CHAPTER XXIV.

Two Worthy Sons—­William D. Porter—­The Career of Admiral David Dixon Porter.

The reader will not forget the exploits of Captain David Porter, in command of the Essex in the War of 1812.  Contrary to the rule that great men never have great sons, Captain Porter left two boys who possessed the same remarkable qualities as himself and one of whom became more famous than his gallant father.

The eldest of his sons was William D., who was born in New Orleans in 1809, but was educated in the North and was appointed to the navy when fourteen years old.  He was placed in command of a cumbrous ironclad constructed from a ferryboat at the beginning of the war and named the Essex, in honor of the famous cruiser with which his father played havoc with the shipping of Great Britain in the Pacific.  In the attack on Fort Henry, in February, 1862, the Essex, while doing effective service, had her boiler pierced by a shot from the enemy, with appalling consequences.  Porter was scalded and knocked senseless and twenty-nine officers and men were disabled or killed by the escaping steam.

Later, when he had fully recovered, he was placed in command of the Essex, which was repaired and greatly improved.  The Confederates had completed a more terrible ironclad than the Merrimac, which they named the Arkansas.  Manned by brave officers and crew, it came down the Yazoo into the Mississippi, and, secure in her fancied invulnerability, challenged the whole Union fleet which was assisting in the siege of Vicksburg.  In the furious engagement that followed Captain Porter, with the Essex, succeeded in destroying the ironclad.  He rendered his country other valuable service, but his health gave way, and, while in the East for medical attendance, he died in the City of New York at the age of fifty-three.

The more famous son of Captain Porter was David Dixon, who was born in Chester, Pa., in 1813.  He entered Columbia College, Washington, when only eleven years old, but left it in 1824 to accompany his father on his cruise in the West Indies to break up piracy in those waters.  When, two years later, Captain Porter entered the Mexican navy he appointed his son a midshipman.  He acquitted himself gallantly in more than one fight with the Spanish cruisers.  While still a mere boy he was made a midshipman in the United States navy.  As a lieutenant he saw plenty of active service in the war with Mexico, and, at the beginning of the Civil War, was one of our most trusted officers.  In command of the Powhatan he covered the landing of the reinforcements for Fort Pickens just in time to save its capture by Confederates.

[Illustration:  DAVID DIXON PORTER.]

One of the most important captures of the war was that of New Orleans, in the spring of 1862.  The naval forces were under the command of Admiral Farragut, while Commander Porter had charge of the mortar fleet.  The principal defences below the city were Forts Jackson and St. Philip.  In approaching them Porter had his ships dressed out with leaves and branches of trees, the clever disguise proving an effectual protection from a very destructive fire.