Rear-Admiral
Dahlgren returned this morning from Charleston. Two years since he left.
Simultaneous with his return come tidings of the death of Rear-Admiral Du Pont,
whom he relieved, and who died this A.M. in Philadelphia. Du Pont possessed
ability, had acquirements, was a scholar rather than a hero. He was a courtier,
given to intrigue, was selfish, adroit, and skillful. Most of the Navy were
attached to him and considered his the leading cultured mind in the service. He
nursed cliques. There are many intelligent and excellent officers, however, who
look upon him with exceeding dislike; yet Du Pont had, two and three years ago,
greater personal influence than any man in the service. He knew it, and
intended to make it available in a controversy with the Department on the
subject of the monitor vessels, to which he took a dislike. Although very
proud, he was not physically brave. Pride would have impelled him to go into
action, but he had not innate daring courage. He was determined not to retain
his force or any portion of it in Charleston Harbor, insisted it could not be
done, disobeyed orders, was relieved, and expected to rally the Navy and
country with him, but was disappointed. Some of his best friends condemned his
course. He sought a controversy with the Department, and was not successful.
Disappointed and chagrined, he has been unhappy and dissatisfied. I believe I
appreciated and did justice to his good qualities, and am not conscious that I
have been at any time provoked to do him wrong. He challenged me to remove him,
and felt confident I would not do it. I would not have done it had he obeyed
orders and been zealous for operations against Charleston. As it was, I made no
haste, and only ordered Foote and Dahlgren when I got ready. Then the step was taken.
Du Pont was amazed, yet had no doubt the Navy would be roused in his favor, and
that he should overpower the Department. Months passed. He procured two or
three papers to speak for him, but there was no partisanship in the Navy for
him, except with about half a dozen young officers, whom he had petted and
trained, and a few mischievous politicians.
Returning to
Delaware, he went into absolute retirement. None missed or called for him. This
seclusion did not please him and became insupportable, but he saw no
extrication. He therefore prepared a very adroit letter in the latter part of
October, 1863, ostensibly an answer to a dispatch of mine written the preceding
June. This skillful letter, I have reason to believe, was prepared in concert
with H. Winter Davis, and was intended to be used in an assault on me at the
session of Congress then approaching. Although much engaged, I immediately
replied, and in such a manner as to close up Du Pont. Davis, however, made his
attack in Congress, but in such a way as not to draw out the correspondence.
Others remedied that deficiency, and Davis got more than he asked. Du Pont
sank. He could rally no force, and the skill and tact at intrigue which had
distinguished him in earlier years and in lower rank was gone. He felt that he
was feeble and it annoyed him. Still, his talent was not wholly idle. False
issues were put forth, and doubtless some have been deceived by them.
Admiral Porter is
ordered to superintend the Naval School. In some respects a good officer, but
is extravagant in expenditure sometimes, and I am apprehensive has a tendency
to be partial. I trust, however, he may prove successful.
A letter of General
Grant, urging the necessity of prompt action against the Imperial Government of
Mexico, was read in Cabinet. Differences of opinion were expressed, but there
was not a general concurrence in the apprehensions expressed by General Grant,
who, naturally perhaps, desires to retain a large military force in service.
In a long
conversation with Blair this evening he told me he had put himself in
communication with some of the New York editors. Greeley had disappointed him,
and was unreliable. Marble of the World he commends highly. I
incline to think he has ability and he, or some of his writers, exhibits more
comprehension of the true principles and structure of the government than in
other journals. There is in the World more sound doctrine in
these days than in most papers.
Blair still holds on
to McClellan, — stronger, I think, than he did a year ago. Perhaps Marble and
his New York friends have influenced him more than he supposes, and that he,
instead of, or as well as they, may have been at least partially converted.
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