346

RECOLLECTIONS OF FOOTE AND THE GUN-BOATS.

words very distinctly! “ Yon must return, both you and Mr. Washburne, assoon as the tug is ready to go.”

I felt somewhat disappointed at this, for I had fully expected to spend a dayat least on board the Benton , and to visit the other vessels of the fleet, withmany of the officers of which I was well acquainted. I did not believe there wasmuch danger in remaining, for the shells of the enemy seemed to fall short •,

but, within fifteen minutes afterthis, one of these interestingmissiles struck the water fiftyor a hundred feet from the sideof the Benton. This satisfiedme that Foote was right, and Idid not insist on staying.

The Admiral was a great suf-ferer from sick headache. I re-member visiting him in his roomat the Planter’s House in St.Louis , a day or two after thebattle of Belmont, when he wassuffering very severely from oneof these attacks, which lastedtwo days. He was one of themost fascinating men in com-pany that I have ever met, beingfull of anecdote, and having agraceful, easy flow of language.He was likewise, ordinarily, oneof the most amiable-looking ofmen; but when angered, as Ionce saw him, his face impressed me as being most savage and demoniacal,and I can imagine that at the head of a column or in an attack he would havebeen invincible. Some idea of the moral influence that he possessed over menmay be gained from the fact that, long before the war, when commanding theUnited States fleet of three vessels in Chinese waters, he converted everyofficer and man in the fleet to the principles of temperance, and had every oneof them sign the pledge. I believe that this was the beginning of the reformmovement in the navy which led to the disuse of the rations of grog whichused to be served to the sailors on shipboard at stated hours every day.

From my knowledge of Foote, I think that there is no doubt that if hishealth had not given way so early in the war, he would have gained laurelslike those so gallantly won by Farragut. And, aside from his martial charac-ter, no officer ever surpassed him in those evidences of genuine refinementand delicacy which mark the true gentleman.

W&-A

REAR-ADMIRAL HENRY WALKE, COMMANDER OF THE“TYLER,” AND AFTERWARD OF THE “ CARON-DELET.” FROM A PHOTOGRAPH.