Autographs
1865 Gideon Welles Signed Partly-Printed Document with Naval View of the Ironclad Monitor Discharge Certificate
GIDEON WELLES (1802-1878). President Lincoln's Secretary of the Navy who proposed the Civil War Blockade of Southern Ports and the Construction of an Ironclad Fleet.
June 6, 1865-Dated Civil War Era, Partly-Printed Document Signed, "Gideon Welles" as Secretary of the Navy, 12" x 18", 1 page, Washington, Very Fine. Normal folds, with some old tapes repairs on the back to close some fold splits. This is an official discharge certificate for "Acting Assistant Paymaster J.T. Wildman". At the conclusion of the Civil War, the Navy Department decided to draw down the number of personnel needed for the service. An impressive display piece with a great Naval vignette at top. Though dominated by a tall-masted sailing vessel, the vignette also includes a view of the Monitor at left. An impressive, Embossed Naval Seal can be seen at lower left, featuring a ship, an anchor, and an American Eagle. Welles signature is crisp, bold, and measures 2.5" across. Ready for framing and display.
Gideon Welles (July 1, 1802 - February 11, 1878), nicknamed "Father Neptune", was the United States Secretary of the Navy from 1861 to 1869, a cabinet post he was awarded after supporting Abraham Lincoln in the 1860 election.
Although opposed to the Union blockade of Southern ports, he duly carried out his part of the Anaconda Plan, largely sealing off the Confederate coastline and preventing the exchange of cotton for war supplies. This is viewed as a major cause of Union victory in the Civil War, and his achievement in expanding the Navy almost tenfold was widely praised. Welles was also instrumental in the Navy's creation of the Medal of Honor.
KEYWORDS:
United States Navy History, Naval Commanders, Naval Heritage, United States Naval Medals, U.S. Navy, Historic Navy Ships, American Naval Victories, Navy Commanders, Lincoln Cabinet, Civil War Secretary of the Navy, United States Navy Documents, Civil War Navy