Detached from Command of Flotilla. 329 ther fighting on the Western rivers, which may now be said to be cleared of their powerful rebel batteries and gun-boats, the reorganizing, arranging, and distributing of the flotilla to protect the peaceful commerce of the rivers against a guerrilla warfare, superadded to the great difficulties incident to the settling of accounts, require an officer of experience; yet may I not, without detriment to the service or to my professional standing, be permitted to have the necessary time to recuperate my exhausted health? "If it will not be considered premature, I wish further to remark that when this rebellion is crushed, and a squadron is fitted out to enforce the new treaty for the suppression of the African slave-trade, I should be pleased to have command; but so long as the rebellion continues, it will be my highest ambition to be actively employed in aiding its suppression. "Inclosed is the certificate of my attending physicians. "I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, "A. H. FOOTE, Flag-Officer. "The Hon. Gideon Welles." The report of the physicians referred to in the above was as follows: "The undersigned, having been in professional attendance on Commodore A. H. Foote during his visit to this city, deem it due to him to say that, in our opinion, he will not be able to return to active service for some three or four months without seriously jeoparding his health. The inflammation following his wound, his inability to take exercise except on crutches, and the debilitating effects of a diarrhoea and fever, have reduced his strength and flesh to a great degree. The wound evidently was the predisposing cause, superinducing the attack of diarrhoea and hemorrhoids sequents of an enlarged liver and malarious influences. "Although in some respects his symptoms are more favorable, he still continues much emaciated, having left his bed but a few times for the past fortnight. We therefore unite in the opinion that a change of position to the sea-coast would materially expedite his recovery. "(Signed) 66 Cleveland, O., June, 1862." THOMAS L. RODMAN, M.D. Flag-Officer Foote was, therefore, at his own request, detached from his command of the Western flotilla on the 17th of June, 1862. The following note, from the Secretary of the Navy, came soon after: "WASHINGTON, June 17, 1862. "MY DEAR SIR,-I can not be satisfied with a mere formal official letter detaching you from the flotilla, where you have rendered such great service to the Department and the country, without expressing in a more earnest and friendly manner my appreciation of your labors and achievements. The country feels and acknowledges its indebtedness to you; but few know, as I do, the difficulties you have been compelled to encounter and overcome, in first creating the flotilla, and then carrying it into a series of successful actions, which have contributed so largely to the suppression of the rebellion throughout the Southwest. "It was with some reluctance that I gave the orders which carried you to the field where you have acquired so great and just renown; for, aware of some of the embarrassments by which you would be tried, I saw also that the Army failed to estimate the necessity and value of the naval branch of operations on the Western rivers. Some of these matters we talked over before you left; but I did not express to you all the discouragements that appeared to me then, and which you have so well surmounted. The history of these matters is yet to be written, for only the results are now patent to the country. "I have watched and participated in every movement that has been made, uninfluenced, I believe, by censure or complaint or denunciation from the thoughtless and the designing, which has been inflicted on the Department from the commencement of hostilities; and every victory obtained and advance made cheered my heart scarcely less than your own. "Most sincerely do I regret the necessity which compels you to seek rest, and ask to be detached from that command which you have so much honored; but I am consoled with the belief that you will be able in a brief period, with vigor and renewed health, to again elevate your flag and render additional service. "I shall bear in mind your request; and, remembering our associations in boyhood, be happy, as a friend and an officer, to exhibit at all times my confidence and abiding friendship. "Please make my respects to your brother; and wishing you speedy restoration to health and to active duty, "I remain very truly and sincerely your friend, "Flag-Officer A. H. Foote, Cleveland." "GIDEON WELLES. CHAPTER XXV. CORRESPONDENCE.-RETURN TO THE EAST.-VOTE OF THANKS BY CONGRESS. COMMODORE FOOTE remained until the 23d of June in Cleveland, when he left that place with his wife for the East, and arrived at their home in New Haven on the 25th. Their quiet departure from Cleveland and their arrival in New Haven, as well as their rapid transit, though meant to escape popular notice, were accompanied by every mark of public respect. While still in Cleveland, he is thus spoken of by a visitor who saw him: "The commodore was on his crutches, but he hastened across the hall and gave us a cordial greeting. His fine, manly countenance and bright black eyes are lighted up with genius and intelligence; his soul glows with patriotic ardor, and he longs to return to his command. He thinks he will be able soon to do so, but he must go on his crutches. The quietness of his manner while telling us how he was wounded at Fort Donelson I