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

September 1858

Meeuwsen, C., fl. 1858

Manuscript document

Title: [Listing ports of call and cargoes of a Dutch ship] [in Dutch]

Listing ports of call and cargoes of a Dutch ship, with prices in dollars listed as well. Items listed range from January through 2 September 1858.

GLC00722.27

9 January 1858

Goodridge, J. Jr., fl. 1858

Document signed

Title: to William McBlair

Regarding the arrest of Charles Campbell, a sailor from the "Dale." Campbell, who had deserted McBlair's ship, had been taken prisoner by Goodridge and his men when he was found hiding on a whaling ship. Written from the United States Consulate on Saint Helena. Multiple dockets. One on the verso, signed by W. Carrol, states that Goodridge will do whatever McBlair wishes with the prisoner. Second docket, on last page, seems to be a fragment of a separate note. W. Carrol was the United States Vice-Consul at Saint Helena.

GLC00722.28

February 4, 1858

Sullivan, Jeremiah, fl. 1858

Autograph document signed

Title: [Affadavit regarding his imprisonment]

Details events of his imprisonment on the African coast, along with Patrick Kelly and Manoel Ackmore, all sailors in the United States Navy. Affidavit relates the arrest of these three sailors after a scuffle with Portuguese soldiers and discusses their long imprisonment. States that William McBlair helped secure the sailors' release, but that Kelly died in the hospital while under arrest. Attested to and signed by McBlair.

GLC00722.29

February 28, 1858

Cunningham, John S., ?-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

States reasons for non-fulfillment of an order. Explains that he did not appear on deck earlier in the day, because he believed the order to do so applied only to specific officers, and states he meant no harm with his actions. Apparently McBlair required a signed statement regarding even minor breaches of conduct. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale."

GLC00722.30

April 12, 1858

Duggan, John, fl. 1857-1858

Letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

John Duggan requests a discharge so that he can return home, his reasons being "the same as stated before." With signed attestation of Stephen G. King, Sail Master, stating Duggan's signature is true. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," at Porto Praya on Cape Verde.

GLC00722.31

April 13, 1858

King, Stephen G., fl. 1858-1859

Letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Requesting a survey of the ship's sails. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale." King was the Sail Master on the "Dale."

GLC00722.32

April 13, 1858

King, Stephen G., fl. 1858-1859

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

King reports that the ship's sails have been inspected, and that they are "unfit for further use." Instead he recommends "that they be used for parcelling." Signed by King, Davidson, and Cummings, and signed and approved by McBlair. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale."

GLC00722.33

April 23, 1858

Davidson, Hunter, 1827-1913

Manuscript letter

Title: Copy of letter to William McBlair

Copy of a "survey upon all the important iron-work of this ship." Reports that much of the ship's ironwork is "much worn and appear unsafe." With the names of Davidson, Cummings, and Dixon (all three are clerical signatures). Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," in Porto Praya, Cape Verde. Dixon was the acting carpenter on board the "Dale."

GLC00722.34

April 23, 1858

Davidson, Hunter, 1827-1913

Manuscript letter

Title: to William McBlair

Copy of a letter to McBlair, stating that some of the bolts, chains, and ironwork on board the "Dale" are "defective and unsafe." Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," at Porto Praya, Cape Verde.

GLC00722.35

May 2, 1858

Adams, John, fl. 1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Requesting permission to return to Liberia, John Adams states that he needs to return to personally report a death, or be liable for punishment under the laws of Liberia, of which he is a citizen. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale." Adams is not in the May 1857 list of crew members. Adams's name and the content of his note suggest that he was likely a "Krooman" - one of many native Liberians who were recruited by American and European ship's captains. The Kroomen were often expert swimmers and fishermen, and had valuable knowledge of local geography, language and customs.

GLC00722.36

5 July 1858

Dozier, J.D., fl. 1858

Document signed

Title: Report of prisoners confind on board U S ship Dale

Lists eight prisoners held on board the ship. Two were imprisoned for desertion, the rest for lesser, insubordinate acts. Dozier was Master at Arms for the U.S.S. "Dale."

GLC00722.38

06 November 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Presidential authority to the Secretary of State to affix the seal to the pardon of David Barnett].

GLC00655.11