Summary:  Tattnall, who then commanded the naval station at Sackett’s Harbor, on Lake Ontario, declares his intention to travel to Washington to personally deliver his resignation to President Buchanan, and then to head south to join Georgia’s navy. “I have just received the copy of the Ordinance of the Georgia Convention, and leave tomorrow for Washington, there to resign and take a kind farewell of my Commander in Chief (the President)…”

Josiah Tattnall. Autograph Letter Signed, to Henry C. Wayne. Sackett’s Harbor, N.Y., February 10, 1861. 1 p. 248 x 200 mm. Marked unofficial.

Inventory # 21768   $2,500

Complete Transcript:
Unofficial.
                                                                          Sacket’s Harbor
                                                                          10th. February 1861 }
My Dear General,
          I have just received the copy of the Ordinance of the Georgia Convention, and leave tomorrow for Washington, there to resign and take a kind farewell of my Commander in Chief (the President). I shall then hasten to Savannah.
          I had intended to resign when the Georgia Senators retired from Washington, but deferred it by the advice of Mr. Toombs, and in consequence of the remarks of Mr. Iverson on the occasion of his retiring from the Senate, which latter seemed to point to an adjustment.
          I had intended to address the Governor of Georgia officially, through your office, by this mail, but have thought it proper to defer doing so, until I shall be quite clear of the old government.
          Will you however do me the favor to inform his Excellency (unofficially) of my movements.
                                                Yours with great regard
                                                 Josiah Tattnall.
General
Henry. C. Wayne

Historical Background:
On January 19, 1861, Georgia became the fourth state to secede. Commodore Tattnall’s  resignation from the U.S. Navy was preceded only by that of John McIntosh Kell. Eleven days after writing this letter, Tattnall arrived in Washington and delivered his resignation to Secretary of the Navy Isaac Toucey, despite the personal appeal of President-elect Lincoln for him to stay. On February 28, 1861, Georgia Governor Joseph Brown commissioned Tattnall Senior Flag Officer of the Georgia Navy.

Josiah Tattnall (1794-1871) was a U.S. Naval officer during the War of 1812, the Second Barbary War, and the Mexican War. As part of the crew of the Constellation, Tattnall helped defend Norfolk against the British in 1813, and earned promotion to lieutenant in 1818, and to commander in 1836. He commanded the Spitfire in the Gulf of Mexico during the Mexican War, taking part in the attack on Veracruz, where he was wounded. Promoter to Commodore, Tattnall served two years in the East India Squadron, violating American neutrality while coming to the assistance of a British squadron under fire at the mouth of the Hai River. His explanation, “Blood is thicker than water,” subsequently became a famous slogan. His return voyage in 1860 carried the first diplomatic embassy from Japan to the U.S. Tattnall resigned and was commissioned senior flag officer of the Georgia state navy in 1861. He led the defense of Port Royal until the harbor was captured by Union forces in November 1861. Obtaining a commission as flag officer in the Confederate Navy, he was then reassigned to overall command of the defenses of Norfolk and the James River. He ordered the destruction of his famous flagship, the C.S.S. Virginia (formerly U.S.S. Merrimack) on May 11, 1862, and was court-martialed, and cleared of all charges. He was sent back home to help defend the Georgia coast, and was captured by Sherman at Savannah in late 1864.