The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-02-12
WASHINGTON c. THURSDAY H.

builiing in the hope of escape shut the plan
was frustrated, through treachery, just on
the eve of its realization.
The boy side of Porter's atdre showed
itself in prison as elsewhere" He was the
life of the party. he was Always taking
CHEEKY view of the situatioho1 If at times
heavy w0qa a to would ddfr IN tine tine
Jail window with his fair yodng face press
ed against the bars, evidently longing for
liberty, the first call of coffifade would
bring him back to his wonted joyOusness,
and he would spring to thy fpor with
hopeful word, and perhaps FOLLOW joking
sentence with his contagious, Mugh. In
room of the jail adjoining that of the ma
Capt. Harris, of Tennessee, held as a hos
tage for some Confederate prisoner under
special charges. It was delight of Ben
Porter to put his mouth to the key-hole of
the door and whistle lively tune, while
the Captain danced to it with the accom-
panying clanking of his chains. After
Porter had been himself in irons he taught
Capt Harris how to remove and replace
his handouts and letters without the
knowledge of the prison officials. 1t was
through this instruction that Capt. Har-
ris's life was saved when the Columbia jail
was burned early in 1865.
At last Porter was out of prison. Pass
ing his examination for promotion before a
special board at Washington, he was COM
missioned as Lieutenant, to rank from the
month when he was 10 years old. He was
then-early in 1S65-Ordered to report to
Admiral Porter at Hampton Roads. By
the Admiral he was put in command of
the Malvern, flagship Of the squadron, a
high honor for boy of his years, but an
honor we'll deserved. At the second at
tack on Fort Fisher, Lieut.. Porter led
an assaulting party on the beach against
the sea-face of the fort, and fell dead ut
the head of his men. He died as he had
lived, bravely and unselfishly doing his
duty. He had lived the life of only a boy
in years. He had shown the spirit and
done the work of the manifest and ma
turest of men. His life was one of high
achievement and of yet higher promise.
Ben Porter's character and record are typ
ical of some of the choicest specimens of
American naval officers; of those who be-
gan to do great things in boyhood, and
continued to do better and greater things
throughout their lives; of the Perrys and
ROdgerses and McDonoughs and Farra-
CUTS and POrters, and others like them.
Of this young officer Admiral Porter said
he was ''the most splendid fellow / ever
knew; my beau ideal of an Off
GER" And his classmate, Gushing, add
ed: II have never known an officer more
truly loved and admired, and justly, too;
for the earth contained few like him."
Dear Ben Porter: his memory will never
pass from the minds Of those who knew
his attractiveness and worth.
LIEUT.. 8. W. PRESTON.
The second naval officer to whose char
acteristics I would call attention was
Lieut.. s. w. Preston, who, although some
what older than Ben Porter, was with him
for time in the Naval Academy. was his
companion in imprisonment, and fell by his
side at Fort Fisher. Preston was pre-
eminentiy the courtly officer, the gentle
man sailor Not that his comrades were
lacking in gentlemanly qualities, but that
he was distinguished even among them for
his cOurtliness, his gracefulness, and his
remarkable native refinement of person
and manner. Entering tile Naval Acad-
envy from Illinois, Preston went thence in
to active service at the outbreak of the
civil war. He was on dntyyas Midship-
man and Ensign until August 1862, when
he was promoted Lieutenant.s His ability
was everywhere recognized, and his char
acter and bearing invariably commanded
respect and admiration. Under Admiral
Dahlgren, in the first attack on Charleston,
young Preston was Flag Lieutenant of the
Wabash. Afterward he was on duty for
time on the New Ironsides,n,
In the bold attempt by admiral Dahl
gren to carry Fort Sumter by storm, in
September, 1868, Lieut.. 9 Preston voun-
teered to lead division of the scaling
party. He was one of the, first to land,
and he bore himself most calamity through
the brief but sharp contest that resulted
in his capture with, the remnant of the
vanquished party. With Ben Porter he
was sent from Charleston to Columbia. 1t
was there that met the two together
My first impression Of Lieut.. Preston was
in the line of his typical character. The
naval officers were brought into the Jail
during the night. When we Of the army
morning exercise, we found the newcom-
ers there. Preston / remember seeing at
the hydrant, washing. His clear complex
ion, fine features, intelligent face, and
barred cllest-his skin fair as woman's-
stamped him as gentleman of unusual
delicacy and refinement. I was drawn to
him from the start. Then we were shut
up together for months, and learned to
admire him more and more. He was a
man of cultivated tastes and faculties, well
read, and well Informed. He had poetic
mind, with transcendentar turn, and n
love of the mystical. : Nor did he neglect
special studies in science and languages
during his long Imprisonment. He was a
fne conversationalist. He had high
sense OF honor, and sensitive conscience.
And he was remarkably pure in thought
and speech. There was witlial love of
adventure and touch of romance in his
nature, that, with his other qualities,
would have fitted him for q prominent
place in the age of chivalry.
During his Imprisonment his handsome
face attracted attention at the Jail win
dows looking out on the public square of
the Palmetto State capital, and love af-
fair was the result-one which by itself
would form the substantial basis of a
glowing poem or a thrilling novel; There
were all the desired accessories; the i'm
prisoned, brave and handsome hero, the
wealthy and beautiful young lady, the
clandestine correspondence, the bribed
guards, the temporary release of the young
officer, the midnight meeting and the
plighted troth, the hero's return to captiv-
ity, his final release from Imprisonment,
and his death in the battles front before
the nuptials could be celebrated. That pic
ture of life and love stood ont in bright
colors against the dark background of
prison gloom before those who were his
fellOw-captives in Columbia; and it is told
and retOld among the survivors today.
After IA months of Imprisonment Pres
ton was again at liberty. Refusing prof
fered leave of absence, he was assigned to
duty with the North Atlantic Squadron,
and became Admiral Porter's Flag Lieu
tenant on the Malvern. In the second at
tack on Fort Fisher he went on shore with
the stOrming party, and had charge of an
intrenching force in advance of the main
column moving against the isea-face of the
fort. He went info actikn al, fIIlI Uniform