COMMANDER WILLIAM D. PORTER.

of the crew rushed out into the open air on the platform in front with their clothes and skin hanging in threads from their bodies, and with their last breath shouted, 'Hurrah for the Union.' Another poor fellow, while dying, being told that the fort had surrendered, said, 'I die content.' Another, with blistered hands, pulled the string to fire another shot, but the steam had dampened the priming. Seldom has greater heroism been displayed. Several poor fellows jumped overboard to escape the steam and were drowned. Altogether it was an awful scene, the contending ships and the fort, the roar of battle, and the hissing steam, sending its deadly breath into every pore of the devoted crew."

217

ers. The rifled gun exploded early in the action. The casualties of the garrison were six killed and ten wounded.

Commander William D. Porter, who suffered so severe, but happily, as it proved, not fatal injury on board his vessel, was a son of the distinguished Commodore Porter, of world-wide fame, for his adventures in the Pacific Ocean in the second war with Great Britain. The gunboat which the son commanded in Commander Foote's flotilla, was named in honor of his father's ship, the Essex. Commander Porter was born in Louisiana, but was appointed to the navy from Massachusetts. He entered the service early in life, in 1823, and had shared the usual employments of a junior officer, his rank of Commander dating from 1855. At the beginning of 1861 he was in command of the Sloop St. Marys, at Panama, whence he dated an indignant letter of rebuke to Lieutenant J. H. Hamilton, a South Carolinian, who having deserted the service of the United States to conduct a rebel steam tug in Charleston harbor, thought fit to write his brethren in the navy to follow the same treasonable So course. Porter's reply was not to be mistaken: "The Constitutional Government of the United States has entrusted me with the command of this beautiful ship, and before I will permit any other flag to fly at her peak than the Stars and Stripes, I will fire a pistol in her magazine and blow her up. **The Constitution defines treason to be bearing arms against the United States. You have frequently heard this read on the quarter-deck of these vessels of the navy, and yet you would persuade the gallant men of the navy to place themselves alongside of the traitor Árnold and yourself. It has ever been the boast of the navy that she has never had one traitor within her corps. You, sir, are the first to destroy the proud boast. Future history will place you alongside of Arnold, and you will be the first to blot the page of naval history illuminated by the ex

On the arrival of General McClernand at the rear of the fort, he found the camp of the enemy, where several thousand troops-regiments of Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, and others, had been stationed, quite deserted. It had been abandoned in haste at his approach. Tents were left standing with all their appurtenances, arms, clothes, provisions, the public property and personal effects of officers and men. eager, in fact, were the troops to be off, that they did not leave a single horse for the officers of the garrison to ride away upon, General Tilghman's favorite steed, "one of the finest, sir, in the Southern Confederacy," as he touchingly remarked, being taken with the rest. On the opposite side of the river, General Smith's division reached the unfinished works at Fort Hickman, also to take possession of the tents and stores from which the owners had fled. Fort Henry was found to be a well-built bastioned fort without casemates, inclosing an area of three and a half acres. Outside was an extensive series of rifle pits. Its armament consisted of one 10-inch columbiad, a rifled 24-pounder, twelve smooth-bore 32's, a 24-pounder siege gun, and two 12-pound

Special Correspondent of the New York Tribune, Feb

ruary 14, 1862.

