Gideon Welles and Hiram Paulding War Date Navy DS

Partially Printed Document Signed, "Gideon Welles", as Secretary of the Navy, 1p on a bifold sheet, 8" x 10", Washington, November 18, 1863. Endorsed by Hiram Paulding, "H. Paulding", as Commander. Docketing in graphite at verso. Ink smudge at the "P" and "g" of "Paulding"; folds with tiny separation at edges; staple holes at top; minor toning; else, near fine condition. 

Gideon Welles sends a prospective temporary ensign to Rear Admiral Hiram Paulding for examination. Paulding, in turn, sends him to Lt. Commander William Danforth Whiting (1823-1894), of the training ship USS Savannah. Whiting examined and passed him.

To John Hill, of E. Boston, Massachusetts, in full, "You have permission to report to Rear Admiral H. Paulding Commandant of the Navy Yard at New York for examination as to your qualifications for the position of Acting Ensign in the Navy of the United States on temporary service, which appointment will be conferred upon you should you be found qualified." Endorsement at top reads, "Report to Lieut. Comdr. Whiting on board the 'Savannah' for examination".

Gideon Welles (1802-1878) was a Connecticut native, journalist, Democratic state legislator, Hartford Postmaster, and Chief of the Bureau of Provisions and Clothing for the Navy early in his career. In the 1848 presidential election, Welles left the Democratic Party over the issue of the expansion of slavery. Welles founded the influential Republican Hartford Evening Press in 1856. President Abraham Lincoln appointed Welles as Secretary of the Navy, and Welles was highly effective in mobilizing the resources of the country for an extensive blockade and offensive operations against the Confederacy. Lincoln nicknamed Welles his “Neptune” and Welles served as Secretary of the Navy from 1861 to 1869.

Hiram Paulding (1797-1878) was a rear admiral in the United States Navy, who served from the War of 1812 until after the Civil War. In 1861, Paulding was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to assist in building up a wartime fleet. He then took over the New York Navy Yard. Paulding was assigned to evacuate ships from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, which the Confederates planned to seize, in April 1861. In August of that year, Paulding was named by Gideon Welles to the Ironclad Board, responsible for approving designs for and construction of ironclad warships.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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