Item description: “Additional report of Acting Rear-Admiral Lee, U. S. Navy, transmitting report [from 1 April 1864] regarding services rendered by Mr. Wright.”
Item transcription:
Confidential.]
FLAGSHIP NORTH ATLANTIC BLOCKADING SQUADRON,
Off Newport News, Va., April 2, 1864
SIR: I transmit enclosed a report from Acting Master J. M. Williams, commanding U. S. S. Commodore Barney, in regard to the services rendered him on the recent expedition to Chuckatuck by Mr. Wright, a citizen of that vicinity, and request that the report be placed on the Department’s “confidential” file, as the man might be involved in difficulty by his name being made known.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, yours,
S. P. LEE
Acting Rear-Admiral, Comdg. North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
Hon. GIDEON WELLES
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.
[Enclosure.]
U. S. S. COMMODORE BARNEY
Nansemond River, Virginia, April 1, 1864.
SIR: In regard to the expedition (under my charge) of March 29, I would respectfully inform you that Mr. Wright (a gentleman of whose Union sentiments I am strictly confident) kindly offered his assistance to guide us from his residence at Blinkhorn Creek to the headquarters of Lieutenant Roy at Chuckatuck; and through his timely aid in so doing may be attributed the result of our victory being so easy, as I consider that, had we been one hour later, although our victory would have been complete, there would have been loss of life, as it would have been daylight, and they (I believe) on being aware of our coming would have made a determined resistance.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES M. WILLIAMS
Acting Master, Commanding.
Acting Rear-Admiral S. P. Lee,
Commanding North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
Item citation: Official records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. Series I, Volume 9. Washington : G.P.O., 1899. C970.75 U58no Ser. I, Vol. 9. North Carolina Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
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