April 15, 1865 Navy Department General Order Issued the Day President Abraham Lincoln Died by Gideon Welles
(GIDEON WELLES) April 15, 1865-Dated, Navy Department General Order, No. 52, Issued the Day President Abraham Lincoln Died, Choice Crisp Near New.
Authentic "General Order #52" Imprint Document, 8 pages, measuring 5” x 7.5", distributed April 15, 1865 by the Navy Department. This Document is Signed-in-type by Gideon Welles as Secretary of the Navy, issued the day Abraham Lincoln died. This original Document deals with sailors and marines who were convicted of desertion and other crimes. It is surprising that on one of the country's darkest days, Welles still found the time and strength to conduct business. It is fresh and in virtually Mint New condition.
Gideon Welles (1802 – 1878), was the United States Secretary of the Navy from 1861 to 1869. His buildup of the Navy to successfully execute blockades of Southern ports was a key component of Northern victory of the Civil War. Welles was also instrumental in the Navy's creation of the Medal of Honor.

Welles' strong support of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 made him the logical candidate from New England for Lincoln's cabinet, and in March 1861 Lincoln named Welles his Secretary of the Navy. His implementation of the Naval portion of the Anaconda Plan strongly weakened the Confederacy's ability to finance the war through limiting the cotton trade, and while never completely effective in sealing off all 3,500 miles of Southern coastline it was a major contribution towards Northern victory. Lincoln nicknamed Welles his "Neptune".