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Civil War Postal History: Union continued...

Naval Ship Covers continued...
LotNo. Symbol CatNo. Lot Description
101   imageU.S.S. Potomac, Frigate, cover addressed to "Nathaniel T. Hamlin, U. S. Ship Potomac, Pensacola, Fla.", franked with a neatly cork-canceled 3¢ rose (65) and postmarked with a red Boston c.d.s., Nov 6 (1864); includes a five-page family letter in which the recipient's sister writes "of the coming election. It appears that one party are determined to elect Lincoln while another are bent on McLellan [sic] and the consequence is that the Military have been called out to guard the public buildings. The Police force have been doubled and every thing put in readiness for a defense"; cover with a few opening tears at the top with top flap missing, otherwise Fine to Very Fine,

Potomac, with a complement of 480, was commissioned in 1830. She served with the Pacific and Brazilian Squadrons before becoming the flagship of the Home Squadron. At the start of the war she was assigned to the Gulf Blockading Squadron, later becoming a store ship, and then the receiving ship for the East Gulf Blockading Squadron at Pensacola. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $150-200
SOLD for $100.00
Will close during Public Auction
102   imageU.S.S. Powhatan, Steam Frigate, cover with manuscript endorsement "From U.S.F.S. Powhatan", franked with a 10¢ green (68) tied by a light undated circle "N. YORK/ STEAMSHIP", to Lawrence, Mass., Very Fine,

Powhatan was one of the Navy's most powerful ships. In 1861 under the command of Lt. David Dixon Porter, she assisted in the relief of Fort Pickens, Florida. She participated in the reduction of Fort Fisher December 24-25, 1864, and its capture January 13-15, 1865. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 68]

Suggested Bid $200-300
SOLD for $150.00
Will close during Public Auction
103   imageU.S.S. Pursuit, Bark, cover addressed to "Henri Batchelder, U.S. Barque Pursuit, St Josephs Bay, Florida, Care Naval Lyceum, Brooklyn, N.Y.", franked with a grid-canceled 3¢ rose (65) and postmarked with an Aug 8 Holliston, Mass. c.d.s.; the cover apparently went to Brooklyn first and was handstamped with a small oblong-boxed "FORWARDED" and "DUE 3", then there is a Sep 1, 1862(?) Port Royal, S.C. c.d.s., a Sep 17 "ADVERTISED" oval, a "CANNOT BE FOUND" straightline and, finally, a Dec 16 New York backstamp, Fine to Very Fine and most unusual,

Pursuit, with a complement of 100, was a barque acquired in 1861. She operated on the east coast of Florida as far as Cuba performing blockade operations. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $250-350
SOLD for $375.00
Will close during Public Auction
104   imageU.S.S. Rachel Seaman, Schooner Gunboat, George Washington on Horseback with Flag and "'Imitate Him!' 'Be a Patriot!'" patriotic cover (Weiss FP-GW 84 with an unlisted verse) with manuscript endorsement "Naval letter, Gunboat R. Seaman, Q.A. Hooper, Comm", postmarked with a mostly clear "U.S. SHIP/3cts." circle, to Philadelphia; reduced somewhat at the right, Fine to Very Fine. A somewhat unusual, properly certified sailor's letter, actually signed by the commanding officer, as postal regulations required.,

Rachel Seaman was used as a gunboat reporting to the Gulf Blockading Squadron, then the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. She primarily served blockade duty operating off the coast of Texas. She briefly operated off Mobile before returning to the Texas coast. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States Blockade]

Suggested Bid $600-800
SOLD for $1,100.00
Will close during Public Auction
105   imageU.S.S. Red Rover, Side-Wheel Hospital Ship, cover addressed to "Symmes E. Browne, Ensign, Gunboat Signal, Western Flotilla, Cairo, Ill." and redirected to "Hospital. Red. Rover, franked with a 3¢ rose (65) tied by a Cincinnati grid duplex, May 26 (1863); backstamped with a large "RECEIVED/*CAIRO Ill*" c.d.s., May 28, 1863 and docketed "Recd, Red Rover, June 14, 1863"; reduced just a tad at the right, Very Fine,

