Faxon, William (1822-1883) to A. A. Harwood
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05331.03 Author/Creator: Faxon, William (1822-1883) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 22 January 1863 Pagination: 1 p. ; 25.1 x 19.8 cm. Order a Copy
Written by Chief Clerk Faxon to Commodore Harwood. Tells Harwood that the "'Monitor' was launched January 30th, 1862 - Contest with the 'Merrimac,' March 9th - Foundered on the night of 30th Decr. 1862." (The "Merrimac" sank on 11 May 1862; the "Monitor" was lost at sea on 30 December of that year.) Says Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles and his wife will be pleased (he does not specify why) "for there is no vessel he speaks of with such affection as the 'Monitor.'" Says he received a telegram from Admiral Lee that one of the ironclads [possibly the Weehauken] is now entering Hampton Roads and that "two have been between New York and that point in this terrible gale and we have been prepared for bad news." The ironclads were on their way to assist Flag Officer Samuel DuPont, who would unsuccessfully attack Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor that April.
Faxon was a printer from Hartford, Connecticut who was Chief Clerk of the Navy from 1861 to 1866.
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