Description:

STEPHEN R. MALLORY AND BENJAMIN HUGER
STEPHEN R. MALLORY (1812 - 1873) Democratic Senator from Florida starting in 1851, and Secretary of the Navy for the Confederacy after the outbreak of the Civil War. Fine content and association war-date manuscript D.S., 1p. oblong 8vo., ‘Navy Dept.', Jan. 23, 1862, a ‘General Order' reading, in full: ‘Officers of the Navy detailed for duty, and serving in batteries, or otherwise on shore with the Army, will report for duty to the Commanding General of the Military Department to which they may be ordered, and be governed by his orders.' Signed ‘S.R. Mallory' in black ink at the conclusion, with ‘Secretary of the Navy'. Most interestingly, the verso bears an A.E.S. penned by BENJAMIN HUGER (1805 – 1877), Confederate major general who oversaw the evacuation of Norfolk and led a division at Seven Pines, Gaines Mill and Malvern Hill. The endorsement reads, in full: ‘Comd [William] McBlair responded on this 31 day of Jan 1862', and is signed ‘Benj Huger' in black ink, adding his rank ‘Maj. Genl'. The ink in Mallory's signature shows bleeding in two spots, and the document shows a horizontal split repaired expertly on the verso with archival tape, small folds and chips to the edges overall, and a few small pinholes near the edges. In very good condition overall. WILLIAM MCBLAIR (ca. 1802-1863) was an American naval officer who commanded the USS DALE in suppression of the slave trade off western Africa. After his service in the U.S. Navy's African Squadron, McBlair joined the Confederate Navy and commanded the CSS PATRICK HENRY as well as the ironclad CSS ATLANTA. Died in 1863 on board a hospital ship.

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November 14, 2025 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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