Sent telegram to
Admiral Radford and General Terry in regard to the ship timber at Richmond.
Wrote to Ashbel Smith of Texas.
Thursday, September 8, 2022
Diary of Gideon Welles: Wednesday, July 19, 1865
Diary of Gideon Welles: Thursday, July 20, 1865
Mrs. Welles and John
departed today for Narragansett, leaving me lonely and alone for two months. I
submit because satisfied it is best, yet it is a heavy deprivation, quite a shadow
on life's brief journey, — the little that is left for me.
On receiving a
letter to-day from General Terry, saying the Treasury agent needed specific
instructions from the Secretary of the Treasury, I called on Mr. McCulloch. He
thought all could be put right without difficulty. The way to effect it was for
me to send a requisition, or request the naval officer to make a requisition
for the timber, and the agent would grant it. I told him that neither I nor any
naval officer would make requisition; that the order in the President's
proclamation was sufficient authority for me and for naval officers, though it
might not do for the Treasury agents, who were presuming and self-sufficient.
He thought I was more a stickler for forms than he had supposed; said they had
receipted for this timber to the War Department. I told him I knew not what
business either they or the War Department had with it, but because they had
committed irregularities, I would not, unless the President countermanded his
own very proper order. He still declared they wanted something to show for
this, after having receipted for it. I told him I would instruct an officer to
make demand, and the demand would be his voucher if he needed one. He said very
well, perhaps it would. I accordingly so sent.
Saturday, September 18, 2021
Diary of Gideon Welles: Friday, January 6, 1865
Special messenger from Admiral Porter arrived this morning with dispatches. Left the Admiral and the fleet in Beaufort, coaling, refitting, taking in supplies, etc. He is not for giving up, but is determined to have Wilmington. We shall undoubtedly get the place, but I hardly know when. In the mean time he holds a large part of our naval force locked up. Admirals, like generals, do not like to part with any portion of their commands. As things are, I cannot well weaken him by withdrawing his vessels, yet justice to others requires it. Admiral Porter wrote to General Sherman in his distress, and he sent me Sherman's reply. It shows great confidence on the part of General Sherman in the Admiral, and this confidence is mutual. Instead of sending Porter troops he writes him that he proposes to march through the Carolinas to Wilmington and in that way capture the place. He does not propose to stop and trouble himself with Charleston. Says he shall leave on the 10th inst. if he can get his supplies, and names two or three places on the seaboard to receive supplies; mentions Bull's Bay, Georgetown, and Masonborough. His arrangement and plan strike me favorably; but it will be four or five weeks before he can reach Wilmington, and we cannot keep our vessels there locked up so long. Besides, General Grant has sent forward a military force from Hampton Roads to coƶperate with the fleet, a fact unknown to Sherman when his letter was written. Whether this will interfere with or disarrange Sherman's plan is a question. I am told General Terry is detailed to command the military. He is a good man and good officer yet not the one I should have selected unless attended by a well-trained and experienced artillery or engineer officer.
I am apprehensive that General Grant has not discriminating powers as regards men and fails in measuring their true character and adaptability to particular service. He has some weak and improper surroundings; does not appreciate the strong and particular points of character, but thinks what one man can do another can also achieve.
The papers are discussing the Wilmington expedition. Generally they take a correct view. The New York Tribune, in its devotion to Butler, closes its eyes to all facts. Butler is their latest idol, and his faults and errors they will not admit, but would sacrifice worth and truth, good men and the country, for their parasite.
At the Cabinet-meeting no very important matter was taken up. There was a discussion opened by Attorney General Speed, as to the existing difficulties in regard to the government of the negro population. They are not organized nor is any pains taken to organize them and teach them to take care of themselves or to assist the government in caring for them. He suggests that the Rebel leaders will bring them into their ranks, and blend and amalgamate them as fighting men, - will give them commissions and make them officers. The President said when they had reached that stage the cause of war would cease and hostilities cease with it. The evil would cure itself. Speed is prompted by Stanton, who wants power.
Diary of Gideon Welles: Tuesday, January 17, 1865
The glorious news of the capture of Fort Fisher came this morning. We had two or three telegrams from Porter and officers of the Navy and Generals Terry and Comstock of the army. Fort Fisher was taken Sunday evening by assault, after five hours' hard fighting. The sailors and marines participated in the assault. We lose Preston and Porter, two of the very best young officers of our navy. Have not yet particulars.
