Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. Series 1, Volume 1. Page: 10
xvii, 890 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
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OPERATIONS OF THE CRUISERS---UNION.
Letter from W. F. Weed & Co. to the Secretary of the Navy offering
suggestions for the protection of commerce.
BOSTON, April, 18, 1861.
DEAR SIR: The undersigned, who are largely engaged in commerce
in this city, respectfully suggest that it is advisable for the Govern-
ment immediately to charter or purchase twenty of the best clipper ships
that can be obtained, and arm and place them in commission at once for
the protection of our commerce against privateers.
These ships are capable of carrying a moderate battery without any
material alterations, and are strong enough to cope with any vessels
that can possibly be sent out by the Confederate States.
They are also very fast, and in the light trim that they would be in
when properly ballasted, provisioned, and armed for the service would
be much faster than war steamers with favorable winds, and in any
kind of weather would be superior to any sail vessels that could pos-
sibly be sent against them.
These ships, in the absence of competent naval officers, can be
properly officered by commanders and officers of the merchant service,
manned with first-rate crews of from 50 to 100 men, armed with from
four to six long guns and a few of smaller size, with an ample supply
of small arms, and would afford great protection to our merchant ships;
they could also be made valuable as transports to carry both men and
stores.
A few such ships, it seems to us, should be at once placed off the
passage leading to the islands of Cuba and San Domingo, with which
islands our commerce is exceedingly valuable and is now almost entirely
unprotected from privateers; and commerce, it seems to us, would be
the first for privateers to molest, and Government can not be too prompt
in taking steps for its protection.
Such ships as we have suggested, officered and manned with New
England men and New Yorkers, would be as valuable for the protec-
tion of our commerce in the most exposed places as sailing frigates,
and we hope that they may be so considered by the Government. Six
or ten of them could be advantageously employed on the waters to
Europe between New York and Cape Sable.
Very respectfully, yours,
W. F. WEED & CO.
Hon. GIDEON WELLES,
Secretary of the Navy.
Petition of New York merchants to the Secretary of the Navy for convoy
for California steamers.
APRIL 20, 1861.
We, the undersigned, bankers and merchants of New York, beg to
call your attention to the fact that we are advised, and fully believe,
that there are citizens of Spain and other foreign countries who are
now, or soon will be, in possession of letters of marque, granted by the
Confederate States, who are likely to seize upon the California steam-
ers, on the Pacific and Atlantic, having on board large amounts of
treasure; and in view of this we pray that you will detail a Govern-
ment steamer on the Pacific to act as a convoy, or to bring the treasure
and mails once a month from San Francisco to Panama, and one to
bring them from Aspinwall to this port, connecting with the steamer10
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Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion: General Index (Book)
General index listing persons, naval units, ships, battles, and major subject headings mentioned in the "Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion" volumes. Listings include the numbers for the series (Roman numerals) and volume (Arabic numbers) where the reference(s) can be found.
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United States. War Department. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. Series 1, Volume 1., book, 1894; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth192836/m1/31/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.