American Historical Ephemera & Photography

RADFORD, William.  Autograph letter signed ("Wm Radford"), as Acting Rear Admiral, to Commodore T.A. Dornin. "Flag Steamer Phlox" at Hampton Roads, 2 May 1865. 1p, 4to (creasing at folds, adhesive residue on verso). Radford orders Dornin, commanding Baltimore Naval Station, to send Acting Asst. paymaster H. D. Kimberly to the USS Sassacus at Hampton Roads.

Autograph letter signed ("Wm Radford"), as Acting Rear Admiral, to Major General W. W. Halleck at Richmond. Norfolk, Virginia, 30 May 1865. 1 p, 4to (light soil, creasing at folds). Radford writes: “The Tristram Shandy ready at Hampton Roads.  Shall I send her to Richmond[,] or will you send prisoners down[?] Telegraph Senior Officer at Hampton Roads.” The Tristram Shandy, originally a Confederate supply steamer, was captured on 15 May 1864 and converted to a gunboat serving in the Gulf and with considerable success in the second attack on Fort Fisher.  She returned north to serve as a dispatch vessel in Hampton Roads. 

[With:] A letter signed by Radford, 1 p, 8vo, 3 May 1865, aboard the USS Phlox at Fortress Monroe, to Secretary of Navy Gideon Welles, informing him that Lt. Comm. Phythian “does not wish orders at present.” 

Radford, a Virginian who remained loyal to the Union, commanded the Ironclad Division in the attacks on Fort Fisher during December 1862 and January 1863. In May 1865 he served as commander of the North Atlantic Squadron.