can not convey; but his story was something like this: "The shells were flying about pretty thick, and I stepped into the pilot-house to see that the boat was kept in position. Just then a shell came in and killed one of the men at the wheel; the other man seemed to lose his presence of mind, and I seized the wheel to keep her right; but it was not till some time after that I discovered that I was seriously hurt." Since Admiral Foote's personal appearance is alluded to in the above, and as the photograph from which the frontispiece was drawn was taken about this time, this seems a good place to speak a word concerning it. His countenance was indeed a fine one: his forehead was broad and full, and his large, bright black eyes, restless and piercing, took in all things at a glance; his firm-shut mouth had a grip and strength that showed the invincible will of the man. His stature was of medium size, but square-built and compact. He was always very neatly dressed, carrying his professional notions in this respect to a nicety. He had a sailor-like alertness of step, and his motions were quick and nervous; yet his address was exceedingly suave and gentle. He gave the impression of a man of active brain and of great energy, though held well in restraint. At one time he had a hobby that he had weak eyes, and he wore large green goggles, giving his naval friends much amusement. He was, in fact, quite apt to ride hobbies; and these "charming foibles," as one of his friends calls them, made him a most fascinating man to all who knew him and loved him. His correspondence with his subordinate officers, especially with Lieutenant-Commander Phelps, continued to be frequent and of much general interest, as containing details of military matters not found in historical works. We select a few letters: "U.S. FLAG-STEAMER BENTON,' MEMPHIS, June 17, 1862. "FLAG-OFFICER FOOTE, U. S. N. : 6 "MY DEAR SIR,-It has occurred to me that you would be interested in knowing what we found Fort Pillow to be on close examination. It would be much more proper to say that this examination was simply a hurried glance at the main features. The commodore directed me to report on an hour's examination.' We were there but a short time. I will copy my report from the files of the Department: 'The outer line of intrenchments, flanking upon Coal Creek at the point some six hundred yards above the upper river battery, ascends the bluff in an irregular zigzag to a prominent and narrow ridge, lying between the River Hatchie and the Mississippi, whence the lines trend away, at a sharp angle, along the ridge in the direction of Fulton, and flank upon the bluffs on the Mississippi above that landing, making a circuit of from four to five miles. These lines consist of a heavy embankment, planked upon the inner face, with a dry ditch of an average of about eight feet depth and width. Considerable numbers of pieces of artillery had once been mounted along this extended line. An abatis of fallen timber, of six hundred yards in width, is cut throughout the entire length. There is an inner line of works of similar construction, though not of one unbroken circuit, as in the case of the outer line; and it is estimated that the total length of the intrenchments is ten miles. The entire land embraced within the circuit of these works is exceedingly rough and broken-sharp ridges, deep gorges and valleys, with small springs and rivers that traverse it in all directions; while a greater part of the surface is covered with a heavy forest growth. There are prominent batteries along the inner line of defense, from which artillery swept the outer works; while intrenchments and rifle-pits were disposed to enfilade and command the approaches offered by the broken surface. Two crescent batteries are also erected near the summit of the river bluffs to assist in the landward defenses. "The water-batteries are constructed at the base of the bluff, in the face of it, and in the gorges by which it is broken. The water-battery proper consisted of ten guns, but was much injured by the late flood. A heavy columbiad was mounted on a casemated work, constructed in a ravine above the level of the ten-gun battery. This work was destroyed by fire. To the left and higher up is a sunken battery of six heavy guns. Still higher up, occupying another ravine, is a 10-inch columbiad, sweeping over a great arc. Below the water-battery on the river, and constructed by heavy excavations from the bluff at some elevation, is a bastioned work of six heavy guns in front, and several flanking. In this is a 13-inch mortar, bursted. Still higher up the bluffs are other columbiads, mounted mostly in works across ravines, and in batteries of one and two guns. Single guns (32-pounders) are also placed in position along the bluff as far as Fulton, three miles below the fort. "These works are constructed and disposed with great skill and with vast labor; but a fatal mistake had been made in the depression that could be given the guns in all save the water-battery, since in a moderate stage of the river our boats could have hugged the shore and passed under their fire. "I will here mention that Colonel Fitch, commanding the Forty-sixth Indiana Regiment, had constructed a road through swamps on the upper side of Coal Creek, where no such attempt seems to have been anticipated; and had made preparations for crossing the creek, and entering the works within the lines while the fleet should open fire in front. From thence he could easily have captured, by a rear attack, the crescent |