Letter from Commodore Paulding.

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cares of the Bureau upon you. I am ever mindful of the debts I owe your friendship, and trust I shall not prove unworthy to retain my place in your esteem.

"Respectfully and most truly yours,

S. L. PHELPS."

The foregoing is an inside view, written evidently with a sore mind, of the unsuccessful attempts of the gun-boats, single-handed, to do any thing toward the capture of Vicksburg -it remained for General Grant to throw the weight of his sword into the scale. The Arkansas fairly caught the vessels napping, and, coming upon them so unexpectedly, was able to drive her furious, and, as it actually proved, destructive way through the fleets. The first attempt of Farragut to destroy her was unsuccessful, doubtless owing to the darkness; and the second attempt by Davis was not followed up by a general attack of the lower fleet, owing, it would seem, to a misunderstanding; however, this letter of an able officer and honest man, written though it may be from a partisan stand-point, is one of the data upon which reliable history must be formed. His strictures are not to be carelessly disregarded or contemned.

This friendly letter from Commodore Paulding is a sample of the hearty and brotherly style of correspondence and intercourse that, for some reason or other, prevails in the Navy, in which, if we mistake not, there is more of real esprit de corps than even in the Army; the heart speaks right out, and there is an almost womanish tenderness among men who have seen danger and toil in their sternest aspects:

"NAVY YARD, NEW YORK, July 27, 1862. “MY DEAR FLAG-OFFICER,—I was charmed to get your letter yesterday, which I scarcely deserved for having so long omitted to tender you my congratulations on your safe return to your home, family, and friends. For one, I long felt great solicitude about you, and feared there were many chances against a partial recovery even of your limbs; and when you told me of swelling, fever, and loss of appetite, I feared greatly for

A A

the gallant friend whose deeds have swelled my heart with pride and pleasure.

"I am glad they have paid you the compliment of placing you at the head of a Bureau, and am sure that any place you may assume will be well filled; and yet for your health, and for the service that we want you to perform, might well question the propriety of your doing any thing just now to irritate your lameness or hazard your permanent cure at an early day. To go from your home in Washington, wherever it may be, to the Department, in the condition your foot is in, may do this; and, with all my interest in what may concern your present pride and dignity, I could have wished they had let you alone until you had time to get well. You could well help on at the West when there was so much to be done— fighting and working on crutches while there was any thing left of yoù; but now, in a different position in public life, they should let you alone, or give you the nominal supervision of your Bureau.

"I have tried to write every day since your letter came, but my interruptions are so continual that I am eye and head weary.

"I had a letter from

yesterday from Mosquito Inlet, where he is commander-in-chief, and so desperately in love with his wife that nothing but a fight, I should think, would take the homesickness out of him.

"I read to Leonard what you said of him. He made no reply, but is always full of admiration of your naval skill and cool, determined valor.

"The only picture I have in my house is yours. Come and see it, if you can, when you pass on. I will give you good quarters and hearty welYour friend Captain Boggs, of the tug, has just stepped in. He says there is nobody like you. I write in some haste. My kind congratulations and all my good wishes to Mrs. Foote, Petite, and the boy.

come.

During these years of the war, and especially the eventful year 1862, when the country was passing through its profoundest crisis, every convocation of the people-political, religious, or educational-partook of the warlike and patriotic character of the times. The country's safety was the uppermost topic. The toga then yielded to arms. The men of action went before the men of thought. The churches were assemblies of

Commencement Day at Yale College.

353

those who prayed for the success of the Union arms or sought strength to make great sacrifices. The colleges and schools of learning were filled with this patriotic and martial spirit. The Commencement Day of Yale College in New Haven this year occurred on the 30th of July. There was a large gathering of the alumni of the college; and although the usual business of the meeting was duly dispatched, evidently the great controlling object of the assembly was that of the country's condition. This was the gravitating current of every address and the intense thought of every heart. Those present will not forget the impressive scene when, advancing slowly through the crowd of scholars and civilians, Commodore Foote made his way on crutches and took his seat upon the platform. For a moment there was a hush of silence, and then a burst of enthusiastic greeting. He was dressed in full uniform. His head, carried erect and proud, his full, black eye, his earnest brow, his pale face, his form bearing the marks of wounds. and sufferings, contributed to make a picture both noble and pathetic.

After a resolution in relation to the public exigency had been introduced and spoken upon by Hon. W. W. Ellsworth, Prof. Thacher rose and quoted the Latin phrase, “Ex pede Herculem," which the audience translated by loud cries of "Foote!"

He thereupon arose and spoke briefly. He referred to the advantages of a college education in every department and business of life, and paid a tribute to Yale as not forgetting the claims of a practical nature upon every true man, and the good of the country and of humanity, in her method of education. He spoke also of the Western campaign, gave high praise to General Halleck, and urged on educated young men the necessity of engaging at this critical hour in the service of the country. He concluded by an allusion to his old friend President Roberts, of Liberia, who was seated near him,

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