Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. Series 1, Volume 6. Page: 56
xix, 896 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
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56 ATLANTIC BLOCKADING SQUADRON.
tell them not to molest such vessels with such clearances if there
is not an effective blockade ? Are they to understand that the Confed-
erate States are a distinct community whom we are blockading, and
that, consequently, they are to be treated as a belligerent, having dis-
tinct belligerent rights, whose clearances are to be respected ? If we
blockade these ports, do we not, by that act, admit the nationality of
the Confederate States and a division of the Union ? But if we close
the ports and guard them, do we not, by those acts, assert our nation-
ality and maintain the integrity of the country? It appears to me the
distinction is broad and marked, and Congress, by the law recently
passed, has indicated the only course we can pursue. The subject is
divested of all the embarrassments which attended it in our early pro-
ceedings and before Congress convened. We had not then the authority
conferred by the late enactment. .When you invited me, on Saturday,
to place my views more fully on paper, I did not intend to have
extended my remarks to this length, but the question is one of great
magnitude, and fraught, as I verily believe, with important conse-
quences to our country now and in the future. Perhaps I attach too
much importance to it from the fact that it has occupied much of my
time and attention. To me it appears that the course pursued on this
subject will have an overwhelming influence in the disposal of the con-
troversy that now convulses the country. On the policy which the
Administration shall adopt, this Department must be governed. If it
is directed that the policy shall be by blockade, the instructions to our
commanders must be very different than if the policy is to be by clos-
ing the ports. The former is international; the latter is municipal. In
closing the ports our national integrity and independence are asserted
and maintained, and foreign interference and dictation rejected; while
by blockade our position is, to say the least, very materially and very
differently affected, and the insurgents will be elevated to the dignity
of nationality.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GIDEON WELLES.
The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
Destruction of the bark Alvarado, of Fernandina, Fla., by the U. . ship
Jamestown, August 5, 1861.
Report of Commander Green, U. S. Navy, commanding U. 8S. ship Jamestown.
U. S. SLOOP OF WAR JAMESTOWN,
Of Fernandina, August 6, 1861.
SIR: I have to report the destruction by fire of the American bark
Alvarado by the boats of this ship on the afternoon of the 5th instant.
The bark was chased ashore by this ship and abandoned by her crew
near the entrance of the St. Mary's River.
The boats were sent under command of Lieutenants Flusser and
Phythian, with the marine officer, Mr. Houston, Assistant Surgeon
Cleborne, Midshipman Tyson, Acting Master Chisholm, and Boatswain
Long.
The orders were to get her afloat, if possible; if not, to burn her.
The latter alternative was forced upon them, as, while advancing
toward the bark, a number of pieces of artillery (three or four) opened
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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 6., book, 1897; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth192841/m1/79/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.