Confederate States of America
| Navy Department, Richmond, October 2, 1862 |
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| Captain Saml. Barron, C. S. Navy |
| Richmond, Va. |
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| Sir, |
| The defense of the Cumberland and
Tennessee rivers is a measure of the greatest importance, and this
Department, desiring to do all in its power toward accomplishing
this great work, has selected you for, and committed to your charge,
the duty of constructing ironclad steam gunboats.
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| *****
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| The whole subject is committed to you.
You will act promptly and energetically in the matter. The iron
armor should be rolled plate, if we can get it, and railroad iron
will only be used if you can not do better, for while it affords an
imperfect resistance to shot, our roads should not be denuded of
rails if we can avoid it.
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| *****
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| I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
|
| S. R. Mallory
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| Secretary of the Navy
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