Description:

Civil War
various, May 12, 1862 - August 12, 1864
Civil War-Dated Naval Directives Signed by Gideon Welles & J.A.B. Dahlgren, 3 Pcs Total, 1862-1864
LSs, PPDS
Three Civil War-dated naval directives, including two signed by a pair of prominent U.S. Navy officials: Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles (1802-1878), and Rear Admiral and Commanding Officer of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron John A.B. Dahlgren (1809-1870). The three letters are dated: May 12, 1862; August 5, 18[62]; and August 12, 1864. Various locations. Condition issues will be evaluated below but is overall near fine. The largest size is: 8.375" x 13.75."

All three letters contained orders for James C. Williamson (1813-1871), a career naval officer who saw significant Civil War service. Williamson, an officer since 1832, took control of the U.S.S. Brooklyn and U.S.S. Wyandotte at the onset of the Civil War. Then he commanded the U.S.S. Perry, tasked with confiscating Confederate mail ships. In early 1862, he assumed command of the U.S.S. Penguin, primarily stationed in Florida and part of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. In May 1863, Williamson became the commanding officer of the U.S.S. Flag, also part of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, which patrolled the waters off South Carolina and Georgia. In February 1865, Williamson was transferred to the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

The lot is comprised of, in chronological order:

1. A 1p manuscript letter signed by Samuel Francis DuPont (1803-1865) in his capacity as Flag Officer Commanding the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, as "S.F. DuPont" near lower right. May 12, 1862. Aboard the Flag Ship "Wabash" moored in Port Royal Harbor, South Carolina. On laid blue-lined bifold legal sized paper. Docketed on the outer leaf. The inner pages are blank. Flattened folds and isolated edge darkening, else near fine. 8" x 12.5."

Lieutenant Williamson of the U.S.S. Penguin was instructed to return to Port Royal, South Carolina, to be replaced by the U.S.S. Wyandotte. Noting the lack of recent Confederate blockade-running activity in the vicinity of Mosquito Inlet (today known as Ponce de Leon Inlet, a natural opening of barrier islands in central Florida), DuPont also inquired whether the Union Navy steamer U.S.S. Henry Andrew could be released from the area for service elsewhere. Evidently Lieutenant Williamson concurred, since the U.S.S. Henry Andrew was dispatched north to South Carolina, arriving there in June 1862. Just two months later, U.S.S. Henry Andrew was wrecked off Cape Hatteras without loss of life.

In part: "I wish particularly to know if you deem the presence of the Henry Andrew any longer necessary inside the Bar - The Live Oak being burnt and no attempts made to run the blockade, I should think the Wyandotte would cover the inlet sufficiently…"

2. A 1p partly printed and partly manuscript letter signed by Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles as "Gideon Welles" at center right. August 5, 18[62]. Navy Department, Washington, D.C. On bifold paper. Docketed on the first page along the left margin. The inner pages are blank. Light, even toning, flattened transmittal folds, and isolated edge chipping, else near fine. 8" x 9.875."

Secretary of the Navy Welles announced Williamson's promotion to the "grade of a Commander, on the Active List, in the United States Navy… to take rank next after Commander Francis Winslow."

Gideon Welles served as Secretary of the Navy during the entire duration of the Civil War and into the Johnson administration. In the Lincoln cabinet, Welles focused on reorganizing a naval service riddled with Confederate defections, and mobilizing recruits, vessels, and supplies. Throughout the war, Welles and his navy blockaded Southern ports, weakening an economy already overly dependent on cotton exports. Welles retired from the secretaryship in early May 1869.

3. A 2pp manuscript letter signed by Rear Admiral John A.B. Dahlgren as "JA Dahlgren" on the second page. August 12, 1864. "Flag Steamer Philadelphia / Port Royal Harbor, S.C." On blue-lined bifold legal sized paper. Docketed on the outer leaf. Expected wear including flattened paper folds, else near fine. 8.375" x 13.75."

Rear Admiral J.A.B. Dahlgren submitted revisions to the Court Record concerning the "proceedings of the Court in the case of Acting Ensign Thomas…" A precedent case against one Acting Master Jack is cited as an example of "adequate punishment."

John A.B. Dahlgren founded the U.S. Navy's ordnance department and made major advances in gunnery. Promoted to Rear Admiral in February 1863, Dahlgren took command of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, where he worked with General Quincy A. Gillmore on the siege of Charleston and with General William T. Sherman on the capture of Savannah in December 1864.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: largest: 8.375" x 13.75"
  • Medium: LSs, PPDS

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