Description:

Two War-Dated Documents Signed by Gideon Welles & Samuel F. Du Pont

A pair of two Civil War-dated documents signed by Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles and Rear Admiral Samuel F. Du Pont. Both letters have flattened mail folds and light toning. Both with bold signatures.

The first letter, signed "Gideon Welles/Secretary of the Navy", is addressed to J.C. Williamson, Commander of the USS Penguin. 1p of a bifolium, measuring 8" x 10", Navy Department, dated January 1863. The document is a circular relating to shipping articles, muster rolls, receiving men from other vessels, and honorable discharges.

The second letter, signed "S. F. Du Pont" is addressed to Commander James H. Strong, Commander of the USS Flag. 1p of a bifolium, measuring 8" x 12.5", Port Royal Harbor, dated July 3, 1862. Du Pont directs Strong to send Wesley Wilson to be returned to the Receiving Ship at Baltimore after having been illegally shipped to Charleston.

Gideon Welles (1802-1878), or "Neptune", as Abraham Lincoln affectionately dubbed him, served as Secretary of the Navy during the entire duration of the Civil War and into the Johnson administration. In the Lincoln cabinet, Welles focused on reorganizing a naval service riddled with Confederate defections, and mobilizing recruits, vessels, and supplies. Throughout the war, Welles and his navy blockaded Southern ports, weakening an economy already overly dependent on cotton exports. Welles remained at his post until 1869.

Samuel Francis Du Pont (1803-1865) served as a rear admiral in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.He was appointed flag officer aboard the steam frigate Wabash as commander of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, which was the largest fleet ever commanded by an American officer at that time. Du Pont played a major role in ensuring the Union blockade's effectiveness but was controversially blamed by Gideon Welles for the failed attack on Charleston, South Carolina in April 1863. Du Pont was relieved of command on July 5, 1863, at his own request, and was replaced by Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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