David D. Porter Papers: Finding Aid mssPR
Melissa Haley
The Huntington Library
September 2022
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: David D. Porter papers
Creator:
Porter, David D. (David Dixon), 1813-1891
Identifier/Call Number: mssPR
Physical Description:
13.2 Linear Feet
(11 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1861-1870
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.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more
information.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Charles Baker, 1912.
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.
Scope and Contents
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).
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.
General
Individual call numbers included in the collection: mssPR 1-801.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged chronologically.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Admirals -- United States -- Archives
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Naval operations
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 19th century
Military records -- United States -- 19th century
Military records -- United States -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Telegrams -- United States -- 19th century
Fox, Gustavus Vasa, 1821-1883
Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885
Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878
United States. Navy. Mississippi Squadron
United States. Navy -- Officers -- Archives
United States. Navy Department -- Correspondence -- Civil War, 1861-1865
