Captain Porter and General Foster

 

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Civil War Harper's Weekly, March 1, 1862

We are making our extensive collection of original Civil War Harper's Weekly newspapers available to you online. This collection allows in depth research and analysis of key issues of the Civil War. We are hopeful you find this material useful.

(Scroll Down to See Entire Page, or Newspaper Thumbnails below will take you to a specific page of interest)

 

Fort Donelson

Battle of Fort Donelson

Capture of Fort Donelson

Capture of Fort Donelson

Rebel Pirates

Rebel Pirates

Savannah River

Gunboats on the Savannah River

Albemarle and Pamlico Map

Map of Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds

Roanoke Island

Battle of Roanoke Island

Goldsborough

Flag Officer Goldsborough

Ft. Henry

Capture of Fort Henry

Roanoke Island

Roanoke Island Battle

Foster and Porter

Captain Porter and General Foster

Somerset and Green River

Somerset and Green River

Uncle Sam

Uncle Sam Cartoon

 

 

HARPER'S WEEKLY.

[MARCH 1, 1862.

140

BRIGADIER-GENERAL FOSTER.—[SEE PAGE 135.]

CAPTAIN W. D. PORTER, OF THE "ESSEX."—[SKETCHED BY MR. BILL D. TRAVIS.]

THE UNION EXPEDITION UP
THE TENNESSEE RIVER.

ON this page we illustrate the WELCOME of the Union men in Tennessee and Alabama to the gun-boats which ascended the Tennessee River, after the fight at Fort Henry. The dispatch to the Associated Press said:

After the capture of Fort Henry, the Lexington, Conestoga, and Tyler gave chase to the rebel steamer Dunbar, and on reaching the Memphis and Louisville Railroad bridge set fire to a portion of it, and captured some stores, etc. They then passed on in chase of the Dunbar, but did not overtake her. It is supposed that she escaped by running up some creek.

During the night the gun-boats went to Florence, Alabama, the head of navigation, and two hundred and fifty miles from Paducah. Every where along the river they were received with astonishing welcome by numerous Union families in Southern Tennessee and Northern Alabama, and at the towns along the river the old flag was looked

upon as a redeemer, and hailed with loud shouts of joy. —The people of Florence are so delighted at finding the Stars and Stripes once more giving protection to them that they were prepared to give a grand ball to the officers of the gun-boats, but the latter could not remain to accept their courtesies.

Wherever our boats landed, and the people became assured that we did not come to destroy, but to save, they seemed to have no means too extravagant to express their delight and joy.

Old men cried like children at the sight of the Stars and Stripes, and invited the officers and men of the gun-boats to their houses, and told them all they had was at their disposal. Large numbers were anxious to enlist under the old flag, and the Tyler brought down two hundred and fifty men to fill up the gun-boats' crews.

Our officers were assured that if they would wait a few days whole regiments could be raised, and if the Government would give them arms to defend themselves they could bring Tennessee back into the Union in a few months.

They said that when the secession ordinance was passed armed men stood at the polls, and every thing went as certain politicians said.

At Savannah, Eastport, and Florence the officers and men of our gun-boats went ashore without arms, and mingled freely with the people.

The Union men along the river comprise the wealthy and best portion of the inhabitants, large numbers of whom have American flags.

Not a gun was fired either going or coming.

CAPTAIN PORTER.

WE publish herewith, from a sketch by Mr. Bill D. Travis, a portrait of CAPTAIN W. D. PORTER, of the gun-boat Essex, who distinguished himself at the battle of Fort Henry, and was scalded by the explosion of a boiler onboard the Essex.

Captain Porter is a Louisianian by birth. His father was the famous Commodore Porter, of the Essex, whose fame shines brightly in our naval annals.

In 1823 the son entered the navy as a boy on board the United States ship Franklin, under command of Commodore Stewart, and received a fine naval military education, under Commodores Hull, Chauncey, Patterson, and Rodgers. He projected and is the founder of the present light-house system; was through the whole Mexican war, where he did noble service; in 1855 was placed on a retired list by a secret Navy Board; four years after was restored to his rank as commander by President Buchanan; was then appointed to the command of the United States ship St. Marys, and did important service in Northern Mexico.

On the outbreak of the rebellion he was ordered home from the Pacific; and though he had property in Virginia, which has been confiscated, and all his family save his youngest daughter were in the rebel cause, still he proved faithful to the noble (Next Page)

UNION SOUTHERN MEN WELCOMING OUR GUN-BOATS IN ALABAMA.

General Foster
Captain Porter
Union Men

 

 

  

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