GIDEON WELLES - MANUSCRIPT LETTER SIGNED 01/09/1865 CO-SIGNED BY: REAR ADMIRAL THEODORUS BAILEY - HFSID 174750

GIDEON WELLES and THEODORUS BAILEY. Manuscript LS: "Gideon Welles" as Lincoln's Secretary of the Navy. 1p, 7½x9½. Navy Department, 1865 January 9. To Lieut. Comdr. Geo U. Morris, Comd'g U.S.S. Shawmut, Portsmouth, N.H. In full: "Proceed with the U.S. Steamer Shawut off Wilmington and report for duty in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron." Endorsement in upper left blank area: "Forwd/T. Bailey/Comdt". In Hampton Roads, Va., on March 8, 1862, Lieutenant Morris was in temporary command of the Cumberland when it was attacked by the iron-clad ram Merrimac. Welles, in his report at the time, wrote, in part: "As her guns approached the water's edge, her young commander, Lieut. Morris, and the gallant crew stood firm at their posts and delivered a parting fire, and the good ship went down heroically with her colors flying." Morris and many of his men were able to reach shore, but a large number perished with the vessel. The next day, the Merrimac clashed with the Monitor. In 1875, at the age of 45, Morris died in Jordan Alum Springs, Va. Joining Admiral Farragut's squadron at New Orleans as second in command in April 1862, Captain Theodorus Bailey led the attack. Farragut sent Bailey to demand the surrender of New Orleans, which occurred on April 29, 1862. In his report, Bailey wrote: "It was a contest of iron hearts in wooden ships against iron-clads with iron beaks - and the iron hearts won." He was promoted to Commodore after the capture of New Orleans and was assigned to the command of the eastern Gulf blockade squadron. Bailey became Rear Admiral in 1866. Usual folds, else fine.