Monday, October 29, 2018

Commandant Samuel F. Dupont to Gustavus V. Fox, Thursday, October 24, 1861 — 2 p.m.


Confidential
Wabash. 2 P.M. Thursday
24. Oct. H. Roads.     
My Dear Sir—

A long & earnest conference last night with the Genls (4) was followed by another this morning on the practicability of the1 big place. The necessity of occupying those points as stated in our memoirs on it & the extreme doubt I am sorry to say, on a closer look of getting this ship over the bar gave gravity not to say anxiety to the council — but I am happy to say that they all came in & we are about decided Sherman & I, to try, & he orders his great condenser to Hilton head with other matters — But I tell you it is a much greater job than you & I contemplated — the landing of the troops & reserves to be brought by the enemy from Savannah & Charleston may be great embarrassments — I wish you could have been with us.

Their last ship is in from Annapolis — they are about ready, we equally so — but they want Boutelle as much as we, for his topographical knowledge. We lose no time, for he is our eyes — the bar is ten miles off & that is the nearest we can approach, going in without his direction can of course be done, but it will require more time & be longer in sight of the enemy, and give him time to concentrate — so all agreed to wait until tomorrow's steamer — I will then leave on steamer wh’ch will about overtake us by following us on Sunday or Monday — though we may or may not sail tomorrow— certainly, Boutelle or not, Saturday morg. Twenty nine transports, twenty six vessels of mine, 55 in all!!

My mind tells me now it will be Saturday Morg — I have no superstition about Friday, never had & never respected it but many have—

Putting these Marines on board the Emma has added to our work, we are still busy on the small vessels

With best regards to Mr. Welles

Yrs most faithfully
S. F. Dupont
Hon G. V. Fox
     Ass. Secty.
_______________

1 Port Royal that I insisted upon.

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. 58-9

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