June 9, 1865: Two New Squadrons Formed of the Four Blockading Ones As War Winds Down

JUNE 9TH, 1865:  Secretary Welles ordered the East Gulf and West Gulf Squadrons to be combined and redesignated the Gulf Squadron.  He directed Rear Admiral H.K. Thatcher to relieve Rear Admiral C.K. Stribling and assume command of the newly formed  Squadron with headquarters  at Pensacola.

Welles also directed that the North and South Atlantic squadrons be combined and redesignated the Atlantic Squadron.  At the same time, he ordered Rear Admiral Dahlgren to return to Washington, D.C., and Rear Admiral William Radford to assume command of the new squadron.

Dahlgren recorded in his diary on June 17:  "And so ends a command of two years of one of the largest fleets ever assembled under American colors -- as many as 96 at one time."

--Old B-Runner