CHAPTER XXIV.
Two Worthy Sons--William D.Porter--The Career of Admiral David Dixon Porter.
The reader will not forget the exploits of Captain David Porter, in command of the _Essex_ in the War of 1812.

Contrary to the rule that great men never have great sons, Captain Porter left two boys who possessed the same remarkable qualities as himself and one of whom became more famous than his gallant father.
The eldest of his sons was William D., who was born in New Orleans in 1809, but was educated in the North and was appointed to the navy when fourteen years old.

He was placed in command of a cumbrous ironclad constructed from a ferryboat at the beginning of the war and named the _Essex_, in honor of the famous cruiser with which his father played havoc with the shipping of Great Britain in the Pacific.

In the attack on Fort Henry, in February, 1862, the _Essex_, while doing effective service, had her boiler pierced by a shot from the enemy, with appalling consequences.

Porter was scalded and knocked senseless and twenty-nine officers and men were disabled or killed by the escaping steam.
Later, when he had fully recovered, he was placed in command of the _Essex_, which was repaired and greatly improved.