Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 4 [Mar. 5, 1860-Oct. 24, 1861].

To Gideon Welles1Jump to section

(Confidential.)
To the Secretary of the Navy. Executive Mansion,
Dear Sir: April 1, 1861.

You will issue instructions to Captain Pendergrast,2Jump to section commanding the home squadron, to remain in observation at Vera Cruz---important complications in our foreign relations rendering the presence of an officer of rank there of great importance.

Captain Stringham3Jump to section will be directed to proceed to Pensacola with all possible despatch, and assume command of that portion of the home squadron stationed off Pensacola. He will have confidential instructions to cooperate in every way with the commander of the land forces of the United States in that neighborhood.

The instructions to the army officers, which are strictly confidential, will be communicated to Captain Stringham after he arrives at Pensacola.

Captain Samuel Barron will relieve Captain Stringham in charge of the Bureau of detail. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

P.S. As it is very necessary at this time to have a perfect knowledge of the personnel of the navy, and to be able to detail such officers for special purposes as the exigencies of the service may require. I request that you will instruct Captain Barron to proceed and organize the Bureau of detail in the manner best adapted to meet the wants of the navy, taking cognizance of the discipline of the navy generally, detailing all officers for duty, taking charge of the recruiting of seamen, supervising charges made against officers, and all matters relating to duties which must be best understood by a sea officer. You will please afford Captain Barron any facility for accomplishing this duty, transferring to his department

the clerical force heretofore used for the purposes specified. It is to be understood that this officer will act by authority of Secretary of the Navy, who will exercise such supervision as he may deem necessary. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Annotation

[1]   Gideon Welles, ``Fort Sumter,'' The Galaxy, November, 1870, X, 624. Welles describes the letter as being in the handwriting of Montgomery C. Meigs and the postscript in the handwriting of David D. Porter and comments that ``the President expressed as much surprise as I felt that he had signed and sent me such a document.'' He adds: ``Pendergrast did not go to Vera Cruz nor Stringham to Pensacola.'' (p. 626).

keyboard_returnReturn

[2]   Garrett J. Pendergrast.

keyboard_returnReturn

[3]   Silas H. Stringham.

keyboard_returnReturn