[president LINCOLN TO G. V. FOX]
I sincerely regret that the failure of the late attempt to provision Fort Sumpter should be the source of any annoyance to you. The practicability of your plan was not, in fact, brought to a test. By reason of a gale, well known in advance to be possible, and not improbable, the tugs, an essential part of the plan, never reached the ground ; while, by an accident, for which you were in no wise responsible, and possibly I to some extent was, you were deprived of a war vessel, with her men, which you deemed of great importance to the enterprize.
I most cheerfully and truly declare that the failure of the undertaking has not lowered you a particle, while the qualities you developed in the effort have greatly heightened you in my estimation. For a daring and dangerous enterprize, of a similar character you would to-day be the man, of all my acquaintances, whom I would select.
You and I both anticipated that the cause of the country would be advanced by making the attempt to provision Fort Sumpter, even if it should fail; and it is no small consolation now to feel that our anticipation is justified by the result.
Very truly your friend
(Signed) A. LINCOLN
[G. V. FOX TO MRS. FOX]
Washington D.C. 4th May 1861
Dry,
I wrote you yesterday and to-day I forward you a copy of the Pres letter to me. Under no circumstances is any mention of it whatever to get into the papers. The whole history of the affair is in able hands and in due time will appear, and the effect of that coming would be destroyed by any premature notice. I have no objection to Mrs. Wetmore' seeing it as she has somewhat shared your feelings. The Pres wants me to take a ship in the navy, but Blair thinks I better go . . . . . .
Robert Means Thompson & Richard Wainwright,, Editors, Confidential Correspondence of Gustavus Vasa Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy 1861-1865, Books for Libraries Press, Freeport, New York,
First Published 1920, Reprinted 1972 pp. 43/4
https://ia800504.us.archive.org/9/items/confidentialcorr01foxg/confidentialcorr01foxg_bw.pdf