Why does Lincoln still matter?

[L Verge]

Speaking of ships, I ran across this tidbit the other day while working on the next issue of the Surratt Courier:

Thursday July 16 1863
NIPPONESE NAVAL NAUGHTINESS NEGATED

It is seldom noted, but the first naval battle between ships of the United States and Japan occurred today, and in connection with the American Civil War. The USS Wyoming was searching for the feared Confederate commerce raider Alabama. She pulled in to dock at Yokohama unaware that the authorities had just ordered every foreigner to leave Japan immediately. In addition, foreign ships were forbidden to use the Straits of Shimonoseki. Wyoming’s captain, David Stockton McDougal, objected to this and sailed into the straits. There he faced most of the Japanese navy, as well as shore batteries. In a fierce fight, several junks were sunk and some batteries destroyed. McDougal won, at the cost of five dead, six wounded and some damage to the ships. A larger international fleet later forced the Japanese to retract the expulsion orders and reopen the straits.