The last two days
have been excessively warm. Thermometer on the north porch at 100 on each day.
A slight breeze from the west makes this day somewhat more comfortable. News
unimportant from the army, and but little from the Navy. Shall have something
exciting within a few days. Sensation items are the favorite ones of the
press. Alarming predictions delight their readers. Am sorry that better
progress is not made in the war upon the Rebels. Our squadrons are paralyzed
everywhere by the inactive and dilatory movements of the army.
Vicksburg should have been taken by the first of June, but no
adequate coöperating military force was furnished, and as a consequence
our largest squadron in the Gulf and our flotilla in the Mississippi have been
detained and injured. The most disreputable naval affair of the War was the
descent of the steam ram Arkansas through both squadrons till she
hauled in under the batteries of Vicksburg, and there the two flag
officers abandoned the place and the ironclad ram, Farragut and his force going
down to New Orleans, and Davis proceeding with his flotilla up the river. I
have written them both, briefly but expressively, on the subject of the
ram Arkansas. I do not blame them in regard to Vicksburg, though had Farragut
obeyed his original orders and gone up the river at once after the capture of New
Orleans, I think things might have been different. Butler would not, I presume,
give sufficient support from the army, for he has proved prompt as well as
fearless.
We have sensation
articles in yesterday's New York papers that the steamer Fingal at Savannah has
been clad with iron and threatens our army and vessels. Have no word from
Admiral Du Pont, who is watchful but slow to express apprehension. Am inclined
to believe there is truth in the rumor that the boat has been clad with armor,
but have my doubts if there is any immediate intention to attempt to pass
outside. She is probably designed for river defense of the city
against our gunboats; but may, if there is opportunity, assume the offensive.
In the mean time the sensationalists
will get up exciting alarms and terrify the public into
distrust and denunciation of the Navy Department.
We have similar
sensations every few days in regard to Merrimac No. 2, an armored boat at
Richmond. As yet she has made no attempt to pass below the obstructions,
though two or three times a week we are assured they are in sight, -
"Smoke from half a dozen steam-stacks visible." Wilkes writes he is
fully prepared for her and her associates at any time, and Rodgers 1 writes to
the same 1 Captain, afterwards Rear-Admiral, John Rodgers.
effect. But in a day
or two some changes will take place that may affect operations on James River.
Have had to write
Wilkes pretty decisively. He is very exacting towards others, but is not
himself as obedient as he should be. Interposes his own authority to interrupt
the execution of the orders of the Department. Wrote him
that this was not permissible, that I expected his command to obey him, and it
was no less imperative that he should obey the orders of the
Department. He wrote for permission to dismiss from service a class of officers
if they did not suit him, and as he thought them inefficient. I told him the
suggestion could not be entertained, that the Department must retain the
administrative control of the Navy. I have not heard from him in
reply, or explanation. It is pretty evident that he will be likely to cause
trouble to the Department. He has abilities but not good judgment in all respects.
Will be likely to rashly assume authority, and do things that may involve
himself and the country in difficulty, and hence I was glad that not I but the
President and Secretary of State suggested him for that command. It
is the first time that either has proposed a candidate for a command, since
taking Stringham from the office of detail in 1861 to go to
Pensacola. Seward's intrigue. It was almost a necessity that something should
be done for Wilkes. His act, in taking Mason and Slidell from the Trent, had
given him éclat, - it was popular with the country, was considered
right by the people, even if rash and irregular; but when and how to
dispose of Wilkes was an embarrassment to me, until the command of the
James River Flotilla was suggested. He was, however, unwilling to report to
Goldsborough, and to have done so would have caused delay. But giving him an
independent command caused Goldsborough to take offense, and he asked to resign
the command of the squadron. To this I had no objection, for he was
proving himself inefficient, - had done nothing effective since the frigates
were sunk by the Merrimac, nor of himself much before.
