Acting Ensign E.M. Wheelock and Mortar, Albumen Photograph with Letter on Verso

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American Historical Ephemera & Photography, I...

By Cowan's Auctions

Jun 26, 2020

Set Reminder 2020-06-26 10:00:00 2020-06-26 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : American Historical Ephemera & Photography, Including African Americana:Premier Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/american-historical-ephemera-photography-including-african-americana-premier-auction-5208
Cowan's Auctions is delighted to present the June 26 American Historical Ephemera and Photography Auction, including 55 lots devoted to the African American experience, over 175 lots dating from the Civil War Era, and more than 60 lots documenting life in the American West. Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com

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• Lot Description
  Acting Ensign E.M. Wheelock and Mortar, Albumen Photograph with Letter on Verso
  
  Albumen photograph, 6 x 8 in., matted to 9 x 10.5 in., featuring Acting Ensign E.M. Wheelock wearing his uniform and resting his hand on the metallic tube of a mortar. Uncredited, 1863. Signed and dated by Wheelock beneath image, "your friend / E.M. Wheelock / USN." Period lined paper affixed to verso with note from Wheelock headed, "Helena Ark March 8th 1863." The note reads, "W.W. Wisewell jr / Dear Sir / I send you a / Copy of the Mortar that I fired the last/shot at Vicksburgh (sic) last summer.  it was / depressed. or in a 'Horizontal' position.  the first one that was ever fired in / that position / your friend / EM Wheelock / Acting Ensign / USN." The mortar featured in the photograph is likely mounted aboard an unknown smaller bomb vessel on a circular wooden turnstile. The tube looks like it burst, but the truth is revealed in Wheelock's postscript clarifying that: "the dark spot on Mortar is water. / No defects. for all of the Mortars are as / perfect as the day they were first used."  
  
  Wheelock was commissioned acting ensign on October 1, 1862. It is not understood what ensign Wheelock meant when he wrote "last summer" in his narrative under the March 1863 header. Unless Wheelock was promoted from the enlisted ranks he could not have been present at either of the two major events that happened at Vicksburg "last summer" - the fleet running past the river batteries on June 28, 1862, and the sudden appearance of the CSS Arkansas as she pursued the USS Tyler through the startled Union fleet on July 15. Siege operations incorporating periods of sustained naval bombardment with short range mortars did not really commence until April 1863. By that time, mortarman Wheelock had already left the service.  For reasons not made explicit his appointment was revoked seven weeks after he penned this narrative on April 27, 1863. When he claims "I fired..." it is unknown exactly what he was mortaring. 
  
  Acting Ensign Wheelock is mentioned five times in the Navy Official Records, of these two are his "reports" of only moderate length dating to early 1863.  The earlier "report" dated January 4, 1863 puts Wheelock at Memphis where he says he is "awaiting orders."  He further writes that he had been "assigned to a board of trade to represent the Navy," presumably in commercial matters relating to the procurement of supplies and, perforce, involving government funds.  Three weeks later on January 27 another Wheelock report has him at Helena, Arkansas "left in charge of mortar boats."  A pointed response from Rear Admiral Porter comes on January 30 accusing Ensign Wheelock of "meddling in matters over which you have no control."  It is also apparent that Porter believes Wheelock allowed the army to abscond with navy coal held at Helena.  We now have an angry admiral who ordered Wheelock to 'cease and desist' ending with a pointed rebuke, "Your duties do not seem to be so well performed that you can afford to act as a member of a board of trade."  Two weeks later on February 8 Wheelock receives another reprimand from Admiral Porter in which the admiral now specifically forbids Wheelock "from engagement in unauthorized complication with revenue affairs."  Admirals rarely find it necessary to engage ensigns more than once.  The month long exchange was certainly the catalyst underlying the revocation of E.M. Wheelock's commission on April 27.  Afterwards, other than this photograph, he simply disappears.  
  
  Provenance: The Richard B. Cohen Civil War Collection

  Condition

  Albumen conveys strong artistic tones and superior composition as noted.  Clarity very strong in the mid range, weaker closer to the camera, near EXC.  Mount with damaged lower left corner and dented corners at top.  The glue on back is bleeding through the albumen causing most of the left margin and top to brown as mentioned before.  Paper manuscript narrative has edge pieces missing along bottom with visible remnants of glue on left margin.  Paper is toned and soiled.   
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