155 Years Ago: Assistant Sec. of Navy Position Authorized, Lincoln Given Authority to Increase Navy, But He Had Already Been Doing It

JULY 24TH, 1861:  The U.S. Congress approved a bill authorizing the appointment of an Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

**  An Act "to provide for the temporary increase of the Navy" passed by Congress; gave President Lincoln authority to take vessels into the Navy and appoint officers for them, to any extent deemed necessary.

Lincoln had already been doing this since April.

--Old B-Runner