Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-02-14

convoy proceeded on their way, arrived al
Pensacola and threw the troops into Fort
Pickens, by which its safety was finally
assured. On the 9th Mr.. Fox, still ignor.
ant of the diversion of the Powhatan, sailed
for Charleston, and after waiting in vain
for the arrival of his principal ship, was
compelled to witness the bombardment
and capitulation of Fort Sumter
During November the capture of New
Orleans was engaging the departments at
| tention, and Porter was summoned to
Washington for consultation. His plan of
attack, in which the fotilla of mortar
boats had prominent place, was freely
discussed by the president Secretary
Welles, General Mcclellan, and Captain
Fox, and finally adopted in its main fea-
lures.
During December and January Porter
was busy with the purchase and fitting out
of his feet of nineteen schooners, each
armed with q mortar and two thirty-two
Founders. Seven hundred men enlisted,
and seven steamers were selected for the
conveying force. The hotilla sailed
towards the end of January for the mouth
of the Mississippi, where Farragut ar
rived in the Hartford on the Goth of Febru-
airy.
The assembling of the main squadron,
the passage of the bar and the prepare,
On the 10th of April, the fleet being then
three miles below Forts jackson and st.
Philip, Porter stationed his fotilla, placing
two divisions near the west bank and one
on the east, between ., 1000 and 4, 900 yards
from the forts and close to the shores The
schooners were dressed with bushes to OBJ
scure their position and confuse the enc
my's aim.
The bombardment opened on the 18th
and continued to tho Oath, when the feet
ran by the forts. During this time the
was accurate and the citadel and various
buildings in Fort jackson were burned
Then followed Porter's brilliant opera
tions against Vicksburg, his expedition up
Red river, his penetration of the Delta,
and other notable feats. After his ex-
ploits on the western rivers he was ordered
to the command of the North Atlantic
squadron. He took part in several other
brilliant feats before the close of the war.
After the war Porter became superintsn-
dent of the naval academy. At the open
ing of Grants administration in March,
1869, when Mr.. Borie became secretary of
the navy, Admiral Porter was ordered to
special duty at the department, his func-
ton being that of naval adviser to the
secretary.
In the later years of his life the admiral
used his pen with great industry and pub
ished many books and magazine articles
Among these may be mentioned the ''Life
of Commodore David Porter" "Allen Dare
and Robert lie Diable," a lengthy and very
singular romance" which has been
dramatized; Incidents and Anecdotes of
the Civil War" an amusing collection of
war experiences, rather conversational
than historical in character; ''Harry Mar
line" and History of the Navy in the
Rebellion" The last should have been an
important work, but a rurgid style and
excessive carelessness in dates, names and
other details make it almost valueless to
the student and dreary to the general
reader.
Admiral Porter was married in 1889 to
Miss George Anne Patterson, daughter of
Commodore D. T. Patterson, U.S.N., who
survives him. He leaves tive daughters
and four sons, of whom one is in the navy
and another in the marine corps.