ample of Decatur, Porter, Hull, Bain- the Confederate commander of Fort bridge, Jones, Caldwell, and other gal- Henry, a native of Maryland, was a lant and patriotic officers." Such were graduate of West Point of the year. the terms in which Porter resented the 1836, with the rank of brevet 2d Lieuwounds inflicted on his country. In the tenant in the 1st Regiment Dragoons. appointment to the fleet on the Missis- He left the service immediately to folsippi he was among the foremost, and low the profession of civil engineering, his gunboat was one of the first fitted in which he became engaged in various for action. That he lost no opportun- important public works. Returning to ity for a word as well as a blow at the the army in the war with Mexico, he enemy, his correspondence with a re- served with distinction on the Rio bel commander on the Mississippi at Grande, and elsewhere, and when peace Fort Columbus, thus given in the news- was concluded, resumed his occupation papers of the day, abundantly witnesses. of engineering, and was employed in an It opened with a general challenge: important position in the construction of "Come out here, you cowardly rebels, the Panama railroad. He had of late and show your gunboats. PORTER." resided at Paducah in Kentucky, and in There was something in the appeal, un- the early defensive or armed neutrality ceremonious as it appears, which suit- movements in that state, held an appointed the meridian, for it was presently ment under General Buckner. When the answered, though in more profession-state decided for the Union, he left for al phraseology: "Marine Headquar- Tennessee, and accepted a commission ters, Columbus, Kentucky, January 13, from the Confederate Government. He 1862. Commander Porter, on United figured prominently in the border moveStates gunboat Essex-Sir, The iron-ments attending the rebel occupation of clad steamer Grampus will meet the Bowling Green, and was specially inEssex at any point and time your honor trusted with the defences of the Cummay appoint, and show you that the berland and the Tennessee. power is in our hands. An early reply In the reports of the engagement at will be agreeable to your obedient ser- Fort Henry, which were current at the vant, Marsh J. Miller, Captain-Com- time, it was said, that in surrendering to manding C. S. I. C. steamer Grampus." Flag-Officer Foote, General Tilghman To which Porter answered, with a genu- remarked, "I am glad to surrender to ine sailor's inspiration: "United States so gallant an officer," to which the Comgunboat Essex, W. D. Porter Command- modore replied, in no disparagement of ing, Fort Jefferson, January 18, 1862. his gallantry, for to that he has testified To the traitor Marsh Miller, command- in his official report, but with a full coning a rebel gunboat called the Gram- sciousness of the relative value of assailpus :-Commander Porter has already ing the Government and defending it; thrashed your gunboat fleet, shelled and "You do perfectly right, sir, in surrensilenced your rebel batteries at the Irondering, but you should have blown my Banks, chased your miserable and cow-boats out of the water before I would ardly self down behind Columbus; but have surrendered to you." In fact, the if you desire to meet the Essex, show gallant sailor seems to have taken quite yourself any morning in Prentys' Bend, a fancy to his valiant antagonist. Writand you shall then meet with a traitor's ing to a friend at Baltimore, who was fate-if you have the courage to stand. particularly interested in the events of 'God and our country; rebels offend the day, he said "You will see quite both.' PORTER." enough, and perhaps more than you want Brigadier-General Lloyd Tilghman, to see, about our fight. Tighlman and I

4

COMMODORE FOOTE IN THE PULPIT.

turning it disabled. About a mile and a half above were several rebel transport steamers escaping up stream. A party was landed, and in an hour I had the satisfaction to see the draw open. The Taylor being the slowest of the gunboats, Lieutenant-Commanding Gwin landed a force to destroy a portion of the railroad track, and to secure such military stores as might be found, while I directed Lieutenant-Commanding Shirk to follow me with all speed in chase of the fleeing boats. In five hours this boat succeeded in forcing the rebels to abandon and burn those of their boats loaded with military stores. The first one fired (Samuel Orr) had on a quantity of submarine batteries, which very soon exploded; the second one was freighted with powder, cannon-shot, grape, balls etc. Fearing an explosion from the fired

that portion of the gunboat flotilla which rebels. The draw of the bridge was were engaged in the capture of Fort found closed, and the machinery for Henry on the 6th inst., already have had their brilliant services and gallant conduct favorably noticed by the Commanding General of the Western Army, and by the Secretary of the Navy, conveying the assurance that the President of the United States, the Congress, and the country, appreciate their gallant deeds, and proffer to them the profound thanks of the Navy Department for the services rendered. In conveying these pleasing tidings that our services are achnowledged by the highest authorities of the Government, you will permit me to add, that in observing the good order, coolness, courage, and efficiency of officers and men, in the memorable action between the gunboats and the fort, that I shall ever cherish with the liveliest interest all the officers and men who participated in the battle, and in the future shall, with increased hope and the great-boats-there were two together-I had est confidence, depend upon all officers and men attached to the flotilla, in the performance of every duty, whether in the fight or the laborious work of its preparation."

