Record Data
Source citation
United States, et al, Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 1 (Washington D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1903), 17: 17.
Type
Military record
Date Certainty
Exact
Transcriber
Adapted by John Osborne, Dickinson College
Transcription date
Transcription
The following transcript has been adapted from the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion (1903).
U. S. FLAGSHIP NIAGARA
Ship Island, December 27, 1861.
SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of the proclamation of Brigadier-General Phelps. It was handed to me by Commander Melancton Smith, who received it from Brigadier-General Phelps, through Mr. Elias Smith, reporter for the New York Times, as shown by the note of Mr. Smith and Commander Smith's reply, which are also transmitted.
I have approved the course pursued by Commander Smith, and will not allow this or any similar document to be circulated by any person under my command.
I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. W. McKEAN,
Flag-Officer, Commanding Gulf Blockading Squadron.
Hon. GIDEON WELLES,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.
