William H. Seward to Lieutenant David D. Porter, April 6, 1861

[Telegram.]

APRIL 6, 1861.

Give the Powhatan up to Captain Mercer.

SEWARD.

[Lieutenant D. D. PORTER.]

SOURCE: Official Records of Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series I, Volume 4, p. 112

Gideon Welles to Commander Stephen Clegg Rowan, April 5, 1861

Navy Department

April 5th. l861

Commander S. C. Rowan,

Com'dg U.S.S. “Pawnee”

Norfolk, Va.

Sir:

After the “Pawnee” shall have been provisioned at Norfolk, you will proceed with her to sea, and on the morning of the 11th instant, appear off Charleston bar, ten miles distant from and due east of the lighthouse where you will report to Captain Samuel Mercer, of the "Powhatan," for special service. Should he not be there, you will await his arrival.

I am, resp'y, your obt. servt.

Gideon Welles,

Secretary of the Navy.

SOURCE: Robert Means Thompson & Richard Wainwright, Editors, Publications of the Naval Historical Society, Volume 9: Confidential Correspondence of Gustavus Vasa Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1861-1865, Volume 1, p. 26

Gideon Welles to Commander John P. Gillis, April 5, 1861

Navy Department

April 5th, 1861.

Commander J. P. Gillis

Com'dg U.S.S. Pocahontas,

Norfolk, Virginia.

 Sir:

You will proceed to sea with the “Pocahontas,” and on the morning of the 11th instant, appear off Charleston bar, ten miles distant from and due east of the lighthouse, where you will report to Capt. Samuel Mercer of the “Powhatan” for special service. Should he not be there, you will await his arrival.

I am, resp'y, your obt. servt.

Gideon Welles.

Secretary of the Navy.

SOURCE: Robert Means Thompson & Richard Wainwright, Editors, Publications of the Naval Historical Society, Volume 9: Confidential Correspondence of Gustavus Vasa Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1861-1865, Volume 1, p. 25

Gideon Welles to Captain Samuel Mercer, April 5, 1861

Navy Department

April 5th, 1861.

Captain Samuel Mercer

Com'dg. U.S.S. Powhatan, New York.

The United States steamers “Powhatan,” “Pawnee,” “Pocahontas,” and "Harriet Lane" will compose a naval force under your command to be sent to the vicinity of Charleston S. C. for the purpose of aiding in carrying out the objects of an expedition of which the War Department has charge.

The primary object of the expedition is to provision Fort Sumter, for which purpose the War Department will furnish the necessary transports. Should the authorities of Charleston permit the Fort to be supplied, no further particular service will be required of the force under your command; and after being satisfied that supplies have been received at the Fort, the “Powhatan,” “Pocahontas” and “Harriet Lane” will return to New York and the “Pawnee” to Washington.

Should the authorities at Charleston, However, refuse to permit or attempt to prevent the vessel or vessels having supplies on board from entering the harbor, or from peaceably proceeding to Fort Sumter, you will protect the transports or boats of the expedition in the object of their mission, disposing of your force in such manner as to open the way for their ingress and afford, so far as practicable, security to the men and boats, and repelling by force, if necessary, all obstructions toward provisioning the Fort and reinforcing it; for in case of a resistance to the peaceable primary object of the expedition a reenforcement of the garrison will also be attempted. These purposes will be under the supervision of the War Department, which has charge of the expedition. The expedition has been intrusted to Captain G. V. Fox, with whom you will put yourself in communication and cooperate with him to accomplish and carry into effect its object.

You will leave New York with the “Powhatan” in time to be off Charleston bar, ten miles distant from and due east of the lighthouse, on the morning of the 11th inst., there to await the arrival of the transport or transports with troops and stores. The “Pawnee” and “Pocahontas” will be ordered to join you there at the time mentioned, and also the “Harriet Lane,” which latter vessel has been placed under the control of this department for this service.

On the termination of the expedition, whether it be peaceable or otherwise, the several vessels under your command will return to the respective ports as above directed, unless some unforeseen circumstances should prevent.

I am, resp'y, your ob't servt.

Gideon Welles

Secretary of the Navy.

Captain Mercer took this order with him when he turned over the command to Lieut. Porter. He sent no copy to the next senior officer of the Sumter expedition. [Note by G. V. F]

SOURCE: Robert Means Thompson & Richard Wainwright, Editors, Publications of the Naval Historical Society, Volume 9: Confidential Correspondence of Gustavus Vasa Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1861-1865, Volume 1, p. 23-5

Gideon Welles to Captain John A. Faunce, April 5, 1861

Navy Department, April 5th, 1861.

Capt. Faunce, Commander of

U.S. Revenue Steamer "Harriet Lane"

New York.

Sir:

The revenue steamer "Harriet Lane," having been temporarily placed under the orders of this department, you will proceed with her from New York in time to appear off Charleston bar, ten miles distant from, and due east of, the lighthouse, on the morning of the nth instant, where you will report to Captain Samuel Mercer of the "Powhatan," for special service. Should he not be there, you will await his arrival.

Very resp'y, your obt. servt.

Gideon Welles  

Secy of the Navy.

SOURCE: Robert Means Thompson & Richard Wainwright, Editors, Publications of the Naval Historical Society, Volume 9: Confidential Correspondence of Gustavus Vasa Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1861-1865, Volume 1, p. 23