On that day, 30th of July—although the appointment dated back to the 16th-he officially received the appointment of Rear-Admiral on the Active List. He had thus risen to the highest rank belonging to his profession, and risen, not by a sudden leap, but by regular steps, by filling every subordinate position, by hard labor and toil, by actual worth and noble deeds. CHAPTER XXVII. CONGRATULATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE.-SWORD PRESENTATION AT BROOKLYN. CONGRATULATORY letters from old friends in great numbers followed upon his new appointment, of which we subjoin two or three: "WASHINGTON, August 2, 1862. "MY DEAR ADMIRAL,—It was my intention to have sent my congratulations on your promotion with the commission, but my time is not within my control. You know that my congratulations and regard are none the less sincere than if earlier tendered. Long may you live to bear the title and wear the honors you have so gallantly earned. "I trust your health and wounds continue to improve. It has occurred to me that, under the circumstances of your debility, it might be imprudent for you to come from the North, at this early period, to such an unhealthy place as Washington is at this season. Should such be the case, and you would prefer to delay your entrance upon your Bureau duties, I do not think any particular inconvenience would result therefrom for the present. I mention this in order that you may take your own time to come here, for affairs can go on as heretofore for a few weeks without serious injury. "I am in hopes I shall be able to leave Washington the latter part of the month for a week or two. GIDEON WELLES." Respectfully, “'SABINE,' NEW LONDON, August 1, 1862. “MY DEAR ADMIRAL,—It is a source of deep regret that I could not make you a visit. A dispatch from the Secretary yesterday, directing me to send 'every available man on board to Cairo, Ill., immediately,' gave me, as you may suppose, occupation, and necessitated my foregoing the pleasure of visiting you. "My good ship has really created an excitement in New London; and, touching the facilities of the harbor for naval purposes, it promises great advantages. I wish you could have seen my ship. To have had her inspected by you, and to have given you your first salute as an admiral, believe me when I say it, would have been to me most gratifying. Resting as the Sabine does in the waters of your own state, there appears to me something peculiarly appropriate in this, and I lament that your departure will prevent me having the pleasure of extending the hand to you. Allow me to ask the favor to be very kindly presented to Mrs. Foote, and I wish you to know how pleased I am to address you as Admiral. Very truly your friend, C. RINGGOLD.” .. “FORTRESS MONROE, VA., August 4, 1862. ADMIRAL FOOTE, U. S. N., New Haven, Conn.: "MY DEAR SIR,—It is with great joy I hasten to congratulate my old and esteemed commander-and the service and country as well-on his well-merited promotion to the high grade of Admiral. I felt when I read the news as if I myself had been honored; and I think I will hold on to the notion, since I declared when you were put in command at the West that you were the right man for the place, and I accordingly invested in you my entire stock of confidence. Success is almost certain where professional skill, heroism, and Christian faith are combined. I am sure you will be greatly encouraged to go on in setting us all a high example of what constitutes the true officer. "I am paymaster in charge of stores for the squadron, with my stores and clerks on board of store-schooners scattered over all this now extensive station. I wish you could come here as admiral of the squadron. I learn that Admiral Goldsborough has applied to be relieved. I have been hoping you might come. "Very truly and respectfully yours, THOMAS H. TOOKER. "P. S.-I trust your wounds are healing rapidly." “REAR-ADMIRAL FOOTE,--Is not that a good title? And how heartily I congratulate you on it, you very well know. "I wrote you a few days ago at New Haven, and hope you received the precious document. I leave here on Monday next for Cairo. I go with heavy heart, in view of the acting-lieutenancy that I still hold; nevertheless, I go with mind brimful of patriotism. "The last pay-bill gives to acting-lieutenants $1875, and a ration when at sea. Is there no way that I can be regarded as on sea-service? I think An Appeal from a Son. 357 I ought to be placed on the sea-list, as all my stores are afloat. I shall be the only sea-officer in the Western flotilla who receives shore pay. You know how responsible my duties are, and how constant they are, and that I deserve the increased pay. I have hope that the next Congress will do me justice. "If you get the command of a fleet, recollect that I must go with you. I expect to hear of your having the Hampton Roads fleet any day. I have had such quiet and domestic happiness in my visit hence, that it is hard to leave my family. When leisure and inclination prompt, let me hear from you. Sincerely yours, "J. P. SANFORD, Ordnance-Officer of Flotilla.” The following is a letter of more sombre hue; and, as a son pleading the cause of a father, it is so noble that we insert it here: "MISSISSIPPI FLOTILLA, CAIRO, ILL., August 28, 1862. "MY DEAR ADMIRAL,—I have just learned, what you have probably known before, that my father has been considered by the late Advisory Board unfit for promotion to the rank of Commodore-in other words, has been overslaughed. "I have taken the liberty to address you, for I know you are one of my father's fast friends. By the Retiring Board of 1854, which scrutinized the merits of officers far more strictly than the present Board could have had time to do, nothing was alleged against him. From that time until the breaking out of the present war he was not on duty, notwithstanding repeated applications, because his position in the list obliged him to wait, as you well know, until others above him had been served in turn. "At the breaking out of the war father was assigned to the Mississippi. He continued in command for some nine months, when he was suddenly relieved by Captain Melancthon Smith, and ordered home. Upon reaching Washington, he was informed by the Department that he had been relieved 'upon vague and indefinite rumors' in relation to the ram Ma nasses. "The facts in this instance were, that when the Mississippi was blockading off Pass à l'Outre, the Manasses remained in sight of the Mississippi two days, but all the while inside of the bar. Some newspaper correspondent reflected severely upon father for not attacking her. There were seventeen feet of water on the bar; the Mississippi drew twenty-one feet. At the time of the attack upon New Orleans, with every thing out of her, it required all her power and that of two other steamers to force her over. Admiral Farragut never made any report in the case, and the whole rests upon the bare statement of an ignorant newspaper correspondent. "My father was terribly mortified and chagrined. He told Secretary Welles, and I believe he meant it, that he would rather have been shot than ordered home. "You have all the facts as far as I believe that any thing rests against him. "No officer in the Navy loves his profession better, or has sought to do his duty more strictly than my father-I feel you will agree with me. By accident I happened to see him on his return from the Gulf, and the deep depression of spirits and mortification, which he could not seem to throw off, make me fear that this last blow will be almost too much for him to bear. But there is a good God who rules all things, and it is my prayer that He will not try him without giving to father divine strength to meet this undeserved disgrace with resignation. "I would make a personal request of you, my dear sir-that you would see the Secretary, and obtain decided information whether father will now be retained in command of the San Francisco for three years or not. It was mother's intention to have joined him in California, with some of the family, the coming October. It will save her much expense, and a long and arduous journey, if you can obtain this information and let her know, directing to the care of J. I. Soley, Esq., Boston. "I trust you will excuse this long letter from me. I feel deeply-very deeply—this blow at father's reputation, because I know it is so entirely undeserved. Father's professional path has in the later years of his life been strewn with thorns; and to one to whom professional reputation has been so great an object, this last injustice, I know, will bring him in sorrow to the grave. "With renewed hopes that you may soon recover that health whose loss you have suffered in the service of our beloved country, "I have the honor to be most sincerely your obedient servant, "Lieutenant-Commanding U. S. N." Such a letter as the foregoing could never have been addressed to one who had not the power of drawing out the confidence of others—who had not great simplicity and sympathy. It could not have been written to a mere official, who looked |