John Dahlgren was the head of ordinance for the Union through the Civil War. John P. Hale was a Republican senator from New Hampshire.In this letter Dahlgren addresses the question of whether Ordnance should be a Bureau or a Directorship.
March 24th, 1862
The Hon. J. P. Hale
Chairman Naval Affairs
U.S. Senate
Dear Sir: In reply to your enquiry concerning the expense of a Directorship of ordnance,I have the following:
If the Directorship is authorized, then the Bureau will be abolished.
The differences of expense will be in favor of the change:…
…If the Washington Yard be converted into an Ordnance Yard, then the salary of a Commandant ($3500) will be spared. And the officers of the yard will become attached on Ordnance duty, which will increase the force and improve the efficiency of the organization.
So that there will be an actual economy so far as cost is concerned, and an organization substituted in every way more conducive to the direction of the affairs of Ordnance.
I am very truly
Yr Obed. Ser,
Jno A Dahlgren
Citation: Washington Navy Yard, Records 1859-1862. AMs 1202/11