The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-10-08
THE WESTERN FLOTILLA.

mand until the date Of the surrender. his
mortar boats fired 1000 shells. and the
gunboats fired 1880,
Many sleep beneath the turbid waves
of the mighty Mississippi. on whose
eastern banks vicksburg proudly stands.
Peaceful be their SAUNDERS! No Gettys-
burg shaft will ever point heavenward to
mark the spot where they found an un-
timely grave, but by the shedding Of
their blood they left monument moro
lasting than granite. A country united,
peaceful. prosperous and free; the nag
under which they fought and fell waves
in triumph from the lakes to the Cult,
and from the Atlantic to the Pacific
Ocean.
No more fitting eulogy to the heroism
Of these men has been drafted than the
following brief letter sent by the Navy
Department to Rear Admiral Porter and
the officers and men of his fleet:
Navy Department. July 10. 1853.
| "Sir-Your dispatch Of the 4th instant,
announcing the surrender of Vicksbura
on the anniversary Of the great historic
day in our national annals, has been re.
ceived. The fall of that place insures o
severance OF the rebel territory, and
must give to the country the speedy, I'M
interrupted navigation of the rivers
which water and furnish the ocean out
let to the great central valley of the
Union. For the past year the key to
the Mississippi has been Vicksburg, and
so satisfied of this was the rebel chief
who pioneered the rebellion and first
strife, that he staked his cause upon its
retention. By the herculean efforts Of
the army. under the admirable leader
ship Of General Grant. and the persis-
ten. and powerful cooperation of the
navy. commanded by yourself, this great
result under the providence of Almighty
God has been achieved. A slave en-
pire. divided by this river into equal
parts. with liberty In possession Of its
banks, and freedom upon its waters.
cannot exist. The work of rescuing and
setting free this noble artery, whose I'M
restricted vital current Is essential ia
our nationality. commenced with such
ability by the veteran Farragut and the
lamented Foote. and continued by Da-
Wis is near it's contamination You have
only to proceed onward and meet that
veteran chief whose first act was to
dash through the gates by which the
rebels assumed to bar the entrance to
the Mississippi. whose free communion.
ton to and above New Orleans he has
ever since proudly maintained.
When the squadrons OF the upper and
lower Mississippi shall combine. and the
noble river be again free to a united
people. the nation will feel its integrity
restored. and the names Of the heroic
champions who signalized themselves Ia
this valuable service will be cherished
and honored. Present and future mil
lions on the shores of those magnificent
rivers which patriotism and valor shall
have emancipated. will remember with
unceasng gratitude the naval heroes
who so well performed their rart In
these eventful times.
ITO yourself. your officers. and the :
brave md gallant sailors. who have bee,
so fertile in resources. so persistent ant
through many months of trial
and hardship. and so daring under all
tender. in the name o.
he President. the thanks and congratu.
ations of the whole country on the faI
IF Vicksburg. Very respectfully. &C.,
GIDEON WELLES,
Secretary of the Navy.
Rear Admiral David d. Porter, Com
w"'''-- Nississipri Squadron"