Edwin M. Stanton to Charles Ellet Jr., April 27, 1862

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington City, D C., April 27, 1862.

CHARLES ELLET, Jr.,

Pittsburg, Pa.:

We have certain intelligence that New Orleans has been captured — there appears to be no doubt of the fact. Commodore Farragut has orders to push up immediately to Memphis, and join Commodore Foote, without waiting at New Orleans. You should lose no time in starting your fleet to the same point. Our squadron was at New Orleans two days ago, Sunday, 8 p.m.*

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

_______________

* For Ellet’s reply, see Vol. X Part II, p. 138.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 52, Part 1 (Serial No. 109), p. 243

Charles Ellet Jr. to Edwin M. Stanton, April 28, 1862

PITTSBURGH, PA.,

April 28, 1862.

Hon. E. M. STANTON,

Secretary of War:

Your several dispatches have been received and acted upon. No efforts are spared to get the gunboats under way. The Mingo will leave to-morrow noon; the Lioness to-morrow evening; both with coal barges. The Samson, I think, will start Wednesday. The tender Dick Fulton can overtake the tows before they reach Louisville. The other tender will wait for the sheltering barge, but I think will come up in time. Will the Department supply the clerk who is to act as paymaster or shall the committee appoint one? Can arrangements be made to enable the wives of the men to draw a part of their pay if they should be detained below? This I find to be important. I will instruct my brother to meet me at Cairo. He will assuredly come rapidly.

CHAS. ELLET,  JR.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 10, Part 2 (Serial No. 11), p. 138

Edwin M. Stanton to Major-General Henry W. Halleck, June 5, 1862

WASHINGTON, June 5, 1862.

Major-General HALLECK, Corinth:

I have a dispatch from Colonel Ellet, commander of the ram fleet at Fort Pillow, dated at that place yesterday. He informs me that he has been there a considerable time, and has made repeated applications to Captain Davis, commander of the gunboats, for leave to attack the enemy's fleet, but has been uniformly refused. Captain Davis not only refuses to join Mr. Ellet or give him the protection of a single gunboat, but also refuses to allow Ellet to attack on his own hook, nor will he allow any of his force to volunteer with Ellet. I regret the President would not place the fleet under your command. Ellet, however, made one demonstration, but the rebels slipped anchor and escaped. He says the strength of the rebel batteries is greatly overrated. He declares his intention to go on without the gunboats.

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 10, Part 2 (Serial No. 11), p. 262

Edwin M. Stanton to Colonel Charles Ellet Jr., June 13, 1862

WASHINGTON, June 13, 1862.

Col. CHARLES ELLET, JR.,

Commander of Ram Fleet, opposite Memphis:

The appointments of Dr. Roberts as fleet surgeon and Dr. Lawrence as assistant have been made and forwarded to you by mail, via Cairo. I am glad to learn that you are not entirely disabled, and hope you may be able to give the finishing stroke to the enemy at Vicksburg. Please send me by mail a full description of the vessels composing your fleet; its armament, force, equipment, and where you prepared it, and the cost, suitable for a report to Congress.

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 17, Part 2 (Serial No. 25), p. 8