the washington navy yard - Naval History and Heritage Command ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

26 The Washington Navy Yard Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States and the nation’s leader during the most trying time of its existence. Lincoln often sought relief from the pressures of his office by visiting the navy yard.
Civil War Naval Arsenal and Operating Base 27 African-American sailors mend their clothes on the deck of a Union warship during a break from duty. Dahlgren to release them. And, as the war made increasing demands on the North’s manpower, the Navy employed black men in its service. The Secretary of the Navy authorized the enlistment of blacks, for which they received pay of $3 a month and one ration. On 16 April 1862, Congress passed the District of Columbia Emancipation Act, abolishing slavery in Washington. In the words of one historian, “freedom did not come with expanded job opportunities, but it did mean that Michael Shiner and other workers in Washington could receive a salary or, in some cases, higher pay for their labor.” 18 As the pressures of war mounted, the President sought relief by visiting Dahlgren, who soon became a confidant, and the navy yard, because Lincoln “simply liked gadgets, weapons, and munitions, and these things abounded” there. 19 On one occasion, the President picked up a breechloading carbine being tested and fired a shot. Lincoln, the same age as Dahlgren, regularly appeared unannounced at his friend’s office for “coffee, cigars, and a chat with his favorite naval officer.” 20 When several captains queried the Navy Department about replacing Commander Dahlgren as commandant of the navy yard, a position normally held by a captain, the Commander in Chief weighed in. Lincoln observed that Dahlgren defended the navy yard “when no one else would, and now he shall keep it as long as he pleases.” 21 Even as the threat to Washington from Confederate armies receded, the enemy’s naval arm mounted a challenge. On 8 March 1862, the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia, built on the hull of Merrimack and commanded by former Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard Franklin Buchanan, boldly attacked the Union blockading flotilla positioned in Hampton Roads off Newport News, Virginia. The Confederate casemate ironclad attacked sloop Cumberland with a 1,500-pound cast-iron ram bolted to her bow and tore apart frigate Congress with gunfire. Both wooden-hulled ships and many of their crewmen sank beneath the waves. The steam frigate Minnesota then ran aground trying to fight Virginia. The other vessels of the blockading force sought safety under the guns of nearby Fort Monroe. The reaction to the disaster at Hampton Roads was nothing short of panic when word reached Washington the following day. When President Lincoln’s cabinet gathered to consider a course of action, Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton and others expressed the fear that Virginia would soon appear in the Potomac and begin shelling the Capitol and the White House. The entire Union cause was seen at risk from the unconventional, but single enemy warship! The President immediately went to the navy yard to consult with Dahlgren. The President and
Page 2 and 3: THE WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
Page 4 and 5: Secretary of the Navy’s Advisory
Page 6 and 7: List of Illustrations Cover: Lithog
Page 8 and 9: Foreword It is a great honor to be
Page 10 and 11: document collections and personal p
Page 12 and 13: “Captain Thomas Tingey” (Navy A
Page 14 and 15: 2 The Washington Navy Yard Eastern
Page 16 and 17: 4 The Washington Navy Yard from the
Page 18 and 19: 6 The Washington Navy Yard The Navy
Page 20 and 21: 8 The Washington Navy Yard shipping
Page 22 and 23: 10 The Washington Navy Yard Meanwhi
Page 24 and 25: 12 The Washington Navy Yard persuad
Page 26 and 27: 14 The Washington Navy Yard During
Page 28 and 29: 16 The Washington Navy Yard Above.
Page 30 and 31: 18 The Washington Navy Yard The Fat
Page 32 and 33: 20 The Washington Navy Yard The ord
Page 34 and 35: 22 The Washington Navy Yard for def
Page 36 and 37: 24 The Washington Navy Yard An Afri
Page 40 and 41: 28 The Washington Navy Yard Dahlgre
Page 44 and 45: 32 The Washington Navy Yard he appo
Page 46 and 47: 34 The Washington Navy Yard Raphael
Page 48 and 49: 36 The Washington Navy Yard monitor
Page 50 and 51: 38 The Washington Navy Yard USS Atl
Page 52 and 53: 40 The Washington Navy Yard Left. N
Page 54 and 55: 42 The Washington Navy Yard basins
Page 56 and 57: 44 The Washington Navy Yard “USS
Page 58 and 59: 46 The Washington Navy Yard Sailors
Page 60 and 61: 48 The Washington Navy Yard The Ear
Page 64 and 65: 52 The Washington Navy Yard Left. T
Page 66 and 67: 54 The Washington Navy Yard A tract
Page 68 and 69: 56 The Washington Navy Yard Left. D
Page 70 and 71: 58 The Washington Navy Yard Taylor
Page 72 and 73: 60 The Washington Navy Yard Navy ya
Page 74 and 75: 62 The Washington Navy Yard Above L
Page 76 and 77: 64 The Washington Navy Yard The Pre
Page 78 and 79: 66 The Washington Navy Yard Of grea
Page 80 and 81: 68 The Washington Navy Yard Left. T
Page 82 and 83: 70 The Washington Navy Yard yard. B
Page 84 and 85: 72 The Washington Navy Yard “woul
Page 88 and 89:
76 The Washington Navy Yard
Page 90 and 91:
78 The Washington Navy Yard Above.
Page 92 and 93:
80 The Washington Navy Yard Left. A
Page 94 and 95:
82 The Washington Navy Yard and the
Page 96 and 97:
84 The Washington Navy Yard Above.
Page 98 and 99:
86 The Washington Navy Yard The Nav
Page 100 and 101:
88 The Washington Navy Yard Right.
Page 102 and 103:
90 The Washington Navy Yard The Nav
Page 104 and 105:
92 The Washington Navy Yard nery, h
Page 106 and 107:
94 The Washington Navy Yard The Mar
Page 108 and 109:
96 The Washington Navy Yard
Page 110 and 111:
98 The Washington Navy Yard An aeri
Page 112 and 113:
Notes 1. Quoted in Peck, Round-Shot
Page 114 and 115:
104 Bibliography Dudley, William S.
Page 116 and 117:
Index A ABCD ships, 39 Adams, John,
Page 118 and 119:
Index 109 Forrestal, James, 78, 93
Page 120 and 121:
Index 111 P Pacific, 19, 39, 71, 85
show all

the washington navy yard - Naval History and Heritage Command ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?