Foote, Andrew H. (Andrew Hull), 1806-1863 to James Wilson Grimes

Written by Rear Admiral Foote from the Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting to Senator James Grimes of Iowa (Grimes served in the U.S. Senate 1859-1869). Grimes was a member of the Committee on Naval Affairs when this letter was written. References a letter he sent to Grimes the day before. Says he did not stress the qualifications of the ship builder John Lenthall as he should have. Praises Lenthall: "As far as I know and believe, Mr. Lenthall is incomparably beyond any of our Naval Constructors in making the profound calculations indispensable to ensure good results in the construction of a Man of War and therefore, I may almost say, the only one of them, entitled to be regarded as a scientific Naval Engineer." From 30 August 1861 to 9 May 1862, Foote commanded the Mississippi River Squadron with distinction, organizing and leading the gunboat flotilla in the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson and Island No. 10. He received the Thanks of Congress for his actions at these three battles. Wounded in action at Fort Donelson, Foote was promoted to rear admiral on 16 July 1862, and was on his way to take command of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron for duty outside Charleston, South Carolina, when he died at New York.