DECEMBER 14TH, 1864: Foreseeing the fall of Savannah, Secretary Mallory wrote wrote Flag Officer Hunter, commanding the naval squadron at that city: "Should the enemy get ahold of Savannah, and you can do no further service there, you are expected to dispose of your squadron to the greatest injury to him and the greatest benefit to our country.
"If necessary to leave Savannah, your vessels, except the Georgia, may fight their way to Charleston. Under circumstances should they be destroyed until every proper effort to save them shall have been exhausted."
Three days later, Captain S. S. Lee, CSN, addressed a similar letter to Hinter: "Under any circumstances, it is better for the vessels, the Navy, for our cause and country, that these vessels should fall in the conflict of battle, taking all the risks of defeat and triumph, than that they should be tamely surrendered to the enemy or destroyed by their own officers."
Like I Said, Don't Give Up the Ships. --Old B-Runner
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