[CIVIL WAR]. CDV of Captain William Gwin, DOW aboard the USS Benton following artillery duel with Confederate forces. St. Louis, MO: W.L. Troxell, 186

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American Historical Ephemera & Photography

By Cowan's Auctions

Jun 25, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-06-25 10:00:00 2021-06-25 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : American Historical Ephemera & Photography https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/american-historical-ephemera-photography-7043
The June 25 American Historical Ephemera and Photography Auction features an exciting assemblage of 18th-early 20th century material, including Civil War archives, Early Photography, Western Americana, Autographs and Manuscripts, and more. Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com

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• Lot Description
  CDV, exquisite full standing portrait identified in period ink on verso as "Capt. Gwin US Gun / boat 'Tyler' 1862." (Appealing view with soft corners, otherwise near excellent.) Gwin stands before Troxell's painted canvas backdrop cradling a dress fore-and-aft cap on his arm. Gwin never achieved the rank of captain unbeknownst to the anonymous writer and his uniform is that of a Commander with two cuff stripes. A different likeness of the esteemed William Gwin (1832-1863) can be found on p.102 of Civil War Biographies from the Western Waters. Key dates for this veteran officer are: Midshipman 4/7/47, Passed Midshipman 6/19/53, Master 9/15/55, Lieutenant 9/16/55, Lieut.-Commander 7/16/62, killed in battle 1/3/63. Gwin was assigned to the Mississippi Squadron early in 1862 and took command of the sidewheel timberclad USS Tyler during operations against Fort Henry. During the colossal see-saw battle of Shiloh, the gunboats Tyler and Lexington were credited with saving the Union Army from disaster and received effusive praise from General Grant for their accurate fire. Gwin is probably best remembered for his running fight with the ironclad CSS Arkansas that occurred on July 15, 1862. As a result Gwin was acclaimed by the Northern press "and established a reputation as one of most promising officers" in the Western Flotilla. He then briefly commanded the USS Mound City before taking over the larger USS Benton. On December 27, 1863 during an artillery duel at Snyder's Bluff on the Yazoo the Benton was hit numerous times and was seriously damaged by Confederate shells. During the exchange Lieut. Commander Gwin was mortally wounded by splinters and died three days later aboard a hospital ship on the Mississippi. In reporting Gwin's death to the Navy Department, Rear Admiral David Porter remarked of his subordinate, "The country has lost one of its bravest officers." 
  
  The Richard B. Cohen Civil War Collection Lots 79-98; 116; 138-153; and 266
  
  Cowan's is pleased to offer the third installment of Richard B. Cohen's collection of Civil War Brown Water Navy photography. Richard was known to many in the field as a "disciplined collector who maintained a relatively narrow focus having built an important, perhaps unsurpassed collection in his area of specialization." From cartes de visite to large format photographs, this portion of the collection features a noteworthy selection of images of Brown Water Navy warships, among them, the USS Benton, Choctaw, Lafayette, and Louisville. Many important identified naval officers are also represented, including an exquisite CDV of the promising young officer, Lieutenant Commander William Gwin, who died of wounds aboard the USS Benton following an artillery duel with Confederate forces at Snyder's Bluff, and an exceptionally large war-date photograph of the controversial commander of the USS Pittsburgh, Egbert Thompson.
  
  This auction also features a premiere selection of autographs and manuscripts from Richard's carefully curated collection. Highlights include a letter from Jefferson Davis to his distant cousin, John J. Pettus, Governor of Mississippi, dated a year before secession, conveying intricate plans for securing armaments in preparation for the war; an Abraham Lincoln signed endorsement; a letter from Admiral D.G. Farragut from New Orleans, offering excellent insight into his "political" thinking as well as his dedication to his work; correspondence from Gideon Welles, David Dixon Porter, U.S. Grant, and W.T. Sherman; and a pair of superb letters with highly descriptive accounts of the Battle of the Monitor and Merrimac.
  
  Provenance: The Richard B. Cohen Civil War Collection
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