Gideon Welles (1802 1878 Lincolns Secretary of the Navy who proposed the blockade of Southern ports and the construction of an ironclad fleet D. S. I p. 4to Hartford Dec. 29 1843 a letter of recommendation James W. Russell for promotion to the rank of midshipmans written to Navy Secretary David Henshaw Also signed by Isaac Toucey 1792-1869 Attorney General and Secretary of the Navy suspected of arranging naval forces to be at the disposal of the Confederates at the commencement of war A fine association