The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-02-18
ADMIRAL PoRrER's LIFE.
The Worthy Representative OF six Genera
lions OF SeafarinK Men.

The Worthy Representative OF Six Genera
lions OF SesfarinK Men.
David Dixon Porter was the son of
David Porter, a naval officer, and was
born at Philadelphia June s. 1914 The
family for six generations had been
a seafaring one, and it claims at pres
emit the most distinguished officers in
the q. s. navy. He saw his first battle in
the Mexican navy at the time his father
was chief in command OF that service, and
in 1929, when his father had returned to
the United States, he became midship-
man in the L. s. navy. He
served in the Mediterranean sta
ton till 1885, at which time he
was assigned to the [. S. coast survey
corps. He was made lieutenant in lS4l.
In 1916 he was detailed on special duty at
the observatory at Washington, which
post he resigned to take part in the Next
can war. During this conflict he served at
Vera Cruz and at other points. At the
close of the war he was again engaged
on the coast survey, and In 1S49 he en-
tered on the command of the California
line OF mail steamers. He afterward re-
turned TO the regular navy, and on the
outbreak of the civil war he had attained
the rank of commander. His first
service in this struggle was the
relief of Ft. Pickens, in Pensacola
harbOr. In 1852 he was in COM
mand of the flOtilla of mortar-boats
operating against New Orleans and the
djacent forts. He was next engaged in
the unsuccessful attacks on Nicksburg,
July, 1862. In January, 1863, he captured
Arkansas Post, and in April destroyed the
Grand Gulf batteries. At this time he was
made rear-admiral, and had command OF
ali the naval forces on tie Mississippi
river. In the second siege of Nicksburg,
resulting in the capture of that city, his
efficient and hearty cooperation with the
land forces under Gen. Grant were re-
peatedly noticed and eulogized in his re-
ports by that general. Alter the fall OF
Vlcksburg he assisted Banks in his Red
river expedition in 1864. The same year
saw him transferred to the James river in
Virginia, and he was employed in the two
attacks on Fort Fisher in the second one OF
which the fort was capturedl, besides
other important expeditions. At the close
of the war he was made vice-admiral, and
IN 1866 he became superintendent of the
naval academy at Annapolis, Mo. In 1870,
on the death of Admiral Farragut, he be
came admiral (commander-in-chief) OF the
navy. which position he yet holds. Adj
miral Porter visited the National cemetery
about year ago in company with several
members of his family, and selected site
for his grave at point little ways north
east of the Arlington mansion, correspond
ing exactly with the grave of Gen. Sheri-
dan on the other side. After selecting it
he turned TO an attendant and said:
"Drive a stake there. That's where my
body shall rest"
His last illness, which had been of con-
siderable duration, materially affected his
mind. Admiral Porter has written several
books. among them being, "Life of Com
modore David Porter incidents and
Anecdotes OF the Civil War" History of
the Navy in the War of the Rebellion"
apJ uo works of fiction