1885

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Book

Title: Naval History of the Civil War

GLC08409

28 December 1862

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Document signed

Title: to Henry Walke

Signed by Acting Rear Admiral Porter as Commander of the Mississippi Squadron to Captain Walke as commander of the USS "Carondelet." Says Walke is not to let prisoners go to Vicksburg for any reason, nor to allow them any further communication with that place. Tells him to keep the "Minnehaha" under his guns and to make sure the ship does not keep up enough steam to move.

GLC08527

2 November 1862

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Document signed

Title: to Henry Walke

Signed by Acting Rear Admiral Porter as commander of the Mississippi Squadron to Captain Walke as commander of the USS "Carondolet." Says he is sending coal down the river. Orders that army transport cannot have any of it. Says his calculations on the amount to send are based off navy needs alone and none can be loaned to the army.

GLC08528

9 July 1863

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Civil War order to hold a court martial]

Orders a Naval General Court Martial at Vicksburg aboard the steamer Choctaw on 10 July 1863. Indicates that the court will be composed of Captain H. Walke, lieutenant commodores James A. Greer, James W. Shirk, John G. Walker, and Frank M. Ramsey, and Assistant Adjutant Paymaster C.G. Sownders. Written on stationary of the U.S. Mississippi Squadron, Flag Ship Black Hawk.

GLC08529

5 November 1862

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Letter signed

Title: to Henry Walke

Signed by Acting Rear Admiral Porter as Commander of the Mississippi Squadron to Captain Walke as commander of the USS "Carondolet." Wants to have the tugboats in order so they can be ready for emergencies. Tells him to keep as few of them under steam. Says it will do the men good to pull in their own boats and that the squadron should follow that plan as much as possible.

GLC08533

7 November 1862

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Letter signed

Title: to Henry Walke

Signed by Acting Rear Admiral Porter as commander of the Mississippi Squadron to Captain Walke as commander of the USS "Carondelet." Tells him to send the "General Bragg" to Memphis for any repairs. Says there is too little water in the river around Cairo for the "Bragg."

GLC08575

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

26 March 1866

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Darius H. Ingraham

Written as Rear Admiral and Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy on Naval Academy letterhead. Written to Ingraham as the chairman of committee to aid widows and orphans of union soldiers. References Ingraham's letter about a "Grand Fair" in honor of the orphans of soldiers. Would be pleased if the orphans of Salem, Massachusetts are included. Also mentions his hope that orphans of sailors will not be forgotten. Porter had been an orphan himself.

GLC02998

1865?

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Photograph negative

Title: Adml. D.D. Porter [illegible] [993 full-plate collodion negative]

Full plate collodion negative, cracked along the center, with spacer to prevent abrasion. Previously framed, a typed note in the frame (transcribing an inscription in the negative) read: "Admiral David Dixon Porter. Commander Mississippi River Fleet and Mobile Bay, 1863-1864... Brady Negative." This negative is Ex-Hardy and Ex-Meredith. LIMITED USE: USE COPY PRINT.

GLC05111.01.0479

1865?

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Photograph negative

Title: Glass plate negative of Adm. D. D. Porter, standing, full length frontal, holding hat.

Carte de visite negative. Carte de visite format, rather deteriorated, dark image with Porter standing next to chair. LIMITED USE: USE COPY PRINT.

GLC05111.01.0486

1865?

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Photograph negative

Title: Glass plate negative of Adm. D. D. Porter, seated, half-length holding gloves

Carte de visite negative. Copy negative of another CDV for reproduction. Not an original collodion negative gelatin copy negative. Accompanied by later print, some re-photographing early portraits, also photo of CDV "Ad. D.D. Porter" (same pose as 2nd Porter). LIMITED USE: USE COPY PRINT.

GLC05111.01.0487

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

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

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

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

14 February 1873

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anthony

Written on the same sheet as an autograph telegram signed to commander J.P. Robertson

GLC02466.11

7 November 1864

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Letter signed

Title: to J. P. Robertson

Written on stationery of the "North Atlantic Squadron, U.S. Flag-Ship 'Malvern.'" Signed by Rear Admiral Porter to Lieutenant Commander Robertson as commander fo the USS "Monticello" at New London, Connecticut. Tells him to "follow of course." Tells him an officer "should never wait for instructions under such circumstances." Marked at top "Telegraph!"

GLC02466.12

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

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

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

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

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