circa August-September 1863

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Document signed

Title: [Deposition of Judy Taylor against Joseph Coombs]

Written in clerical hand and signed by Porter as Acting Rear Admiral commanding the Mississippi Squadron. Deposition where Judy Taylor accuses Joseph Coombs of being a Confederate supporter. Says she was hired as a chambermaid to Coombs, who was the captain of the "Louisville," from July 1861-September 1862. She was then hired again in December 1862 and was under his employ until the ship was captured by U.S. forces. She was hired for $20/month. Claims she was last paid in April 1862. Taylor also said that Coombs always hoisted the rebel flag when coming to a landing. She also reported…

GLC03508

28 September 1864

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Document

Title: General Order

Printed general order from Rear Admiral Porter as Commander of the Mississippi Squadron. Porter was taking the leave of his officers and men as he assumed command of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Praises their actions and says their efforts have been fruitful. Says that "Our commerce is now successfully, if not quietly, transported on the broad Mississippi, from one end to the other, and the same may almost be said with regard to its tributaries. These results are owing to the indomitable spirit evinced by the officers and men of the Mississippi Squadron." Stresses that they need…

GLC03810

20 May 1870

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Letter signed

Title: to Ambrose Thompson

Admiral Porter sends Thompson some letters (introductions) and indicates he will send fifty more the next day. Written on Navy Department stationery. Thompson, a wealthy shipping magnate, was noted for his Civil War backing of a plan to colonize Panama with freed African-Americans.

GLC03619.02.15

circa 1861-1865

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Photograph

Title: As rear-admiral, standing 3/4 length portrait with right hand on table

Subject has been identified as D. D. Porter, but this may not be correct. He is wearing a Naval officer's hat, white gloves, and his left hand grasps his lapel. Graphite inscription on verso "$6--" "Porter/2035." Photographers imprint on verso: "Charles D. Fredricks & Co., 'Specialite,' 587 Broadway, New York."

GLC05111.02.1419

circa 1861-1865

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Photograph

Title: As rear-admiral, bust portrait

Ink inscription on recto "Adml. Porter U.S.N." Graphite inscription on verso "Adml. Porter." Photographers imprint on verso: "Published by E. & H. T. Anthony 501 Broadway New York. From Photographic Negative in Brady's National Portrait Gallery."

GLC05111.02.1420

November 4, 1864

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Photograph

Title: As rear-admiral, seated full-length portrait with hands in lap

Porter is seated wearing Lincoln mourning ribbon. Graphite inscription on verso "Porter" "Admiral D. D. Porter Fair for S. & Sailor's Home Nov 4th 1863." Photographers imprint on verso: "O.H. Willard's Galleries, 1206 Chestnut St. No.......... Phila."

GLC05111.02.1421

circa 1861-1865

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Photograph

Title: Vice Admiral D.D. Porter seated half length portrait

Inscription on verso "Vice Admiral D.D. Porter Sup't. Naval Academy." Photographers imprint on verso: "W.M. Chase's Stereoscopic and Card Views U.S.Naval Academy Annapolis, MD."

GLC05111.02.0956

circa 1861-1865

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Photograph

Title: In dark suit with greatcoat, standing 3/4 length portrait

Graphite inscription on verso "Porter Comander [sic] of W. Fleet." Photographers imprint on verso: "Published by E. Anthony 501 Broadway New York. From Photographic Negative in Brady's National Portrait Gallery."

GLC05111.02.1415

1887

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Pamphlet signed

Title: Report of the Admiral of the Navy

Printed by the Government Printing Office. Disbound but retaining original blue covers. Signed on covers to Hon. E.S. Tobey.

GLC05488

16 July 1878

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Letter signed

Title: to William Lewis Maury

Includes a letter for Maury to forward to the Collector (of Customs in New York). Failed to get the endorsement of any cabinet members because they are too busy, and presumes that if they knew the vacancy existed they would want to fill it with their own people. Admiral Porter was a former Union naval commander and superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy.

GLC04572.46

6 April 1865

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Richard T. Renshaw

Orders Renshaw to move on to Beaufort, North Carolina and telegraph a series of dispatches to General Sherman. "Use all the haste you can as these dispatches are very important." He is then ordered to return to the Sounds of North Carolina via Hatteras Inlet and join Commander William H. Macomb of the U.S.S. Shamrock. Written by Porter as he hosted Lincoln on a visit to occupied Richmond. Rear Admiral Porter writes from aboard the Flag Ship Malvern. Lincoln, Grant, Sherman and Porter had met on March 27th to plan the final Union push to victory. AN: One of the dispatches sent by this…

GLC02254.26

7 July 1869

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Letter signed

Title: to John G. Walker

Written by Porter as Superintendent of the Naval Academy to Commander Walker who was just given command of the USS "Sabine." Apologizes for being so busy. Says he has sent him all the orders he asked for and that he should have sailing directions enough to last him on a trip around the world. Hopes Walker got everything he wanted in Boston. Says that Walker probably wants to know his opinion of the new Naval Secretary, George M. Robeson. Porter says Robeson "has a good deal more 'snap' to him than Mr. Borie." Says the Navy will be "straight as a rams' horn" when he gets back. Written on…

GLC03804.13

28 October 1862

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Letter signed

Title: to John G. Walker

Admiral Porter orders Lieutenant Commander Walker to report to him to take command of the "Baron de Kalb." Tells him to turn over command of the "Chillicothe." Docket says he reported on 4 November. Docket on recto is signed by W.G. Boggs as paymaster who gave Walker $33.85 for mileage to Cairo.

