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Farragut, David Glasgow (1801-1870) [Thanks to officers & men for gallant conduct in battle of Mobile Bay]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04664.01 Author/Creator: Farragut, David Glasgow (1801-1870) Place Written: Mobile Bay, Alabama Type: Manuscript document signed Date: 6 August 1864 Pagination: 2 p. ; 25.3 x 19.9 cm. Order a Copy

Draft of General Order # 12 signed by Rear Admiral Farragut. Thanks the crews of the ships that fought in the battle for Mobile Bay "for their gallant conduct during the fight." Lauds their lack of hesitation, even when they were asked "to follow your Commander in Chief through the line of torpedoes and obstructions of which we Know nothing except from the exaggerations of the enemy." Several phrases in this draft were altered for the final copy of the General Order (see GLC03310). For example, the draft uses "cheerfulness" and the final version uses "courage and cheerfulness"; "not the slightest evidence" was changed to "no evidence"; and "blind confidence" was changed to "noble and implicit confidence."

Farragut, David Glasgow, 1801-1870

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