The noble Admiral Porter, a child of the sea, whose father was famous in the last war with England, also gives an account of his work with the grim warriors of the waters:
“United States Mississippi Squadron, }
Arkansas Post, January 11, 1863. }
“Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of Navy:
“Sir: The gunboats Louisville, De Kalb, Cincinnati, and Lexington, attacked the heavy fort at the Post, on the Arkansas, last night, and silenced the batteries, killing twenty of the enemy.
“The gunboats attacked again this morning, and dismounted every gun, eleven in all.
“Colonel Dunnington, late of the United States Navy, commandant of the fort, requested to surrender to the navy. I received his sword.
“The army coöperated on the land side. The forts were completely silenced, and the guns, eleven in number, were all dismounted in three hours.
“The action was at close quarters on the part of the three iron-clads, and the firing splendid.
“The list of killed and wounded is small. The Louisville lost twelve, De Kalb seventeen, Cincinnati none, Lexington none, and Rattler two.