Thursday, January 26, 2017

155 Years Ago, January 23, 1862: Foote Needs and Gets Sailors

JANUARY 23RD, 1862:  Flag Officer Foote sent another insistent plea for men to secretary of Navy Welles, this time cutting his needs to the bone:  "Can we have 600 men?  Army officers object to their men shipping.

"Boats, except the Benton, are in commission waiting for men."

Twelve days later, Assistant Secretary of Navy Fox wired Foote:  "The Secretary of War today gave direction to detail from several Massachusetts regiments those soldiers who have been seamen up to a number of 600.  These will be sent to you without arms or officers in detachments of 100, commencing next Monday.

--Old B-Runner

No comments:

Post a Comment