United States Navy Admiral Samuel Francis DuPont Collection of Letters and Letter-Survey Reports from Naval Engineers 1862 to 1863

Description

DuPont, Samuel Francis (1803 – 1865), Rear Admiral, Commander South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. A Collection of Seven Letters to Admiral Samuel F. DuPont in 1862 and 1863, as Flag Officer of the U.S.S. Wabash. These letters and letter-survey reports were made in response to his orders for surveys and condition reports from naval engineers and carpenters on specific mechanical and structural problems with   U.S.S. Pembina, U.S.S. Mercury, U.S.S. Housatonic, U.S.S. Seneca, U.S.S. Henry Andrew, U.S.S. Flag and the U.S.S. Potomska. Condition fine.

Copy of an autograph letter signed by S. F. DuPont, August 18, 1862, from U.S.S. Wabash anchored at Port Royal Harbor, S.C. addressed to Lt. Comdr. M. B. Woolsey of the U.S.S. Dale; Chief Engineer, R. W. McClery, Carpenter to C. Boardman, both of the U.S.S. Wabash; Master Carpenter Berryman of the U.S.S. Valparaiso. Adm. DuPont’s orders were: “You will please to hold a strict and careful survey of the USS ‘Henry Andrew,’ stating the required repairs to Hull and Machinery, suggesting any improvements, or which may promote her efficiency as a river or inland steamer, and her safety in making unavoidable passages at sea, whether in armament or otherwise. Together with the report on the U.S.S. Henry Andrew, 1 page legal size paper, stating the condition of the steam pump, recommending its replacement for steam power and for connecting water to a distilling apparatus capable of distilling at least 300 gallons of water a day, as well as the installation of a bilge pump fitted to be worked from the air pump crossheads. “… that slip joints to steam and outbound delivery pipes be made and that a compression plug cock be placed on the boiler with one hundred and seventy five feet of vulcanized rubber hose with nozzles to be used either as fire hose or in repelling boarders.” A penciled note in another hand was added: “Since lost off the coast of Virginia.”

Autograph letter, ink on paper, legal size sheet of Holyoke Paper Company stationery, with an embossed vignette the Capitol with “Congress” above, from R. W. McClery, First Asst. Engineer, U.S.N., to Rear Admiral Samuel F. DuPont, dated August 21^st, 1862, written from the Flag Ship Wabash, anchored at Port Royal Bay S.C., in response to a verbal order from Adm DuPont to examine the propeller shaft of the U.S. Steam Gunboat Pembina. McClery finds “… it has settled one inch and three quarters. The composition casing surrounding it is entirely gone and the anterior edges of the propeller blades strike against the stern post.” He further recommends the vessel be sent north for the repairs, as there is no facility in South Carolina to make them.

Autograph letter, ink on paper, legal size sheet of Holyoke Paper Company stationery, with an embossed vignette the Capitol with “Congress” above, from R. W. McClery, First Asst. Engineer, U.S.N., to Rear Admiral Samuel F. DuPont, dated September 8^th, 1862, written from the Flag Ship Wabash, anchored at Port Royal Bay S.C., in response to Adm. DuPont’s order of September 6^th to hold “a strict and careful survey” of the U. S. Steamer Mercury, “now lying on the beach in this harbor.” The letter details the damage to the ship, and McClery states, “In conclusion therefore, we have only respectfully to submit, that no means exist in this Squadron for placing the above name steamer in any condition fit for the ervice she was intended to perform.” Co-signed by Charles Bordman, Carpenter, U.S.N. and Berryman, Carpenter, U.S.N.

Order dated December 6, 1862,  written in a secretarial hand for a survey of the smoke pipe of  U.S.S. Housatonic signed by Adm. Samuel F. Dupont, as “S.F. Dupont,” from his flag ship U.S.S. Wabash anchored at Port Royal Harbor, S.C. addressed to Chief Engineer R. W. McClery and 1^st Assistant Engineer S. H Flousy: “… to hold a survey on the smoke pipe of the ‘Housatonic’ to examine into the cause of the hoisting gear thereby causing the length of the pipe to come down by the run and damaging it.” Bi-folium, second page of lined paper blank.

Autograph letter, ink on paper, legal size bi-folium of Holyoke Paper Company stationery, with an embossed vignette the Capitol with “Congress” above, from R. W. McClery, Chief Engineer, U.S.N., to Rear Admiral Samuel F. DuPont, dated May 11^th, 1863, written from the Flag Ship Wabash, anchored at Port Royal Harbor S.C., in response to Adm. DuPont’s order to make a survey and report on the engine and boilers of U.S.S. Seneca. The detailed condition report

and recommendation was to patch her up enough to sail her north for the necessary repairs to her leak, boiler and tubes. The letter is cosigned by J. S. Young, Acting 1^st Assistant Engineer and R. R. Voorhees, Acting 2^nd Engineer.

Copy of an autograph letter, ink on paper, legal size bi-folium of Holyoke Paper Company stationery, with an embossed vignette the Capitol with “Congress” above, from R. W. McClery, Chief Engineer, U.S.N., to Rear Admiral Samuel F. DuPont, dated May 12^th, 1863, written from the Flag Ship Wabash, anchored at Port Royal Harbor, S.C., in response to an order from Adm DuPont to “hold a strict and careful survey on the Engine and Boiler of the U.S.S. Flag.” The recommendation of replacement of the expansion joint with a new one, which could be made at the “machine shop in this harbor.” Co-signed by E.S. Young, Acting 1^st Assistant Engineer and R. R. Voorhees, 2^nd Assistant Engineer.

Copy of an autograph letter, ink on paper, legal size bi-folium of Holyoke Paper Company stationery, with an embossed vignette the Capitol with “Congress” above, from R. W. McClery, Chief Engineer, U.S.N., to Rear Admiral Samuel F. DuPont, dated May 12^th, 1863, written from the Flag Ship Wabash, anchored at Port Royal Harbor, S.C., in response to an order from Adm DuPont of May 9^th to hold a strict and careful survey on the Engine and Boiler of the U.S.S. Potomska detailing the repairs to be made to the boiler, leak and corroded piping.

 

Libby Prison Carte de Visite Photograph circa 1863

An American Civil War Palmcard Rebus Announcement for Clapp, Stanley & Co.’s POLOPTICOMORAMA OF THE WAR 1863.

Dr Douglas Bly Civil War Era Artificial Leg with a Universal Ankle Joint 1862

Five American Civil War Letters 1862 – 1864

RICHMOND 1865 Vicksburg Fort Donelson GENERAL U.S. GRANT “I WILL FIGHT IT OUT ON THIS LINE.”