Wabash Port Royal Str
Nov. 25th 61.
My Dear Mr. Fox
I don't think there is much use in writing private above,
after your sending my hurried note to those murderers the press, who seemed to
have taken pains to make nonsense of most of it, if not mischief for the
paragraph about the big frigates was sadly mutilated, and might give offence,
for I am made to express the opinion that the Sabine has gotten clear up to the
St. Lawrence, which people will of course understand as the river.
The dispatches by this opportunity (by Illinois) are pretty
full and cover various subjects which I thought Mr. Welles would like me to
touch upon.
We are yet without a line from the Dept. since our
occupation here, and the detention of the Bienville with our ammunition and the
suggestions which doubtless she brings from the Secrety and yrself, to say nothing
of not hearing from our friends, cause her delay to be annoying to us.
The dispatch about Savannah I am sure will gratify you. The
blow here is still shaking fruit in all directions. If you have forwd the stone
vessels, we may use them for wharves or caissons or coffer dams.
Will you please give a thought to the following suggestions—
1. A Depot Ship like Brandywine for hospital and other
purposes, with medical officer and Paymaster.
2. We do not know what there is at Fernandina — this ship
cannot go in — the Brooklyn or Hartford and a couple of Gunboats more I feel we
ought to have — I am much spread now.
3. Don't forget the Pilot books and aids to Navigation. Our
tugs are working all the time for army as well as for our ships.
4. Davis says if you want him to pray for you to send some
of those new Side wheel steamers, for the Sound cruising — for I don't mean to
have rebel steamers running in them much longer. He sends his best regards to
Mr. You and Mr. Welles, to which add mine to the latter if you please.
Do me the favor to send me some first quality dispatch paper
— a ream if you please — the stationery furnished is very inferior.
In haste
Yrs most truly
S. F. Dupont
Cap. Fox,
Ass Sec.
Washington
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. 73-4
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