Download Union Navy Blockade letters

AS COMMANDER OF THE UNION NAVY’S SOUTH ATLANTIC BLOCKADING SQUARDON,
SAMUEL DU PONT ORDERS A TOW INTO NEW YORK HARBOR
21) SAMUEL FRANCIS DU PONT (1803-1865). A member of the noted American Du Pont family, Samuel
Francis Du Pont was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy. He commanded the South Atlantic Blockading
Squadron during the Civil War.
LS. 1pg. 7 ¾” x 9 ¾”. April 27, 1863. Port Royal Harbor, South Carolina. A letter signed “S. F. Du Pont” as
Commander of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, an operation in which Union Navy ships attempted to
prevent ships from entering or leaving Southern harbors in order to stifle Confederate trade. The letter is addressed
to Commander Thomas Patterson of the ironclad ship USS James Adger, the flagship vessel of the South Atlantic
Blockading Squadron: “Sir, Y ou will please proceed to north Edisto prepared to take in tow the U.S. Iron Clad
Passaic. Captain P. Drayton reporting to him for this purpose, that vessel having been ordered to New York. I can
ill spare the services of the ‘James Adger’ from this Squadron, but as you have experience in the service of towing
these peculiar vessels, I have detached you for this duty. You will on your arrival at New York report to Rear
Admiral Paulding Commandant of the Station, and unless detained by him, or the Secretary of the Navy you will
without unnecessary delay in taking in supplies & return to Port Royal calling off Charleston as you pass.
Respectfully Your Obdt. Servt. S.F. Du Pont Rear Admiral Commanding So. Atl. Blockading Squadron.” Du Pont,
Patterson, Drayton, the USS James Adger, and the USS Passaic would all play important roles in the efforts to
recapture Southern ports. The letter is in fine condition. $750.00
NAVAL COMMANDER GOLDSBOROUGH INSTRUCTS THE BLOCKADING SQUADRON TO STOCK
UP FOR THE PROJECTED FALL OF RICHMOND IN 1862: “TAKE ON BOARD AS MANY
PROJECTILES AND OTHER ORDNANCE STORES FOR THEIR OWN USE AS THEY CAN POSSIBLY
ACCOMMODATE WITH SAFETY”
26) LOUIS GOLDSBOROUGH (1805-1877). Admiral Goldsborough was in charge of the North Atlantic
Blockading Squadron, an operation in which Union Navy ships attempted to prevent ships from entering or leaving
Southern harbors in order to stifle Confederate trade.
LS. 1pg. 8 ½” x 13 ½”. June 5, 1862. Norfolk, VA. An autograph letter signed “L.M. Goldsborough” as
Commander of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. On letterhead of the “U.S. Flag Ship ‘Minnesota’”, the
letter is addressed to Lieutenant Commander Alexander Murray of the USS Sebago: “Sir: I wish the ‘Sebago’,
‘Marblehead’, and Chocura’ kept amply supplied with provisions, coal, and ordnance stores, and in full readiness,
in every respect, for a move at a moment’s notice after the fall of Richmond. They are to go on fighting service, and,
therefore, let each take on board as many projectiles and other ordnance stores for their own use as they can
possibly accommodate with safety. I am very respectfully Yr Obt Servant L.M. Goldsborough”. McClellan’s
Peninsula Campaign was occurring in the late spring and early summer of 1862. On May 15, a few ships from the
North Atlantic Blockading Squadron steamed up the James River to test the naval defenses around Richmond; they
were hit and forced to turn around. There is a handwritten note from Alexander Murray on the verso: “This letter
has not been answered yet: I wish to know the ‘load draft’, as, I think, it is not practicable to fill up, as ordered, and
return through the shoal places.” The letter is in fine condition. $900.00
UNION NAVY CAPTAIN THOMAS TURNER TIGHTENS THE SOUTH ATLANTIC BLOCKADE
93) THOMAS TURNER (1808-1883). Turner was an Admiral in the United States Navy; he served in the Civil
War as a Captain.
LS. 1pg. 8 ¼” x 13 ½”. March 15, 1863. USS New Ironsides off Charleston, South Carolina. A letter signed “T.
Turner” concerning the South Atlantic Blockade Squadron, an operation in which Union Navy ships attempted to
prevent ships from entering or leaving Southern harbors in order to stifle Confederate trade: “Admiral Du Pont
having addressed me a letter, requiring the Blockade to be made closer; I have to direct the Commander Officers of
all vessels of the Fleet off Charleston, to move their vessels in immediately as near as it is possible to the entrances
– consistent with safety. Vessels, drawing under twelve feet of water, must take their positions on the outer edge of
the channels, so as fully to command them. T. Turner Captain”. During a battle off of Charleston Harbor, USS New
Ironsides was hit fifty times by Confederate shells but the vessel was undamaged. Admiral Samuel Francis Dupont
was Commander of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. The letter is in very good condition; the signature is
somewhat smudged, and there is some ink bleeding through from the other side. $750.00
THE CAPTAIN OF THE USS JOHN ADAMS WRITES FROM THE UNION BLOCKADE IN
CHARLESTON – “THE NEWS FROM SAVANNAH IS GLORIOUS AND THIS PLACE TOO I HOPE WILL
SOON BE OURS”
94) USS JOHN ADAMS. The USS John Adams was built in Charleston, South Carolina and launched in 1799. She
fought in the War of 1812 and the Barbary Wars. During the Civil War, she was part of the South Atlantic
Blockading Squadron, stationed off South Carolina.
LS. 1pg. 8” x 10”. December 27, 1864. U.S.S. John Adams off Morris Island, SC. A letter signed “I.N. Scott” by the
Captain of the USS John Adams, addressed to Union Navy Commander Thomas Patterson. Scott’s letter refers to the
comings and goings of ships in the Union Blockade, an operation in which Union Navy ships (including the USS
John Adams) attempted to prevent ships from entering or leaving Southern harbors in order to stifle Confederate
trade: “Sir Y ours of this date in regard to ‘Memphis’ going for coal is received. She must of course be...by the tides
to go in and out returning to her station with as little delay as possible. I am sorry to keep the ‘Sweet Briar’ here
tonight, but during this ‘Torpedo’ excitement it is necessary to have at least three tugs. She will be sent out on the
return of the ‘Catalpa’ expected tonight or early in the morning. We shall have additional force here, I am informed,
very soon. The news from Savannah is glorious and this place too I hope will soon be ours. Very Respectfully I.N.
Scott Capt & Senior Officer off Charleston.” The “Torpedo excitement” may refer either to the Confederate ship
CSS Torpedo or to the torpedo ships the Confederacy used in attempts to outrun Union blockade ships. General
Sherman captured Savannah on December 21, 1864. The letter is in fine condition. $750.00
NAVAL COMMANDER WORDEN ASSIGNS A SHIP TO THE SOUTH ATLANTIC BLOCKADING
SQUADRON
99) JOHN L. WORDEN (1818-1897). Worden was a Commander in the Union Navy during the Civil War.
LS. 1pg. 8” x 10”. January 29, 1863. U.S.S. Montauk (Ogeechee River, Georgia). A letter signed “John L. Worden”
as Commander of the USS Montauk addressed to Commander Thomas Patterson of the USS James Adger: “You will
proceed without delay to Port Royal S.C. and report to Rear Admiral S. F. Dupont.” Worden, Patterson, and their
respective ships operated as part of the Union Navy’s South Atlantic Blockading Squadron to prevent ships from
entering or leaving Southern harbors in order to stifle Confederate trade. The letter is in fine condition. $500.00