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To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I recommend that the thanks of Congress be given to the following Officers of the U.S. Navy:
Captain James L. Lardner, for meritorious conduct at the battle of Port Royal and distinguished services on the coast of the United States against the enemy;
Captain Charles Henry Davis, for distinguished services in conflict with the enemy at Fort Pillow, at Memphis and for successful operations at other points in the waters of the Mississippi River; Commander John A. Dahlgren, for distinguished service in the line of his profession: improvements in Ordnance and zealous and efficient labors in the Ordnance branch of the service; Commander Stephen C. Rowan, for distinguished services in the waters of North Carolina, and particularly in the capture of Newbern, being in chief command of the Naval forces; Commander David D. Porter, for distinguished services in the conception and preparation of the means used for the capture of the Forts below New Orleans, and for highly meritorious conduct in the management of the Mortar Flotilla, during the bombardment of Forts Jackson and St. Philip; Captain Silas H. Stringham, now on the Retired List, for distinguished services in the capture of Forts Hatteras and Clark.
Washington, D.C., ABRAHAM LINCOLN
11 July 1862.
[1] DS, DNA RG 46, Senate 37A F2; DS, DNA RG 233, Original Executive Document No. 147. A resolution of thanks ``to James L. Lardner and other officers of the navy'' was reported in both House and Senate on July 16. Upon development of objections to the inclusion of James L. Lardner, however, the resolution was held up until January 31, 1863, when Senator Hale reported the resolution with title amended to read ``a joint resolution tendering the thanks of Congress to Commodore Charles Henry Davis and other officers. . . .'' thus omitting Lardner's name. The resolution was approved as amended on February 7, 1863.