January 19, 1858

Conover, Thomas A., 1794-1864

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

The letter is ordering McBlair to return with his ship to his "cruising ground" and continue his "suppression of the slave trade." Says McBlair should first take on recruits and supplies, then proceed to the coast to suppress the trade. States he is enclosing two separate orders from the Navy Department. Letter written on board the United States Flagship "Cumberland" in Porto Praya in Cape Verde off the coast of Africa. Thomas A. Conover was a Captain, later Commodore in the United States Navy, and the Commander of the African Squadron. A veteran of the War of 1812, Conover had previously…

GLC00722.02

25 June 1857

Conover, Thomas A., 1794-1864

Manuscript document

Title: General orders for the government of the U.S. Naval Forces on the West Coast of Africa

General orders regarding Navy protocols and conduct of officers. Clerical copy, tied with red ribbon. Conover's name appears to be clerically signed. Written on board the U.S.S. "Cumberland. " Forwarded to William McBlair by Conover.

GLC00722.03

1857

Manuscript document

Title: Extracts from the "Private Instructions" of the Navy Department to the Commander in chief of the U.S. Naval Forces on the West Coast of Africa

Includes extracts from GLC00722.01, noting that the U.S. flag "loses its true character, when it is worn by those who have no right to wear it...such a pretension would subject the flag to degradation and dishonor." Also includes a description of how slave traders disguise their illegal activities, and tips to spot them. Says this service will require the "greatest prudence, and the soundest discretion." Closing paragraph gives instructions for drawing funds from Baring Brothers and Co. in London. In part: "The cunning of the slave trader is constantly forming new disguises to elude…

GLC00722.04

1857

Manuscript document

Title: General signals

Explains a secret numeric code to be used when transmitting signals between ships.

GLC00722.05

1857

Manuscript document

Title: Private signals

Explains a system of secret signals to be used in communication between ships. Orders captains to memorize the formula for the protocol and then destroy the document.

GLC00722.06

1857

Barnes, Edward A., fl. 1857

Manuscript document signed

Title: Rule for ascertaining the longitude by Chro. at Sunset

Details the procedure for obtaining longitude at sea based on the time of the sunset and latitude.

GLC00722.07

April 9, 1857

Dornin, Thomas Aloysius, 1800-1874

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Enclosing a letter "for the guidance Purser Cunningham" regarding letters of credit and a copy of a letter regarding pay to officers on McBlair's ship, the "Dale."

GLC00722.08

11 May 1857

Manuscript document

Title: Officers & Crew, U.S. ship Dale

Complete list of all crew members, according to rank, on board the U.S.S. "Dale." Besides sailors, there are also twenty five marines on board the ship. Written at sea, on board the ship "Dale."

GLC00722.09

June 1, 1857

Cummings, A. B., fl. 1857-1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Reports that two crewmen, Charles Moore and John Duggin, were caught drunk and fighting, and that Duggin was also insubordinate. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," off of Funchal on the island of Madeira. Cummings was a lieutenant aboard the "Dale."

GLC00722.10

June 16, 1857

Livingston, John William Turk, 1804-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Livingston is ordering McBlair to sail to Porto Praya and await further orders. Also orders him to deliver enclosed orders to Commander Thompson. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "St. Louis" in Funchal Bay, Madeira. John W. Livingston was then a United States Naval officer and the senior commander of the African Squadron; he reached the rank of rear admiral in 1868. His father was the famous naval officer William Turk, but John changed his surname to Livingston in 1843.

GLC00722.11

July 26, 1857

Morse, W.H., fl. 1857

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Refusing McBlair's request to store naval materials in a United States owned warehouse, because the warehouse is too full already. William H. Morse was the U.S. consul in Cape Verde.

GLC00722.12

1857-1858

Manuscript document

Title: Report of target practice on board the U.S.S. "Dale"

Reporting on the success of target practices. First page details four cannon practices held on 15 July 1857, 31 August 1857, 13 October 1857 and 12 January 1858. Lists size of target, movement of ship, number of shells fired, success of the practice, and numerous other facts regarding the practice. Second page lists results of practice with muskets and pistols.

GLC00722.13

October 12, 1857

McBlair, William, ?-1863

Letter signed

Title: to Charles Wise

Discussing the capture by a British ship of a vessel flying the American flag. Commodore Wise was the captain of the HMS "Vesuvius," which had recently captured the "Bremer." McBlair states that because the "Bremer was flying the United States flag, the British ship had no right to capture her. McBlair's docket notes "not sent.," possibly because the British ship's name has been misspelled as "Vesudius" in this copy. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale." Slavers often flew the American flag to avoid capture by British ships, as the Royal Navy did not have a right to seize U.S. vessels.…

GLC00722.14

October 22, 1857

Cunningham, John S., ?-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Cunningham lists how many rations sailors are willing to give up, and how long the current rations will last at that rate. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," on the "Kongo River." John S. Cunningham was a purser in the United States Navy; he later rose to paymaster.