Red Rover was the U.S. Navy's first hospital ship and the first ship to have female nurses, forerunner of the Navy Nurses Corps. Fleet Surgeon Pinckney installed strict health standards on day-to-day activities as the ship treated more thant 2400 patients. She provided medical support at Vicksburg. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $150-200
SOLD for $400.00
Will close during Public Auction
106   imageU.S.S. Rhode Island, Side-Wheel Steamer, small cover to Boston from Haiti with letter datelined "U.S. Str. Rhode Island, Cape Haitien, Thursday evening, Dec 31st '63"; cover postmarked with a New York "STEAMSHIP/20" circle and a small Jan 29 Boston receiver; the ten-page letter, written over a ten-day period, is from Naval doctor S. Gilbert Webber to his fiancée,

Rhode Island was built in 1860 as the John P. King, then renamed Eagle in early 1861 after being partly destroyed by a fire. She was purchased by the Navy in June 1861 and commissioned as Rhode Island the following month. In December 1862, she was detailed to tow the ironclad, U.S.S. Monitor, south from Hampton Roads, Va. to Port Royal, S.C. On the way the ships encountered a heavy storm and Monitor, with multiple underwater leaks, sank before her crew could be completely transferred to Rhode Island, taking four officers and 12 enlisted men with her. In January 1863 Rhode Island joined the West Indies Squadron. (Image) (Image2)

image

Get Market Data for [United States Blockade]

Suggested Bid $300-400
SOLD for $190.00
Will close during Public Auction
107   imageU.S.S. Roanoke, Ironclad Monitor, tiny cover with manuscript endorsement "Ship Letter Frigate 'Roanoke', No (…?)", handstamped blue "DUE/3" in circle with a partial blue Baltimore c.d.s. Sep 8 (1864), to New York; includes the original note datelined "Fort Monroe, Va. Sep 7/64", Very Fine. When this was written, Roanoke had been converted to a Monitor, but apparently her crew still referred to her as a Frigate.,

Roanoke started life as a Merrimack steam frigate but after Hampton Roads was converted to a three-turret (one forward, two aft) ironclad Monitor. It was a bad conversion—the ship leaked badly and rolled so much as not to be able to fire at sea. The first test firing of her guns resulted in the dismounting of three of them. With a crew of 347, she served at Hampton Roads providing harbor protection. (Image) (Image2)

image

Suggested Bid $200-300
SOLD for $130.00
Will close during Public Auction
108   imageU.S.S. Saint Lawrence, Frigate, cover addressed to "Fleet Surgeon Harner, on board the U.S. Ship St. Lawrence, Keywest, Florida", franked with a 3¢ rose (65) tied by a Philadelphia c.d.s., Mar 10, 1863, Very Fine,

St. Lawrence served with the Atlantic and South Atlantic Blockading Squadrons before joining the North Atlantic Blockading Squadrons where, while grounded, she was one of the ships to engage Virginia at Hampton Roads on March 9. Her weapons were no match for Virigina's armor while she was holed just above the waterline. Virginia retired for the day with the intent of destroying her in the morning. In July 1862 she became the flagship of the East Gulf Blockading Squadron where she patrolled off the coast of Florida looking for blockade-runners operating between Cuba and the Gulf Coast. She continued in this capacity until an outbreak of Yellow Fever caused her to return north. In 1863 she was refit as an ordinance ship assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $150-200
SOLD for $180.00
Will close during Public Auction
109   imageU.S.S. Saranac, Side-Wheel Sloop of War, cover with manuscript endorsement "From U.S. Stm'r 'Saranac', Pacific Squadron", postmarked Vallejo, Cal. (Nov) 27 (1865) and franked with a 10¢ green (68) canceled with red circle-of-Vs; to Johnson, Vt.; includes the original letter datelined "Off San Francisco, U.S. Stm'r 'Saranac', Oct 1st 1864" from Ship's Corporal, Richard Fisher, to his father, with excellent content about possible promotions and about his tours in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Canton, Ning Po and "up the Yiang Tse to Hangkow", including, "After which I joined the Chinese Army…and was employed by the Mandarine to take charge of and drill a quantity of Chinese in the manual exercise of small arms." The cover also bears a small patriotic label: "The Union, - Northern Grit, will save it free.", letter Very Fine,

Saranac was assigned to the Pacific Squadron protecting American commerce along the coast of California. She was tasked with searching for the raider CSS Shenandoah, the last belligerent of the war. (Image) (Image2)

image

Get Market Data for [United States Nov]

