GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy to William H. Seward, February 20, 1864

Mr. Welles to Mr. Seward

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th instant, enclosing an extract from a despatch of Mr. Dayton of the 26th ultimo, relative to the efforts that are to be made, according to rumor, by the secessionists next spring, and expressing regret that of the great number of our ships of war enough could not have been spared to look after the small rebel cruisers now in French ports, &c.

In connexion with the remarks of Mr. Dayton I may be permitted to state that it is not the want of ships that prevents a more vigorous pursuit and a more strict surveillance upon the movements of the rebel cruisers at this time, but of seamen to man them. It is a cause of regret that our seamen have (under the promise of large bounties and the refusal to credit, in ordering the draft, to the respective localities those who have entered the navy) enlisted in the army, and thus left us without men to man our ships.

Very respectfully, &c.,