Description:

Slavery
Key West, FL, Charleston, SC, ca. 1862, 1863
Civil War/Slavery Contrabands in U.S. Navy
Archive

[CIVIL WAR, SLAVERY.] Two documents relating to slavery in the Civil War:
James L. Lardner, Letter Signed, to James C. Williamson, October 27, 1862, Flagship USS St. Lawrence, Key West, Florida. 1 p., 7.75" x 9.75". Expected folds; light soiling; very good.
Commodore Thomas Turner, Manuscript Letter, to James H. Strong, March 31, 1863, USS New Ironsides, Charleston, South Carolina. 2 pp., 8.25" x 13.5". Sheets attached with ribbon; expected folds; scattered light staining; very good.

This pair of documents illustrates how the United States Navy dealt with escaped slaves during the Civil War. The first document is a letter requiring commanders to make a monthly return of how many contrabands worked on each Navy vessel. The second document informed the commander of a blockading ship that Confederates were using a ploy to deliver torpedoes (floating mines) near Union vessels. Their small boats would claim to contain "contrabands" (escaped slaves) or deserters to allow them to get near Union naval vessels, where they would deploy their torpedoes.

Excerpts
[Lardner:] "An order of the Honble Secretary of the Navy, of the 30th of April last to which my attention has been recently called by the Department; requires ‘A Monthly return to be made of the number of "Contrabands," employed on board of each vessel of the Navy.'"

[Turner:] "The following information has been communicated by one of the crew of a prize vessel, which may or may not be reliable.
"‘The enemy have some small skiffs prepared which are intended to bring out torpedos, approach and drop them near vessels, and then pull off.'
"These skiffs pretend to contain contrabands or soldiers having deserted—they advise us to look out sharp, and be careful not to permit these boats to come near our vessels, until overhauled."


James L. Lardner (1802-1881) was born in Philadelphia. He became a midshipman in the U.S. Navy in 1820 and received a series of promotions to lieutenant (1828), commander (1851), captain (1861), and commodore (1862). During the Civil War, he commanded the USS Susquehanna (1861-1862) and served in the East Gulf Blockading Squadron (1862-1863) and the West Indies Squadron (1863-1865). He retired from the Navy in November 1864, and he was promoted to a rear admiral retired in July 1866.

James C. Williamson (1813-1871) was born in New Jersey and was appointed to the U.S. Navy as a midshipman in 1832. He was promoted to Lieutenant in November 1844. During his service, he served as paymaster and executive officer of the USS Brooklyn. He was commissioned Commander in April 1861 and commanded the USS Wyandotte, the USS Perry, the USS Penguin, the USS Flag, and the USS Dai Ching. He later commanded the Brooklyn Navy Yard. During the Civil War, he served in the South Atlantic and East Gulf Blockading Squadrons. He married Theresa Keene Wilmarth (1817-1885). He was promoted to Captain effective October 10, 1866, but did not receive additional pay and spent the rest of his life pursuing it. He was stationed at the Boston Navy Yard until 1869.

Thomas Turner (1807-1883) was born in Virginia and raised on a plantation in Fauquier County. He joined the Navy as a midshipman in 1825. He served on a variety of ships in the Mediterranean and Caribbean in the 18320s and 1830s. During the Mexican War, he was deployed with the Home Squadron, then returned to the Philadelphia Navy Yard. In the 1850s, he served in the Brazil Squadron and was promoted to commander in 1855. He remained loyal to the Union during the Civil War. He was promoted to captain in July 1882 and to commodore in December 1862. He commanded the armored frigate USS New Ironsides. He was assigned to special duty in New York City in 1864 and in Philadelphia in 1866. He was promoted to rear admiral in 1868 and served as commander of the South Pacific Squadron. He retired in April 1870, and he and his wife settled in Philadelphia.

James H. Strong (1814-1882) was born in New York and attended a polytechnic college. He became a midshipman in the U.S. Navy in 1829 and made his first cruise on the Brazil Station from 1833 to 1835. In April 1861, Strong was promoted to commander. He commanded ships in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron (1861-1862) and the West Gulf Blockading Squadron (1863-1865). He received a commendation and a promotion to captain for his actions at the Battle of Mobile Bay. After the war, he served at the Brooklyn Navy Yard (1866-1867), in the Mediterranean Squadron (1869-1870), and the South Atlantic Squadron (1873-1875). He retired in 1876 and died in South Carolina.


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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