The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1891-02-20

The COnfederates were repairing the In.
dianoa. which they had captured, wnen Por-
ter fitted n scow to look like one of his turtle
gunboats. with two canoes for quarter boats,
a smoke stack of pork barrels and mud fur
naces in which fire was kindled. This was
called the Turreted Monster and set adrift
with ne one on board. A tremendous can
nOnade from the Confederate batteries failed
TO stop her, AMI the authorities at Nicksburg
hastily destroyed the lndianola. while the
| supposed monster drlfted an nour amid rain
of shot before the enemy discovered the trick.
Another incident was the lightning quick.
ness with which, when the dam he was build
ing to enable his gunboats to get over the
rapids burst, ne ordered them to go down
with 1t on the instant. And the third was
his landing of an impr0mptu naval brigade of
9 600 sailors and marines at Fort Fisher to
divert the garrison's fire while Gen. Terry's
military assaulted and captured the fort. He
ran past the batteries Of Vicksbury and cap
tured the Confederate forts at Grand Gulf
which put him into communication with Gen
Grant. In the spring of 1864 Porter co.ope.
rated with Banks In the Red River fissco, and
later In the same year was transferred to the
North Atlantic squadron, and reduced Fort
Fisher the gallant Gen. Terry commanding
the land forces. Before that he was engaged
In the same attempt with Gen. Butler and
his disgust at the latter's swing It Up, was
the cause of the lifelong quarrel Ia which
they have been engaged. He was one Of the
greatest sea fighters in history. He COM
bined some of the strongest traits of both
Sherman and Sheridan. for to the formers
quick perception of probabilities, intelligent
grasp and general energy he added 10 the lat.
ter's supreme dash and the special audacity.
Nothing in The history of war Is more in-
teresting or more brilliant than his action
and In the Vicksburg campaign. The NOR
ter fleet was hts conception. He has devoted
considerable attention to literature, and was
the author of several books; The list in
cludes life Of Commodore David Porter.-
pub lished In 1875; "Allan Dare and Robert
ie Diable,- q novel which has been drama
tized. .1ncjtlents and Anecdotes OF the Civil
War" "Harry Marine" aad History of the
Navy In the War of the Rebellion"
Gen. Sherman whose critical illness from
erysipcias was reported in the REfoRMER last
week die d Saturday at 80 p. IN. From two
o'clock Thursday afternoon until four o'clock
Gen, sherman continued to improve. Then
symptoms Of collapse from general eXhaus-
tiop began 10 manifest themselves. He laid
iu bed from Friday morning umtil he died
without speaking n word. He made the at
tempt TO do SO several times. but was unable
to utter sound ether than . hoarse gasp. He
apparently recognized those about him by
looS of the eye. His tongue was swollen and
bis Jaws were stifi some hours before be died.
Signs of death were noticed half an hour be-
fore he die, in the icy coldness Of be finger
hands and arms. Ne was unconscious for
the last two hours he was alive. The end
came PEACEFUL and was caused by the sceu-
mutation of mucus 10 the lungs, which the
generxl was unable to throw oh. Some two
weeks ago the general made known his
wishes ~ to his burial. He particularly re-
quested that his body should not lie in state
snywhere. He also requested that the funeral
be strictly military one. He said that he did
not care particularly for any military observ-
ances in New York. but that he did want \
military burial IN st. Louis. which would be |
IN by bis old conrades a. arms. |
lie also requested that the funeral rtes be |
not IN conformity with any particular form |
of religion. He wanted soldiers burial. He |
iCoatinued on End page.I