fore, in the duty confided to you, use your own judgment in carrying out the ends of government.

66

"Spare no effort to accomplish the object in view with the least possible delay. J. C. FREMONT, Major-General Commanding.

"Captain A. H. Foote, Commanding U. S. Naval

Forces on the Western Waters, St. Louis."

Material improvements were made in the plating and arming of the vessels; the casting of the guns at the Fort Pitt Foundery, Pittsburg, was expedited; mortars and shells were largely contracted for, although at first Foote was somewhat doubtful in regard to mortar-boats without motive power, as being unserviceable in waters with rapid current; but he seems to have been convinced by the arguments of AssistantSecretary Fox and of his experienced subordinates, and, more than all, afterward by actual use. Some more vivid idea of the questions, small and great, that had to be settled may be obtained from the business letters of those under his command, especially the letters of that active officer Lieutenant S. L. Phelps, who, in Rodgers's as well as in Foote's time, had an important part in getting the fleet ready. Lieutenant Phelps says, writing from Louisville before the boats were floated down the Ohio:

"The carpenters have left the Lexington and the Conestoga. There is no paint for the boats. The Lexington has exhausted the supply put on board by contractors. I find the people have got an idea that there is a chance for contract-upon which our country has gone mad, and about which it is worse than dishonest-to get the vessels over the bars. Any one of these river men is ready to enter into a contract to do it, even if there is not a particle of chance to succeed, knowing well that it is an easy matter to get relief from Congress for two or three times the amount of their outlay, whether successful or not, as the government is liberal, and only needs the show of having undertaken to serve it for a good basis to recover largely. I make it my business to gather all the information I can about the river below, and I am satisfied the steamers can not now be floated out in any manner. The officers have not a cent to send to market and start the messes. What shall be done?"

Details in regard to Gun-boats.

At another time the lieutenant writes:

161

"The more I examine the work on the Conestoga, the more disgraceful patching it seems to be. The Lexington is best done, but none well; and the joiner-work all around is more like the work of common laborers than of mechanics. The boat davits are not up, and no attempt made to put them up; the same of the iron ties and bars over the boilers. In the Taylor you can not get from aft forward without walking over the boilers. No attempt has been made to deck over for a gangway. The contract calls for swinging booms-none are provided. I am persuaded that you will find it necessary to get authority to issue navy rations, and to have navy regulations in regard to commutation, etc. It will be the only way to save annoyances and losses to us. The army is not fit for shipboard, and won't do at all."

6

"U. S. GUN-BOAT TAYLOR,' MOUND CITY, October 3, 1861. "SIR,-A draft on the assistant-quartermaster of St. Louis for two thousand dollars, indorsed by me and discounted by the Cairo City Bank, enabled me to pay a small amount to the officers and some of the more needy of our crew; but we are sadly in want of funds to complete and equip our boats for service, and pay the bills already incurred in alterations and repairs. Mr. Hamilton complains that the burden is more than he can bear. Government has failed to pay him toward the construction of the new gun-boats according to contract, and the bills for the repairs of the Lexington and Conestoga are still unpaid. I hope, therefore, for his sake as well as our own necessities, you may succeed in obtaining some money forthwith.

"Commander Stembel called at the bank to have a draft discounted, the same as ours, and was informed by Mr. Safford that the one we sent had not been honored, and until it was he should not feel as if he could extend the amount. He, however, after some arguing, consented to let Commander Stembel have one thousand dollars, but refuses further accommodation until our draft is paid, and so the matter stands. Mr. Safford accommodated us more on the faith of the Navy than from any confidence he had in the Quartermaster's Department; and I trust through your influence, and for the benefit of the others, that our draft will be met immediately.

66

May I ask of you the trouble to ascertain if our requisitions for sundry articles-countersigned by General Grant, and forwarded from the

Quartermaster's Department at Cairo-reached the Department at St. Louis? and, if so, if they have been attended to? We need the articles for immediate use, and are suffering without them. The articles of lard and coal-oil are selling at Cincinnati at prices far below the range here, and it would be a great saving to government if we could make immediate requisition for a supply for the three vessels.

"Matters are very quiet about Cairo. The Conestoga has gone up the river under orders to Owensboro. General Grant informed Commander Stembel that he had nothing for him to do, and desired that he might cruise up and down the river a few miles either way, to let the rebels know we were moving. Under these circumstances I shall remain here till the vessel is completed, unless otherwise ordered.

