Year: 1871

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD


The letter which appears in the New YORK
HERALD December %, over the signature OF Captain
d. NJ Fairfax, an officer OF high standing and re-
spectability in the navy comes In good time
tradct the false and wilful misrepresentation which
are constantly appearing in the papers, with the sole
object OF exciting and prejudtcing the public mind
against an officer who has always studied the best
interests OF the naval service and his country in-
stead or being influenced by those who seek to
crafty only their personal ambition and advance.
ment, and have resorted to dishonorable means to
injure and mlsrcpresent hun in the eyes OF the pub
lie. And when his enemies Influenced by
their malignant and vindictve feelings and resort
to such base and underhand means IN order to pre-
judice public opinion. IL cannot be expected that
the truth VIII be found in their statements against
the officer who has performed MS duties faithfully
To his country ana credtab.y to himself


Admiral Porter's record in tile navy OF the United
taes as naval officer is second TO one, and the
skrll ability, courage perseverance anu loyalty
played by hun during The late war cannot be dis
pured. His excellent Judgment ana thorough Know.
ledge of his profession gave those associated with
him under his command perfect confidence in his
ability as commandcr and in the memorable tight
with the forts below New Orleans II is well-known
fact that Porter was Indcfatigablc and untirng in
his exertions, from the commencement to the end
ing OF that successful batte Porter not only got his
mortar fleet Of twenty odd vessels, which he com.
M anded, safely up to the attack upon The forts. but
went and gave ms personal services 10 Farragut to
assist In getting his squadron over The bar ut the
mout OF The MISSISSIPPI river and, with FarragutS
COnSenC the llcaVy SHIPS O the neet the
bar, and then, by his able services Farraguts
ron was, after work OF days, gotten into the Mis-
sissippl river, which seemed at first almost impos-
sibie, owing 10 the shailowDesS OF the wafer


We all know how cheerlully and enc0uraglngly
Porter worked with us, how manruliy, how sqnarely
lie faced the work during the seven days, at night
and day, ngntng with his mortar fleet, how
s:antly and anxiously Farragut sought his counsel
We also remember The first attack and passage OF
the Vicksburg batteries, the part Porter took IT,
the consultations between Farragut and himself
ha Vprv fpp o. hot pt\yae than


Porter was stirring spirit among Us. and we felt
, that with two such men as Farragut ana himself to
lead US we could fight the enemy to the best advan-
tage whenever we should meet them.


1t Is a wen known fact that through the influence
or Commodore Porter, father OF he present Admit
raj, Admiral Farraeut received his appointment as
midshlpman in the navy and that the Commodore
known that his son. Admiral Porler was SO friendly
to Farragut as TO suggest MS appointment TO the
command OF the leet on the attack OF New Orleans.
These facts all show how utterly untrue the repor


During the time Porter was In command from the
beginning the ending of the rebellion. both the
Mississippi river ana the Atlantic coast, meeting
with success in all his undertakings, he gave entire
were Seraded vii with PRIDE and ND he s proved himself
worthy and capable OF filling the highest position In


That Porter generously treated those under his
command and acknowledged their services by adj
vocatng their promotion is well known in the
navy. He Is very popular IN the service, and no
officer can deny hls readiness IN giving them full
crediG for their services.


NAVAL OuCCIS uAVe Dccu dSsAllcu lTOm every quar-
ter. ali kinds OF abuse have been heaped upon US.
we called tyrants drunKards, everything tnat Is
discredItable and that would bring odium upon US,
all OF which has been borne patiently, leaving 1t to
the good sense OF friends to Judge OF the lalsy
OF tile statement. When, however, 1t eliminates on
the head OF one who has done so much for the good
OF the service and his country where, TOO, nothing
has been left undOne to cast 0dium upon HIM, we
cannot quietly submit to it. There yet too many
living witnesses in the way TO allow these false
statements made against him to pass uncontra
dicteu at.sH Eli TRUTH.


A GERMAN Girl. RATHER ROUGHLY TREATEp.--A
Wisconsin paper chronicles series OF nearsIess i'm
positions upon German girl who came to this
country in search OF q sister. On her arrival IN
New York she was beseged BY runners and taken to
hotel, her baggage being lett at Castle Garden.
man pretending to be the landlord OF the hotel vol
unteered to take her check and procure her baggage
dissuadmg her from accompanying MIN by telling
her that IL was not considered right for and
woman to be seen walking together here. She saw
nothing more OF the man, but person who repre-
scnted himself rs a detective told her that her trunk
had undoubtedly been carried or by some other per-
son. and that 1t would be OF no use for her to try
and get IL. Having purchased ticket Tor Dun
lcth the glrl safely arrived there, and making
known her destination 10 the keeper OF the hotel
where she ate her breakfast, he recommended man
who spoke German but sad he was born In Ireland
TO show her the way. The guide took her the
country aud robbed her OF her shawl. hood and
nearly $500 In money, aftcr which he threw her into