Wabash, 12 Nov. 61
Port Royal
My Dear Mr. Fox,
You know how conservative I have been about putting
back people who resigned formerly, however clever —but I desire to say to you
that Watmough, Barnes, and Budd have fought themselves back and the country
cannot spare such men; the two first have come more under my own observation
and without wishing to draw any difference, I must say that I consider them as
belonging to the very highest order of naval officers.
Faithfully
S. F. DuPONT.
G. V. Fox Esq.
P.S. I mean of course to original position, the list to be
increased to receive them.
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. 71
