Commandant S. H. Stringham Letter 18 June 1851
Commandants Office
Navy Yard Gosport
18 June 1851
Sir,
Your letter of the 16th in reply to mine of the 12th is received.
The object I had in view was the employment of suitable persons to attend to the execution of the orders of superior officers in moving ship's &c, and in conveying orders to different parts of the yard, to the Hospital, Fort Norfolk and to St Helena at which places operations are soon to commence as you are aware. Also to take charge of Boats, and deliver to ships in the harbor such communications and directions the commandant may find necessary to send.
My boats crew now consists of seven men, one of whom I may discharge, and shall retain the excess two until I hear from you again. There men, when not on boat duty are employed taking care of the public grounds and other property. That number is not more than sufficient to man the commandants boat. If the number be reduced to four, there will be but three pullers in my boat, when I am not in her myself, too few to make any headway against the current here. The improvements now in progress and soon to commence at the points named above will send or my frequent presence there absolutely necessary; and I submit to the Bureau if when on this duty my boat should be maned with a number less than the boat of any Captain who may be in the harbor. The Yard is very different situated from those at the North, here, there is no communication by ferry with Norfolk after night, and consequently we have to depend upon the boat to communicate with that city should decisions require it, which is not unfrequent at night.
I am Respectfully,
your obedient servant,
S. H. Stringham
Captain
Comm Joseph Smith
Chief of the Burrow of Yards & Docks
Washington
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Source of Information
National Archives, Record Group 71 Bureau of Yards and Docks
Letters Recieved from Commandants of Navy Yards -- Norfolk
July 11 1850 - April 30 1852
Box No. 156, Entry 5