Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Smith, Melancton, 1810-1893 to Richard T. Renshaw

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02254.19 Author/Creator: Smith, Melancton, 1810-1893 Place Written: Albemarle Sound, North Carolina Type: Letter signed Date: 28 May 1864 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 19 cm, Width: 25 cm Order a Copy

Responds to news of broken boilers in Renshaw's vessels and asks if Renshaw can "not make the repairs on one with your own workmen." Desires to send the U.S.S. Miami, currently under Renshaw's command, to Hatteras Inlet. Inquires about the readiness of the Seymour for travel and suggests that Renshaw "let her tow up one of the coal vessels. Better send her at once as we want coal." The last portion of the letter is marked "Confidential" and discusses Smith's expedition to blow up "the Ram" the previous night. He reports the loss of two men. Smith was serving as senior officer in Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, when he launched an attack on the Confederate ram C.S.S. Albemarle during the Battle of Albemarle Sound.

Smith, Melancton, 1810-1893
Renshaw, Richard T., 1822-1879

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources