler of all the forts along the coast. On
the evening OF the 29th Captain Bailey ar
rived from below with the gratifying intel
igence that the forts had surrendered to
Commander Porter and had delivered up all
public property and were being paroled,
and that the navy had been made to surren-
der Internationally, as they had conducted
themselves with bad faith, burning and
sinking their vessels while q flag of truce
waS flying"
Under date of May z, 1862, Captain Bal
ley, in letter to the Secretary of the Navy,
says: both forts surrendered to Com
mander Porter, who was near at hand with
the vessels of his fotilla. As left the river
General Butler had garrisoned Forts St.
Phillip and jackson"
PORTER WAS THERE.
Commander Swartwout, of the sloop of
war Portsmouth, under date of April %, in
a letter to the Secretary of the Navy, says:
"Having received the glorious tidings to-day
that Forts jackson and st. Phillip have
surrendered to Commander Porter, have
concluded to proceed up the river
r6ticed that General Butler was having
a Sc ch made at the Department for the
: lop -poK ofNthe1 Harriet Lane, Porter's flag
ship at the time .Ee is accused of turning
tail to the enemy" 1 am under the i'm
preston that he will have to 90 to Calves
ton, Tex, for it. She was captured by the
rebels January 1, 1868, and Commander
Wainwright and her executive officer, Lieu
tenant Commander Lea, were killed, with
several of her crew.
In conclusion will only give you an ex-
tract of a congratulatory letter from the
Secretary of the Navy:
The important part which you have borne in
the organization of the mortar hotilla and the
movement on New Orleans has identified your
name with one of the most
BRILLIANT ACHIEVEMENTS
on record, and to your able assistance with the
flotilla is Flag Officer Farragut much indebted
for the successful results he has accomplished
To yourself and the officers and seamen of the
mortar hotilla the department extends its con-
gratulatiOns am respectfully, etc., 4
GIDEON WELLES
Tc Commander ID. ID. Porter, commanding u s,
Mortar Flotilla, Gulf OF Mexico.
L could give more detailed and salts
factory account, but think have proved
that no such occurrence took place. Everyone
knows of Buffers vindictive disposition and
that he never forgave Porter and Terry for
capturing Fort Fisher after he had aban-
doned the attempt. Who was it that turned
tail to the enemy on that occasion? 1 am
certain it was not Porter. j. R.