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

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

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

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

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

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

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

February 19, 1867

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alfred H. Terry

William T. Sherman writes to Major General Terry about military and Indian matters on the Great Plains. He discusses the establishment of military posts in Montana, the distribution of military forces, the regulation of travel across the plains, and tactics used by and to be used against the Sioux, voicing his opinion that should the "Enemies of the Civilized races of man" attempt to escape across the Canadian border, "they may be pursued a reasonable distance." On the matter of crossing the border, he writes: "Still internation[inserted: al] country might be offended...If the Indians learn…

GLC00668

May 6, 1849-June 16, 1849

Kell, John McIntosh, 1823-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Kell

John McIntosh Kell writes to his sister while suspended from duty and awaiting Court Martial aboard the Albany. He describes surrounding islands of Santo Domingo and Navarro with stories of landscape and native islanders. He arrives at Aux Cayes, Haiti, on June 11, 1849 and learns that "the Frigate Raritan had sailed from there ten days since for Port au Prince." On June 16, 1849, writes of the Albany's move to St. Iago de Cuba, where he is allowed to go ashore after four months confinement. He feels like "quite a new being" and reports to his family that he will reach Pensacola by "the…

GLC00684.02

circa June 1864

Tremlett, Francis W., fl. 1850-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John McIntosh Kell

Mentions a letter from his sister, Louisa Tremlett, and invites Kell and Semmes to visit him for "a regular Southern party of Southern people." He encloses a letter from John Hay, now missing, which describes the response of "the British service, & indeed the British people" to the sinking of the C.S.S. Alabama -- "it was a glorious death & I find is so regarded everywhere." Dated Tuesday morning. Francis W. Tremlett, a British parson, was an ardent Confederate sympathizer. Semmes and Kell stayed with Tremlett in London following the sinking of the Alabama.

GLC00684.12

June 13, 1779

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Sends a circular letter with a general disposition for the army (not included), "which is to be varied according to circumstances and the particular movements of the enemy," should the British attack West Point. Henry Clinton's forces had seized Stony Point and Verplank's Point on June 1, 1779 on their way up the Hudson River towards West Point.

GLC00780

February 4, 1917

Harding, Warren G. (Warren Gamaliel), 1865-1923

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Carrie F. Phillips

Written as United States senator from Ohio to Phillips, his longtime mistress, about his recent trip to Columbus and Marion, Ohio, to visit a sick brother. Writes that he approves the neutrality policy towards Germany but fears that war will still come. He also cautions her regarding her pro-German views. Letter written on United States Senate stationery.

GLC00782.08

November 14, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to the Convention of Maryland

Enclosing a letter from James Searle regarding possible attack by British fleet. On November 13, 1776 Searle spotted about one hundred British ships off the point of Sandy Hook at Long Branch, New Jersey. He immediately wrote to Thomas Wharton Jr., chairman of the Pennsylvania Council for Safety and warned him that the ships seemed to be heading southward. The letter caused great worry in Congress. Hancock sent letters to assemblies in all of the Southern states, and enclosed a copy of Searle's letter as well. However, the British fleet Searle saw was heading for Britain. Letter also notes…

GLC00779