Diary of Gideon Welles-Secretary of Navy, USA

[Emmanuel Dabney]

The diaries of Gideon Welles, published in 1911 are available on Google books in full view and for download.

1861-March 30, 1864: http://tinyurl.com/2zvqgx
April 1, 1864-December 31, 1866: http://tinyurl.com/3yylkf
January 1, 1867-December 31, 1869: http://tinyurl.com/3d6s74

[Union Navy]

Re: Diary of Gideon Welles-Secretary of Navy, USA

Thanks for the link!
I've read through most of it, and learned some fascinating things, to wit:

Welles' opinion of Admiral Porter was realisitic - that he was a puffed-up opportunist, but bold and energetic in the Union cause.

Seward gave him much trouble through lack of consultation and nearly complete ignorance of international and maritime law, plus a fawning worship of the British. Seward always though if himself as the power behind the throne, and acted accordingly.

Stanton he perceived as imperious and uncooperative, ruled by strong emotions and always involved in intrigues, especially with Seward.

Halleck was seen as a waste, always rubbing his elbows and full of indecision

He read men accurately, and saw Chase as a politcally ambitious radical with only rudimantary knowledge of finances.

He thought very highly of Farragut and Gens. Thomas and Sherman, and was close to the Blairs and Bates.

Of Lincoln, he thought that the president did best when he used his own knowledge and intuition, and worst when influenced by Seward and Stanton and Seward's other half, New York politician Thurlow Weed.

He was a man of definite and consistent opinions, and would not be moved from what he thought was right.

While not an easy read, it is well worth the trouble for an insider's view of the cabinet and the war, written at the time and not years later. The behind-the-scenes discussions of what reconstruction would look like are fascinating, as are the attempts to pull Welles and his department into the political machinery.