The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-02-19

fleet from the Red River, he received the thanks
OF Congress and long furloug mfrom the Navy
Department.
The celebrated attack on Fort Fisher began
Dec. %, 1861. ain an hour and a half from
the commencement OF the bombardment by
the feet" wrote Porter " not shot came from
the fort, and two magazines had been blown
mp by our shells and the fort set on FIRE in sew
eral places, and such q torrent Of missiles was
falling into and bursting over il that it was
impossible for any human being 10 stand it,
Finding that the batteries were sileuced COM
pletely, directed the ships TO keep up a mod
crate fire, in the hope Of attracting the atten-
ton of the transports and bringing them in"
Alter moderate reconnaissance, Gen. Ben
jamin r. Butler, who commanded the military
force, decided that Fort Fisher was substan-
tally uniuiuTed, aud could not be taken by
assault, and returned with his command to
Hampton Roads, Va. Admiral Porter requested
that the enterprise should not be abandoned
and a second military force of about 800 men,
commanded by Gen. Alfred III. Terry, arrived
off Fort Fisher on Jan. I3, 1865. This fleet was
increased during the bombaTdment by addi-
tonal land and naval forces, and, after seven
hours OF desperate fighting the works were
captured on Jan. 10 by a combined body of sol
diers, sailors and marines. According TO Gen.
Grant This was the most formidable armada
ever collected for concentration upon one given
point"
Admiral Porter received vote Of thanks from
Congress, which was tho fourth that he received
during the war. including the general one for
the capture Of New Orleans. Buffers failure TO
attack Fort Fisher at the appointed time led TO
an acrimonious correspondence between him
and Admiral Porter, in which each laid the
blame for the failure on the other. The quar-
rel between the two veterans was continued
with much acrimOny down almost to the pres
ent day.
In September. 1866, the Naval Academy was
moved back to Annapolis from Newport, where
10 had been located during the war, and Ad-
miral Porter was appointed its Superintendent.
While holding this position he was on the 25th
OF July, lSG6, appointed Vice Admiral in place
Of FarTagut, who Vas promoted 10 the rank Of
a full Admiral, created especially for him.
Admiral Porter remained at the head Of the
Naval Academy until the Inauguration of Gen.
Grant as President, in March, 1863, when he
was called TO Washington TO act as an adviser
10 the Secretary Of the Navy. The death OF
Farragut having vacated the grade OF Admiral,
Portci was, on Aug. 20, 1870, appointed to the
vacancy.
Admiral Porter has done considerable lite
rary work, being the author of the life Of
Commodore Porter" his father; ALLAN Dare
and Robert the Devil" romance Incidents
aud Anecdotes Of the Civil War" and "The
Naval History Of the Civil War;" The plan
Of this work comprehended detailed, almost
an exhaustive, account OF all the naval opera
tons Of the war for the Union, which are
narrated in plain, straightforward way with
out any attempt to cultivate the graees Of COM
position.
The Admiral was married in 1899 to the
daughter Of the late Commodore ID. #. Patter-
son, who COMMANDED the naval forces az New
Orleans in 1872. His wife and four sons and
two daughters survive him.
The funeral took place from the residence of
the dead Admiral on Tuesday, Feb. Il, at 2
o'clock p. m. Services were held nj the house.
only few intimate friends OF the family aud
officers OF the Army and Navy and officials
being present, owing to the limited space; all
the sailors at the Navy-yard, the marines sta
tioucd in Washington and Annapolis, Md, the
artillery from the Washington Barracks and
the cavalry from Fort Myer. together with the
militia of the District OF Columbia, and several
hundred Grand Army men acting as escort.
The pallbearers were Vice President Morton,
Maj. Gen. Schofcld, u. SA., Rear-Admiral
Stevens, Rear-AdmiFal Almy, Rear Admiral
Rodgers, Rear-Aduiral JOueTt. Rear-Admral
Howell, ear-Admiral Crosby. Senator Hawley,
Senator Henderson, Senator Mcpherson, Rep
resentatiye BOutelIe aud Gov. Pattisou, Of
Pennsylvania
The iutement Was at Arlington, the Admiral
having selected place in which to be buried
some years ago.