GIDEON WELLES - MANUSCRIPT LETTER SIGNED 07/22/1862 - HFSID 274054

THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY APPOINTS A NEW COMMANDER OF THE WASHINGTON NAVY YARD, STIPULATING THAT THE ORDNANCE BRANCH THERE WILL REMAIN UNDER THE COMMAND OF COMMANDER DAHLGREN
 
GIDEON WELLES. War-date MLS: "Gideon Welles" on verso, 2p, 7¾x9¾ lined sheet. Navy Department, Washington, D.C., 1862 July 22. To Captain Andrew A. Harwood, U.S. Navy, Washington, D.C. Begins: "Sir". In full: "You are hereby detached from duty as Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography, and you will assume the command of the Navy Yard, Washington. In assigning you to this command, the Department informs you that the Ordnance branch at the Washington Yard will be regarded by you as exclusively under the charge of Commander Dahlgren, Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance. This charge will embrace all buildings and appliances required for Ordnance purposes; and, the building occupied in the Yard by the Lieutenants assigned to Ordnance duty, will also be continued as Quarters for them. I am, respectfully, Your Obt't Serv't". Docketed (unknown hand) at mid-right margin of verso. ANDREW A. HARWOOD (1802-1884) had served as Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography from 1858-1862 before being promoted to Commander in 1862. He oversaw the Washington Navy Yard and the Potomac Flotilla until December 1863. Harwood, who was promoted to Rear Admiral on the retired list in 1869, served as the Navy's Judge Advocate from 1870-1871. Commander Dalhgren was JOHN ADOLPHUS DAHLGREN (1809-1870), who had been in the Navy's ordnance department since 1847. Dahlgren, who was instrumental in the development of better weapons for the Navy, was the inventor of the smooth bore gun named after him. When the Civil War broke out, Dahlgren was on ordnance duty at the Washington Navy Yard, and he was one of the three officers who did not resign (the rest left due to Confederate sympathies). President Abraham Lincoln placed him in charge of the Navy Yard, although Dahlgren was not of high enough rank, but Dahlgren was promoted to post-Captain in 1862. In 1863, Dahlgren was in command of the South Atlantic Blocking Squadron, and he participated in Sherman's capture of Savannah, Georgia. Dahlgren returned to the Washington Navy Yard in 1869, serving there until his death the following year. GIDEON WELLES (1802-1878) was Secretary of the Navy during the entire administrations of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson (1861-1869). He served in the position longer than any of his predecessors. Ink has slightly spread at some words (all completely legible). Lightly creased with folds, not at signature. Heavily penned, show through of ink on both sides. Slightly soiled at blank margins. Overall, fine condition.