The State Department
is in constant trepidation, fearing our naval officers do not know their
duties, or that they will transcend them. Both points are marked weaknesses in
the management of our foreign affairs. We are insulted, wronged, and
badly treated by the British authorities, especially at Nassau, and I have
called the attention of the Secretary of State repeatedly
to the facts, but he fears to meet them. After degrading ourselves, we shall be
compelled to meet them. I am for no rash means, but I am clearly and decidedly
for maintaining our rights. Almost all the aid which the Rebels have received
in arms, munitions, and articles contraband have gone to them through the professedly
neutral British port of Nassau. From them the Rebels have derived constant
encouragement and support, from
the commencement of hostilities. Our officers and people are
treated with superciliousness and contempt by the authorities and inhabitants,
and scarcely a favor or courtesy is extended to them while they are showered
upon the Rebels. It is there that vessels are prepared to run the blockade and
violate our laws, by the connivance and with the knowledge of the Colonial,
and, I apprehend, the parent, government.
In reorganizing the
Department there are some difficulties. I am assailed for
continuing Lenthall as Naval Constructor at the head of the bureau.
He has not much pliability or affability, but, though attacked and denounced as
corrupt and dishonest, I have never detected any obliquity or wrong in him. His
sternness and uprightness disappointed the jobbers
and the corrupt, and his unaffected manner has offended others. There is an
intrigue to prevent his confirmation, in which very great rogues and some
honest and good men are strangely mixed up, the last being the dupes, almost the willing
victims, of the former.
Admiral Foote
reported for duty on Thursday, but his rooms were not prepared, and I advised
him, as he was yet lame and on crutches, to delay active duty for a month or
so.
It is some forty
years since we were school-boys together in the quiet town of Cheshire,
and it has been a pleasant opportunity to me to bring out the qualities of my
early friend. He left yesterday for a few weeks.
Mr. Faxon, Chief
Clerk, is absent, and I am somewhat embarrassed in relation to the true
disposition of the clerical force. It seems not to have occurred to
Admiral Foote that he could not appoint whom he pleased in his bureau,
regardless of the claims and capabilities of older and more
experienced clerks on less pay. I told him I wished him to have the
selection of his chief or at least one confidential clerk, but that I
could not displace old and worthy employees. This he said he did not wish,
though he was, I think, a little disappointed.
Davis continues in
command of the flotilla on the Mississippi. Had he captured the
Arkansas, I would have had him come on immediately and take charge of the
Bureau of Navigation.
In reorganizing the
Navy under the late act, there were nine admirals to be appointed on the
retired list. The names of nine were presented, but the Senate failed to
confirm or act upon them. After the adjournment of Congress,
commissions were sent them under executive appointment. Of course the
men superseded were dissatisfied. Aulick was the first who called, complaining that
injustice was done, and desiring to know wherein his record was defective and
why he had been set aside. I told him that had it been the intention of Congress
that the nine senior officers should be the admirals, the act would doubtless
have so stated; that as regarded himself, while, personally, our relations had
been pleasant if not intimate, he had not made himself known or felt by the
Department or the Government in the hour of peril; that he had, just
as the Rebellion commenced, applied for six months' leave to visit Europe, on
account of alleged illness of his daughter; that he left
about the time of the assault on Sumter; that he remained abroad
until notified that his leave would not be extended, and never had made a
suggestion for the country, or expressed any sympathy for the cause. Under
these circumstances I had felt justified in advising the President to omit his
name. He said he had supposed it was other influences than mine which had done
him this injustice, that we had been long and well acquainted. I told him I
shunned no responsibility in the case, and yet it was due to candor to say that
I never had heard a word in his behalf from any one.
Commodore Mervine
writes me of his disappointment, feels hurt and slighted. By the
advice of Paulding, chiefly, I gave the command of the Gulf
Squadron to Mervine in the spring of 1861; but he proved an utter
failure. He is not wanting in patriotism, but in executive and administrative
ability; is quite as great on little things as on great ones. He was long in
getting out to his station, and accomplished nothing after he got there. When I
detached him and appointed McKean, he was indignant and applied for a
court of inquiry; but I replied that we had not the time nor men to
spare, that I had called him to promote the public interest, and recalled him
for the same purpose. He is a man of correct deportment and habits,
and in ordinary times would float along the stream with others, but such
periods as these bring out the stronger points of an officer, if he
has them. I had no personal, or political, or general, feeling against him, but
as there were other officers of mark and merit superior to him, they
were selected. Yet I felt there could not be otherwise than a sense of slight
that must be felt by himself and friends, which I
could not but regret. Yet any person with whom I consulted commended the course
I pursued in regard to him.
