New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-10
THE TORPEDO-BOAT FOOTE.

THE TORPEDO-BOAT FOOTE.
Probably many reader of the item published
recently that "Torpedo-boat No. has been
named the Foote in honor Of Admiral Foote,'
regretted that such an historic name could not
have been given to a more powerful ship worthy
of the splendor of his achievements and the
nobility of his character But the arrangement
adopted several years ago for giving names to
warships leaves no opportunity for doing justice
to the glorious traditions of the Navy. cruiser
Of any size cannot be named after any Of the
Naval heroes Yes. there's one way in which 1t
NAV be done: If city or town Of the larger
class should be honored with the name Of Farra-
gut. Porter, Foote, Worden, Goldsborough or
any of the other fighters of the Navy, then
cruiser could be named after that city, and thus
commemorate the name Of patriot. Or II the
proposed Greater New-YOrk State should be hon.
ored with the name Of one Of the great COM
manders, Their battleship might be named
after It and thus preserve the memories Of war
victories in the nomenclature or the Navy
There is perhaps one exception from the present
rigid absurdity in the fact that the Naval hero
Decatur may have a cruiser named after him
because there is a town or city Of Decatur in
Illinois.
part of the Naval history of the Civil War that IS
of intense interest. Admiral Foote was not only
the father of total abstinence in the Navy" the
officer through whose influence the grog ration
was abolished in 1863, and of whom the sailors
sing the refrain: "He raised our pay five cents
day and stopped our grog forever" But he
was the fighting Naval commander whose name
was closely identified with that of General Grant
t,o twill Wor In
Foote was ordered to the command of the i'm
provised Mississippi Squadron, fiotilla Of IRON
clads known on the Mississippi River as turtle
backs" which gave such good account of them
selves during the war; and fought their way
through many a bloody encounter from Fort
Henry to Grand Gulf, Port Hudson and the Red
River. He was assisted in organizing this
squadron by James b. Eads, the Ericsson of the
West This fotilla, built under the supervision
of Mr.. Eads. obtained fame in the annals OF
the war surpassed by no other vessels They
were river steamers plated with iron and armed
with guns. and were the first gunboats that fired
a shot in support of the Union. For the repairs
of these vessels that were expected to control
an active enemy occupying thousands Of miles
of navigable rivers Flag officer Foote estab-
lshed a depot at Cairo, III. And there these
were replenished. 1t was also there that Gen
eral Grant established his headquarters on sep
TENDER 4. 1861
1t was not pleasant duty to be an unpro-
tected lookout on the deck of any ono Of these
eunboats for there were cOwardly bushwhack
ers all along the river banks watching for
chance to pop at a "Yankee"-just as in peace
full times they had lain in wait for a coon or
nd m of those
"jronclads." three wooden gunboas that had
been purchased. and a lot Of RATS upon which
were mounted thirty eight morars. Upon his
recommendation il was ordered that there should
be a united movement of Army and Navy
against the forts. and the start was made from
Cairo on February q 1862. A simultaneous at
tack under the direction of Grant and FOote was
made on Fort Henry on February ., and in less
than two hours the COnfederates hoisted the
white flag Hence Foote was the first to remove
that absurd idea that "gunboats would not prove
sseryiceablc in Western waters, as they could
mot resist the fire of heavy guns in earthworks.'
Inst before the fight began Foote gave an illus
tration of his well-recognized character IN an
address to his command. He admonished the
men TO be brave and courageous, and, above ALL
IN Mace their trust in Divine Providence. RE
member" said he, that your greatest effort
"shoud be to disable the enemy's guns, and be
"sure YOU do not throw any ammunition away
Every charge you fire from one of those guns
COSTS the Government about eight dollars. If
"your shots fall short you encourage the enemy;
"if they reach home you demOraze him. and
"cet the worth Of your money" Next followed
the plan for q concerted attack on Fort DOne
SON and when the COnfederates surrendered on
tln nf nj fV a ~
and stronghold after stronghold followed, ii is
not strange that the National amazement and
qualification knew no bounds. Grant was made
| a maior-general. but the Navy was not so gen.
erous IN promoting FCote and Walker and other
| gallant officers under him. Island No. 10 next
| fell. and 1t was in this engagement that Foote
| received a serious wound. few days after
ward. about the middle Of April, he relnqushed
| active service never again TO resume It, Under
| date OF April TO- 1862, Secretary Wees sent n
dIspatch to Flag Officer Foote, In recognition of
! the services OF his command, which opened with
| this sentence: "A Nations thanks are due TO
| "you and the brave officers and men Of the fo-
"tilla on the Mississippi, whose labor ana gal
"lantry at Island No. TO- which surrendered TO
"you Yesterday, have been watched with intense
| "nteres,." ON February IA. 1862, the ONO
| LEGISLATURE passed "A vote Of thanks to General
| Grant and Flag Officer TOCte for their courage
and galantry exhibited at Fort Henry. In June