bath-rooms, laundry, elevator for the sick from the lower to the upper deck, amputating-room, nine different water arrangements, gauze blinds to the windows to keep the cinders and smoke from annoying the sick, two separate kitchens, for sick and well, and a regular corps of nurses. "We think that the gun-boats have nearly finished their work, and that a different kind will be required for the future. The old boats will be used as floating-batteries, to be stationed at New Orleans, Vicksburg, Memphis, and Island No. Ten. Fast boats, with light, powerful armaments, will act as river police and keep the river open. I see the Act transferring the flotilla to the Navy has passed the House of Representatives, and will no doubt pass the Senate. better. This change will be for the Winslow has gone down the Sanford is now in Cairo. Por ter is getting the Essex ready, and if she do not draw too much water, she will be a very efficient vessel. I send you Porter's official seal. "Hoping scon to hear good accounts of you, and again to see you and thank you for all your kindness to me, "I am respectfully and truly yours, GEORGE D. WISE." Commodore Foote did not continue to grow stronger; on the contrary, he became so reduced that, in the language of another," he was but a shadow of himself," and much of the time he was forced to keep his bed. His physicians urged the entire giving up of care in order to save his life; and at length, after submitting to the examination of a surgical board, he sent the following letter to the Secretary of the Navy: "CLEVELAND, June 13, 1862. "SIR,-It becomes my unpleasant duty to inform the Department that my health, in the estimation of the best medical advice of this city, is such as would imperil my efficiency were I to resume my duties on the Mississippi River for two or three months to come. "Under these circumstances, I submit to the decision of the Department whether I shall return immediately to my duty in the flotilla, or receive a three-months' leave of absence, or even be detached altogether from my command, for the purpose of trying the effects of salt air, as recommended, with the hope of an early restoration to health. "I am aware that, while there seems to be little or no prospect of fur 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) "Cleveland, O., June, 1862." THOMAS L. RODMAN, M.D. Flag-Officer Foote was, therefore, at his own request, de tached 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, "FLAG-OFFICER FOOTE, U. S. N. : June 17, 1862. "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. |
