THE NAFY IN THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN. 265
and Assistant Secretary Fox replied that the Monitor would be sufficientfor that purpose. Captain Fox said:
“ It was determined that the army should go by way of Fort Monroe. The Navy Depart-ment never was consulted at all, to my knowledge, in regard to anything connected with thematter. No statement "was ever made to us why they were going there beyond this.” j
General McClellan arrived at Old Point on the 2d of April, and imme-diately communicated with Flag-Officer Goldsborough. The advance ofthe army was to begin at once. Notwithstanding that he had previouslyconsidered it an essential part of his plan that Yorktown should be reducedby the navy, McClellan does not appear even at this time to have strenu-ously urged it, for Goldsborough afterward stated to the Committee on theConduct of the War that he performed every service in connection witharmy operations which was requested of him by General McClellan . It maybe that the naval attack on Yorktown and Gloucester was not pressed becauseMcClellan learned in this interview that it was impracticable. On thispoint Fox said:
MAPS OF THE “MONITOR” AND “MERRIMAC” FIGHT [SEE ALSO VOL. I., P. 692], AND OF OPERATIONS
IN THE YORK AND JAMES RIVERS.
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}On the 14th of March, Secretary Welles wroteto Secretary Stanton regarding McClellan ’s call fornaval assistance:
“If a movement is to be made upon Norfolk , always afavorite measure of tills Department, instant measureswill be taken to advise and strengthen Flag-OfficerGoldsborough; but unless such he the case, I should beVOL. II. 18
extremely reluctant to take any measure that wouldeven temporarily weaken the efficiency of the blockade.”
On the 17th Gen. McDowell wrote to McClellan :
“In connection with General Barnard I have had along conference with Assistant Secretary Fox, as tonaval cooperation. He promises all the power of theDepartment shall be at our disposal.” EDITORS.