David D. Porter papers, 1861-1870

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Creators:
Porter, David D. (David Dixon), 1813-1891
Abstract:
Collection includes correspondence, dispatches, communications, and other military documents received by David D. Porter during his command of the Union's Mississippi River Squadron during the U.S. Civil War from November 1862 to April 1864.
Extent:
13.2 Linear Feet (11 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. David D. Porter papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection includes correspondence, dispatches, communications, and other military documents received by David D. Porter during his command of the Union's Mississippi River Squadron during the U.S. Civil War from November 1862 to April 1864. Also included are telegrams to and from Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles and his assistant, Gustavus Vasa Fox, and a few postwar documents concerning naval affairs.

Two contemporary copies of Ulysses S. Grant letters are present in the collection: Grant to Salmon P. Chase (enclosure of William P. Mellen letter to Stephen G. Hicks, 1863 December 4), 1863 September 26 (PR 194) and Grant to William P. Mellen, 1863 November 16 (PR 197).

Biographical / historical:

David D. Porter (1813-1891) was an admiral in the U.S. Navy and served in the Mexican-American War and Civil War. In October 1862, he was appointed acting rear admiral and given command of the Union's Mississippi River Squadron and was involved in the efforts to keep the river open to Union shipping and the siege of Vicksburg. In the spring of 1864, he was transferred to the North Atlantic Blockade Squadron where he served until the end of the war. After the war Porter served as superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Charles Baker, 1912.
Processing information:

This finding aid was created in 2022 by Melissa Haley as part of the American Presidential Papers Project with enhanced description of the presidential material present. The items had been assembled physically and arranged by Huntington Library former staff in the mid-20th century.

Arrangement:

Collection is arranged chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. David D. Porter papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Website