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

July 7, 1857

Clymer, George, 1804-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: to V. McBlair

Instructions on how to write to her husband, Captain William McBlair, while he is at sea off the African coast. George Clymer was a U.S. Naval surgeon.

GLC00722.57

July 8, 1858

Winder, Edward L., fl. 1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Relates a conversation with British Naval Commander Wise regarding capture of a slave trading ship. Winder, an American sailor had been stationed on the British ship "Vesuvius," under the command of Wise. Wise told Winder that he had boarded a ship, convinced she was "a slaver," but "could not touch her" because she flew the American flag. When Wise warned the ship that he would inform the "Dale" of her presence, the American flag was brought down, and the captain surrendered. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" at Porto Praya, Cape Verde. Edward Lloyd Winder, a Lieutenant in the United…

GLC00722.39

July 8, 1858

Conover, Thomas A., 1794-1864

Letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Ordering that William Ford, a Landsman on board the "Dale" be sent home to the United States, because he has been "condemned by Medical Survey." Letter written on board the "Cumberland" at Porto Praya, Cape Verde. Conover was commander of the African Squadron.

GLC00722.40

31 August 1858 - 3 September 1858

McBlair, William, ?-1863

Manuscript document

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

Reporting the outcomes of three target practice sessions, for cannons, muskets and rifles, on board the U.S.S. "Dale." Docketed in clerical hand, with note: "Sent to Chief of Bureau"

GLC00722.41

October 9, 1858

Engels, L. Allen, fl. 1858-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Reports that the water being taken on board the ship is "undesirable" for drinking and should not be used by the crew. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" near Quittah, Ghana. Engels was an assistant surgeon.

GLC00722.42

January 1, 1859

Cunningham, John S., ?-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

John S. Cunningham reports on the capture of the American schooner "Angeline" by a British ship. Relates a conversation he had with William Kerr, a sailor on the "Angeline," regarding its capture. States that forces from the British steamer "Conflict" captured the "Angeline," despite the fact that she was flying the American flag and had American papers. The British forced the captain to surrender, took the ship and left its crew in Africa. Says the "Angeline" was not a slave ship and wonders why, if the ship was supposedly a slave trader, the British members of the crew were not sent to…

GLC00722.43

January 10, 1859

Cunningham, John S., ?-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Informs McBlair that he is "in debt to the United States for six months provisions" due to a change in rules governing rations. The rule reads "'The Rule' in regard to the change in keeping the accounts of Provisions issued to officer's messes from Invoice cost to Ration Table price should take effect from the Commencement of the Quarter after the date of its receipt by the Purser." Cunningham has learned of this rule change through a letter recently sent to him "from the Government." Written on the docket, in pencil "Cunningham was too fast." Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" at…

GLC00722.44

January 18, 1859

Hasker, Charles H., fl. 1824-1864

Letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Reporting Samuel Brown, a boy, for disobedience and abusive language, "for threatening to revenge himself upon my person should it be five years hence." Docket notes that Hasker "slapped the boy." Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale." Charles H. Hasker was a boatswain on the U.S.S. "Dale"; he later served as a Lieutenant in the Confederate Navy.

GLC00722.45

January 31, 1859

King, Stephen G., fl. 1858-1859

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Requesting a survey of the ship's sails, with an autograph endorsement signed by McBlair at the bottom of the page, ordering his lieutenants to conduct the survey. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," while at sea. King was the sailmaker on board the "Dale."

GLC00722.46

January 31, 1859

Cunningham, John S., ?-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Reporting, at McBlair's request, that $1,568 is "on board to the credit of the government" and $1,450 is due to the "Kroomen" (native crewmen from Liberia) of the ship. Also notes that he requested $6,000 from the flag ship, but received $4,000. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" while at sea.

GLC00722.47

March 15, 1859

Hasker, Charles H., fl. 1824-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Report against Clement Brooke for drunken behavior. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" off Goree Island, Senegal.

GLC00722.49

March 18, 1859

Engels, L. Allen, fl. 1858-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Letter with McBlair's autograph endorsement signed at the bottom, regarding the injury caused by confinement at sea. Letter reports that Henry O. Jennings and William Bainbridge have been ordered by a court martial to be confined in cells for eight hours a day for ten days, but Engles believes this will injure their health. Engles believes "confinement in the cells for a longer period than 6 consecutive hours is calculated sensibly to injure the health of the persons confined." McBlair's endorsement reduces the sentences for both men to six hours a day of imprisonment. Written on board the U.…

GLC00722.50

21 March 1859

Speiden, Robert, fl. 1857-1859

Document signed

Title: to William McBlair

Letter to McBlair listing the provisions on board the U.S.S. "Dale." The letter is a "Statement of provisions required for 116 person for sixty days and the quantity now on hand." Notes how many pounds of bread, beef, coffee, whiskey and other items are required for the vessel, and how many are, in fact, on board. (Quantities of some items on board are less than the required amount. ) Speiden also notes that "The greater part of the Flour is not good." Written on board the "Dale" off Porto Praya, Cape Verde.

GLC00722.51

March 23, 1859

Conover, Thomas A., 1794-1864

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Conover orders McBlair to receive two prisoners for transport to the United States. McBlair is to transport Thomas Connor and Frederick Breckendorf back to the United States. Both were discharged from the Navy for "Bad Conduct." Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Cumberland" at Porto Praya, Cape Verde.

GLC00722.52

March 25, 1859

Totten, Benjamin J., 1806-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Forwarding papers describing the sentences of Thomas Connor and Frederick Breckendorf. Both men had been discharged from the Navy for bad conduct. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Vincennes" at Porto Praya. Benjamin J. Totten, the commander of the U.S.S. "Vincennes," was later promoted to commodore, served as governor of the Naval asylum at Philadelphia for two years, and published a number of works regarding the Navy.

GLC00722.53

February 24, 1859

Totten, Benjamin J., 1806-1877

Document signed

Title: Case of Fredk Breckendorf, seaman

Breckendorf was court-martialed and dishonorably discharged after being found with marine drummer boy Edwin Donnohoe "under improper and suspicious circumstance." He was also placed in solitary confinement for thirty days for his "scandalous conduct." Signed twice by Totten.

GLC00722.54