Item description: Sent from Acting Rear-Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee to Gideon Welles, who was U. S. Secretary of Navy, this telegram discusses military movements in the Fort Powhatan and Wilson’s Wharf region of Virginia, especially that of African American Union troops.
James River, May 29, 1864–10 p. m.
(Via Fortress Monroe, 6 p. m., 30th. Received 7:20 p. m.)
Went to Fort Powhatan and Wilson’s Wharf to-day. The Pequot, Atlanta, Dawn, and Young America will effectually aid the troops. One colored regiment at each place to hold against great odds these important positions, which the army is fortifying.
General [E. A.] Wild had 900 colored troops at Wilson’s Wharf and two 20-pounder Parrotts and no other artillery when he was attacked. He says the enemy used no artillery, and were, he thinks, 2,000 strong. He stated to me that the gunboats were of great assistance to him in repelling the attack.
S. P. LEE
Hon. GIDEON WELLES,
Secretary of Navy.
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Item citation: Official records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion.. Series I, Volume 10. Washington : G.P.O., 1899. C970.75 U58no Ser. I, Vol. 10. North Carolina Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.