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

18 February 1859

Toucey, Isaac, 1796-1869

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Thomas A. Conover

Secretary of the Navy Toucey orders Conover to direct the U.S.S. "Dale" to "proceed to the Navy Yard at Portsmouth, N.H." Marked "Duplicate" at top of page. Written at the "Navy Department."

GLC00722.48

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

March 25, 1859

Totten, Benjamin J., 1806-1877

Letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Totten ordering McBlair to receive two prisoners, and to exchange drummer boys. He informs McBlair that he will receive on his ship "the men Connor and Breckendorf, sentenced by Summary Court Martial to be discharged from the Naval Services." He also orders McBlair to exchange drummers. Edwin Donnohoe, the drummer boy on board Totten's ship, is being sent to McBlair's ship because he "was implicated in an unnatural crime with the man Breckendorf, and perjured himself before the Summary Court Martial, and therefore should be discharged from the corps as soon as possible." Letter written on…

GLC00722.55

March 28, 1859

Fusner, George P., fl. 1859

Letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Transmitting the "Size Roll, & Clothing Account of Drummer" Edwin Donnohoe. Donnohoe was being transferred to McBlair's ship because of his improper involvement with a sailor on board his previous ship. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Vincennes" at Porto Praya, Cape Verde.

GLC00722.56

October 13, 1857-October 17, 1857

McBlair, William, ?-1863

Autograph letter

Title: to V. McBlair

Writing to his wife, discusses attempts to catch a slave trader, life at sea, family matters, and religion. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" at sea.

GLC00722.58

1858

McBlair, William, ?-1863

Autograph letter

Title: to V. McBlair

Letter to his wife discussing life at sea and his visit to Liberia. Upon arrival in Liberia, McBlair's ship "Dale" gives the young nation a twenty-one gun salute. In Monrovia, the Liberian capital, McBlair meets with President Benson and former President Roberts, both of whom he speaks highly of. He discusses the "sleepy disease," which has killed one of his men. Also discusses family matters. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" at sea. Stephen A. Benson served as president of Liberia from 1856-1864. Joseph Jenkins Roberts was the first president of Liberia, from 1848-1856, and again…

GLC00722.59

1858

McBlair, William, ?-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to V. McBlair

Writing to his wife, he discusses British pressure regarding American suppression of the slave trade, as well as his daily operations at sea, family affairs, and religion. He hopes to return to the United States by the first of December and believes "The worst of our work however is over on this coast." William McBlair signs with his initials. In part: "Dined yesterday ashore with our Consul...I am very busy making up my reports &c to leave here for the Commodore; I shall sail this afternoon for the Canaries...The Secretary has posstively promised that we shall be in U States by 1st…

GLC00722.60

1858

McBlair, William, ?-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to V. McBlair

Writing to his wife, he discusses the route for his voyage to the Canary Islands, his thoughts on religion and scripture, and the future of their children. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" at sea.

GLC00722.61

1858

McBlair, William, ?-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to V. McBlair

To his wife discussing naval life and family matters. He discusses his movements and activities at sea. He notes that some Liberians misspell their names, including a young boy he has taken on board the ship to help for a time. He states that he is getting along well with the commodore, and with his new first lieutenant, Edwin Winder. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" at sea. Letter dated June 24, 1858 - 20 July 1858.

GLC00722.62

1858-1859

McBlair, William, ?-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to V. McBlair

To his wife, discussing family and life at sea. He has received small gifts of gold jewelry for his family from a local governor and a native chief. He hopes he will return home in May, and says the weather has cooled recently. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," at sea. Letter dated December 25, 1858 - January 14, 1859.

GLC00722.63

February 7, 1859

McBlair, William, ?-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to V. McBlair

To his wife, discussing attendance at state dinners and a Liberian church service. He enjoys the state dinners, and does his best to create good will with other nations. He enjoys the church service, though much of it feels very foreign to him. He also mentions an old childhood playmate, and offers some reflections.

GLC00722.64

March 1859

McBlair, William, ?-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to V. McBlair

To his wife, discussing his dislike of the British, the death of a United States Consul in Sierra Leone by "homicide," and the island of Goree, a former center of the African slave trade. He states he is "Anti-Anglais," calling the British "National Pirates" on the African coast. He discusses his dinner with a French captain, commenting on their culture and the bad food. Also mentions the foolishness of the Liberian Secretary of State and complains about Navy food. He closes in expectation of orders to return home, which would soon arrive. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" off Goree,…

GLC00722.65

1857

James, William, ?-1827

Manuscript document

Title: English account of the capture of the H. M. Brig Alacrity

A handwritten excerpt from William James' "Naval History of Great Britain, Volume V," giving an account of the capture of the British brig "Alacrity" by the French brig "Abeille," which occurred on 26 May 1811 near Corsica. James describes the capture of the British ship by the French vessel of similar size, explains the reasons for the British defeat, pointing out the failures of the captain and the British naval system that allowed this to happen. Recommends revealing the full details of all British naval losses, saying the honor revealed in the details of even a defeat will outweigh the…

GLC00722.66