U.S. Mississippi SQUADRON,
Flagship Black Hawk, off Vicksburg, July 13, 1863.

SIR: I have had but little opportunity to try Mr. Short’s Greek fire, but what I have seen of it proves its excellence. I only had a small quantity, and used it against Vicksburg, setting the town on fire in three places in one night, burning up a considerable quantity
of stores, and the houses burned to the ground. I see no reason why it should not burn up a ship instantly; the fire is very intense. It is perfectly safe, put up in shell or tin cases, and I recommend it to be sent on shipboard in shells filled with it and powder together.
When the shells burst in the air large flakes of fire descend, and, falling on the houses, must set them on fire. I set fire to some pieces of the composition and then covered it up with wet sand, but it burned to the end without being injured.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
DAVID D. PORTER,

Acting Rear-Admiral, Commanding Mississippi Squadron.

Commander HENRY A. WISE,

Acting Chief of Bureau of Ordnance.
Directions for using Greek fire in shells of any size.

First put into the shell about the quarter of the bursting charge, then drop on top of the powder as many of the Greek-fire cases as will easily slide down the inside of the shell; when full, fill up with powder as long as you can jar it down with a mallet, then screw in the fuze, plug with white lead, and oil and fix the fuze firmly to its place, and your shell will be sure to fill its mission.
LEVI E. SHORT,
Patentee and Proprietor.
PHILADELPHIA, PA.

________________________
David Upton