Dahlgren, John Adolphus Bernard, 1809-1870 to T. Apoleon Cheney

Letter written by Dahlgren as commander of the Washington Navy Yard. References Cheney's notes from January 6 and 10. Has not responded because of the "many demands on my time." Says some of the books he has requested are procurable and will be forwarded, although a copy of his own book, "Shells and Shell-Guns," is not available. Says the war kept him from literary pursuits and that he only has one copy of the book left "and cannot buy another at any price." Regrets that he cannot send a copy because "it is my principal work and exposes the principles on which I concerted the present Armament of the Navy, that carried the Navy through the battles of the Rebellion." Says he is sending a photograph (not included). Says he left the Bureau of Ordnance "being unwilling to remain there any longer, and now am in command of the Yard, where I hope to find the time to contribute to the History of the Rebellion." Is glad to hear the library in Cheney's charge is doing well. Dahlgren is noted for his invention of the "Dahlgren Gun," a cast-iron cannon. Dahlgren took charge of the Washington Navy Yard in 1861, then took command of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron two years later. In 1864, he helped William Tecumseh Sherman secure Savannah, Georgia. He returned to the Washington Navy Yard in 1869 and served there served until his death.