Description:

UNION NAVY COMMANDERS AT THE BATTLE OF MOBILE BAY (14)
A very fine lot of fourteen items signed by the commanders and officers of the U.S. Navy ships which formed Admiral David G. Farragut's squadron at the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864, includes: TUNIS A. M. CRAVEN (1813-1864) Commander of the monitor USS TECUMSEH, which spearheaded the Union attack and struck a naval mine, prompting Farragut to famously exclaim ‘Damn the torpedoes! Four bells. Captain Drayton, go ahead! Jouett, full speed!' Craven went down with his ship, along with most of her crew. Rare partly-printed D.S. ‘T. Aug. M. Craven', 1p. 8.5. x 2.5 in., New York, Feb. 1, 1845, a payroll receipt issued to Craven as a first lieutenant. He signs in black ink at lower right, acknowledging receipt. Ragged at the edges where detached from a larger sheet, else fine. WITH: PERCIVAL DRAYTON (1812-1865) Commander of the West Gulf Squadron and of Farragut's flagship, the steam sloop USS HARTFORD, famously ordered Farragut to be lashed to the Hartford's rigging for his safety. Partly printed D.S. ‘P. Drayton' as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, 1p. legal folio, [Washington, D.C.], May 18, 1865, ordering a carpenter to report to Rear Admiral Silas Stringham for duty at the Boston Navy Yard. Drayton signs at the conclusion in black ink, his signature somewhat brushed. Shows horizontal folds and some toning, else very good. WITH: JAMES E. JOUETT (1826-1902) Commander of the ‘double-ender' gunboat USS METACOMET, which was lashed alongside the Hartford at the outset of the battle and later engaged the Confederate gunboats GAINES and SELMA, sinking the former and capturing the latter. Manuscript L.S. ‘Jas. E. Jouett' as rear admiral, 1p. 8vo., New York, June 4, 1886, to well-known portrait photographer Napoleon Sarony, requesting that he lend a negative of Jouett's photo to a third party. He signs boldly in black ink at the conclusion. Shows folds, toned at the edges, ragged at the left edge and with file holes at top, else very good. WITH: THORNTON A. JENKINS (1811-1893) Commander of the steam sloop USS RICHMOND. A fine association A.L.S., 2pp. 4to., [place uncl., poss. China], March 16, 1859, from Jenkins to then-U.S. Navy Lt. JOHN M. KELL (1823-1900), who would resign his commission at the outbreak of the Civil War and offer his services to the Confederate Navy, becoming executive officer of the raider CSS ALABAMA. Jenkins, writing aboard the sloop USS PREBLE, wishes his correspondent well as he is about to go to sea, and signs at the conclusion in black ink. His handwriting is difficult to read in many places, and the letter shows original mailing folds, and is slightly ragged and mildly toned at the edges, else very good. WITH: EDWARD DONALDSON (1816-1889) Commander of the steam sloop USS SEMINOLE. War-date A.L.S., 3pp. 8vo., Anne Arundel County, MD, Aug. 7, 1862, to an unnamed doctor, informing his correspondent of his recovery from a recent illness and the movements of his command at the time, the gunboat USS SCIOTA. He signs boldly at the conclusion in black ink. His handwriting is often difficult to read, and the letter shows original mailing folds, else in fine condition. WITH: JAMES ALDEN, JR. (1810-1877) Commander of the steam sloop USS BROOKLYN. Manuscript D.S. as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, 1p. 4to., Washington, D.C., Oct. 15, 1869, revoking earlier orders issued to U.S. Navy captain J. H. Spotts to report for duty as a lighthouse inspector. Alden signs at the conclusion in blue ink. The signature is slightly soft, and the pieces shows folds throughout, else very good. WITH: JAMES W. A. NICHOLSON (1821-1887) Commander of the monitor USS MANHATTAN, which forced the surrender of the Confederate flagship, the ironclad CSS TENNESSEE. Fine content and association signed endorsement on a manuscript L.S. by Secretary of the Navy