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he left us a reminder that major plans are
composed of minor details. Even a detail as minute
as water buckets received Farragut’s attention.
Shortly after the battle of Mobile Bay, Congress
created the rank of admiral, thereby making
Farragut the first U.S. Navy admiral in July of
1866.
DAVID D. PORTER
David D. Porter (fig. 2-10) was the son of the
famous David Porter who commanded the Essex
during the War of 1812. David D. Porter saw more
continuous fighting than any American naval
officer of note during the Civil War—much of it on
the Mississippi River. Competent, aggressive, and
resourceful, Porter rose from the rank of
lieutenant at the beginning of the conflict to rear
admiral at its close. Through Porter’s urging, the
Navy chose Farragut to lead the New Orleans
expedition.
134.128
Figure 2-10.-Rear Admiral David D. Porter
was the second admiral in the U.S. Navy,
preceded only by Farragut. Porter
commanded the Mississippi River flotilla
in its campaign down the big waterway
that climaxed at Vicksburg. Later he
inflicted a brilliant and crushing defeat
onthe confederates at Fort Fisher in 1865.
Porter devised and led the famous mortar flotilla
that did much to crack the Delta defenses.
Juniors were eager to serve under the dynamic
Porter. Besides being a fine seaman and able
administrator, he possessed many personal traits
that contributed to the spectacular success of his
naval career. He was impulsive, frank, honest,
and endowed with a creative imagination. He
detested disloyalty and valued performance above
protocol. His sense of humor was unquenchable;
no matter how desperate a situation became, he
could find an opportunity for a jest. He could
accurately
estimate
the
potential
of
his
subordinates and always praised them when they
lived up to his expectations. Above all, he favored
innovation and was open-minded toward anything
that might be better. His progressive outlook kept
him a step ahead of his colleagues.
RAPHAEL SEMMES
The distinguished Confederate naval leader
Raphael Semmes (fig. 2-11) conveyed an
134.129
Figure 2-11. -Raphael Semmes, while skipper
of the Confederate Alabama, ruthlessly
burned ship after ship, virtually driving
merchantmen flying the Stars and Stripes
off the seas.
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