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
'^rlrU^
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