Suggested Bid $200-300
SOLD for $650.00
Will close during Public Auction
110   imageU.S.S. Saranac, Side-Wheel Sloop of War, cover with manuscript endorsement "From U.S. Str. Saranac, Acapulco, Mex.", franked with a 3¢ rose (65) tied by a straightline "STEAM/SHIP" with "Due7" and "7" handstamps, to Chelsea, Mass.; opening tears at the top, stamp slightly damaged, Fine,

Saranac was assigned to the Pacific Squadron protecting American commerce along the coast of California. She was tasked with searching for the raider CSS Shenandoah, the last belligerent of the war. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $200-300
SOLD for $160.00
Will close during Public Auction
111   imageU.S.S. Satellite, Converted Tug Gunboat, Indian, Sailor & Shield patriotic cover in bronze (Weiss M-T 8a var.) with manuscript endorsement "U.S. Steamer Satellite Jan 19th", franked with a 3¢ rose (65) tied by a Jan 24 Washington D.C. c.d.s.; reduced somewhat at the right removing part of stamp, otherwise Fine to Very Fine. Satellite was only in service for two years, that, when combined with the small size of her crew—and the fact that it's on a patriotic envelope—makes this a very rare cover,

Satellite was commissioned in September 1861 with a complement of 43. She was assigned to the Potomac Flotilla supporting Army operations. She was captured and destroyed in August 1863. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $300-400
SOLD for $350.00
Will close during Public Auction
112   imageU.S.S. Sciota, Unadilla-Class Gunboat, Waving Flag with Liberty Cap patriotic cover with Everbell's Sons imprint (Weiss F-R 304 var.) with manuscript endorsement "Ship letter, US Gunboat Sciota" postmarked straightline "SHIP" and "U.S. SHIP/3cts." in circle, indicating it was first rated as a non-contract ship letter due 5¢ then reclassified as a sailor's letter due 3¢; reduced slightly at the right, Very Fine,

Sciota, with a complement of 114, was at New Orleans and took part in the lower Mississippi River operations. Afterwards she performed general blockade duties and had the infamous distinction of being sunk twice but successfully salvaged both times. (Image)

Suggested Bid $200-300
SOLD for $550.00
Will close during Public Auction
113   imageU.S.S. Sebago, Side-Wheel Sloop, cover addressed to "Surgn T.M. Coan M.D., U.S. Steamer Sebago, West Gulf Blockading Squadron, New Orleans, La.", franked with a 3¢ rose (65) tied by one of two strikes of a New York four-point star-in-circle duplex, Dec 14 (1864 - docketed as received "Jan. 6/65"), Very Fine,

Sebago was commissioned in 1862 and supported the Peninsula campaign. She served with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron and the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron before joining the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. She participated in the Battle of Mobile Bay. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $150-200
SOLD for $350.00
Will close during Public Auction
114   imageU.S.S. Southfield, Side-Wheel Gunboat, cover with small printed endorsement "NAVAL LETTER, U. S. STR. 'SOUTHFIELD'" (Milgram 1291), franked with a 3¢ rose (65) tied by a blue Norfolk, Va. target duplex, Oct 14, 1863; with pre-printed address to "Mr. Henry M. Lowe, Rockport, Mass."; small, light soiled spot at the top and bottom edges, otherwise Very Fine,

Southfield, with a complement of 61, was a converted ferry purchased in 1861. She operated in the Albemarle and Pamlico sounds with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron until sunk by the CSS Albemarle. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $500-750
SOLD for $600.00
Will close during Public Auction
115   imageU.S.S. Sumpter, Screw Steamer, cover with manuscript endorsement "Naval letter (signed) N.B. Juby, 1st Lieutenant, U.S. Steamer Sumpter", postmarked with a straightline "Due 3" and a Jul 9 Port Royal, S.C. c.d.s., to East Wareham, Mass.; reduced slightly at the left, Very Fine. The year would have been 1862, as she was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron early in 1863. A rare cover due to her fairly small crew and her short term of service,

Sumpter, with a complement of 64, participated at Fernandina, Florida, and operated off Charleston taking the British blockade runner Emil St. Pierre. In late 1862 she returned to NY Shipyard and was then reassigned from the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. On June 24, 1863, Sumpter collided with the Union transport, U.S.S. General Meigs near the Smith Island lighthouse and sank, her entire crew being rescued by the U.S.S. Jamestown. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States signed]

