American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Two folio leaves on rectos only, except for Porter’s endorsement: “Respectfully Townsend & I recommend that the men be discharged[.] they have already been [kept?] a year longer than they supposed[?] for in good faith and I believe they were deceived. . . .” Signed “David D. Porter / Rear Aml.”  Porter endorses a letter, entirely in the hand of an amanuensis, from “the U.S.S Iron-clad Steamer ‘Essex / Memphis, Tenn.,” 12 July 1864, to Gideon Welles, from 25 crew members stating that they “volunteered in the West for the Mississippi Flotilla, for a term of two years or during the war. When two years expired we applied for our discharge and through some mistake we were down on the Books for During the War."  

"Now Sir, after having served nearly three years we are informed by Commdr Townsend that he has not the authority to give us our discharge when our three years expire. --” So they appeal directly to Welles.  Endorsed by Townsend: “Approved and / Respectfully Forwarded / (signed) Robert Townsend / Commdr / U.S.N. / Commdg.” On verso in pencil "To Rear Adml. D.D. Porter, &c. You will discharge from the service the following men on board the U.S.S. Essex." The second leaf lists the 25 men and their ranks. Townsend saw active combat in command of the Essex in 1863, in the Siege of Fort Hudson, and the capture of Fort de Russy.