GLC00722.15

October 27, 1857

Walker, Theodore L., fl. 1857

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Reports on his expedition to the H.M.S. "Myrmidon" and subsequent journey up the Congo river. Walker, a lieutenant on the U.S.S. "Dale," had been sent by McBlair in an armed boat to join the British vessel (which took them in tow) in its cruise for suspected slavers. They stopped several suspicious vessels (including the "Bremen"), but the British commander was in a hurry to return and, in McBlair's opinion, rushed the expedition. No ships were captured. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale."

GLC00722.16

3 November 1857

Kennard, Joel S., 1819-?

Manuscript document

Title: to William McBlair

Requesting that he be relieved of his suspension, so that he may resume watch duty. States that he would like to "refer the injustice with which I have been treated, to the Commanding Officer of the squadron." A copy, with Kennard's name clerically signed. Written at sea, on board the U.S.S. "Dale." Joel S. Kennard was a lieutenant on board the "Dale"; he later served in the Confederate Navy.

GLC00722.17

November 6, 1857

Kennard, Joel S., 1819-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Acknowledging his mistake "in refusing to do duty" and requesting that he now be "relieved from suspension."

GLC00722.18

November 8, 1857

Walker, Theodore L., fl. 1857

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Reports that on his expedition up the Congo River one of the launch boats was lost. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," at the mouth of the Congo River.

GLC00722.19

November 11, 1857

Kennard, Joel S., 1819-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Sending a gift of liquor in hopes of good fortune. Kennard is setting off for the United States in command of the "W.G. Servis." For his own "better preservation" on the trip he sends McBlair a gift of several "cases of liquor." Letter written on board the barque "W.G. Servis," at the mouth of the "Kongo River."

GLC00722.20

November 11, 1857

Pelot, Thomas P., ?-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Reporting the events that led to the British capture of the slave trading ship "Clara B. Williams," which had been falsely flying the American flag. The crew is being sent to Sierra Leone to be tried. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," on the Congo River. This incident was another example of a slaver flying American colors to avoid being seized by the British Navy. Once HMS "Alecto" officers had boarded the vessel, however, they quickly realized the ship was a slaver and began towing it to the 'Dale." The master threw his false ship's papers and colors overboard and was thus able to…

GLC00722.21

12 November 1857

Walker, Theodore L., fl. 1857

Manuscript document

Title: Copy of certificates of Lieuts. Walker & Cummings, regarding the casks left by the "W.G. Lewis"

Copy of Walker's statement certifying that he saw about ten large casks which Captain Fredell said belonged to him "but that he did not want them." Fredell was the captain of the barque "William G. Lewis," a suspected slave ship captured by the U.S.S. "Dale." Attested to by A. B. Cummings and William McBlair (all three are clerical signatures). Title from docket. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," off the Congo River. Lt. Walker was in charge of the launch sent out to board the "William G. Lewis." Among the factors that led both Walker and McBlair to believe that the vessel was…

GLC00722.22

12 November 1857

Walker, Theodore L., fl. 1857

Manuscript document

Title: [Copy of a statement regarding capture of a slave ship]

Copy of a statement regarding a captured suspected slave ship. Certifying that "Mr. Curtis, the 1st mate of the barque 'Wm G. Lewis," stated that no one on board the ship had contact with the mainland. With the names of Theodore L. Walker, Hunter Davidson, A. B. Cummings, John S. Cunningham and William McBride (all five are clerical signatures). Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," off the Congo River. John S. Cunningham, a purser in the United States Navy, later rose to paymaster. Hunter Davidson, a lieutenant in the United States Navy, later served in the Confederate Navy.

GLC00722.23

November 13, 1857

Burgess, George F., 1827-1860

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Unable to furnish information regarding captured slave trading vessels. Letter written on board the H.M.S. "Hecate," off the Congo River. George F. Burgess was a Commander in the British Navy and captain of the "Hecate."

GLC00722.24

November 24, 1857

Duggan, John, fl. 1857-1858

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Duggan apologizes for his insubordination and asks to be discharged and left ashore, so that he can earn a living for his family. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale."

GLC00722.25

1858

Kennard, Joel S., 1819-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Kennard requests McBlair's permission to punish a sailor for insubordination. Letter written before March 1858, on board the U.S.S. "Dale."

GLC00722.26