This will be severe for Butler, who insisted that the place could not be taken but by a siege, since his powder-boat failed.
Wrote Admiral Porter a hasty private note, while the messenger was waiting, congratulating him. It is a great triumph for Porter, — greater since the first failure and the difference with Butler.
At the Cabinet-meeting there was a very pleasant feeling. Seward thought there was little now for the Navy to do. Dennison thought he would like a few fast steamers for mail service. The President was happy. Says he is amused with the manners and views of some who address him, who tell him that he is now reƫlected and can do just as he has a mind to, which means that he can do some unworthy thing that the person who addresses him has a mind to. There is very much of this.
Had an interview with Caleb Cushing, who called at my house, on the subject of retaining him in the cases of the Navy agencies. Mr. Eames, who came with him, had opened the subject, and agreed as to the compensation on terms which I had previously stipulated.
SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 2: April 1, 1864 —
December 31, 1866, p. 226-7
Friday, February 9, 2018
Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant to Admiral David D. Porter, December 30, 1864
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Diary of Gideon Welles: Saturday, October 24, 1863
Saturday, April 1, 2017
Diary of John Hay: February 1 & 2, 1864
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Diary of John Hay: Saturday, January 23, 1864
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Fessenden Morse: January 25, 1865
Friday, November 28, 2014
Captain Charles Russell Lowell to Henry Lee Higginson, January 21, 1863
Monday, October 6, 2014
Colonel Robert Gould Shaw to Sarah Blake Sturgis Shaw, July 6, 1863
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Eliza Walter Smith, November 18, 1864
Thursday, March 18, 2010
From Washington
Com. Foote, owing to the wound received in the battle of Fort Henry, has asked to be released from the command of the Western Fleet, but the Department has, it is understood, ordered Capt. Chas. H. Davis to repair to the squadron as his second in command, thus relieving him of much of the physical labor of his responsible position.
In addition to what has heretofore been asserted in contradiction of the false statement of the Richmond papers, there is good authority for stating that Count Mercier, the French Minister, had no official communication whatever with the Southern authorities.
The Navy Department is quietly though effectually at work increasing the means of the national defense.
The Atlantic [Works] and Harrison Loring, of Boston, have been awarded contracts for building iron-clad vessels under the recent law.
The Senate to-day in executive session confirmed the nomination of Gen. Cadwallader, of Pa. and Geo. H. Thomas, of Va., as Major Generals, and Col. Alfred H. Terry of Conn., Miles S. Haskell, of Indiana, Maj. Henry W. Wessels, of the 9th Infantry, Col. John W. Geary, Major Samuel W. Crawford, of the 13th Infantry, and Leonard F. Ross of Indiana, as Brigadier Generals of volunteers, Brig. Gen. Jas. W. Ripley, to be Chief of Ordnance, W. A. Hammond as Surgeon General, with the rank of Brig. Gen. Also Chas. F. Garrett, as Assistant Quartermaster, and Harvy A. Smith, of Kansas, as Commissary of Subsistence. The Senate, it is stated, rejected Nathan Reeve as Quartermaster, and the following as Brig. Gen’ls: J. Cochrane, H. H. Lockwood, Chas. F. Clark, and Chas. Dana. J. Trumble, of Tenn., was confirmed as U. S. attorney, for the Middle District of that State. Owing to a misapprehension which cause the rejection of Daniel E. Sickles, the President to-day renominated him to be Brig. Gen. The Prospect of his confirmation is favorable.
Col. Rooslaff, the Danish, and Count Piper, the Swedish Ministers, have gone to Fort Monroe. It is believed they intend to follow the French Minister’s example and extend their tour to Norfolk and Richmond.
The judiciary committee of the House will report adversely to the memorial of citizens of Chicago in favor of Gen. McKinstry. The committee have determined not to make public the letter of Secretary Stanton to the committee.
Letters from before Yorktown give a sort of confirmation to the reported refusal of an Irish brigade in the rebel army to serve and the surrender of their arms.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, April 28, 1862, p. 1