Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 04.djvu/155

 FOOTE

FOOTE

1856 and 1863. During his congressional career he opposed the policy of the Democratic party in all its measures; and supijorted high tariff and the abolition of slavery. He defended Repre- sentative Giddings, wlio was assailed on the floor of congress, and by his personal defiance of armed opponents prevented bloodshed. During the civil war he was a Radical in all war meas- lU'es. After the death of Lincoln he opposed the polic}" of President Johnson and was a mover for his impeachment. Before the war he was a commissioner with Jefferson Davis to reorganize the course of study and discipline at the U.S. military academy; supervised the enlargement of the capitol and the erection of other govern- ment structures, and was chairman of the com- mittee on arrangements for tlie inauguration of President Lincoln. He was elected president pro tempore of the U.S. senate, Feb. 16, 1861, and held the office by re-election till the close of the 36th congress, March 3, 1861. He was again elected July 18, 1861, and served by successive re-elec- tion through the entire 3Tth and in the first ses- sion of the 38th congress up to April 26, 1864. He was a delegate to the Republican national convention of 1864. Senator Foote died in Wash- ington. D.C., March 28, 1866.

FOOTE, Andrew Hull, naval officer, was born in New Haven, Conn., Sept. 13, 1806; second son of Samuel Augustus and Eudoi-a (Hull) Foote. His father was governor of Connecticut and his mother a daughter of Gen. Andrew Hidl. An- drew was a cadet in the US. militaiy academy in 1823 and left on Dec. 4, 1823, to enter the naval service as mid- shipman. He was as- signed to the U.S. schooner Grampus of the West Indian squadron, operating against piratical craft engaged in annoying American commerce. In December, 1823, he was transferred to the Peacock and sailed Jlarch 29, 1824, to the Pacific. While with the squadron he was transferred to the frigate United States. In 1827 he was again with the West Indian squadron having been assigned to the XatrJie.~ and shortly transferred to the Hornet. He was mar- ried in June, 1828, to Caroline Flagg of Clieshire, Conn. In February, 1829, he was on the St. Louis of the Pacific squadron. He was promoted lieu tenant Dec. 9, 1831. and was ordered to the Delaware July 30, 1833, sailing her to the Medi

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terranean. He was with the East Indian squad- ron, 1837-41, and while absent circumnavigated the globe. He was on duty as instructor of mid- shipmen at the Marine hospital, Philadelphia, Pa., 1841-43; was married to Caroline Augusta Street of New Haven, Conn., in January, 1842; and was again with the Mediterranean .squadron, 1843-47, on board the flag-ship Cumberland. He was then ordered to the Boston navy 3'ard and in 1849-50 commanded the brig Perry engaged in suppressing the slave trade on the coast of Africa. He was made commander in 1856, and with the sloop of war Plymouth sailed up the Canton river and was fired upon by the Chinese forts. Re- ceiving permission from Captain Armstrong to obtain an apology or silence the forts, he carried the forts by storm after breaching the largest. In the engagement he lost forty men, while the Chinese lost four hundred. His action seciu-ed the respect of the Chinese for the American flag and paved the way for the subsequent friendly treaties. He commanded the Brooklyn navy yard, 1858-61, and the U.S. navy operating in con- junction with Fremont's army, 1861-62, helping to build and equip the light-draft gunboats. Part of his flotilla under Commander Walke assisted General Grant in landing his troops and capturing Camp Behnont, Nov. 7, 1861, and saved the army from being captured in the retreat when the Confederates were reinforced. At Fort Henry, Feb. 6, 1863, he led the gunboats in the attack and captured the fort before the arrival of General Grant's troops. On February 14, he took part in the reduction of Fort Donelson, the Ca- rondelet. Captain Walke, acting under orders of General Grant, having made demonstrations on the river front at long range Februarj- 13, and on the 13th threw 184, 15 and 10 minnte shells into the fort at close range while General Grant landed his troops and gained the rear. On the 14th Flag-Oflicer Foote arrived with his six other gimboats and commenced a brisk cannonade which was so effectivelj' replied to as to force him to retire to long range. Meanwhile Grant surrounded the fort, cut off retreat and received the capitulation of the fort on the evening of Feb. 15, 1862. Flag-Officer Foote was wounded on the 14th and returned to Cairo on the morning of the 15th, where he received the news of the surrender on February 17, from Commander Walke. and he at once issued congratuIator3' orders to the officers and crews of the gvmboats. After repair- ing damages to the flotilla, accompanied V)y the army of General Buford he descended the river on March 4 to Hickman to co-operate with General Pope in the capture of Island No. 10. Flag-Offi- cer Foote opened a bomliardment of the river batteries and forts en route, and this continued from March 17 to 25, with considerable vigor. On