Civil War CDVs Related to the Blockade, Incl. General Whiting, Admiral Buchanan, and Captured Blockade Runners
Lot of 5 CDVs. Includes a seated portrait of CSA Navy Admiral Franklin Buchanan as a US Navy captain, published by Anthony from a Brady negative; a vignette of CSA Major General William H.C. Whiting, by Jones & Vanerson, Richmond, with 1865 revenue stamps on verso; and three CDVs of men alleged to be captured blockade runners.
Buchanan (1800-1874) joined the US Navy at the age of 15 but resigned his commission in April 1861 to join the fledgling Confederate Navy. He commanded the CSS
Virginia in her successful attack against the wooden steam frigates
Cumberland and
Congress in March 1862 but was wounded and not aboard during the revolutionary duel of ironclads the next day. Buchanan was promoted to admiral in August 1862 and sent to Mobile to oversee the construction of the CSS
Tennessee, which he commanded against Farragut's overwhelming fleet at the Battle of Mobile Bay, when he was once more wounded and taken prisoner.
Whiting (1824-1865) graduated first in his class at West Point in 1845 and spent most of his US Army service building seacoast fortifications before resigning to join the Confederate Army in February 1861. He was present at Fort Sumter, First Bull Run, Seven Pines and Seven Days before being assigned to manage the crucial defenses of Wilmington Harbor. Whiting was wounded and captured at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher and died of dysentery while in Union custody.
The other 3 images are all period albumen prints of men identified by the collector as captured blockade runners, all affixed to later mounts. Seated man identified as Captain John B. Johns of the blockade runner
Cronstadt, captured Aug. 16, 1863, by the USS
Rhode Island and held prisoner at Fort Warren. Standing man is Captain Joseph Leach of the steamer
Planter, captured June 15, 1863 by the USS
Lackawanna, also imprisoned at Fort Warren. Vignette is inked on mount's recto
Unidentified Blockade Runner and bears a faded pencil inscription on verso,
C.L. Allen.
Provenance: The M. Clifford (Cliff) and Lynne B. Young Confederate Blockade Runner Collection
Condition
Buchanan's lightly soiled and trimmed across the bottom edge. Whiting's lightly soiled, evenly toned and trimmed along the top and bottom edges. Other remounted, as described above.