with the army, had opened the river; but he distrusted the
consent of the Secretary to his running the great risk involved in the
passage of Port Hudson. As Grant was ordered to take Vicksburg, so was
Farragut ordered to blockade the Red River; and as Grant did not notify
the commander-in-chief of his final great resolve to cut loose from his
base, until it was too late to stop him, so did Farragut keep within his
own breast a resolve upon which he feared an interdict. For even after
two years of war the department was embarrassed for ships, and the
policy of economy, of avoiding risks, the ever fatal policy of a halting
warfare, was forced upon it--an impressive illustration of the effect
exerted by inadequate preparation upon the operations of war. For lack
of ships, Mobile was in 1863 still in the hands of the enemy. "I would
have had it long since or been thrashed out of it," wrote Farragut six
weeks before Port Hudson. "I feel no fears on the subject; _but they do
not wish their ships risked, for fear we might not be able to hold the
Mississippi_." A similar reluctance might be anticipated to expose such
valuable vessels as attacked Port Hudson, when their loss was so hard to
repair; for only men of the temper of Farragut or Grant--men with a
natural genius for war or enlightened by their knowledge of the
past--can fully commit themselves to the hazard of a great
adventure--can fully realize that a course of timid precaution may
entail the greatest of risks.

[Footnote U: The full text of this order was as follows. It committed
the department to nothing.

"NAVY DEPARTMENT, _October 2. 1862_.

"SIR: While the Mississippi River continues to be blockaded at
Vicksburg, and until you learn from Commander D. D. Porter, who
will be in command of the Mississippi squadron, that he has, in
conjunction with the army, opened the river, it will be necessary
for you to guard the lower part of that river, especially where
it is joined by the Red River, the source of many of the supplies
of the enemy. I am respectfully, etc.,

"GIDEON WELLES.
"_Secretary of the Navy._"

That five months elapsed between the date of this order and
Farragut's action, without anything more definite, shows clearly
that the department took no responsibility. On the other hand, it
is right to say that it showed a generous appreciation of the
effort, and did not complain about the