It was not too late. A naval officer dispatched from the New York Navy Yard, under the direction of the Department of the Navy, did catch up to the Powhatan while at sea and gave him the orders to give up the ship, but Porter, recognizing that Seward (the Department of State) signed the order, refused to obey under the obligation as the assigned officer that only the President could reverse his secret orders....Seward was no dummy.

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David Upton