Commodore Samuel
Breese was a more marked case than Mervine's, but of much the same
character. Nothing good, nothing bad, in him as an officer. A gentleman of some scholarly
pretensions, some literary acquirements, but not of much vigor of mind.
Paulding was his junior, and the slight, as he conceived it, almost broke poor
Breese's heart. He came immediately to Washington, accompanied by his wife, a
pleasant woman, and called on me, sad and heartsore, his pride wounded, his
vanity humiliated to the dust. For three nights he assured me he had not closed
his eyes; morning and evening the flag of Paulding was always before
him. He said Read would not live long and implored that he might have the
place.
Charles Stewart,
first on the list and the oldest officer in the service, wrote, requesting the
permission of the President to decline the appointment. It is a
singular letter, and required a singular answer, which I sent him, leaving the
subject in his hands.
The Advisory Board,
which had to pass on subordinate active appointments, have completed their
labors the past week. I am not altogether satisfied with their action, and
perhaps should not be with any board, when so much was to be done, and so many
men to pass under revision. The omission of Selfridge and Porter (W.
D.) were perhaps the most marked cases, and the promotion of Fleming
and Poor the most objectionable.
In the action of this
board I have taken no part, but scrupulously abstained from any conversation
with its members, directly or indirectly. I did say to Assistant Secretary Fox
that I regretted the action in the case of the elder Selfridge and
Walke, and I think he must have intimated these views in regard to W., for the
action of the board was subsequently reversed. But I know not
how this may have been.
Had a letter last
evening from Lieutenant Budd, stating that he presented me with a chair rumored
to have belonged to General Washington, which was captured on the Steamer
Memphis, and asking me to accept it. Admiral Paulding had written me there was
such a chair, which he had carried to his house, and asking what should be done
with it. The chair was private property and sent by a lady to some one abroad,
for friendly feeling to the Rebels.
I sent word to
Admiral P. that the captors could donate it or it might be sold with the other
parts of the cargo. It is, I apprehend, of little intrinsic
value. If it really belonged to Washington, it seemed to me impolitic to sell
it at auction as a Rebel capture; if not Washington's, there should be no
humbug. My impressions were that it might be given to Admiral P. or to the
Commandant's House at the navy yard, and I am inclined to think I will let it
take the latter course, at least for the present.
Governor Buckingham
was here last week, and among other matters had in view the selection of Collectors
and Assessors for our State. There was great competition. The State ticket was
headed by Howard, and the Congress ticket headed by Goodman. While personally
friendly to all, my convictions were for the State ticket, which was moreover
much the ablest. The Secretary of the Treasury gave it the preference
but made three alterations.
I met Senator Dixon the next day at the Executive Mansion,
he having come on to Washington with express reference to
these appointments. He has written me several letters indicating much caution,
but I saw at once that he was strongly committed and exceedingly disappointed.
He promised to see me again, but left that P.M. to get counter support.
Intelligence reaches
us this evening that the Rebel ironclad ram Arkansas has
been destroyed. We have also news of a fight yesterday on the Rapidan
by forces under General Pope, the Rebels commanded by Stonewall Jackson.
Was told confidentially
to-day that a treaty had been brought about between Thurlow Weed and
Bennett of the Herald, after a bitterness of twenty
years. A letter was read to me giving the particulars. Weed had word conveyed
to Bennett that he would like to make up. Bennett thereupon invited Weed to
Fort Washington. Weed was shy; sent word that he was engaged the evening named,
which was untrue. Bennett then sent a second invitation, which was accepted;
and Weed dined and stayed for the night at Fort Washington, and the Herald directly
changed its tune.
SOURCE: Gideon
Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and
Johnson, Vol. 1: 1861 – March 30, 1864, p. 71-9
