FOUR
DAYS AFTER THE FALL OF VICKSBURG
DAVID
D. PORTER. Letter Signed to Secretary of the Navy Gideon
Welles, Vicksburg, MS, 8 July 1863. 1 page, 12" x 7".
A
Union naval commander writes about a sailor awarded the Medal of Honor
for his heroism during the first stages of the Vicksburg campaign.
David
Dixon Porter, who was the son of a distinguished naval officer, joined
the Navy in 1829 and served in the Mexican War. During the Civil War,
he participated in the successful attack on New Orleans led by his adoptive
brother, David G. Farragut, in April 1862. Then, commanding Union gunboat
forces on the Mississippi, Porter worked successfully with U. S. Grant
and William T. Sherman in their assault on Vicksburg, which finally
fell on July 4, 1863, just four days before he signed this letter.
Writing
from the "U.S. Mississippi Squadron, Flag Ship 'Black Hawk,'"
Porter acknowledges the receipt from the Secretary of the Navy of "a
Medal of Honor for William Martin. This young man behaved very gallantly
in the fight on Yazoo River, in which Lieut. Com'dr. Wm. Gwin was killed.
For gallant conduct in that action, he was promoted to the position
of Acting Master's Mate. He is also entitled to the 'gratuity' according
to law." Porter has signed, "David D. Porter,"
and his rank is given as "Actg Rear Admiral Com'dg Miss. Squadron."
The Medal
of Honor was created during the Civil War to recognize valor, first
for the Navy in a December 1861 law and then for the Army in July 1862.
According to records of the official citation awarding the Medal to
William Martin, he was "serving as boatswain's mate on board the
U.S.S. Benton during the attack on Haines Bluff, Yazoo River,
27 December 1862. Taking part in the hour-and-a-half engagement with
the enemy, who had the dead range of the vessel and was punishing her
with heavy fire, Martin served courageously throughout the battle until
the Benton was ordered to withdraw." The action at Haines
Bluff along the Yazoo was part of Grant's first move against Vicksburg
in December 1862.
The letter has
mounting traces on the verso which show through at a few spots on the
front, and there is a bit of toning and trimming of the blank margins.
Overall, the piece is in good condition, and is a fine Civil War naval
item.
Porter
is not common in Civil War-date material. $1250.00
This
image omits about one-half inch of the top border of the page.
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