# David D. Porter — Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant character guide

> David D. Porter in Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant by Ulysses S. Grant.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Porter, Admiral Porter, Admiral D. D. Porter

**First appearance:** 0003-i

## Snapshot

Union admiral whose Mississippi River fleet gave Grant's army its waterborne muscle, and whose flagship later hosted Lincoln at fallen Richmond.

## Who they are

Porter commands the naval wing of Grant's western campaigns, the ironclads and gunboats that pry open rivers the Confederacy assumed it owned. His partnership with Grant — sailor to soldier — is practical rather than sentimental, and the memoir treats him as a steady instrument of combined operations. When Richmond falls, Porter's flagship becomes the floating stage where Lincoln, Weitzel, and Virginia's anxious citizens improvise the war's awkward endgame.

## In the story

### [San Francisco—Early California Experiences—Life on the Pacific Coast—Promoted Captain—Flush Times in California](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xv)

Not directly mentioned in this chapter.

### [General Fremont in Command—Movement Against Belmont—Battle of Belmont—A Narrow Escape—After the Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xx)

Not explicitly mentioned in this excerpt, but associated with naval operations on the Mississippi.

### [Headquarters Moved to Holly Springs—General McClernand in Command—Assuming Command at Young’s Point—Operations Above Vicksburg—Fortifications About Vicksburg—The Canal—Lake Providence—Operations at Yazoo Pass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxxi)

Commands the naval fleet; urges Grant to take command due to distrust of McClernand.

### [The Vicksburg Campaign: Running the Batteries](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxxii)

Admiral commanding the naval fleet; cooperates with Grant and prepares steamers to run the batteries.

### [Attack on Grand Gulf — Operations Below Vicksburg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxxiii)

Admiral commanding the naval attack on Grand Gulf; his gunboats bombard the Confederate batteries.

### [Siege of Vicksburg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxxvii)

Admiral who supplies the army with a battery of navy-guns of large calibre for the siege.

### [The Surrender of Vicksburg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxxviii)

Admiral Porter is notified by Grant to stop hostilities during the surrender negotiations.

### [Retrospect of the Campaign](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxxix)

Commended for the Navy's indispensable role and perfect harmony with the Army during the campaign.

### [Left Flank Movement Across the Chickahominy and James—General Lee—Visit to Butler—The Movement on Petersburg—The Investment of Petersburg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/lvi)

Not directly mentioned in excerpts; omitted.

### [LXI: Expedition Against Fort Fisher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/lxi)

Commands the naval squadron; coordinates with Terry for the successful assault.

### [Morale of the Two Armies—President Lincoln Visits Richmond—President Lincoln's Assassination—President Johnson's Policy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/lxviii)

Accompanied President Lincoln to Richmond on his flagship.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/characters/david_d_porter
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/characters