American Historical Ephemera and Photography Featuring the Civil War and American Militaria Collection of Bruce B. Hermann

Autograph letter signed (damage to signature). U.S. Gunboat Seneca, Ossabaw Sound, GA, [spring/summer 1862]. 1 page, legal 4to, foot of bifolium is lacking. Name of the writer torn away at foot, from onboard the Seneca at Ossabaw Sound, Ga, providing signals for a possible engagement between USS Seneca, Dawn, and C.P. Williams, on the one hand, and Confederate ships Nashville and Fingal. During the spring and summer of 1862, these US blockading ships and Confederate blockade runners engaged from Port Royal, SC, to the Georgia coast. “Herewith I send a drawing of the distinguishing pennants on this blockade, with directions.” He follows with signals to be used by US ships with specific reference to the CSS Nashville and Fingal. The letter ends: “in the event of a general engagement a Red light shown aloft will distinguish friendly vessels, and if enemy should copy, then all lights to be obscured & fire at discretion.” A rare survival.

[With:] TOUCEY, Isaac (1792-1869). Letter signed ("I Toucey"). Navy Department, 2 March 1861. 1 page, 4to, docketing. Detaching Henry L. Howison from the Pawnee and instructing him to await orders.  At the foot in a second hand: “Forwarded / Frankn Buchanan / Comdt.” Franklin Buchanan (1800-1874) had a 45-year career with the US Navy before he eventually became captain and later admiral in the Confederate Navy. This letter is sent before he resigned his commission on 22 April 1861, anticipating Maryland's secession. This, however, never came and when he attempted to recall his resignation, it was denied by Gideon Welles. -- WELLES, Gideon. Letter signed ("Gideon Welles"), to J. W. Saunders. Navy Department, 18 July 1863. 1 page, 4to. Granting the Acting Master of the U.S.S. Dawn, an additional three weeks leave of absence of the initial leave granted by Admiral Paulding. -- WELLES, Gideon. Letter signed ("Gideon Welles") to Henry C. Tallman. Washington, D.C., Navy Department, 6 October 1863. 1 page, 4to. When he is relieved by Lt. Comm. Beardslee, Tallman is to regard himself as detached from the Wachusett and waiting orders. In October 1863, Beardslee transferred from the Nantucket to this vessel.

[Also with:] 3 documents related to Fort Monroe: DAHLGREN, John A. (1809-1870). Autograph letter signed ("Jno. A. Dahlgren), as Chief of Ordnance Bureau, to Rear Admiral Samuel Philips Lee. Fortress Monroe, 14 February 1863. 2 pages, 8vo, on Bureau of Ordnance letterhead, red pencil reads "Immediate." Dahlgren instructs Lee, on behalf of the Navy Department, to send, “with utmost dispatch a message to Beaufort with orders to intercept the Ordnance Store vessel Paramount, before entering the port if possible, direct her to proceed at once to Port Royal and report to Rear Admiral Dupont.  This order is important.” -- GUEST, John. Autograph letter signed ("John Guest"). U.S.S. Sangamon, Fortress Monroe, 15 February 1863 1 page, 4to. “I shall relieve the Nahant at daylight tomorrow. The fog has been too thick for her to get out to night so far.” The Sangamon was an ironclad monitor assigned initially to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. The Nahant, also an ironclad monitor, had orders to report to Port Royal, SC, where, on February 20, she joined the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.  On March 3, she engaged in her first battle, participating in the bombardment of Fort McAllister, an installation defending Savannah, GA. Guest participated in the attacks at Vicksburg and the capture of Fort Fisher. -- FULTON, C.C. Letter draft signed ("C.C. Fulton") to Gustavus A. Fox. [Fort Monroe], 5-11 March n.y. 4 pages, 4to. Detailing activity on the water at Fort Monroe and elsewhere.

[Also with:] 2 Documents related to the USS Chippewa: STRIBLING, Cornelius Kinchiloe. Letter signed ("C.K. Stribling"). Philadelphia, U.S. Navy Yard, 29 September 1864. 1 page, 4to, docketing to verso. Granting Acting Master Saunders, USS Chippewa, Philadelphia Navy Yard, a leave of absence for a week from the above date.  The Chippewa joined the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron off South Carolina and Georgia and, in December 1864 and in January 1865[?], participated in the bombardment and capture of Fort Fisher, which fell on 15 January 1865.  This key victory cut off Wilmington, SC, a major supply port for the Confederacy. -- Weekly return of Articles Expended. U.S.S. Chippewa, 3 December 1864. 2 pages, legal 4to. List of supplies, from a ball of spun yarn to a lamp chimney and half-inch screws. A few weeks later the Chippewa would be one of 56 vessels under D. D. Porter participating in the first bombardment of Fort Fisher.