Description:

Union Blockade Runners
various, ca. 1862/1863
Union Blockade Runner Collection, Including Documents Re: CSS Florida
Archive
A collection of five pieces related to Union blockade runners, namely four copies of signed documents sent to five different vessels with varying information pertinent to naval maneuvers and in particular the pursuit of the CSS Oreto, and one similar manuscript letter signed by James L. Lardner, commander of the East Gulf Blockading Squadron. The collection is in overall very good condition. Please see our images, and review terms regarding lots of five items or more.

1. A fair copy of a document from the commander of the USS Penguin, J. C. Williamson, one page, 7.75" x 9.75", "Off Cárdenas Cuba," August 28, 1862. To acting commander of the US Schooner Wanderer, in part: "…Flag Officer Lardner sent the 'Magnolia' to order all the vessels, off the Hold in the Wall, to Cárdenas to blockade or capture the Oreto, now in this Harbor… a force should be here as soon as possible…proceed with all dispatch to order such vessels…".

2. A manuscript letter signed, one page, 8.25" x 10", Key West, Sept. 3, 1863, from John L. Lardner, commander of the East Gulf Blockading Squadron. He directs J. C. Williamson, commander of the USS Penguin, "…as soon as you have finished coaling the 'Penguin' under your command, you will proceed in pursuit of the Oreto and use your utmost exertion to come with and seize that vessel…".

3. A fair copy of a order from Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles, one page, 8" x 9.5", Washington, June 3, 1862. It informs admiral Samuel Du Pont, commander of the USS Flag, that: "The consul at Nassau under the date of 19th ulto, states that the rebel fleet of steamers at that port are making preparations to leave in a body for the purple of breaking by stratagem or force [underlined] our coast Blockade at Charleston probably. Some of the larger steamers are reported to be well armed. The steamers are painted a light lead color, even to their smoke stacks, which will lessen the chances of their being seen. The steamer Cecile was loading at Nassau with muskets for Charleston…"

4. A fair copy of a document from the U.S. Consulate at Liverpool, four pages, 7.75" x 12", Liverpool, July 5, 1862 aboard the USS Consulate. Directed to William Seward, it offers a lengthy description of the boats at port, in small part: "…I may inform you that a few mornings since Capt. J. D. Bullock entered unquestioned the private dock where she lies & which is so jealously closed to others, went on board was saluted by the workmen, & appeared to give orders & be attended to as one in authority, also that all the cabin fittings & furniture were selected by him & were subject to his approval…Her engineers & crew have ben engaged but not regularly shipped. None of them are allowed on board & are only to come on board when she sails. The Rosalind…about which you are already advised is still here...I enclose here with also the official manifest of the Eliza Bonsell [not present] which sailed for Nassau…The salt petre in the E. Bonsell is probably that taken out of the Sophia", with more similar content…".

5. A fair copy of a document from the U.S. Consulate at Liverpool, three pages, 7.75" x 12", Liverpool, August 4, 1862, aboard the USS Adirondack. Directed to Secretary of the Navy Gideon wells, it comprises a length description of the events regarding steamships at Nassau, "…which are actively engaged in the violation of the blockade of the parts of those states in insurrection against the Government…'Melita' an iron propeller with 3 masts…'Stanley'… a 'side wheel' steamer 2 masts with great rake & a raking smoke stack…The 'Pacific' side wheel 2 pipes fpre & aft 3 masts…", and so on. A total of 12 vessels are noted, and the document concludes with sending information about intel from a telegram from the Agent Association Press regarding: "…A lifting propeller flat bottomed steam gunboat built by Laird at Birkenhead sailed from Queenstown for Nassau…about the 31st of July with a load of ball & shells. She has 8, 84 pdrs, Lancasters, 2 on swivels one forward the other aft, the rest are on carriages…She made 14 1/2 knots..".

CS Cruiser Florida was built by the British firm of William C. Miller & Sons and purchased by the Confederacy from Fawcett, Preston & Co., also of Liverpool, who engined her. Known in the shipyard as Oreto and initially called by the Confederates Manassas, the first of the foreign-built commerce raiders was commissioned Florida; Union records long continued to refer to her as Oreto or to confuse her with Alabama although, fitted with two funnels, she was readily distinguishable from single-stacked Alabama.

Oreto departed for the Bahamas on March 22, 1862, with her weapons, supplies and equipment sent secretly aboard the steamer Nassau. On August 17, 1862 and just 11 days before this document, Oreto was officially commissioned into the Confederate States Navy as CSS Florida under command of Lt. John Newland Maffitt, CSN. During her outfit in the Bahamas yellow fever raged among her crew, in 5 days reducing her effective force to one fireman and four deckhands. In desperate plight, she ran across to Cuba. There in Cárdenas Maffitt too was stricken with the dread disease. In this condition, against all probability, the intrepid Maffitt sailed her from Cárdenas to Mobile. In an audacious dash the "Prince of Privateers" braved a hail of projectiles from the Union blockaders and raced through them to anchor beneath the guns of Ft. Morgan for a hero's welcome by Mobile. Florida had been unable to fight back not only because of sickness but because rammers, sights, beds, locks and quoins had, inadvertently, not been loaded in the Bahamas from their separate supply ship. Having taken stores and gun accessories she lacked, along with added crew members, Florida escaped to sea 16 January 1863. [Naval History and Heritage Command].

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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