GIDEON WELLES - DOCUMENT SIGNED 02/09/1864 CO-SIGNED BY: E. L. NORTON, REAR ADMIRAL SILAS HORTON STRINGHAM - HFSID 31392

GIDEON WELLES; SILAS H. STRINGHAM
Civil War-dated orders to a young naval officer to report to the USS Cherokee in Boston. Rear Admiral Stringham certifies that he has reported as ordered.
Document signed: "Gideon Welles" as Secretary of the Navy, "S. H. Stringham/Commandant", "E. L. Norton/Naval Agt.", 1 page, 7¾x9¾. Navy Department, 1864 February 9. Acting Ensign A. T. Parsons is ordered to report "without delay" to Boston for duty aboard the USS Cherokee. Stringham certifies that Parsons has reported for duty (February 12). US Naval Agent Norton certifies that Parsons has been paid a travel allowance and issued an advance. On verso, the commander of the Cherokee also certifies Parson's arrival. GIDEON WELLES (1802-1878) formerly a Jacksonian Democrat, joined the newly founded Republican Party in 1854 because of his strong opposition to slavery. An able administrator, he served as Secretary of the Navy throughout the Presidencies of Abraham Lincoln (who called him "Neptune") and Andrew Johnson (1861-1869). Welles generally supported Johnson's policies, including Johnson's reluctance to impose far-reaching changes and full rights for African-Americans during the Reconstruction of the South. SILAS HORTON STRINGHAM (1798-1876) served the US Navy in three major wars and other naval engagements. During the War of 1812, he saw action against British warships aboard the frigate President. He participated in campaigns against Algerian corsairs, and in the capture of a slave ship. During the Mexican War, he commanded the Ohio during the assault on Veracruz. As a US Rear Admiral during the Civil War, he commanded the North Atlantic Blockade Squadron. He was Commandant of the Brooklyn Navy Yard from 1845 to 1846. The Cherokee, originally a Confederate blockade runner named Thistle, built in Scotland, was captured by the US Navy. When Ensign Parsons reported for duty, the vessel was in Boston Navy Yard being refitted as a gunboat. It served the remainder of the Civil War on blockade duty and participated in the capture of Fort Fisher (January 1865). After the war she was sold to the Chilean navy, and was later converted to a merchant ship until she sank in 1889. Normal mailing folds. Surface creasing. Corners and edges worn. Lightly toned. Staining on bottom left corner. Tears at folds. Otherwise, fine condition.