"It is approaching winter; it will be necessary to have some means of heating our apartments. I would suggest the use of steam-pipes. The main supply could come from the escape-pipe, and thus appropriate to good use what would be lost. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, "H. WALKE, Commander U. S. N.

"Captain A. H. Foote, commanding Naval Forces)

on Western Waters, St. Louis, Mo."

(Telegram.)

"CAIRO, November 22, 1861.

66

"TO COMMODORE FOOTE,-I would inform you that the Mississippi is falling, with scant six feet. Would it not be well to send the gun-boats while it is possible? U. S. GRANT."

(Telegram.)

66 CAIRO, November 30, 1861.

"TO COMMODORE FOOTE,-Two or three rebel gun-boats have made a reconnoissance down the Tennessee. General Small requests that a gunboat from here be sent. I have none. U. S. GRANT."

(Telegram.)

"WASHINGTON, December 23, 1861.

"TO CAPTAIN A. H. FOOTE,-The general-in-chief has directed General Halleck to send to the gun-boats eleven hundred men from unarmed regiments.

M. C. MEIGS."

Details in regard to the Fleet.

(Telegram.)

163

"CAIRO, December 17, 1861.

"To A. H. FOOTE,-General McClellan will order to-day eleven hundred men to be detailed for your boats. We have vessels waiting for men. A great many of our ships go to sea without any Navy officer on board; but we can give you Lieutenants Bryant and Thompson, dates of eighteen hundred and thirty-seven, and possibly some commanders. "G. A. Fox, Assistant-Secretary of Navy."

(Telegram.)

"WASHINGTON, December 30, 1861.

"TO FLAG-OFFICER FOOTE,-After waiting four days, I have had an interview with Meigs, presenting accounts for more than three hundred thousand dollars. I can obtain no assurance of receiving a dollar, and must return as I came. Will leave this evening for Cairo.

(Telegram.)

"JAMES B. EADS."

“WASHINGTON, January 10, 1862.

"To A. H. FOOTE,-The President desires immediately a full report of the number of your gun-boats, armament, crew, etc., and full particulars in relation to the mortar-boats, the number in commission, number of mortars mounted, number of mortars ready to mount, and the time of completion of all the boats.

"G. V. Fox, Assistant-Secretary of Navy."

(Telegram.)

"CAIRO, January 29, 1862.

"TO CAPTAIN A. H. FOOTE,-The President orders if Flag-Officer Foote can find a suitable boat which he can purchase at a fair price, let him purchase it at once. You will be governed accordingly in procuring a boat for the mortar-flotilla. M. C. MEIGS."

(Telegram.)

"CINCINNATI, February 3, 1862.

"TO FLAG-OFFICER A. H. FOOTE,-Can not buy Western for less than twenty thousand dollars. Shall I buy her? It is absolutely necessary that Mr. Magee come here immediately. How many men and shells is the steamboat to be fitted for? Answer immediately.

"J. P. SANFORD."

These are specimens of the great number of such letters, telegrams, and communications-some of them still more urgent, and relating to more important and difficult matters-that might be given, showing the multiplicity of detail, and the perplexing questions of all kinds that were constantly coming up and requiring immediate decision-questions in regard to ordnance, to money supplies, to the obtaining of fit mechanics, to the equipping and manning of the vessels, and especially in relation to the work to be done upon the vessels themselves, which, peculiar in their build and novel in their adaptation of iron-plating to river steamboats, required close watching and the greatest scientific skill. It remains only to speak more definitely than has yet been done of the origin of this famous flotilla.

As early as April, 1861, the government was convinced of the military importance of the Western rivers and waters. Attorney-General Bates wrote to James B. Eads, of St. Louis, a man of great mechanical genius and energy of character, who had been engaged in removing obstructions from the Mississippi and its great tributaries, respecting the use of steam gunboats upon the rivers. Mr. Eads's plan was referred to Commodore Paulding, who reported favorably upon it, and a naval officer, Captain John Rodgers, was detailed to go to the West and consult with Mr. Eads. The result of this consultation was that in the latter part of May and in June the freight-andpassenger Ohio steamers Conestoga, Taylor, and Lexington were altered at Cincinnati, and armed as gun-boats. These vessels were not plated, but were protected by oak bulwarks against musket-balls.

During the month of July following, the quartermastergeneral advertised for proposals to construct a number of entirely new iron-clad gun-boats for the service of the Mississippi River. The same Mr. Eads was the successful bidder. "The Department decided to construct seven of these vessels,