1864 CIVIL War Navy Department Letter From Gustavus V. Fox General Grant

We are offering a hand-written letter dated May 20, 1864, on Navy Department letterhead, from Assistant Secretary of the Navy Gustavus V. Fox wrote "Unofficial" at the top of the letter [we assume because what he was about to write was "off the record"]. The letter reads, "I have your kind note of the 17th and in response to your feeling and interest, I enclose my official letter to the company, which seems to free both parties of responsibility as to pricing".

[Not having that letter in our possession, we don't know what he was referring to] Our success in front at the front lines? Has met with a check by the rebels? , but I feel confident that Grant will go around the enemy who cannot retreat without losing Richmond. We don't know what Fox meant by this, but he apparently was referring to a strategic maneuver by General Grant that would prevent the enemy from retreating and force them to surrender. We assume this was during Grant's Overland Campaign in Virginia of May and June of 1864.

The letter is signed Very respectfully, G.

---