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DAVID D. PORTER, 1864 Autograph Note Signed

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Autographs

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Civil War Admiral David D. Porter Autographed Note

DAVID D. PORTER, United States Admiral and Civil War Hero.
This is a brief autograph note signed "David D Porter", Choice Very Fine. The note reads, in full, "Agreeable to your request & provide my Autograph - David D Porter - Rear Admiral - Black Hawk - Feb 11th 1864". Measuring 5.25" x 5", the note has been written in black ink on lined paper. The reverse contains some leftover mounting in the four corners, but this does not interfere with the text. The manuscript is bright and bold, and Porter's signature is large and extremely clear; it measures 3.75".

David Dixon Porter, 1813 - 1891, was a United States admiral who became one of the most noted naval heroes of the Civil War. Porter was one of the first U.S. Navy officers to bear the rank of admiral; prior to the Civil War, no officer had held a rank higher than commodore, as admiral was considered to have royalist connotations. In 1861, Porter joined the Navy's Gulf Squadron in command of the USS Powhatan. He took part in the 1862 expedition up the Mississippi River against New Orleans, in command of 21 mortar boats and several steamers. As acting Rear Admiral he commanded the Mississippi River Squadron during the Vicksburg Campaigns in 1862–63 and during the Red River Campaign in 1864. Porter was conspicuous in the siege of Vicksburg, was wounded in his head during the amphibious operations at Grand Gulf, Mississippi, on April 20, 1863, and received promotion to Rear Admiral on July 4, 1863, the day of the Confederate surrender of Vicksburg. He received the Thanks of Congress in April 1864, "for all the eminent skill, endurance, and gallantry exhibited by him and his squadron, in cooperation with the Army, in the opening of the Mississippi River." During 1864 Porter commanded the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, and took part in the capture of Fort Fisher in January 1865, and once again, was thanked by Congress. Porter was promoted to Vice Admiral in July 1866, and to Admiral on October 17, 1870. This made him the Navy's senior officer of the post-war era. His first assignment was Chief of the Bureau of Navigation of the U.S. Navy. From 1866 to 1870 he was Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy. Before his death, he wrote several naval books and novels. He died in Washington, D.C., (some sources say Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.


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