2 July 1869: ". . . I work so hard and have so many irons in the fire that I do not stop to think of hot weather. I have been making it hot enough for those people who want to rule the Navy and haven't any right to.
"I suppose you have seen by the papers that we have a new Secretary of the Navy [George M. Robeson]. The staff immediately began putting on airs thinking they were going to work him to suit themselves, particularly the Doctors. Dr. [Edward] Shippen who was supposed to be his most intimate friend called him 'George'! . . .
"I am putting every ship in commission now that I can lay hands on and full rigging everything so as to have sails instead of steam. . . ."
12 April 1870: ". . . I want you to study the new Regulations well. It will show you how I have tied up the 'staff' and have defined the duties of every one in the Navy so that none can go astray. . . .
"In a short time I will send you some further laws, orders &c in relation to the organization of ships and punishment which will make the discipline of the Navy uniform in all respects, in all vessels. . . ."
10 June 1871: ". . . I fear that they are running mathematics into the ground at the Naval Academy. I reduced the course very much while I was Superintendent but they have got it back again. . . ."
29 February 1872: ". . . My diet for breakfast is four table spoonfulls of coffee well diluted with milk. Two glasses of milk on top of that and a piece of dry bread. My dinner at one o'clock consists of two small mutton chops and one small cup of rice boiled with milk and a piece of dry bread. My 'tea' which I take at half after five is four table spoonsfull of coffee . . . and two glasses of milk as at breakfast! Now that's all I eat day in and day out. I haven't eaten a piece of duck God knows when except the day you dined with me. . . .
". . . The papers are making a terrible onslaught on Mr. Robeson [Secretary of the Navy] for irregularities in the Department and I shouldn't be surprised if it ended in his resignation. . . ."
15 March 1872: ". . . Congress has appointed a committee to investigate Mr. Robeson's case but I don't know as [sic] it will amount to anything. . . .
". . . My idea is that there will be a grand row and perhaps a change in the Navy Department. I don't think it would be generous in Mr. Robeson to hamper President Grant in any way. There is one thing you may rely upon, the President will not lend himself to any dishonest or irregular practices, and if a man shows that he has done these things through ignorance, he is just as much to blame, for every one in public office should be acquainted with the law. . . ."
15 April 1872: ". . . I am glad you like my letter but I do not wish it published. It is doing its work now in Congress and I dislike public notoriety. I wrote it from principle as I thought it my duty to lay before Congress the truth which other people were either afraid or hadn't the sense to tell. . . .
"Even 'Dirty Dana' of the 'Sun' [Editor Charles A. Dana] remarked in his paper that 'no one could fail to be struck with the manly and truthful evidence given by Admiral Porter.' It didn't please Robeson although it ought to have done so, for though I told the truth, I didn't tell all the truth because they did not question me far enough. . . .
"This $93,000 which they linger over and which is a plain case of violation of law, is nothing compared to what is behind, all of which will I suppose be brought out by Archer and Blair of the Committee. Robeson's friend came to see me before I was called up and begged me not to take sides against him. He also called to see me himself once or twice and all I could advise him was not to ask me any questions, which advice he very foolishly neglected. . . . [H]e couldn't help showing his treacherous nature and tried to show that I was a partner in his irregularities. . . ."
30 October 1873: ". . . I found Mr. Robeson very pleasant on my return home and disposed to do whatever I asked of him, which as you may suppose is nothing of a personal character. His views however will assist me materially in getting my torpedo vessel launched and equipped as I think she has been kept back by Rowan [New York Navy Yard Commandant Stephen Clegg Rowan] and W.L. Hanscom . . . . I shall quietly dispose of them before the session of Congress ends. . . ."
8 December 1873: ". . . Geo. Robeson . . . at 11 o'clock . . . entered with his 'Board of Admirals' (Chiefs of Bureau) and . . . acquainted me with his desire that I should take command of the Naval forces in case of hostilities. . . .
"I told him that I expected to take command that it was my right and since then I have been busily employed making out memoranda of what was to be done and have succeeded in getting every available ship in the Navy in the hands of mechanics. The vessels are getting off as soon as they can be got ready to Key West where I shall follow in a dispatch vessel . . . . We have six monitors mounting fourteen heavy guns now ready. The 'Lancaster' is ordered home and all the Mediterranean Squadron ordered to the W. Indies. I shall have these in the course of 30 days: 450 guns to the Spaniards' 360. They have the advantage of six . . . heavy ironclads, but I am having the 'Tennessee' and 'Florida' both 15 knot ships, fitted as powerful rams and recommended them . . . to carry 8 eleven inch guns each . . . ."
5 December 1874: ". . . I have been very busy on my report which will interest you. It gives a thorough account of the deficiencies of our rotten navy and I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to suppress it.
"You ask about the torpedo vessell. All I can say is--she is a success . . . . [S]he ran 8 knots with little stream . . . and will attain a speed of 12 or 13 knots when carrying a full head of steam. . . . We went out principally to try whether the fowler wheel would stand the strain and jerks, which it did perfectly. . . .
"There has been a great deal of excitement here at the prospect of a change and there is a smelting committee already in the city hunting up all they can against Robeson. He has committed some terrible mistakes, to use a mild expression and those not partial to him will be gratified in seeing him consigned to deserved oblivion. . . ."
26 December 1874, ALS: ". . . [A]ll the talk here now is about G Robeson's . . . administration of the Navy. There is not a dollar left in the Naval exchequer, and if we were to want a ship before July we could not fit one out. The Democrats are raking up every thing they can get . . . . [A]s soon as the Democratic Congress comes in, I think they have now got about 50 cases of corruption and dishonesty against him. His Bureau men will stand by him until they see him going overboard . . . ."
15 November [1874], ALS: "I saw Lieut. Emory last night who was on board of the Louisiana, your son in law's steamer, when she was sunk by an iron scout coming down the Bay . . . ."
13 October [1870s], Brief ALS: "I wrote over to Rodgers (who responds as within) as I could not go myself [written on integral blank of Christopher Raymond Perry Rodgers's letter to Porter reporting that 'Young Decatur has been exonerated']."
With--David Dixon Porter. Two items: LS, "David D Porter," to Decatur's daughter Maria Susanna Decatur Mayo ("My Dear Maria"), explaining that his daughter Elizabeth is not sufficiently well to visit. 2 pages, 4to, written on a folded sheet. Washington, 30 October 1875 • ANS, "D D Porter," to "Mrs. Logan," sending his street address and reporting that he would be home Saturday evening. ½ page, oblong 8vo. Np, 20 October no year.
Stephen Decatur (1814-1876) was the nephew of Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr. (1779-1820); he also had a career in the Navy, achieving the rank of Commodore in 1869.