service that you should be relieved from all care until your system had recovered its vigor. When this decision was reached, the mere routine letters were prepared and sent; but when I reached home that evening, and had a moment to myself, I felt it right to express my feelings and opinions in a free and less formal manner in regard to the great service you had rendered. This I followed up with an additional line the next morning.

"I might, perhaps, have embodied some of the views and thoughts that naturally presented themselves in my official letter, but I think it better as it is. The history of events that have occurred during your active command on the Mississippi and its tributaries is yet to be writ ten; and if my life and health are spared to a season of greater leisure, I hope I may be able to do yourself and others justice. Should it not survive, the hasty notes I have addressed to you will be testimony from one who, better than any one else perhaps, knows of the difficulties and embarrassments which beset you; and there were some connected with the anomalous organization of the flotilla that (even) you can hardly be aware of. Every step I have watched with inexpressible solicitude; for I was, of course, held accountable for your success. Had you made a false step, or been unfortunate, the censorious would have held me responsible for your acts. I was willing to assume that responsibility, and have not been disappointed.

"I believe the public justly appreciate your labors and sufferings, and will be ready to manifest it. They should; for all honor to the men who peril their lives for their country. Those of us who labor in another sphere must be content to witness the applause bestowed on those whom we have had the good fortune or sagacity to select, for it reflects credit on ourselves. I have been very proud of your achievements in every respect.

"27th.—I was interrupted the other evening, and meeting your brother the following morning, I had discarded my letter; but finding it on my table this evening, I conclude to send it.

"I was extremely glad to meet your brother, and to hear from him that you are so rapidly improving. We shall, I trust, have the pleasure of seeing you here before a great while, but first take care of your health; get that fully re-established and your wound well. There is a good deal yet to be done, I apprehend, before this causeless and wicked rebellion is suppressed. Certainly our Navy has great labor in future, and its best men will be required to give it efficiency and character. It is evident

from what has transpired on our Western waters, that the Navy, as a means of national unity and strength, has an importance that few had anticipated before these domestic troubles developed its capabilities. We all know its value and necessity for exterior purposes, but were not aware of its internal strength in sustaining the government. Our armies in the West would have been comparatively powerless without the gun-boats, and no future conspiracy can make such formidable headway, if, availing ourselves of the wisdom derived from experience, we shall be prepared with a proper naval armament on the interior waters.

"I trust it will benefit you to get home and visit old scenes, breathe the natal air, and meet early friends. You will have more leisure than myself, and must write me freely and without reserve, making such suggestions and giving such advice as your experience and observation authorize, and as you believe will be valuable.

"Hoping we may see you before a great while, and glad to learn that your health continues to improve, I am very truly and sincerely yours, "GIDEON WELLES."

"WASHINGTON, July 4, 1862.

"MY DEAR SIR,—Congress has just passed a bill for reorganizing the Navy Department. You will have seen it perhaps; but if not, you will, from your familiarity with the service, understand its general provisions. I am desirous of gathering here as our Board of Admiralty the very best men that we have. The Chiefs of Bureaus must constitute the advisory and suggestive counselors of the Department. Our country is to be one of the great maritime powers of the world, and must have a Navy commensurate with its strength and position as a nation. This domestic war and attending events are creating a revolution in many respects in our Navy, and it becomes important that we take a new departure. The bill alluded to is a pioneer measure, and if we can get the Department properly officered and manned, we shall make a successful beginning.

"I doubt if you would render more valuable service to the country elsewhere than in Washington at this juncture, or perhaps at any period. The Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting is one requiring administrative ability, and must necessarily be one of the most important, if not the most important, pillars of the Department and the service.

"Are you disposed to take this position, and give us your talents and experience in the creation and government of a Navy that shall be wor

thy of the country? Take the matter into consideration, and write me as soon as you conveniently can on the subject.

"The hard fighting at Richmond has not given us all we wished. The loss on both sides has been very severe.

"Hoping to hear from you soon, I am very truly your friend,

"Commodore Foote, New Haven, Conn."

"GIDEON WELLES.

“WASHINGTON, July 5, 1862.

"MY DEAR FOOTE,-I have yours of the 2d instant. I have no time to write. I am sad at our reverse at Richmond. The gun-boat came to the rescue, after all. I fear if we do not capture Richmond in twenty days, we shall have more trouble than we bargained for or expected.

"The Secretary has invited you to the Bureau of Equipment. I hope you will take it—but you can have any thing you want. How Congress cut at the Navy pay, while nothing is said of the respect the Army receives over the Navy. I am getting old and useless, besides am troubled with vertigo. Regards to madam.

