Dahlgren, John Adolphus Bernard, 1809-1870 to unknown
Order a pdf of this item here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05058 Author/Creator: Dahlgren, John Adolphus Bernard, 1809-1870 Place Written: Washington, District of Columbia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: circa February 12, 1864 Pagination: 3 p. : Height: 20 cm, Width: 12.6 cm Order a Copy
Written by Rear Admiral Dahlgren to an unknown recipient. Dahlgren notes that "The Gunners perpendiculars & Levels you speak of must be some recently invented and highly skientific [sic] tools not generally known, as yet they are certainly beyond our limited ken here." Says "We are doing well as you say, and the Navy are just the ones to Foote the bill." ("are" and "Foote"are underscored; latter may be a humorous reference to Admiral Andrew Hull Foote ). Says last December he tried to get iron vessels, but was brushed off and claims "If they had heeded my prayer, the matter would have been crushed out in 30 days. No man need ever attempt to be wiser than his generation, if he would not be kicked for his pains. Give the Ball a kick." Notes in a postscript that "Your [Pill?] at [Matthew Fontaine] Maury is a [settler?] he deserves it for those nasty torpedoes." Year published is estimated as 1864. Dahlgren commanded the Washington Navy Yard in 1861, but references in the letter make it seem to be later. Accompanied by a paper cut-out that appears to have been used as a form of matting.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.