Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1891-02-20

manGed by his cousin, David II. Porter, an
cnterprisng officer of but twenty-one years
OF age, who, like his uncle, had served in
our navy, and who was killed In battle
with the La Lealted. II was then, April %,
1897, that Midshipman Porter received hi,
baptism OF battle, when his vessel, though
overwhelmed by the size OF the adversary.
surrendered only after her decks were filled
with the dead and dying, aud her spars and
sails were so torn to pieces as 10 make her
unmanageab e.
Two years after this experience David d..
Porter entered the United States navy as
mdshipmap. At the age Of z he was a
lieutenant and few years later was doing
good service for this nation In the war with
Mexico. From the beginning to the close
OF the next great struggle, the war Of the
rebellion, first as commander, then as rear
admiral, he was actively employed IN
important work As early as April,
1851, he sailed In the Pow
hAtan for Fort Pickcns for whose
belca gucrcd garrison much sohc'tudo was
felt, and followed that duty with the com
mand of the mortar fleet fitted out to CO.
operate " ith Admiral Fsrragut IN his attack
on New Orleans. Ills energy aud Jealous
activity won quickly the appointment of
acting rear admiral, and then was dis
played an example OF his efficiency aside
from his bravery. Out of ordinary
river steamboats, he created by plat
ing and arTing, formidable fleet
Of l25 vessels, number Tar
exceeding that commanded by any other Off
Ger in the history of naval warfare. In this
squadron there were more than 1900 officers,
OF whom not more than 2S were Of the reg.
uar navy, the rest consisting mainly OF
Western steamboat men, utterly without
naval training but who under the rigid dis.
cipne aud inspiring example OF their COM
mander, soon became valuable officers.
The formidable rebel batteries at Grand
Gulf were destroyed. The army under
Grant was given inva liable aid before NickS.
burg, when the mortar feet for forty days,
without intcrmission threw shells into the
city The novel and singular lazoo Pass
expedition was succeeding act OF impor-
tance. The exciting chase of Morgan by the
steamers ON the Ohio river, over distance
OF 500 miles, by which that leader and his
band were inte' cepted. attracted the atten-
tion OF the country. In March. 1864, por-
tlon of the Mississippi squadron. under Adj
miral Porter, assembled the Red river to form
junction with the army under Banks at
Alexandria. La. From this point, with some
Of his most formidable ironclads, Porter pen
etrated some fifty miles farther up the river
to Springfield Landing. While there he
learned that the army under Banks had met
with reverse and was falling back to Pleas
ant Hin. Porter turned back, harrassed at
every step by the army. On April IL Porter
reached Grand Ecort, and was detached from
the Mississippi and ordered TO the command
of the North Atlantic blockading squadron,
II was in December of that year that Rear
Admiral Porter, with force of 70 vessels
aud reserve force of 10 vessels, began the
bOmbardment of the forts at the mouth OF
Cape Fear River. and sienced them In al
hour aud a quarter. Gen. Butler, who com
manded the military forces, decided that the
place could not be carried Ivy assault, aud
withdrew his men. But Admiral Porter was
confident OF success in storminR OF
Fort Fisher, and second military
force under the command Of Major General
A. II. Terry. was sent to his assistance. The
force arrived on the 18th Of January; on the
18th the works were carried by assault after
a battle lasting from 8 to 10p. M. Fourteen
hundred sailors and marines were landed and
participated in the direct assault. seventy
five guns, many Of them superb rifle pieces
and 1900 prisoners were the immediate fruits
of the victory. This action closed the ad
| mirals arduOus w"r service.
In 1896, when he was made vice-admiral
he was appointed superintendent of the
Naval Academy. In January, 1867, ne tooE
his last cruise, and after that date made his
home in Washington.
The admsal wns married in 1899 to the
daughter of Commodore Patterson at the
Washington navy yard, and their golden
wedding was pleasantly celebrated In 1889 al
their Washington home. Since the death o.
Farragut in 1870 Admiral Porter has held
| the highest title In the navy, and that titI'
now becomes extinct by his death.