Description:

Civil War
various, March 23, 1862 - May 26, 1868
Civil War-Dated Or Era Naval Directives Signed by Gideon Welles & J.A.B. Dahlgren, 3 Pcs, 1862-1868
LSs, PPDS
A group of Civil War-dated or Civil War-era 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: March 23, 1862; August 5, 1864; and May 26, 1868. Various locations. Condition issues will be evaluated below but is overall near fine. The largest size is: 8" x 12.375."

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" at center right. March 23, 1862. Aboard the Flag Ship "Wabash" moored off Mosquito Inlet, Florida (today known as Ponce de Leon Inlet, a natural opening of barrier islands in central Florida). On laid blue-lined bifold legal sized paper. Docketed on the outer leaf. The inner pages are blank. Flattened folds, else near fine. 8" x 12.375."

Lieutenant Williamson was instructed to take command of the U.S.S. Penguin, to replace "Acting Lieut. T.A. Budd, her late commander, having it is supposed been either killed or taken prisoner by the rebels in an attack yesterday upon a boat expedition under his charge…"

Acting Lieutenant Thomas A. Budd (1818-1862) was killed on March 22, 1862 in Mosquito Inlet near Smyrna, on the east coast of Florida, when several boat crews from the U.S.S. Penguin and U.S.S. Henry Andrew were attacked by Florida infantry and cavalry volunteers from the shore. Lieutenant Budd, age 43, along with four others, were slain in the ambush. Budd had commanded the U.S.S. Penguin since the beginning of the Civil War during service in both the North Atlantic and South Atlantic Blockading Squadrons.

2. A 1p manuscript letter signed by Rear Admiral John A.B. Dahlgren as "JA Dahlgren" at lower right. August 5, 1864. "Flag Steamer Philadelphia / Port Royal Harbor [South Carolina]." On laid blue-lined bifold paper. Docketed on the outer leaf. The inner pages are blank. Expected wear including flattened paper folds and minor weathering to the outer leaf, else near fine. 7.875" x 9.875."

Rear Admiral J.A.B. Dahlgren asked for Williamson's opinion regarding the timely outfitting of the U.S.S. Norwich, a Union Navy steamer. In part: "I have not been satisfied that the Commander of the 'Norwich' has used his best efforts to advance the completion of his vessel for sea…" Built in Norwich, Connecticut in 1861, the U.S.S. Norwich was a part of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, serving in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Earlier in the year, in February 1864, the U.S.S. Norwich had been involved in intense fighting in and around Jacksonville, Florida; it is perhaps possible that she became unseaworthy after this engagement.

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.

3. A 1p partly printed and partly manuscript letter signed by Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles as "G. Welles" at center right. May 26, 1868. Navy Department, Washington, D.C. On pale blue bifold paper. Docketed in several places on the first page and outer leaf, including a partial Paymaster hand-stamp. The inner pages are blank. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds, and a stray ink smear at the bottom of the first page, else near fine. 8" x 10."

Secretary of the Navy Welles summoned Williamson to an upcoming "Naval General Court Martial…conven[ing] at the Navy Yard at Philadelphia Penn/a at 12.o'clock. noon on the first day of June 1868…" The dockets relating to mileage reimbursement indicate that Williamson attended the court martial proceedings as instructed.

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.

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" x 12.375"
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