Officer of the United States Navy (1821-1883) who served during the Mexican–American War, and as the first Assistant Secretary of the Navy during the Civil War. Civil War-dated ALS signed “G. V. Fox,” one page both sides, 5 x 8, July 30, 1864. Handwritten letter marked “Private” and addressed to Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren, in part: “Herewith are some interrogatories for you and the Genl. made on account of the persistent attacks of the papers that the monitors are no use at Charleston and only do what Dupont did with wooden vessels. I think you and the Genl can rectify such stupid assertions but we shall not publish the answer probably until the report of Dec. The engagement of the Alabama and Kearsarge is a vindication of your theory of pivots and big shell guns for that class of vessels.” In fine condition.
The United States Navy warship USS Kearsarge sunk the notorious Confederate States Navy warship CSS Alabama on June 19, 1864, off the coast of France in the historic Battle of Cherbourg. Alabama had been pursued for two years by the screw sloop-of-war USS Kearsarge, which, under Captain John Winslow, was armed with two 11-inch (279 mm) smoothbore Dahlgren guns that fired about 166 pounds of solid shot, four 32-pound guns, and one 30-pounder Parrott rifle. The conflict proved to be a matter of quality over quantity, as the well-placed and powerful shots of the Kearsarge proved far more effective than the scattered salvo sent forth by the Alabama.
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