At the beginning of the year 1861 he was under orders to join the Coast Survey on the Pacific, but, fortunately, had not left when the rebellion broke out. His name at that time stood number six on the list of lieutenants. The resignation of several Confederates left room for his advancement, and the “Naval Register” for August 31, 1861, placed him number seventy-seven on the list of commanders. He was placed in command of the steam sloop-of-war _Powhatan_, a vessel of about twenty-five hundred tons, and armed with eleven guns. After doing blockading duty for some time, he left that ship to take special charge of the mortar expedition. The active part he took in the reduction of the forts below New Orleans will make his name ever memorable in connection with the mortar fleet. After the capture of New Orleans he, with his fleet, went up the Mississippi river, and was engaged in several affairs on that river, including that of Vicksburg. From that place he was ordered to the James river, and returned in the _Octorara_. When off Charleston, on his way to Fortress Monroe, he fell in with and captured the Anglorebel steamer _Tubal Cain_. He was then appointed to the supreme control of all the naval forces on the Mississippi river, with the rank of Acting Rear-Admiral. The force under his orders, in vessels, guns, and men, was larger than had ever heretofore been under the command of any United States naval officer. His squadron was distinct in every way from that of Admiral Farragut, who commanded the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron. [Illustration: HOUSE USED FOR CONFINEMENT OF REBEL SYMPATHIZERS, AT ST. LOUIS, MO.] The capture of the Post of Arkansas was the first exploit performed by the Admiral in his new command. MAJOR-GENERAL M’CLERNAND. MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN A. MCCLERNAND was a lawyer by profession, and had figured prominently as a leading Democratic politician from Illinois. He was a leader of the Douglas Democrats, and did battle for them valiantly at Charleston. At the outbreak of the war he took sides manfully for the Union, and shortly afterward was nominated a Brigadier-General of Volunteers. In the Belmont fight he gave evidence that he possessed good military capacity, and during his administration of military affairs at Cairo he secured the good will of the men under his command. In the reconnoissance in the rear of Columbus, during the advance upon Fort Henry, and at the grand battle before Fort Donelson, General McClernand manifested superior military ability. For his gallantry on these occasions he was, on the 21st of March, 1862, made by Congress a Major-General of Volunteers, and accompanied the advance up the Tennessee river toward Savannah. At the battle of Pittsburgh Landing he was highly distinguished. * * * * *