Description:

DAVID G. FARRAGUT
(1801 - 1870) Union rear admiral instrumental in the taking of New Orleans and the Union control of the Mississippi. It was at Mobile Bay where he exclaimed 'Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!' A.L.S., 2pp. 4to., Washington, Dec. 10, 1858 to Paul H. Langdon in Wilmington, NC. In part: '... I am now happy to inform you that I have a fine ship, said to be the finest in the Navy tho' not the largest as she is only 2500 tons. The Brooklyn at N. York but I...say that her destination is the Gulf of Mexico. We will make our trial trip on the 1st of Jany. I will learn more of the detail in the course of a few days & let you know. If you will go with me you will be rewarded by a visit to Havana, Vera Cruz & if you wish to travel you can go to Mexico some time in the course of the cruise should we lay any time at the port of Vera Cruz. I got Gwinn to present my petitions to Congress, for two reasons. 1st altho' all the other gentlemen were polite, they never offered to do anything but give their support, while Gwinn said immediately "all right Capt. give me your papers & I will present them & see them through for you altho' I can't promise any thing unless you get the Secty's good will. 2nd the Secty told me Gwinn would be the man to apply & my friend Mallory [Stephen Mallory- future CSA Secretary of the Navy] not being here I was inclined to try him & he received me as I tell you so I will let him off as never having said I did not please him as I return to Norfolk this evening, so write to me...' Very good. One marginal chip, rought margin close to end of signature, else very good.

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