RICHARD W. THOMPSON (1809-1900), 23pp. 4to., Washington, D.C., July 21, 1879, to Augustus Sargent, warden of the state prison at Wethersfield, Connecticut, informing his correspondent that a U.S. Marine Corps private being held there has been found guilty by a court-martial of unstated charges and relaying his sentence. Thompson signs at the conclusion in black ink, with Nicholson signing his stamped endorsement below in black ink as commandant of the New York Navy Yard, forwarding the letter. Shows original mailing folds, faintly toned, else very good. WITH: BANCROFT GHERARDI (1832-1903) Commander of the ‘double-ender' gunboat USS PORT ROYAL. Fine association A.E.S. on a manuscript letter, 1p. legal folio, Leghorn, Italy, April 7, 1882, to the aforementioned James W. A. Nicholson, from a lieutenant of the USS QUINNEBANG, requesting a leave of absence. Gherardi executes his endorsement on the verso, granting the request and signing in black ink, with Nicholson signing his own stamped endorsement below. Shows original mailing folds, faintly toned, else very good. WITH: GEORGE BROWN (1835-1913) Commander of the gunboat USS ITASCA. A.L.S. ‘Geo. Brown' as Commandant of the Norfolk Navy Yard, 1p. 8vo., Norfolk, Aug. 12, 1895, responding to a request for an autograph. He signs boldly at the conclusion in black ink, adding his rank ‘Rear Admiral, U S Navy'. Shows original mailing folds, with mounting remnants to the verso, else very good. WITH: JOHN B. MARCHAND (1808-1875) Commander of the steam sloop USS LACKAWANNA. Endorsement on an interesting manuscript D.S., 1p. oblong 8vo., [n.p., n.d., ca. June, 1863], a statement from James Fulton, paymaster of the Lackawanna, confirming that one of the sloop's crew is entitled to a share of prize money received for the sale of ships captured while attempting to run the Union blockade at Mobile. Marchand signs his endorsement at lower left approving the statement. Shows a 1.5 in. tear at the bottom edge, barely touching Marchand's signature, with expected folds and a few chips to the edges, otherwise in very good overall condition. WITH: WILLIAM E. LE ROY (1818-1888) Commander of the steam sloop USS OSSIPPEE. Partly-printed D.S. ‘Wm. E. Le Roy', 1p. 8 x 2.5 in., New York, Sep. 30, 1858, a payroll receipt issued to Le Roy as a lieutenant. He signs boldly in black ink at lower right, adding his rank, acknowledging receipt. Ragged at the edges where detached from a larger sheet, else fine. WITH: JAMES H. STRONG (1814-1882) Commander of the screw sloop USS MONOGAHELA. Partly-printed D.S. ‘J. H. Strong', 2pp. 6.5 x 2.5 in., Brooklyn, April 1, 1844, a paycheck issued to Strong as a lieutenant. He signs on the verso in black ink at lower right, acknowledging receipt. Shows a punch cancellation and pencil notation away from the signature, else very good. WITH: CLARK H. WELLS (1822-1888) Commander of the ubiquitous experimental broadside ironclad USS GALENA. Bold signature ‘C. H Wells' in black ink on a 4.5 x 2.25 in. slip of paper, adding his later rank ‘Rear Admiral' and ‘U.S. Navy'. Shows adhesive residue on the verso, else very good. WITH: LEWIS A. KIMBERLY (1830-1902) Executive officer of the Hartford during the battle. Partly-printed D.S. ‘L. A. Kimberly', 1p. 4to., Panama, Jan. 3, 1889, ordering a lieutenant of his flagship, the USS TRENTON, to report as judge advocate for a court martial convened by Captain (later Rear Admiral) NORMAN VON HELDREICH FARQUHAR (1840-1907). Kimberly signs boldly at the conclusion in black ink, with Farquhar signing endorsements at top and center left. Shows folds, else very good. Fourteen pieces. A unique opportunity to own an almost-complete set of officers commanding Farragut's line of battle at the greatest Union naval victory of the war!

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March 27, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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