24 September 1863

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Document signed

Title: to Lewis West

Printed document signed by Welles. Orders that West is now detached from the USS "Ladona" and that he is to proceed to New York without delay. He is to report to Rear Admiral Paulding for passage to Charleston, South Carolina and to report to Rear Admiral Dahlgren for duty on an ironclad under his command. Stamp dated 28 September says West was paid 9 dollars in mileage fees. Countersigned by Rear Admiral Hiram Paulding. He noted that West reported for duty on 28 September. Commodore Cornelius Kinchilo Stribling had served in the War of 1812 and the Mexican War before the Civil War. Verso is…

GLC03836.56

23 August 1861

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Letter signed

Title: to Lewis West

Two official orders on one page. First one signed by Secretary of the Navy Welles. Co-signed by Captain Samuel Mercer and Commander A.S. Glipan. Says he has been appointed as Acting Master. Tells him to proceed to Hampton Roads to meet with Flag Officer Stringham for duty on the USS "Wabash." Marked that he reported on 3 October 1861. Second a note in a secretarial hand and signed by Flag Officer Silas H. Stringham (1798 - 1876) and dated 7 September 1861. Stringham was commander of the Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Stringham ordered him to take the USS "Flag" down to Charleston and report to…

GLC03836.19

31 October 1862

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Document signed

Title: to Lewis West

Printed Navy Department document orders West to proceed to Philadelphia without delay and report to Commodore Pendergrast for duty on the USS "Ladona." Signed by Welles as Secretary of the Navy. Note on bottom of document, signed by Commander C.H. Stribling, tells West to report to Commander Rolando. Docket signed by Commanders Paulding and Rolando says West reported on 5 November.

GLC03836.39

11 July 1863

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Document signed

Title: [Orders detaching John G. Walker from command of the "Baron de Kalb]

Printed document detaching Lieutenant Commander John G. Walker from the command of the USS "Baron de Kalb" in the Mississippi Squadron. Signed by Welles as Secretary of the Navy and co-signed by A.R.A. Porter. Docket says "Reply Forwarded Aug 20th 1863 David D Porter."

GLC03804.08

28 June 1856

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Discusses the prospects of the newly formed republican party in the election of 1856. Comments that some would like to see William Freame Johnston on the ticket but Welles hopes Johnston will withdraw. Also discusses the prospects of Millard Filmore, the Whigs, James Buchanan, and the Know Nothing Party, and comments on their various supporters. William Freame Johnston was nominated by the North American Party to run for vice president with John C. Fremont on the Republican ticket but withdrew.

GLC08161

10 October 1851

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Medary

Writes about the Fugitive Slave Act: "...the law of 1850...is the most unwarrantable violation of the rights and sovereignty of the states we have ever witnessed. The South, in my opinion, are committing a fatal error in urging and insisting on this law. The clause in the Constitution is a mere compact among the States...the great interest involved has made our Southern friends oblivious to the fundamental doctrines of the party and the teachings of Jefferson, and in their desires to get their runaways, they forget or are unmindful of constitutional rights & restrictions...The fugitive…

GLC09070

22 December 1863

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Letter

Title: to John B. Marchand

Printed circular from the Navy Department ordering officers to set up Boards to review all Assistant Engineers for possible promotion. Lays out the rules under which these review boards are to be conducted, and the requirements for promotion, such as "knowledge of the first six books of Euclid, of plane geometry...of conic sections, and of the strength of materials." Orders the board to score the candidates, and pass their opinions on to the Navy Department. Marchand was captain of the U.S.S. Lackawanna.

GLC02680.14

3 September 1861 - 11 September 1861

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Manuscript document

Title: to John B. Marchand

Copy of Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles' promotion of Samuel Huse as "acting Master of the U.S. Steamer James Adger." Includes copies of docketing/endorsements by Commander Samuel L. Breese and Commander John Jay Almy.

