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132 Chapter 7 Home-State Matters During his eight-year sojourn in Washington, Welles remained at heart a Connecticut Yankee, professing continued love for his native state and maintaining a keen interest in its people and politics. But as a member of Lincoln’s cabinet, he dealt with national issues and had to adopt a national perspective. Thus he refused to give parochial Connecticut interests priority over what he regarded as the national interest, even if it meant alienating some people back home. This chapter brings together all of the home-state matters that received more than a passing reference in the diary.1 • • • • • • • The most troublesome Connecticut-centered issue Welles faced was whether a new navy yard for the construction, maintenance, and repair of ironclad warships should be located in New London. Given the increasingly crucial role ironclads were playing, he saw an urgent need for such a yard. But he was convinced that Philadelphia, which had offered the Navy Department League Island in the Delaware River for the facility, was definitely the preferable site. The resulting controversy dragged on until shortly before Welles left office. December 3, 1862: Some grumbling I anticipated from New London and its vicinity for doing my duty. I last March addressed Congress through the Navy Committee on the need of a suitable navy yard and establishment for the construction of iron vessels and iron armor – and again in June. The suggestions drew from the city of Philadelphia an offer of 1 Wartime Connecticut is the subject of two fine studies: John Niven, Connecticut for the Union: The Role of the State During the Civil War (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1965) and Matthew Warshauer, Connecticut in the American Civil War: Slavery, Sacrifice, and Survival (Middletown, Conn.: Wesleyan University Press, 2011). Home-State Matters 133 League Island.2 Congress authorized me to accept it, but Senator Lafayette Foster of Connecticut procured a condition to be affixed that the Board which was to examine League Island should also examine and report on the harbor of New London, and the Rhode Island Senators had a further proviso that the waters of Narragansett Bay should be examined by the same board. For an iron navy yard and establishment neither myself nor any one else entertained a thought of New London or Narragansett Bay, nor would either be exactly suitable for iron vessels and machinery; fresh water is essential. Neither would Congress consent, nor does the country require four navy yards east of the Hudson.3 But the Board I appointed had some disagreement. Admiral [Silas] Stringham, Chairman of the Board, and a resident of Brooklyn, had a rival feeling as regards Philadelphia, and a partiality for New London, where he had studied in his youth. . . . The Board was divided and, forgetful of the great object in view – that of an establishment for iron vessels in fresh water – a majority reported that New London was the best place for such a navy yard. Not unlikely the fact that I am from Connecticut had its influence with some of them, though it has not with me. I am authorized by Congress to accept League Island if the Board report it suitable, but I am not authorized to accept of New London or Narragansett Bay. But I conclude to take no final step without giving Congress an opportunity to decide, though stating I propose to accept of League Island if Congress did not disapprove. I am acting for the country, not for any section and though I have a partiality for my State, and for New London, the shipping port of my father in former years, yet I should be unworthy of my place were I to permit local or selfish interests of any kind to control me against what is really best for the country. But, while convinced I am right, and deserving of approval, I shall encounter censure and abuse in quarters where I desire the good opinions of my fellow citizens.4 December 29, 1862: A committee has been appointed by the Legislature of Connecticut, of eight persons, to visit Washington and urge the selection of New London for a navy yard. Twelve hundred dollars are appropriated to defray their expenses. There has been no examination by the 2 There was already a navy yard in Philadelphia, but it was small and located in leased facilities. 3 The three existing yards east of the Hudson were in Brooklyn, Charlestown (Boston), and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. 4 It...

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