stopped at a distance of a thousand yards, but, even there, our skylights were broken by the concussion; the right upper doors were forced open, and locks and fastenings everywhere broken. Of the sequel to the capture of Fort The whole river, for half a mile roundHenry, the expedition up the Tennessee about, was completely beaten up' by river, which had been so judiciously pro- the falling fragments, and the shower of vided for by Commodore Foote in ad- shot, grape, balls, etc. The house of a vance, we have a most interesting de- reported Union man was blown to pieces, tailed account in the official report of and it is suspected that there was deLieutenant-Commanding S. L. Phelps, to sign in landing the boats in front of the whom the work was entrusted. Soon doomed home. The Lexington having after the surrender of Fort Henry," fallen, and without a pilot on board, I writes that officer to Flag-Officer Foote, concluded to wait for both of the boats from the gunboat Conestoga, on the 10th to come up. Joined by them, we proof February," I proceeded, in obedience ceeded up the river. Lieutenant-Comto your order, up the Tennessee river, manding Gwin had destroyed some of with the Taylor, Lieutenant-Command- the tressel-work at the end of the bridge, ing Gwin; Lexington, Lieutenant-Commanding Shirk, and this vessel, forming a division of the flotilla, and arrived after dark at the railroad crossing, twenty-five miles above the fort, having on the way destroyed a small amount of camp equipage, abandoned by the fleeing

burning with them a lot of camp equipage. J. N. Brown, formerly a lieutenant in the navy, and signing himself C. S. N., had fled with such precipitation as to leave his papers behind. These Lieutenant-Commanding Gwin brought away, and I send them to you, as they give an

EXPEDITION UP THE TENNESSEE.

official history of the rebel floating preparations on the Mississippi, Cumberland, and Tennessee. Lieutenant Brown had charge of the construction of gunboats.

221

we could bring away on board our ves.. sels, and destroying the remainder. No flats or other craft could be found. I found also more of the iron and plating intended for the Eastport.

"At night, on the 7th, we arrived at a A deputation of citizens of Florence landing in Hardin County, Tennessee, waited upon me, first desiring that they known as Cerro Gordo, where we found might be made able to quiet the fears of the steamer Eastport, being converted to their wives and daughters, with assurana gunboat. Armed boat-crews were im- ces from me that they would not be momediately sent on board, and search was lested; and secondly, praying that I made for means of destruction that might would not destroy their railroad bridge. have been devised. She had been scut- As for the first, I told them we were tled, and the section pipe broken. These neither ruffians nor savages, and that we leaks were soon stopped. A number of were there to protect from violence, and rifle shots were fired at our vessels, but to enforce the laws; and, with reference a couple of shells dispersed the rebels. to the second, that if the bridge were On examination, I found that there were away, we could ascend no higher, and large quantities of timber and lumber that it could possess no military imporprepared for fitting up the Eastport; tance, so far as I saw, as it simply conthat the vessel itself some two hundred nected Florence itself with the railroad and eighty feet long-was in excellent on the south bank of the river. We had condition, and already half finished, con- seized three of their steamers, one halfsiderable of the plating designed for her finished gunboat, and had forced the rewas lying on the bank, and everything at bels to burn six others loaded with suphand to complete her. I therefore di- plies, and their loss, with that of freight, rected Lieutenant-Commanding Gwin to is a heavy blow to the enemy. Two remain with the Taylor to guard the boats are still known to be on the Tenprize, and to load the lumber, etc., while nessee, and are, doubtless, hidden in the Lexington and Conestoga should pro- some of the creeks, where we shall be ceed still higher up. Soon after day-able to find them when there is time for light, on the 8th, we passed Eastport, Mississippi, and at Chickasaw, further up near the state line, seized two steamers, the Sallie Wood and Muscle-the former laid up, and the latter freighted with iron, destined for Richmond, and for rebel use. We then proceeded up the river, entering the State of Alabama, and ascending to Florence, at the foot of the Muscle shoals. On coming in sight of the town, three steamers were discovered, which were immediately set on fire by the rebels. Some shots were fired from the opposite side of the river below. A force was landed, and considerable quantities of supplies, marked Fort Henry, were secured from the burning wrecks. Some had been landed and stored. These I seized, putting such as

the search. We returned on the night of the 8th, to where the Eastport lay. The crew of the Taylor had already got on board the prize an immense amount of lumber, etc. The crews of the three boats set to work to finish the undertaking, and we have brought away probably 250,000 feet of the best quality of ship and building lumber, all the iron, machinery, spikes, plating, nails, etc., belonging to the rebel gunboat, and I caused the mill to be destroyed where the lumber had been sawed. Lieutenant-Commanding Gwin had, in our absence, enlisted some twenty-five Tennesseans, who gave information of the encampment of Colonel Drew's rebel regiment, at Savannah, Tennessee. A portion of the six hundred or seven hundred were known