Two Confederate Naval Officers
Aboard CSS Alabama, 1863
I’m old enough to feel very personally about the Civil War. Growing up in Texas in the 1940s, even in the midst of World War II, the Civil War was very much alive. My mother’s family came from Louisiana and Mississippi, the men fought for The Cause; my grandmother told stories of the years after the War and the carpetbaggers, coming down from the north, to “stir up” the colored people. My grandmother was a liberal in southeastern Texas before that was fashionable. She did a lot to help black people in those years when segregation was very much a part of our lives.
I remember the white-bearded old Civil War veterans, riding in cars in parades, and I remember the sometimes violent celebrations by blacks at “June Teenth,” the commemoration of General Granger’s announcement to blacks at Galveston, TX on June 19th, 1865 of the Emancipation Proclamation, enacted two and one-half years earlier by President Lincoln.
On visits to Mississippi and Louisiana when I was young I got a glimpse of the old, ante-bellum elegance of “comfortable” white people living on plantations in the South: The big, white houses with long verandahs, the huge old magnolias and moss-hung live oaks, and the blacks, old retainers, earnestly serving their employers.
Yankees seemed to see only exploitation and Southern arrogance in those scenes, but there was much more.
Attending the Naval Academy during the 1950s I gained a fine appreciation for the role of the Union armed forces in the Civil War, and today I feel a great respect for both sides who fought in this war. I hope you will enjoy some of the items in this collection.
Alabama: National and Private "Alabama Claims", The; and their "Final and Amicable Settlement" by Beaman, Charles C., Jr. 1871 Washington City, DC: Office of the Librarian of Congress. At the start of the American Rebellion in 1861 the Confederate government found that in naval strength it was vastly outnumbered by the United States Navy, and it would be necessary to interdict Union commerce. England and English shipbuilders were very cooperative with the Confederacy, and allowed construction of Confederate gunboats that were very effective in attacking American shipping worldwide. On May 15th, 1862 CSS Alabama, known as "Gunboat 290" was launched at Birkenhead, Liverpool. Page 351 contains a list of the some 67 ships, barks, schooners and brigs destroyed by Alabama, and subsequent pages list ships destroyed by CSS Florida, Georgia, Shenandoah, Nashville, Olustee, Sumter, Tallahassee and others. This book is a collection of diplomatic correspondence, military correspondence and historical records relating to the matter of Great Britain's questionable acts of neutrality vis-à-vis the Confederate States, and of the negotiations to settle claims after hostilities ended. 358 pp. 14 x 23 cm. Paper on board with cloth spine, cover stained and soiled, fair. (4635) $85.00. History/Civil War
Scott's Infantry Tactics, Vol. II: Infantry Tactics; or, Rules for the Exercise and Manœvres of the United States Infantry, New Edition, by Major-General Scott, U.S. Army 1861 New York: Harper and Brothers, 329 & 331 Pearl Street, Franklin Square. Only volume II. This small book is a new edition, prepared by Major General Winfield Scott, and the book used by Union soldiers in the Civil War. [It was probably used by Confederate Soldiers, also.] School of the Battalion. Instruction for Light Infantry and Rifle, or Skirmishers. Included in this small book are fold-out illustrative plates: there are 24 listed, but eight contain only description (8 plates missing). 228 pp.+75 pp. explan. of plates and plates. 9 x 13. 5 cm. Marbled paper on board with leather spine, spine worn, edges scuffed, pages quite clean but 8 of 24 fold-out plates are missing. Good. (3756) $160.00. Civil War/History/Military
USS Monitor vs. CSS Merrimack at Hampton Roads, VA.
Capt. Daniel Foster of the United States 37th colored regiment was killed in the attack on Chapin's Bluff, VA. Capt Foster was formerly chaplain of the Mass. 22nd Rgt. He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1841 and for several years was a Unitarian missionary in Kansas. The Massachusetts 54th Regiment, colored troops, has been paid off by the government in full to August 31st. The soldiers have sent back to their families and friends in this city and vicinity the sum of $45,000. Willard Cheney, Jr. of Worcester has been commissioned a second lieutenant of the 2nd U.S. colored infantry, now stationed at Key West, Fla. 4 pp. 54 x 76 cm. Newspaper, edges frayed, good. (5979) $32.00. Civil War/History
Cincinnati Daily Gazette, Cincinnati, Ohio, Thursday morning, December 10, 1863 Cincinnati, OH: The Daily Gazette. In the middle of the Civil War this "Western" paper gives Status of the Rebel States: "How did the district held by the rebels become foreign territory in the eyes of the law?" This issuer features "The President's Message" in which Abraham Lincoln reports to Fellow Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives that Foreign Neutrality has been preserved, our blockade of Southern ports has been observed and respected, our Slave Trade Treaty with Great Britain has been ratified and carried into execution. Report also includes operations of the Treasury , and report of the Secretary of the Navy. The Secretary of the Navy reports acquisition of armored vessels, increase in seamen from 7000 in 1861 to 24,000 now, the Naval Academy (now located in Newport, RI) is rendering signal service in preparing midshipmen for their highly responsible duties; also detailed plans for Reconstruction, upon cessation of the war. Separate report from the Secretary of the Navy summarizes 36 page report, including action of blockade over 3549 miles, employing more than 100 vessels. the Navy at present date includes 588 vessels with 4,443 guns. Since December 1862 the Navy has lost or had captured 12 vessels, another 35 destroyed in order to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy, sunk in battle or by torpedoes, 4, shipwreck 5 and collision 13. Secretary also reports on the development of the Monitors by Capt. John Ericsson. In "Latest by Telegraph" report from Washington reports that the President's Message has been favorably received, but radical wing of the Administration has become more cautious in praise. "The pivotal point of the whole Message is the idea that absolute complete emancipation, will at length be the basis of reconstruction." 4 pp. 60 x 70 cm. Newspaper, numerous holes in folds in front page, poor. (7803) $40.00. Civil War/Newspapers
