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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, District of Columbia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: January 22, 1863 Pagination: 1 p. : Height: 25.1 cm, Width: 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, William, 1822-1883

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