Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 8 [ Sept. 12, 1864-Apr. 14, 1865, undated, appendices].

To David G. Farragut1Jump to section

Executive Mansion,
Washington, November 11, 1864.

An Executive order to Rear-Admiral David G. Farragut having been issued on the 9th of August last, directing that, if Andrew J. Hamilton, or any person authorized in writing by him, should come out of either of the ports of Galveston or Sabine Pass with any vessel or vessels freighted with cotton shipped to the agent of the Treasury Department at New Orleans, the passage of such person, vessels, and cargoes should not be molested or hindered, but should be permitted to pass to the hands of such consignee, the said order is from this date to be considered as revoked.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Annotation

[1]   Naval Records, I, XXI, 727. See LINCOLN to Farragut, November 6, supra. The above order was enclosed by Gideon Welles to Farragut on November 14 following receipt of Farragut's report No. 511, October 30, 1864. Farragut reported that upon receiving on October 8 a copy of LINCOLN's order of August 9

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he had not felt authorized to permit ships to enter the ports mentioned, and that on October 9 he had instructed Commander William E. LeRoy to escort any qualified vessels from the ports, but to allow none to enter (ibid., pp. 706-707). On November 16 Farragut wrote LINCOLN: "I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a telegram from New Orleans forwarded by General Canby from Your Excellency and beg to state that I have never allowed the Blockade to be violated---but as I understand the Regulations of Trade dated Jany 26th 1864 articles are permitted to come out into our lines but nothing to go into the Rebel lines. . . .'' (DLC-RTL). On November 18, Farragut reported to Welles that he had issued orders to Captain John B. Marchand, senior officer of the ships blockading the coast of Texas, in part as follows: ``You will therefore consider the instructions given to Commander LeRoy of noneffect and be governed by the orders of the President as contained in the above telegram of the 6th instant, and you will at once instruct the commanding officers of the vessels of your division to the same effect. . . .'' (Naval Records, I, XXI, 730).