Captain Porter and Major Farragut were old friends, to which fact was due the privilege extended to a lad of such tender years.
In the sketch of Captain Porter the reader will recall the incident in which young Farragut learned of the conspiracy among the 500 prisoners on board the _Essex_, and, by giving his commander warning, prevented the capture of the ship by the savage plotters.
The boy was on the _Essex_ when, disabled and helpless, she was pounded into a surrender by two British ships while in the harbor of Valparaiso, in January, 1814.

It was one of the most sanguinary battles of the war, when the decks ran with blood and the dead and dying were stretched on every hand.

Amid the terrible carnage the boy Farragut conducted himself with such coolness and bravery that he was specially complimented by Captain Porter in his report.

Although wounded, he stood unflinchingly to his guns, winning the admiration of the grim heroes around him and demonstrating the wonderful qualities which later were to raise him to the position of the foremost naval hero of the age.
Peace came, and, although Farragut was in continual service, promotion was slow.

He became lieutenant in 1825, commander in 1841 and captain in 1851.