"FLAG-OFFICER A. H. FOOTE, U. S. N., New Haven, Conn.:

66

“MY DEAR SIR,-Now that the 'Line Bill' has passed at least one of the Houses of Congress, I may hope soon to escape the annoyance of writing so awkward a title before your name.

"I have missed you so much in this meeting of the two fleets, an event so strange in all its historical bearings. Though not here, your works are here to represent you. The Benton, Cincinnati, Louisville, and Carondelet, with the provision and ordnance boats and six mortar-boats, left Memphis on the 29th, arriving here on the 1st inst. The Conestoga has since come down from White River. This is our force. At this point, some five or six miles above Vicksburg, we found Flag-Officer Farragut's fleet, which had run the blockade some three days before—or, rather, eight vessels of his fleet-his flag flying on board the Hartford. You may suppose there was great cheering at the 'meeting.' The lower fleet has vessels of the class of the Richmond, Iroquois, and Winona, all beautiful specimens of their class. How great the contrast of the two forces! We found the officers discouraged about the place they had passed, and all of the opinion that nothing could be done except with the aid of a land

force. The batteries are on bluffs, much scattered, and covered by a large army. These bluffs do not rise abruptly, but with a slope such that the batteries, placed at some distance from the river, sweep the slope and river shores. The fleet had suffered considerable loss, and had inflicted little or no injury; and the question is asked, ' For what purpose did the fleet come above the batteries?' The flotilla already controlled the river above. I shall surprise you very much by telling you that the 'New Orleans fleet' is 'at sixes and sevens.' Farragut's system seems to be embraced in the order to Captain Preble: Follow the Kennebec, and fire at any thing you see.' His vessels can not attack down stream any better than ours, and can not fire ahead; they must, therefore, again run the gauntlet, and, turning below, attack again batteries made stronger than when the fleet came up. There is a great deal of gossip among the officers. Captain Craven has differed with the flag-officer, and, after failing to get by the batteries the other day, has demanded leave, and has actually gone home. There are criminations and recriminations. I am happy to inform you that our flotilla manifests its lessons under your hands, and has no outside gossip in return for the abundance offered by the lower fleet. It is presumed that the fleet will not linger here, but will run back to below the batteries very soon. One thousand negroes are working hard upon a canal across the point here (one and a quarter miles long), which, if successful, will leave Vicksburg some four or five miles from the river. Commodore Porter is shelling the batteries and town from below, and Maynadier from above. We are soon to go up the Yazoo to destroy the Arkansas and clear the river out. It is expected that a large land force will reach here from above. The Lexington is in White River. Colonel Fitch has some 3000 or 4000 men, but will have to retire, the river being too low for navigation. Nothing of the Essex yet. The Eastport will be ready in time-if enough be given. The Sumter is on the way down, and the Bragg leaves Cairo to-day. The St. Louis and Mound City are at Memphis, and the Cairo at Fort Pillow. The Pittsburg is at Cairo for repairs. Commodore Davis desires me to give you his best love, and to say that he gladly accepts your proposition about the mess. I have some ration-money belonging to you; as soon as it is settled with Henriques, I will forward it to you. I have written at length, but I hope not to tire you. I am most anxious to hear from you, and learn how the change has effected you, and how your recovery progresses, as are all in the flotilla.

"Respectfully and most sincerely yours,

"S. L. PHELPS."

We see by this letter that there can be anger in celestial minds, and that our naval heroes, like those of the Homeric fleet, had their little bickerings and rivalries among themselves; but these letters from Foote's officers, and those that follow, prove how deep a hold their late commander had of their affections. They show how kind-hearted and great-hearted was the man who could call forth such expressions. He still led them in spirit; they still looked to him for encouragement and inspiration. There is a genuine ring of the heart in these letters; they are not servile flatteries of one who no longer controlled them, or from whom they expected to gain any thing. They came from real esteem and love, and from the grateful memory of long-continued kindness and friendship. It is not often that a military leader has such a profound personal relationship to those under him, which shows something more than a confidence in his ability or an admiration of his courageit shows the possession in him of high moral qualities. We will give at this time but one other brief extract from the letters of his officers-from the brave Captain Gwin, who soon after was killed in a naval combat on the Mississippi:

"You may rest assured that the laurels won by the flotilla under your command will never be tarnished."

Those who saw Commodore Foote when he first returned from the West were struck by the excessive pallor of his face, the unnatural brilliancy of his eyes, and the sternness of his expression. It seemed as if he had passed through a fiery ordeal, and had not yet escaped the sense of its tremendous pressure. He had come home with a work unfulfilled. He had come with a prophet's burden on him to arouse the country to greater exertions for its salvation. While cheerful and gentle, and courteous far beyond his strength in seeing and entertaining his friends, it was evident that his mind was preoccupied with a great purpose; and this, combined with his ill-health