Suggested Bid $200-300
SOLD for $600.00
Will close during Public Auction
116   imageU.S.S. Sweet Brier, Screw Tug, cover addressed to "Mr. Martin V. B. Darling, Act. 2nd Asst Engineer, U.S.S. Sweet Brier, Port Royal, S.C.", franked with a grid-canceled 3¢ rose (65) and postmarked with a red Providence, R.I. c.d.s., May 30, 1864; stamp with minor faults, Very Fine. A very rare cover due to Sweet Brier's small crew size and short term of service.,

Sweet Brier, with a complement of 37, served in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron from her commissioning in 1864 until July 1865. She primarily operated off Charleston. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $150-200
SOLD for $100.00
Will close during Public Auction
117   imageU.S.S. Vincennes, Sloop, Lady Liberty & Flag patriotic cover (Weiss F-F 122) addressed to "Mr. Augustus O. Goodsoe, U.S. Sloop Vincennes, Gulf Squadron (In care of New York Naval Lyceum)", franked with a grid-canceled 3¢ rose (65) and postmarked with a neat Oct 7 Portsmouth, N.H. c.d.s.; reduced a bit irregularly at the right, otherwise Very Fine,

Vincennes had been Wilkes' flagship for his Antarctic Surveying and Exploring Expedition. In the war she served blockade duty and commanded the blockade off Ship Island. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $300-400
SOLD for $400.00
Will close during Public Auction
118   imageU.S.S. Wabash, Colorado Class Screw Frigate, cover addressed to "George Clymer Esqr. M.D., U.S. Flag Ship Wabash, Hilton-Head, South Carolina" and "Via New York", franked with a 3¢ rose (65) tied by a weak Wellsboro, Pa. c.d.s., docketed "Recd. Off St. Augustine by the Keystone State from P.R. [Port Royal] March 12"; includes original 4½-page letter from William B. Shubrick Clymer datelined Wellsboro, Feb 18, 1862, with the added half-sheet containing the "money quote":

"The only time I ever saw Jefferson Davis was in Ap. '46 in the Senate. You pointed him out to me. Crittenden called up a bill for cleaning obstructions at the mouth of Cumberland River."…"Davis opposed the bill. Calhoun replied in favor of it. Davis answered & Calhoun rejoined. I Thought Davis's Constitutional objections very frivolous. He seemed a dwarf in the hands of Calhoun. I have never thought much of Davis since.", Very Fine,

Wabash was the flagship of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron who spearheaded the assault on Port Royal. In December 1864 she rejoined the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron for the two battles of Fort fisher.

The well-known and extensive Clymer Correspondence documents the United States Navy during the early and mid-nineteenth century, especially naval medicine, diplomacy, and rank. The bulk of the collection is housed in the Princeton University Library with very few examples being held in private hands . (Image) (Image2)

image

Get Market Data for [United States Collection]

Suggested Bid $400-600
SOLD for $375.00
Will close during Public Auction
119   imageU.S.S. Wabash, Colorado Class Screw Frigate, cover with printed endorsement "U. S .S. Wabash, N. A. B. Squadron", franked with a cork-canceled 3¢ rose (65) and postmarked with a Dec 4 Old Point Comfort, Va. c.d.s., to New York City, Very Fine. Quite rare., with a 1998 A.P.S. certificate,

Wabash, with a complement of 672, was flagship of the Atlantic Blockading Squadron. She took part in the capture of Forts Hatteras and Clark. On October 29, 1861, she was desginated the flagship of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and sailed south to spearhead the assault on Port Royal, which would be the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron's new headquarters. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $300-400
SOLD for $550.00
Will close during Public Auction
120   imageU.S.S. Wabash, Colorado Class Screw Frigate, 3¢ pink entire (U58) with manuscript endorsement " U.S.S. Wabash" canceled with an Old Point Comfort, Va. c.d.s., Oct 29 (1861) - Wabash's first day as Flagship of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron - and addressed to Commodore P.F. (…) [surname crossed out], Annapolis, Maryland; rough opening at the top affecting the endorsement, otherwise Fine to Very Fine. Postal stationery was not often used aboard ships; that, coupled with the significant date for Wabash, make this very rare indeed,

Wabash, with a complement of 672, was flagship of the Atlantic Blockading Squadron. She took part in the capture of Forts Hatteras and Clark. On October 29, 1861, she was desginated the flagship of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and sailed south to spearhead the assault on Port Royal, which would be the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron's new headquarters. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States U58]

Suggested Bid $150-200
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

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