American Historical Ephemera & Photography

DAVIS, C. H., Rear Admiral.  Ls., 1 p., 4to, on stationery of the “Bureau of Navigation / Navy Department / Washington,” to Lt. Colonel A. H. Bowman, granting him leave of absence, following which he is to “report to me for duty as a member of the Western Navy Yard Commission.” Davis commanded the Western Gun Boat Flotilla, and won a key engagement in the Battle of Memphis, 6 June 1862.  In July, along with Farragut, he participated in the attack on Vicksburg, which yielded disappointing results.  He returned to Washington to lead the Bureau of Navigation, duty for which his earlier work in the United States Coast Survey had prepared him.  Hamilton, an Army Engineer, supervised the construction of the defenses at Charleston Harbor, including Fort Sumter.

BROWN, A. G.  ALs, from Senate Chamber, 28 December 1864, implicitly to the White House: “I would be obliged to the President for suggestions in regard to amending the written bill.  It passed the Senate in the form it has in the enclosed copy [not present].  It may be further amended in the House so as to make it conform more precisely to the President’s views.  It is desirable to hear the suggestions early so as not to delay the House.” Docketed on verso: “A. G. Brown, Richmond, VA, 28 December 1864 . . . .  The bill to increase the number of acting midshipmen and to preserve the [obscured work] appointment. . . .”

An Act to adjust appropriations henceforth made for the civil service of the Navy Department made to the present organization of that department and other acts of Congress.  Passed at the Third Session of the Thirty-Seventh Congress.  Headed “Laws of the United States Relating to the Navy.” 20 pp.  Vertical fold and some soiling to last page. WITH: Paymaster in the Navy, His Duties and Responsibilities.  Includes extracts from a Senate Report, Official letters by government officials, and “Duty of Paymasters for Sea Service,” pp. 7 – 12.  Vertical fold, creasing and soiling of first and last pages.  WITH: “War Department, / Adjutant General’s Office, / Washington, DC, November 16, 1863.”  Printed text of a letter addressed to “Sir.”  I am instructed to inform you that enlisted men detached for duty in the Western Gunboat Service, in 1861 and 1862, will be dropped from the rolls of the Army, as being no longer held to service in it under the enlistment in which they were serving at the time of transfer.”  Facsimile signature of Samuel[?] Peck[?]. Asst. Adjutant General.

[With:] General Orders, No. 89, Head Quarters, District of Western Tennessee, Jackson, Tenn., 7 October 1862, publishing Lincoln’s congratulations to Grant on his “recent battles” and expressing concern about the health of other Illinoisans, Gen. Hackleman and Gen. Oglesby.  Single leaf printed on recto, with pinholes in left margin, far from text, for binding. -- Printed text of General Orders, No. 55, War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, 14 December 1846, firmly establishing lines of communication between the Army and “the Executive Departments of the Government.”

[Also with:] 2 pp., folio, n.d., Army pay records, including name, rank, number of times and dates absent, as well as pay, for an unidentified Army unit. -- Fourteen miscellaneous letters and documents, mostly war years relating to the Union Navy, with a few post-war items. A few of the others relate to O. B. Gilman, though not to the USS E. B. Hale.  -- Five additional miscellaneous documents predominantly associated with the Navy.

Together, approximately 30 documents.