The Republican journal., 1906-01-18
with men and munitions of war.
Among the many places on the northern
coast that furnished officers for the

with men ana munlClOuS VI Wal.
Among the many places on the northern
coast that furnished officers for the
navy in that emergency none did better
according to its population than Bel
fast. A list of these officers, which l
give from memory, is as follows: Act
ing masters, Capt. R. 0. Patterson,
Sumner Lothrop, Tolford Durham,
Frank Russ, Ephraim Pendleton; act
ing ensigns, John Cousins, Joseph b.
Thombs, E. S. Mcdonald, Harrison
Banks, and / think Robert Russ, but
am not sure. l entered as masters
mate in 1861 and was twice promoted.
I know nothing of the services OF any
of these gentlemen for | met with
none of them with the exception OF
Capt. Patterson, whom | met once IN the
Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1862. Messrs.
Patterson, Lothrop, Pendleton, Cousins,
ThombS and Banks are dead.
To show the Importance the Govern
ment attached to the blockade submit
copy of letter of the Secretary OF the
Navy to Captain Farragut:
Navy Department, jar. 25, 1862.
Sir: The importance of vigorous
blockade at every point to be under
your command cannot be too strongly
impressed or felt. By cutting off all
communications we not only distress
and cripple the States in instruction,
but by an effective blockade we destroy
apy excuse or pretext on the part OF
! foreign governments to aid and relleve
those who are waging war against the
Government.
There is a manifest desire, If not de-
termination, in certain quarters to
break the blockade, and the apology
therefor, will be, if possible, want OF
vigilance or efficiency on the part OF
our squadrons in guarding the coast IN
such manner as to interdlct cOmmun-
ication. While confding in your prac-
teal knowledge and judgment the dis
position of the vessels committed to
YOU, have felt it my duty to warn you
of the difficulty alluded to, and at the
same time to suggest that except when
REQUIRED by pressing necessity there
| should not be concentration OF YES
sells at any given point, but that they
should be spread so as to make the
blockade effective throughout the
whole extent of the coast under your
supervision. Most of the important
points on the coast are we'll guarded,
though occasionally we hear that YES
sci has run the blockade in bad wealth
! err or in darkness. or at points less like
ly to attract attention. Every case OF
this kind | have reason to believe is
noted and laid up as evidence that the
+! blockade is not effective, and therefore
to be disregarded by those governments
whose subjects may become clamorous
for supplies from States blockaded.
| The Department is aware OF the dit
ticutes you may be compelled to en-
counter, and III warning you OF WhaL
may be apprehended from foreign m
reference, provided there is any want
! of vigilance or effectiveness III any
quarter in keeping up rigid block
AIDE. | wish to express my confidence
that you will bring all your ability and
! resources into regulsltlon TO carry out
the policy of the Government, and that
even in the stormy season you Will be
able with the force at your disposition
to interdict communication at every
! point under your charge and thus des-
troy anv nretence for breaking or at
tempting to break the blockade.
! AS last as we can aug so'.r IoIce
or spare vessels from other points we
will endeavor to reinforce your com
mand. In the mean time our reliance
must be in your own powers and capa-
bility in the squadron that you are
about to command.
j l am respectfully your obedient ser
want, GIDEON w ELLEs,
Secretary of the Navy.
| Captain D. G. Farragut, appointed to
/ the command of the West Gulf Block
ing Squadron.
! l was attached to that squadron until
September, 1862, and you may we'll be-
lieve that with the capture of New Or
| leans. and also the keeping up OF rigid
blockade, that old salamander Farra-
gut made things lively for us all.
J. o. JOHNSON.