Surrender of Fort Fisher

FEBRUARY 4, 1865.]

HARPER'S WEEKLY.

69

THE LATE LIEUTENANT SAMUEL W. PRESTON.—[PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRADY.]

THE LATE LIEUTENANT BENJAMIN H. PORTER.—[PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRADY.]

LIEUTENANT S. W. PRESTON.

LIEUTENANT SAMUEL W. PRESTON, killed in the attack on Fort Fisher, while acting as Flag-Lieutenant of the fleet of Admiral PORTER, was a native of Canada, but at an early age removed to Illinois, from which State he was appointed to the navy in 1858. He served as midshipman and ensign until August, 1862, when he was promoted Lieutenant. When Admiral DAHLGREN attacked Charleston for the first time with the fleet he was Flag-Lieutenant of the Wabash, and afterward he commanded the Ironsides. He also acted on DAHLGREN'S staff in the attack which was subsequently made on Fort

Sumter. He was taken prisoner here and sent to Columbia, South Carolina, where he was imprisoned for fourteen months. Upon his exchange he was assigned to duty in the North Atlantic squadron. He was a young officer only 23 years old, and he fell leading a company of the Naval Brigade in the assault on Fort Fisher.

LIEUTENANT B. H. PORTER.

LIEUTENANT B. H. PORTER, killed in the assault on Fort Fisher, was born in New York in 1845, and entered the navy at the age of fourteen. In the

Burnside Expedition he was midshipman in the frigate Roanoke; and during the battle of Roanoke Island he commanded the launch of six Dahlgren howitzers in the advance of the centre. He maintained his position under a galling fire until most of his men had fallen, when one of his guns exploded and only one man remained with him, At last this solitary gunner, a young man of seventeen, fell, and PORTER remained alone, cleaning, loading, and firing his guns himself until the day was won. He was promoted November 8, 1862. Afterward he was captured by the enemy, who kept him a prisoner during the greater part of a year. He had only been released a short time when he was as-

signed to PORTER'S squadron. He commanded the flag-ship Malvern, but was killed while leading a company in the assault on Fort Fisher.

LOVE AND FATE.

IT was my last evening of a month I had been spending with my friend Frank Blundell. We had met, after an interval of some years, in his country home. My friend had married since I last saw him, and his wife was a stranger to me until this visit. I found her one of the few wives who practically recommend marriage to their husbands' unmarried

ADMIRAL PORTERS FLEET CELEBRATING THE SURRENDER OF FORT FISHER.