October 9, 1863: Nice Jobs, Get Charleston, But...

OCTOBER 9TH, 1863:  Secretary Welles commended Rear Admiral Dahlgren on the work of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron off Charleston the preceding month and cited Brigadier General Gillmore's "brilliant operations" on Morris Island.

Noting that, though the first step in the capture of Charleston was taken, the remainder would be full of risk, he added:  "While there is intense feeling pervading the country in regard to the fate of Charleston ... the public impatience must not be permitted to hasten your own movements into immature and inconsiderate action against your own deliberate convictions nor impell you to hazards that may jeopardize the best interest of the country without adequate results...."

--Old B-R'er