Original manuscript telegram, one page, on printed Office U.S. Military Telegraph letterhead (Navy/War Department, Washington, D.C.), dated April 23, 1864, sent 8:30 a.m. Boldly signed in full by Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy under Lincoln throughout the Civil War.

Addressed to Commodore J.B. Montgomery, Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard, the telegram reads in full:

"Send off the Eutaw to Hampton Roads as early as practicable."

USS Eutaw was a Sassacus-class "double-ender" steam gunboat, commissioned at Baltimore in July 1863 and assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. This order, sent just days before her active service began, directed her from the Washington Navy Yard to Hampton Roads -- she would go on that May to cover Army landings below City Point, Virginia, and that July to bombard Confederate positions at Malvern Hill.

The sheet bears period telegraph office endorsements ("Rec'd 9am / Sent 9:10 A / By Thomas") and a red U.S. Military Telegraph handstamp of receipt at lower right. Welles's characteristic terse, businesslike telegraphic style is fully evident -- the entire order occupies a single line above his bold signature and "Sec'y" rank designation.

Fine condition, folds as expected, archivally sleeved.    [ss][ph:L]

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