On my way to Cabinet-meeting this A.M. met Covode and Judge
Lewis of Pennsylvania. The two had just left the President and presented me
with a card from him to the effect that Covode had investigated the case of
Chambers, Navy Agent at Philadelphia, and that if I saw no objection he should
be removed. Told them I was going to the President and the subject should have
attention. When I mentioned the subject, the President wished me to look into
the case and see that all was right. He had not, he said, examined it, but
passed it over to me, who he knew would.
The final accounts of the result at Murfreesborough are
favorable. Rosecrans has done himself honor and the country service. From
Vicksburg the intelligence is less satisfactory. There appears to have been
good fighting but without results. A desperate stand will be made by the Rebels
to hold this place. It is important to them to prevent the free navigation of
the Mississippi; it is as important to us that it should be unobstructed. They
wish to have communication with Texas; we want to cut it off. Had the army
seconded Farragut and the Navy months ago, Vicksburg would have been in our
possession. Halleck was good for nothing then, nor is he now.
SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 1: 1861 – March 30,
1864, p. 218
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