The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-02-19
ADMIRAL PORTER.

At the moment when the country was
watching the bulletins from the sick
room of General Sherman, the las sur
vivor of the great generals of the war,
the announcement came of the death OF
Admiral David d. Porter, who passed
away suddenly at S:15 a. m. Friday
morning. Death resulted from fatty de-
generation of the heart, which relentless
disease asserted its fatal clutch on him
at Newport, Il. l., last summer, when
contrary to the persistent advice of his
physician, he OvertaXed his strength by
taking violent exercise and was stricken
down with complication Of diseases,
including congestion of the lungs and
dropsy. AS soon as he could be moved
with safety he was brought to his home
in Washington and all means known to
science and medicine were resorted to
for his benefit. Despite them, however,
there were 81 ght but unmistakable
symptoms of approaching dissolution.
Mental disturbances were added to other
troubles, and the patient failed to realize
the seriousness of his condition.
Admiral Porter's place in the naval
history of the war was second only to
that of Farragut, his superior officer
Like FaTagut he served with distinction
throughout, and lived to receive the
country's universal gratitude and highest
L I.
remained in the work of his profession
to the last, and goes to his rest at the
end of an exceptionally active and useful
life given to the service of his country.
David Dixon Porter was seaman by
inheritance. His grcat-grandfather was
a conspicuous naval officer in Colonial
times. His grandfather, Capt. David
Porter, served with distinction in the
Continental army, while his father,
David, gained imperishable renown in
the series of naval victories which he
won in the war of 1912. His brother,
William David, received honors in the
opening naval engagements of the rebel
lion.
David-Dixon Porter was born in Ches-
ter, Penn, June s. 1913 His education
was received at Columbia college, and in
1924 he was introduced to sea life under
his father, who commanded an expedi-
ton to suppress piracy in the West In
dies. His rise in the service was rapid
From midshipman, 1929, he reached a
lieutenancy in 1871, becoming a COM
mander soon afterward.
At the outbreak of the civil war Com
mander Porter was put in command of
one of the ships comprising the gulf
blOckading fleet operating about Pensa-
cola. Soon he was given command of
the fleet. Joining Farragut in 1862, he
participated in the bOmbardment of New
Orleans and in the campaign about
Vicksburg. In September he was put in
command of the Mississippi squadron as
acting rear admiral, receiving full com
mission together with a vote of thanks
from Congress July 4, 1868.
After helping in the unsuccessful Red
River expedition of Gen. Banks he was
in October, 1864, assigned to the North
Atlantic squadron, successfully lombard
ed Fort Fisher, for which he received
another Congressional vote of thanks,
and in 1866 was promoted to the vice adj
miralty. After the war Admiral Porter
served as superintendent of the United
States Naval Academy until 1879, when
he was detailed for special duty in the
naval department at Washington. He
was promoted tO:the highest rank in the
navy, that of admiral, August 10, 1870,
and held the office until his death.
In addition TO his naval services Ad-
miral Porter wrote two successful novels,
Life of Commodore David Porter" a
History of the Navy in the War of the
Rebellion" and incidents and Anec-
dOtes of the Civil War" The end came
when he was busy with literary and naval
duties.