Office of the Historian

Mr. Porter to Mr. Gresham.

Legation of the United States,
Santiago, September 12, 1893. (Received October 12.)
No. 30.]

Sir: Accompanied by Consul Dobbs, I recently made a visit to the foreigners’ cemetery at Valparaiso for the purpose of inspecting the monument erected over the graves of the officers and seamen of the U. S. frigate Essex, Captain, afterward Commodore, David Porter, commanding, in the engagement with the British frigate Phœbe and brig Cherub. The monument is plain and substantial, of Italian marble, and bears the following inscription:

In memory of the officers and seamen slain on hoard the U. S. frigate Essex in this harbor, in an engagement with H. B. M’s. frigate Phœbe and brig Cherub, February 28, 1814.

  • Lt. James P. Wilmer.
  • Lt. John G. Cowell.
  • Rheul. Marshall, Gunner.
  • Francis Bland, Q. Master.
  • Henry Kennedy, Bos’ns Mate.
  • William Smith.
  • Seamen.
    • Daniel F. Cassimere.
    • Wm. Christopher.
    • John Clinton,
    • Thos. Davis.
    • George Douglass.
    • Lewis F. Earle.
    • Joseph Ferrell.
    • Thomas Ferry.
    • Peter Allen.
    • John Alvison.
    • James Anderson.
    • Thos. Bailey.
    • George Beden.
    • Thomas Brannock.
    • Thomas Brown.
    • Henry Buff.
    • Robert Brown.
    • James Folger.
    • Francis Green.
    • Frederic Hall.
    • George Hallett.
    • Benj’n Hazen.
    • George Hill.
    • Mark Hill.
    • John Lings.
    • Zachary May held.
    • Sam’l Miller.
    • Thomas Nordyke.
    • Chas. E. Norgran.
    • John Powell.
    • John Ripley.
    • Thos. Russell.
    • James Sellers.
    • John Jackson.
    • Wm. Jennings.
    • Thos. Johnson.
    • Wm. Johnson.
    • Peter Johnson.
    • John C. Killian.
    • William Lee.
    • Philip Thomas.
    • Cornelius Thompson.
    • Henry Vickers.
    • Wm. White.
    • Wm. Williams.
    • Wm. Wyne.
    • John Adams.

Erected in 1881 by the Rev. Dr. Trumbull and Gen. L. N. Foote, U. S. consul, aided by Dr. H. E. Ames, assistant surgeon, and other officers of the U. S. ships, Richmond, Adams, Omaha, and Pensacola.

I respectfully suggest that this dispatch be given to the Associated Press for publication, that the descendants of these gallant men may learn that if the Government their progenitors served so well has been tardy in their proper recognition that officers and seamen of the service they honored, assisted by patriotic countrymen domiciled at the spot where they fell, have discharged the obligation by the erection of this monument, and that their countrywomen care for it and maintain it in perfect condition.

It would be a graceful act for the Congress to provide for the erection of a monument commemorative of the services and death of these brave men either at the Naval Academy or in one of the squares at Washington.

Yours, etc.,

Jas. D. Porter.