Description:

(U.S. NAVY) SAMUEL LOCKWOOD DESCRIBES THE FRIGATE USS CYANE, CAPTURED BY USS CONSTITUTION
(1803-1893) U.S. Navy commodore who served as commander of the screw steamer USS DAYLIGHT on blockade duty at Wilmington and Beaufort in the Civil War, during which she participated in the capture of Fort Macon and bombarded Fort Fisher, and captured eight blockade runners. Interesting early A.L.S. as a midshipman, 1p. 4to., New York, July 11th, 1823, to his father, Thomas. Lockwood describes his newly assigned duty station, the frigate USS CYANE. In part: ‘I am disappointed in my expectations of going to Norwich [University] Vt. In consequence of Capt. Evansharing received an order from the Sec. of the Navy to order a number of the midshipmen from the station to the Cyane now laying at the quarantine ground Staten Island and as there are very few mid'n on the station, I have the misfortune to make one of the number, that are ordered – However the Cyane is a very good, comfortable large ship, being frigate built, (i.e.) having Guns mounted on two decks, which will make it very pleasant, and I understand that the majority of those that are ordered are very agreeable shipmates. I do not know where the Cyane is destined to cruise, but I presume the West Indies which is the report here – I do not wish you to infer that I am disappointed, from my making use of the word misfortune above, on the contrary I am very well satisfied as it is… I shall have an opportunity of attending Mr. [Alden] Partridges institution [Norwich] after this cruise which will be of no detriment to me as I have a chance of improving in seamanship… I join the ship on Sunday, she is commanded by Capt. R. J. Spence...' Lockwood signs at the conclusion in black ink. Shows folds overall, with some chips to the edges, otherwise in very good condition. This letter is accompanied by a second typed letter, 2pp. 4to., Washington, D.C., Sep. 8, 1938, from the Navy Department's Office of Naval Records and Library to a former owner, confirming the opportunity of Lockwood's letter, providing some additional details of his career, and explaining that Lockwood likely attended Norwich University in 1823 after all, as his name does not appear on the Cyane's contemporary muster records. The USS CYANE was a British sixth-rate ship of the Banterer class, built in 1806. She was captured, along with the HMS LEVANT, by the USS CONSTITUTION in a night action off Madeira on Feb. 20, 1815, and was placed into service with the U.S. Navy. She subsequently cruised off the coast of Africa in suppression of the slave trade, before being broken up at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1836. She was the namesake of the second USS CYANE, a 22-gun sloop built in 1837, commanded by Lockwood from 1858-1860.

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

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