Description:

U.S.S. DALE AND AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE INTERDICTION
Important grouping of letters and documents concerning operations of the sloop-of-war USS DALE while assigned to slave trade suppression duties off the coast of Africa. The 15 items emanate from the papers of WILLIAM MCBLAIR , commander of the DALE at the time. Included is, in chronological order: a Jan. 19, 1856 letter by Lt. Edward Barnes aboard the Dale at Gosport advising that he had been placed in command due to the intoxication of another officer during a severe storm; Apr. 7, 1857 sailmaker's list of sails supplied to the vessel; an Aug. 17, 1857 letter to McBlair from Flag Officer THOMAS A CONOVER (1794-1864) commanding naval forces off Africa, from Porto Grande ordering two men found unfit and nine survivors be sent to him; a second letter from THOMAS A. CONOVER , same place and date, to McBlair expressing his disappointment that the DALE was still lying in harbor after having been ordered to "proceed down the coast", along with a third letter from Conover, same date and place, sending McBlair duplicate orders; an Oct. 17, 1857 from THOMAS A. CONOVER to McBlair, from St. Paul de Luando acknowledging receipt of a report on slavers sent by McBlair, also mentioning the capture of the American steamer "Bremen" by the HMS VESUVIUS, and: "...a list of American vessels...supposed to be engaged in the slave trade..."; a Apr. 12, 1858 letter from a boatswain aboard the DALE to Capt. McBlair, Porto Praya, stating he has been unjustly confined due to a perceived error in rigging a sail; a May 3, 1858 letter from a surgeon aboard the USS MARION at Port Praya to McBlair recommending that a sick officer be returned to the U.S.; a May 17, 1858 surgeon's report listing those men found unfit for duty; a July 10, 1858 letter from THOMAS A. CONOVER to McBlair, Porto Praya, sending findings of a court martial and ordering the release of "Dr. Sherman"; a fair copy of a July 29, 1858 letter sent by officers of the USS CUMBERLAND to Adm. Connover discussing Dr. Sherman and the sanitary condition of cells used for confining prisoners aboard the DALE, "...intended to be places of severe punishment, and not places of relaxation...he has never expressed an opinion adverse to the ironing of Prisoners with their hands behind them...considering the extreme heat...the position of the 'cells' on board the Dale [should] be removed from their present location..."; and a July 31, 1858 letter from THOMAS A. CONOVER to McBlair ordering (despite all) the arrest of Dr. Sherman. Overall fine condition. Also present is a rare 18" x 12" imprint: "CRUISE OF THE U.S. SHIP DALE, DURING 1857, '58, '59 WEST COAST OF AFRICA" showing ports of call, time at sea, and miles sailed. The poster has marginal damage, folds, and a damp stain. 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. McBlair died in 1863 on board a hospital ship.

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July 8, 2015 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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