TLS signed “T. Roosevelt,” one page, 8 x 10.5, Navy Department, Washington letterhead, April 28, 1897. As Assistance Secretary of the Navy, Roosevelt writes to Lieutenant Edwards F. Leiper, US Navy, in full: “On May 15th, 1897, you will regard yourself detached from duty at the Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., and from such other duty as may have been assigned you, and will report to the Superintendent of the U. S. Naval Academy, on the same day, for duty on board the U. S. S. Monongahela.” Light show-through from printed endorsements on the reverse, bearing the signatures of the Superintendent of the Annapolis Naval Academy, and the Captain of the USS Monongahela, who acknowledges that Leiper has “Reported.” In very good condition, with scattered creasing, some light soiling along the top mailing fold, show-through from docketing and endorsements on reverse, a faint paperclip impression to the top edge, and a few staple marks to the top left corner.
The USS Monongahela was a barkentine-rigged screw sloop-of-war that participated in the Union blockade against the Confederacy during the Civil War. Assigned to Admiral Farragut's West Gulf Blockading Squadron, she served as his temporary flagship during the major assault on Port Hudson. In 1890, the sloop was refitted at the Portsmouth Naval Yard as a full-rigged ship to be used an apprentice training ship and on May 15, 1895 replaced the Constellation as the US Naval Academy Practice Ship, making annual cruises until war broke out with Spain in 1898.
Roosevelt had just been appointed to the post of assistant secretary of the navy by McKinley as a reward for his campaign support. The new secretary took an active part in naval expansion in which the New York Sun reported that "the liveliest spot in Washington...is the Navy Department. The decks are cleared for action. Acting Secretary Roosevelt…has the whole Navy bordering on a war footing. It remains only to sand down the decks and pipe to quarters for action." After the sinking of the SS Maine in Havana Harbor, Spain and the United States entered a brief war in which the Spanish surrendered on July 17, 1898. Leiper, who served on the USS New Orleans during the Spanish American War, was called in as a witness in the court inquiry of Rear Admiral Schley and his "lack of enterprise” during the Santiago campaign. Dewey, a former commander of the Monongahela, supported Schley, but was in the minority. Though no action was taken against the admiral, he appealed the verdict to Roosevelt who confirmed the earlier verdict. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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