GLC02680.11

4 May 1861

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William W. McKean

Redirects a ship, the Niagara under Captain W.W. McKean, originally sent to blockade Charleston to the Gulf of Mexico to "take measures for instituting and carrying into effect a rigid blockade of the Mississippi and such other ports, especially Mobile, as the force under your command will admit." Sends a copy of President Lincoln's proclamation ordering a blockade (not included). Mentions other ships that will participate. Docketed twice. Marked "Copy."

GLC08908

1861/08/14

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Document signed

Title: Appointment of Stephen Decatur, Jr. as commander on the Naval Reserve List

Partially printed manuscript with handwritten insertions. Signed as U.S. Secretary of the Navy.

GLC02794.170

1867/04/04

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Document signed

Title: Appointment of Stephen Decatur, Jr. as captain on the Naval Reserve List

Partially printed manuscript with handwritten insertions.

GLC02794.171

1875 ca.

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Autograph manuscript

Title: Speech or article re: defending Andrew Johnson, discussing Reconstruction

Also discusses Lincoln and the Radical Republicans. Reponds to an article in the "Courent" of the 14th which it quotes at length.

GLC05608

1865/04/15

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Document

Title: General Orders no. 51

GLC07746

1861/09/28

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Letter signed

Title: to Robert W. Jeffery

Duplicate of Gideon Welles' letter acknowledging Jeffery's resignation as a surgeon in the U.S. Navy.

GLC01896.047

1861 ca.

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Photograph

Title: Carte de visite of a full seated view of Lincoln's Secretary of the Navy

Same as 108. CDV mount has purple borders. Photographers imprint on verso: "Published by E. Anthony. 501 Broadway, N.Y. from Photographic Negative in Brady's National Portrait Gallery. Manufacturer of Photographic Albums."

GLC05111.02.0107

1861 ca.

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Photograph

Title: Carte de visite of a full seated view of Lincoln's Secretary of the Navy

Same as 107. Graphite inscription on recto "Welles. Secy Navy." Graphite inscription on verso "Gideon Welles, Sec. of the Navy under Abr. Lincoln." Photographers imprint on verso: ""Brady's National Photographic Portrait Galleries Broadway & Tenth St. New York & No. 352 Pennsylvania Av. Washington D.C."

GLC05111.02.0108

1861 ca.

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Photograph

Title: Vignette profile of Lincoln's Secretary of the Navy

Imprint on recto 'Brady & Co. Washington." Graphite inscription on verso "Wella Sect Navy" "Gideon Welles Conn." Photographers imprint on verso: "M.B.Brady & Co. National Photographic Portrait Gallery No. 352 Pennsylvania Av. Washington D.C. & New York." Cancelled blue two-cent tax stamp.

GLC05111.02.0110

1861 ca.

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Photograph

Title: Vignette frontal portrait of Lincoln's Secretary of the Navy

GLC05111.02.0109

1861 ca.

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Photograph

Title: Full standing portrait of Lincoln's Secretary of the Navy

Graphite inscription on verso "**Book" "Welles Sec. of Navy" "Keefer." Ink inscription on verso "Welles Sec. Navy" "8." Photographers imprint on label on verso: "Earles' Galleries & Looking Glass Ware-Rooms 816 Chestnut St Philadelphia."

GLC05111.02.0111

1873-1874 circa

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Notes on division in President Lincoln's cabinet over the issue of emancipation]

Appears to be part of a draft to Welles' book, "Lincoln and Seward: Remarks Upon the Memorial Address of Chas. Francis Adams, on the Late William H. Seward..." first published in 1874. In the notes, Welles quotes Secretary of State William H. Seward's reluctance to address the slavery issue during the war. Welles writes, "The President was aware of the position taken by Mr. Seward, and of the embarrassment which he might feel in acceding to a measure that conflicted with that position stated...but he thought to make known to us that emancipation appeared to him an inevitable necessity."…

GLC06577