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July 7, 1857
Clymer, George, 1804-1881
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
1860
Rhett, Robert Barnwell, 1800-1876
The Address of the People of South Carolina, assembled in convention, to the people of the slave states of the United States.
Concerns South Carolina seceding from the Union and encouraging other states that enslaved people to join in forming a confederacy. Printed by order of the convention by Evans & Cogswell, Charleston, South Carolina. No wrappers.
GLC00719
21 August 1858
Brown, John, 1800-1859
[Receipt from Samuel Adair]
Received thirty two dollars in cash from Samuel Adair and a note of four dollars against S.H. Houser. Signed by Brown as agent for the National Kansas Committee.
GLC00721
1855-1859
William McBlair collection [Decimalized .01-.72]
Collection of more than 70 documents regarding William McBlair, a United States Naval captain involved in American efforts to suppress the slave trade on the African coast in the 1850s. McBlair commanded the "Dale" in the U.S. Navy's African Squadron...
GLC00722
January 19, 1858
Conover, Thomas A., 1794-1864
to William McBlair
Ordering McBlair to return with his ship to his "cruising ground" and continue his "suppression of the slave trade." Says McBlair should first take on recruits and supplies, then proceed to the coast to suppress the trade. States he is enclosing two...
GLC00722.02
25 June 1857
General orders for the government of the U.S. Naval Forces on the West Coast of Africa
General orders regarding Navy protocols and conduct of officers. Clerical copy, tied with red ribbon. Conover's name appears to be clerically signed. Written on board the U.S.S. "Cumberland. " Forwarded to William McBlair by Conover.
GLC00722.03
1857
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...
GLC00722.04
General signals
Explains a secret numeric code to be used when transmitting signals between ships.
GLC00722.05
Private signals
Explains a system of secret signals to be used in communication between ships. Orders captains to memorize the formula for the protocol and then destroy the document.
GLC00722.06
April 9, 1857
Dornin, Thomas Aloysius, 1800-1874
Enclosing a letter "for the guidance Purser Cunningham" regarding letters of credit and a copy of a letter regarding pay to officers on McBlair's ship, the "Dale."
GLC00722.08
11 May 1857
Officers & Crew, U.S. ship Dale
Complete list of all crew members, according to rank, on board the U.S.S. "Dale." Besides sailors, there are also twenty five marines on board the ship. Written at sea, on board the ship "Dale."
GLC00722.09
June 1, 1857
Cummings, A. B., fl. 1857-1858
Reports that two crewmen, Charles Moore and John Duggin, were caught drunk and fighting, and that Duggin was also insubordinate. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," off of Funchal on the island of Madeira. Cummings was a lieutenant aboard the "Dale...
GLC00722.10
June 16, 1857
Livingston, John William Turk, 1804-1885
Ordering McBlair to sail to Porto Praya and await further orders. Also orders him to deliver enclosed orders to Commander Thompson. Written on board the U.S.S. "St. Louis" in Funchal Bay, Madeira. John W. Livingston was then a United States Naval...
GLC00722.11
July 26, 1857
Morse, W.H., fl. 1857
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
1857-1858
Report of target practice on board the U.S.S. "Dale"
Reporting on the success of target practices. First page details four cannon practices held on 15 July 1857, 31 August 1857, 13 October 1857 and 12 January 1858. Lists size of target, movement of ship, number of shells fired, success of the...
GLC00722.13
October 12, 1857
McBlair, William, ?-1863
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...
GLC00722.14
October 22, 1857
Cunningham, John S., ?-1894
Lists how many rations sailors are willing to give up, and how long the current rations will last at that rate. 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...
GLC00722.15
October 27, 1857
Walker, Theodore L., fl. 1857
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...
GLC00722.16
3 November 1857
Kennard, Joel S., 1819-?
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...
GLC00722.17
November 6, 1857
Acknowledging his mistake "in refusing to do duty" and requesting that he now be "relieved from suspension."
GLC00722.18
November 8, 1857
Reports that on his expedition up the Congo River one of the launch boats was lost. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," at the mouth of the Congo River.
GLC00722.19
November 11, 1857
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." Written on board...
GLC00722.20
Pelot, Thomas P., ?-1864
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. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," on the Congo...
GLC00722.21
12 November 1857
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...
GLC00722.22
[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...
GLC00722.23
November 13, 1857
Burgess, George F., 1827-1860
Unable to furnish information regarding captured slave trading vessels. 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
Duggan apologizes for his insubordination and asks to be discharged and left ashore, so that he can earn a living for his family. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale."
GLC00722.25
1858
Kennard requests McBlair's permission to punish a sailor for insubordination. Written before March 1858, on board the U.S.S. "Dale."
GLC00722.26
September 1858
Meeuwsen, C., fl. 1858
[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
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...
GLC00722.28
4 February 1858
Sullivan, Jeremiah, fl. 1858
[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...
GLC00722.29
February 28, 1858
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...
GLC00722.30
April 12, 1858
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. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," at Porto Praya on Cape...
GLC00722.31
April 13, 1858
King, Stephen G., fl. 1858-1859
Requesting a survey of the ship's sails. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale." King was the Sail Master on the "Dale."
GLC00722.32
Reports that the ship's sails have been inspected, and that they are "unfit for further use." Instead recommends "that they be used for parcelling." Signed by King, Davidson and Cummings, and signed and approved by McBlair. Written on board the U...
GLC00722.33
April 23, 1858
Davidson, Hunter, 1827-1913
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). Written on board the U...
GLC00722.34
Copy of a letter to McBlair, stating that some of the bolts, chains and ironwork on board the "Dale" are "defective and unsafe." Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," at Porto Praya, Cape Verde.
GLC00722.35
May 2, 1858
Adams, John, fl. 1858
Requesting permission to return to Liberia. 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. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale." Adams is not in the May...
GLC00722.36
5 July 1858
Dozier, J.D., fl. 1858
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 8, 1858
Winder, Edward L., fl. 1858
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...
GLC00722.39
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." Written on board the "Cumberland" at Porto Praya, Cape Verde. Conover was commander of the African...
GLC00722.40
31 August 1858 - 3 September 1858
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
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
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...
GLC00722.43
January 10, 1859
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...
GLC00722.44
January 18, 1859
Hasker, Charles H., fl. 1824-1864
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." Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale." Charles H...
GLC00722.45
January 31, 1859
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. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," while at sea. King was the sailmaker on board...
GLC00722.46
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....
GLC00722.47
18 February 1859
Toucey, Isaac, 1796-1869
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
Report against Clement Brooke for drunken behavior. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" off Goree Island, Senegal.
GLC00722.49
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