GLC03804.02

4 November 1862

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Letter signed

Title: to John G. Walker

Admiral Porter commands Lieutenant Commander Walker to take command of the "Baron de Kalb" and "to get her ready for service with all dispatch."

GLC03804.03

11 July 1863

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Letter signed

Title: to John G. Walker

Written by Acting Rear Admiral Porter as Commander of the Mississippi Squadron to Lieutenant Command Walker in command of the USS "Baron de Kalb." Says when his escort ships are ready, he is to proceed up the Yazoo River and capture all the guns at Yazoo City. Walker is also supposed to inflict as much damage to the enemy as opportunity offers. Says General Grant will send troops with him. Says the expedition will be ready to proceed tomorrow morning. Wants him to capture steamers if possible and destroy effectively those that are sunk. The "Baron de Kalb" was sunk on this mission.

GLC03804.09

16 July 1863

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Letter signed

Title: to John G. Walker

Written by Acting Rear Admiral Porter as Commander of the Mississippi Squadron to Lieutenant Command Walker, the former commander of the USS "Baron de Kalb," which sunk on its recent excursion up the Yazoo River. Asks him to call on General Grant 24 hours before he is ready to start up the Yazoo River "for the purpose of raising the De Kalb." Porter wants to save the hull of the "Baron de Kalb" if possible. Tells him to get all the materials necessary to do this. Asks him to save the machinery and everything movable on board if he cannot save the hull. Says the "Champion" will be used for a…

GLC03804.10

12 August 1863

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Letter signed

Title: to John G. Walker

Written by Rear Admiral Porter as commander of the Mississippi Squadron to Lieutenant Commander Walker. Tells Walker that as soon as he is finished with the "Yazoo business" that he is to report to Cairo. Porter says he will be there.

GLC03804.11

22 August 1867

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John G. Walker

Written by Porter as Superintendent of the Naval Academy to Commander Walker as a member of Porter's staff at the Academy. Tells him to not worry about returning quickly as little is happening. Congratulates him on the birth of his daughter. Makes reference to rumors about him in Annapolis (the handwriting is hard to decipher here), but he hopes Congress will work it out. Written on stationery of the U.S. Naval Academy.

GLC03804.12

19 August 1882

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John G. Walker

Written by Admiral Porter to Captain Walker as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation. Marked "Private." It seems Walker was reporting about an experimental ship that was in need of repairs. Porter says repairs should be made and that is important to "find a vessel that will turn on her center, and go astern." Porter is not concerned about the repairs. Complains to Walker about the Board of Inspectors and hopes there are changes. Letter has very illegible handwriting.

GLC03804.19

April 5, 1823

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Vincent Gray

"As fast as my vessels arrive, I shall send them off the coast of Cuba again....the pirates shall have but little peace..." building a town in Florida,etc.

GLC08288

July 1861

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Letter signed

Title: to Colonel Montgomery C. Meigs

Criticizes inefficient war effort, speculates on foreign intervention, forwards his plan to take New Orleans to end the war, and discusses a failed mission to enter the Mississippi. "The more I become acquainted with matters and things here, the more convinced I am that the place [New Orleans] deserves the serious consideration of Government. I long to see this war brought to a close, but at the same time I want to see it done in a manner that will reflect credit upon the Government, give future traitors a holy horror of encountering the wrath of an outraged people, and elevate us in the…

GLC09034

4 November 1870

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Letter signed

Title: to Ambrose Thompson

Admiral Porter indicates that he has written to B.S. Oslon, the editor of the "Nautical Gazette," to introduce Thompson in hopes that Thompson's articles, which should be of interest to "members of Congress," will be published there. Year is illegible.

GLC03619.02.16

26 October 1862

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Letter signed

Title: to Henry A. Walke

Written in a clerical hand but signed by Acting Rear Admiral Porter to Captain Walke. Porter was commander of the Mississippi River Squadron while Walke was commander of the USS "Lafayette." Walke seems to have been in Hellena, Arkansas. Tells Walke to let one steamer cruise between Island No. 10 and New Madrid. Says one gunboat is enough at Hellena. Wants Fort Pillow, island No. 10, and New Madrid always protected by a gunboat. Wants to know what ship will go to Island No. 10. In 1861, David Dixon Porter joined the Navy's Gulf Squadron in command of the USS Powhatan. He was promoted to…

GLC02069

4 April 1861

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Autograph document signed

Title: [Selecting officers to expedite the U.S.S. Powhatan]

He "ordered by the President to select such officers as may be necessary to expedite the ship." Porter was initially supposed to take his ship, the steam frigate Powhatan, to South Carolina to reinforce Fort Sumter in case the Confederates chose to attack. At this time Secretary of State William Seward was still working towards reconciliation with the South. He worried that sending a warship to Sumter might increase Southern hostility, so with Dixon's help he managed to ensure that the Powhatan was not sent to Sumter. Instead it was sent to aid Fort Pickens in Pensacola, another Federal…

GLC00866

October 15, 1864

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Letter signed

Title: to J.H. Spotts

Letter written in clerical hand, but signed by Rear Admiral Porter as commander of the North Atlantic Blockade Squadron to Commander Spotts as commander of the USS "Pawtuxet." Says a steamship belonging to the navy left Point Lookout for Hampton Roads on October 8, 1864 in the midst of a gale from the northwest. It is assumed she was driven ashore on the Eastern shore of the Chesapeake or has foundered. Orders Spotts to search for her and to make inquiries with other vessels along the way. Wants to see him before he starts the mission. Commissioned in February 1864 as USS Malvern, she was…

GLC01545.03