This printed letter highlighted one of the most important developments in US Naval History, the initiation of a construction program for Ironclad warships.

Just a few weeks after the Battle of Hampton Roads laid bare the vulnerabilities of wooden steamships, Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles wrote this letter to expand upon the experimental Ironclad program of 1861 by endorsing a new $30,000,000 budget for their prioritized production.  Dated March 25, 1862 and ordered to be printed on the 26^th, Secretary Welles made the case in this letter that the Naval fleet will be rendered obsolete against an armored enemy force and that, just as sailing ships fell out of favor considering the advent of steam power, evolution was dictating the use of Ironclad ship designs.  Citing the Battle of Hampton Roads, Welles notes the Confederate warship “Virginia/Merrimack” was only driven away from the anchored wooden ships (two of which were destroyed with great loss of life) by the arrival and matching power of the USS Monitor. Welles organizes the letter into a 10-point argument in favor of budgetary expansion and a manufacturing program dedicated to the construction of Monitors and other blue and brown water Ironclad designs.

The printed letter features a “37^th Congress, 2^nd Session} Senate” heading with a catalogue heading of “{Mis. Doc. No. 70”.  There are no tears, stains, or creases and only a slight discoloration at the edges - which gives it a great, period look. Binding perforations are present at center. The folded document measures 8.9” x 5.6”.

This is a rare and incredibly important piece of US Naval History that would compliment any Civil War collection.  [cm][ph:L]

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