Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 5 [Oct. 24, 1861-Dec. 12, 1862].

About this Item

Title: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 5 [Oct. 24, 1861-Dec. 12, 1862].
Author: Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865.
Publication: New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press; 1953.
Rights/Permissions: The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials for educational and research purposes, with permission from their copyright holder. If you decide to use any of these materials, you are responsible for making your own legal assessment and securing any necessary permission.
Cite this Item: "Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 5 [Oct. 24, 1861-Dec. 12, 1862]." In the digital collection Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/lincoln5. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 16, 2024.

Pages

To John P. Hale1Jump to section

January 28, 1862

Capt. Dahlgren gave his views in this letter, at my request. I have so much confidence in him in Naval matters that I inclose it to you as Chairman of the Naval Committee. A. LINCOLN

Jan. 28. 1862.

Annotation

[1] AES-P, ISLA. Lincoln's endorsement is written on an undated memorandum from Captain John A. Dahlgren reading as follows:

``The present organisation of the Navy Bureau of Ordnance is not suited to present necessities.

``The practice & custom of the office make it purely administrative, whereas the Head of this Department should himself participate in the various operations and be present personally as far as circumstances permit.

Return

Page 113

``He should have a proper Assistant to take charge of the office affairs and sustain the communication with the Navy Department

``There should also be a corps of Inspectors to supervise the practical details at the Foundries and Navy Yards.

``The Secretary of the Navy in his Report upon the Meeting of Congress on the 4 July last struck out the general features of the new arrangement & recommended it to you

``The Chairman of Naval Affairs in the Senate embodied the same in a Bill which he presented to the Senate during this session---it was referred to the Naval Committee, and there remains, and may be forgotten until some exigency again brings it under consideration.

``I would urge its immediate adoption. . . .''

The bill introduced on January 24 to reorganize the Navy Department and create the Bureau of Ordnance was approved on July 5, 1862.