The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-14

80 out of 1856. The captain was among those
Killed. Next day the Leaftad towed the Guef-
zero INTO Havana. The surviving officers. IN
cluding Midshipman Porter, who declined 10 ac
cept parole, were confined as prisoners OF war III
Havana
On February 2, 1929, Mr.. Porter was appointed
a mldshiDman in the United States Navy ana
attached TO tne frigaie Constellation; Medlterra-
mean squadron, 1880: frigate United states,
ware, same squadron 1885. Promoted to passed
mldshipnap July 3, 1885; on coast survey duiy,
1870. Commissioned as Lieutenant feD
ruary 27, 1S4l frIgate Congress, Mediterranean
squadron, IS43-45; naval observatory, Wash
lngton ID. c., 1916; Special Commissioner 10
Santo Domingo under Stale Department oto. 40
Boon after the declaration OF war with MeAico
Lieutenant Porter was ordered 10 New OrleauS
Tor the purpose of shipping men for Tie Gun
squadron, commanded by Commodore Conner
and on his arrival at Vera Cruz February : 9,
Io4I, was detailed by the flag Ohleer as fHs'
Lieutenant Of the Splfire. Captain Tatnall'
On March 21, 1S47, Commodore NJ Z. Perly
relieved Commodore Couner In command OF INC
squadron and at once commenced active prep
arations against the enemy. lie prepared q. d
hotilla OF small vessels, including the SpltnIe
and the Vixen, TO silence the forts on tue water
side OF Vera Cruz, opposite San Juan dUlIOs.
The vessels anchored near the city and III SIX
hours had battered down the great southern gate
and Inflicted considerable damage on the city.
That night Lieutenant Porter volunteered TO go
In and sound out the passage leading TO ne
Ranking forts OF the city, and IN the morning tho
noillla got under way and attacked these sOuth-
ern Hawking batteries, Lieutenant Pore acllhg
as pilot. The fire of The tiotilia was so eheciiye
that the enemy we're driven from their works,
Dut I'D pushing on
THE FLoTILLA
Came within range of the guns OF San Juan
o. ll0a ana had 10 retire from action.
On April 49, 1S47, Commodore Perry hOlsteu
his broad pennant board the Spiihre, ara
after sharp action captured the batteries
guarding the city OF Tuspan. On this occaslo'.
Lieutenant Porter was First Lieutenant OF the
Sptltse, and superinIended the working OF the
pivot gun. On June l6h the Spittre attacked
N fHlV pnn
Lieutenant Porter landed with sixtyeight men,
charged and captured The fort. For this gallant
affair Lieutenant Porter was given commander
the Splthfe. lie was IN every action on the AT.
laniie coast OF Mexico during the war; aud WAS
In several engagements ON shore III addition 10
those afinat.
Lieutenant Porter was attached TO the Coast
Survey in 1S4S-49; Oh leave of absence. 1850;
commanding Pacihc Mail steamer Georgia,
1Sbl-63; commanding store-ship Supply, 1850
67, and attached 10 Portsmouth Nayy-yaId, New
Hampshire, lS5S-6O.
just before tne surrender of Fort Sumter
Lieutenant Porter was sent for by President
Lincoln 10 ascertain II Fort Pickens could
be saved to The Union, as the ConiedCr-
ate forces under Genela al Bragg had assembled
In great numbers 1T Pensacola. Lieutenant
Porter volunteered TO save Fort Sumter II the
President would give him command OF the Pow
haitian ana furnish 500 troops, with munitions
of war, 10 ACCOMPANY The ship. This was doue,
and ON April II, 1861, the PownalIan arrived
OF Fort Plckens. In twenty-fOur honrs the fort
was rendered secure against any attack by Gen-
eial Bragg's army. General Bragg ntIed cut an
expedition Of some nifty small vessels. filled with
troops, 10 capture POrters ship. Lieutenant
forter hIed the 11-inch guu loaded with slirap-
nell, at The hOtilla. which Immediately returned
10 Pensacola. tie also sent TWO shells into the
nayy-yard, then occupied by The COnIederacy.
aud
SENT THEM sCAMPERING AWAY.
These were the first hostlIe guns fred
by tie navy during the Civil War. and the eyeat
look place three days after The surrender OF Fort
Sumter.
Lieutenant Porter was promoted to Com
mahder April %, 1861. He served with Captain
DAVID u. tarTagut IN command of The MOI tar
notllla OF iwenly-one schooners during the A.
tacks on Forts jackson and ST. Philip. Ge
forts were bombaTded SIX days aud six nights
and 10000 shells were fired Into Fort Jack sou.
On ApIil %, 1862, Forts jackson and st. Philip
surrendered 10 hlm. ana on May Ion Gideon
Wells, then Secretary Of the Navy, sent him
congraiulatory letter.
On October 15. 1862, Commander Porter re.
lleyed Rear-Admiral Z. II. Davis In command Of
the Mississippi River Squadron as acting Rear
Admiral. On December u, 1862, In conjunction
with General Sherman he made an uns ucces .iul
EXPEDITION against Vlcksburg. His feet next
attacked Arkansas Port on the Arkansas River,
which. after three hours Dombardment, sur
rendered. For the capture OF Arkansas Port
Rear Admiral Porter received the thanks of
Congress.
On September %, 1864, Rear. Admiral Porter
was assigned to the command OF the North At
lantic Blocladlng Squadron. aud on January 10,
1865, the fleet under him captured Fort Fisher.
On the 18Th OF the following month Fort Amer.
son was taken. On February 22d Wilmington
was closed and the war virtually ended, as The
COnfederaies could no longer obtain supplies
from abroad.
FOR THE CAPTURE OF FORT FISHER
Rear-Adnral Potter received the thanks OF he
President; vote of thanks from Congress f'
from the Legislatures OF the Union States. Aa-
mira Porter fired the first naval gun at Pensa-
cola, April II, 1861. and those he fired Rich
mord on April =, 1860, were about the last
fired by The navy during the war.
Rear-Admiral Porter was appointed Superin-
tendent OF the Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md,
September 8, 1865, and retained charge until
December l, 1869. Commissioned Vlce-Admiral
July 81, 1866. In 1866 Vice Admiral Porter
Was ,ent 10 Santo Domingo with 100000 to
purchase a lease OF Samana Bay and adjacent
peninsula but gave up The project He was on
speeia; duly at the Navy Department In 1S69-7o.
lie was commissioned AdmIN.l August 10. 1870,
and was on special duty at Washington from
then until his death.
Admiral Porter was Chief Marshal of the feet
of United States war vessels which was re-
viewed by President Harrison on the occasion of
the centennial naval Iarade, held at New YORK
GU April 27, 1889.