Attorney general during the Civil War (1793–1869). War-dated ALS signed “Edw Bates,” one page both sides, 5 x 8, Attorney General’s Office letterhead, January 29, 1862. Letter of introduction for ironclad builder James B. Eads to Captain John Dahlgren. In part: “I make free to present to you two of my friends. 1st my son, Judge Barton Bates, of the Sup. Court of Mo. and James B. Eads Esq. of St. Louis, Mo. My son is a native of Missouri, now on his first visit east of the Mountains, has never before seen tide water, & of course, is ignorant of all the means & machinery of naval warfare. My friend Mr. Earl is thoroughly skilled in steam enginery & in all departments of river navigation. He is the constructor of the principal iron clad gun boats of Miss. flotilla.” In fine condition. At the behest of his friend Edward Bates, Eads was contracted to construct the City-class ironclads and produced seven ships in a matter of just five months. These river ironclads were a vital element to Union naval operations. RR Auction COA.
