Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Welles, Gideon (1802-1878) Appointment of Stephen Decatur, Jr. as commander on the Naval Reserve List

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02794.170 Author/Creator: Welles, Gideon (1802-1878) Place Written: Washington Type: Document signed Date: 1861/08/14 Pagination: 1 p. 24.7 x 19.3 cm Order a Copy

Partially printed manuscript with handwritten insertions. Signed as U.S. Secretary of the Navy.

NAVY DEPARTMENT,
August 14, 1861
Sir:
The president of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, havinf appointed you a Commander intho Reserved List in the Navy from the 20th of July, 1861, I have the pleasure to enclose herewith your commission, dated 5th August 1861, the receipt of which you ill acknowledge to the Department.
I am, respecfully,
Your obedient servant
Gideaon Welles

Commander
Stephen Decatur
U. S Navy
Boston
13. West Cedar Sheet

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