New-York Tribune, New-York, Tuesday, January 24, 1860 New York, NY: The New-York Tribune. Report from 36th Congress: Remarks of Senator Douglas regarding communication of Governor of Virginia to President Buchanan, that there was a plan on foot to rescue John Brown; President replied that he was at a loss to find any provision in the Constitution or the laws of the United States to authorize him to take any steps to preserve the peace between the states. "The Irrepressible Folly: General Panic in the South; People Afraid of Newspapers; Banishment and Hanging in Fashion." Commentary on Senator Douglas, discussing passing a bill to prevent one state from invading another. Douglas proposes to make it a criminal offense to make any more Free States after the manner of Kansas. Douglas says he wants no Slave code. and this has brought him the ill will of the South. Editorial support for Senator Cassius M. Clay of Kentucky; Clay has earned acclaim in Congress, in commercial and doughface circles at the North, at John Brown meetings. "Republicanism in Kentucky--Speech of Cassius M. Clay" From the Cincinnati Gazette. Clay discusses the Radical Abolitionists; Hang-Dog Testimony..."we now and always have regarded the poor African as of an inferior race, and although we do not pretend to divine the inscrutable designs of the Deity..." 8 pp. 44 x 56 cm. Newspaper, unopened, good. (7809) $26.00. Civil War/History
Manchester Daily Union, Manchester, N.H. Tuesday, May 16, 1865 Manchester, NH: Campbell & Hanscom. By telegraph from Washington: The assassination trial is open to reporters of newspapers. It is supposed that Jeff Davis will be brought to Washington and tried for murder. The Negro Problem in Kentucky is one of great practical moment. Negroes are leaving their homes by the thousands and are crowding into the towns, demoralizing and being demoralized.... the plantations are without labor, and crops cannot be grown. Uncertainty and confusion take the place of order, and poverty and disease must follow upon idleness and dissipation. Negro Suffrage--the Abolitionists, not content with negro freedom, are clamorous for negro suffrage. Continued account of Assassination Trial...Mr. Lloyd, who kept a hotel at Surrattville, testified that several weeks before the assassination Booth and his accomplices came to his house, and brought two carbines and a rope... Testimony of Mrs. Surratt... Booth and Harold came to the hotel soon after midnight; Booth said, "I will tell you some news; I am pretty certain we have assassinated the President and Secretary Seward." Commentary on Mission of the Democratic Party. Adv. New Dress Goods; Mourning Goods; Carpeting and Housekeeping Goods at Barton & Co., East Side Elm Street. 4 pp. 32 x 47 cm. Newspaper, some perforations in spinefold, good. (8030) $25.00. Civil War/History
Manchester Daily Union, Manchester, N.H. Wednesday, May 17, 1865 Manchester, NH: Campbell & Hanscom. By telegraph from Washington: Assassination Trials. Members of the Military Commission met in Ford's Theatre this morning to view the premises. The military and civil authorities in Washington are still at variance. Report that the President has under consideration a new amnesty proclamation which will announce what classes of rebels are to be held for treason. John M. Buckingham, doorkeeper at Ford's theatre said Booth came in about 10 o'clock .. he then walked up the stairway leading to the dress circle, and that was the last time I saw him until he jumped upon the stage... James P. Ferguson: "About ten I saw Booth pass the open door leading to the boxes. I did not see him any more till he fired his pistol and jumped to the stage..." More detailed testimony of trial. Wm. A. Browning, secretary to Pres. Johnson, testified that he went to Kirkwood House between 4 and 5 in the afternoon of the murder and saw in Mr. Johnson's box a card written by John Wilkes Booth. 4 pp. 32 x 47 cm. Newspaper, some perforations in spinefold, good. (8031) $25.00. Civil War/History
La Guerre D'Amérique: Récit d'un Soldat du Sud [in French] (The American {Civil} War: Narrative of a Southern Soldier); Tome Premier [Volume One ONLY] par Fontane, Marius ca. 1866 Paris, France: Adrien Le Clere ET Ce, Éditeurs, Rue Cassette, 29. Volume One of a two volume set. Small foldout map ( "Carte du Théâtre de la Guerre d'Amérique") at rear of first volume. Narrative by Marius Fontane (1838-1914). Entrée de Charleston. L'exploitation des forêts de la Caroline du Sud. Toinot le planteur. Les case des nègres. Premier coup de fusil (6 avril 1861). Jefferson Davis, président des États confédérés. L'arsenal de Norfolk (6 mars 1862). Marche des Nordistes vers Richmond. 304 pp. + map. 11.5 x 17 cm. Quarter leather with marbled paper boards; covered with plastic film. Fold-out map has small tears in folds. Good. (1735) $75.00. Civil War/History
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