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Commandant Charles H Bell Letter 15 September 1859

Commandants Office
Navy Yard Gosport
September 15th 1859

Sir,
I received your telegram, directing the “Anacostia” to be sent back to Washington with all possible dispatch at 5 PM yesterday. She left the yard at 7:30 but as she had a number of heavy shells to land at the Magazine (Fort Norfolk) she was detained there until midnight.
I telegraphed this morning that she would be in Washington at 6 AM tomorrow.

Very Respectfully,
your obedient servant,
Charles H Bell
Commandant

Commodore Joseph Smith
Chief of the Bureau of Yards & Docks
Washington D.C.

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Source of Information

National Archives, Record Group 71 Bureau of Yards and Docks

Letters Recieved from Commandants of Navy Yards -- Norfolk

April 4 1858 - June 26 1860

Box No. 159B, Entry 5