Civil War Correspondence Copybook of the USS Gem of the Sea

Lot 50

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American History

By Cowan's Auctions

Jun 10, 2016 - Jun 11, 2016

Set Reminder 2016-06-10 10:00:00 2016-06-11 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : American History https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/american-history-1497 Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com

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Lot Description

Civil War Correspondence Copybook of the USS Gem of the Sea

Copybook, 8 x 12.5 in., brown marbleized boards with reinforced buckram binding, 179 of 192 pages filled. First entry dated New York, US Bark Gem of the Sea, Oct. 20, 1861, with copies of all correspondence from Lt. Irvin B. Baxter, Commanding, to flag officer Samuel F. Du Pont, Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles, commanders of other ships, prize commissioners, and other officials until January 19, 1864.

USS Gem of the Sea was a bark purchased by the US Navy in August 1861 and commissioned on October 15. Upon commissioning she joined the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron off the coast of South Carolina where she captured at least four prizes. After undergoing repairs in Boston in late 1862, Gem of the Sea was assigned to the East Gulf Blockading Squadron and patrolled the coast of south Florida and the Keys, capturing at least a dozen more blockade runners and smaller boats.

Representative examples of copied correspondence include:

Dec. 6, 1861, to Captain Ringgold of the USF Sabine, they describe chasing a small sidewheel steamer which hoisted the Confederate flag once past them, so Gem of the Sea “gave her a shell as a compliment to the hoisting of her flag.”

Dec. 24, 1861, off Georgetown (SC), to J.B. Marchand, Cmdg. USS James Adger, asking permission to destroy a schooner laying aground at North Island, and requesting two boats from the Adger to assist in the task.

June 16, 1862, "Blockading off Georgetown (SC)," addressed to Samuel F. Du Pont, Flag Officer Commanding, an 8.5pp report of all proceeding of the Gem of the Sea from April 10 to June 16. Several similar "Reports of Proceedings" follow, sent every four to ten weeks.

January 1, 1863, At Anchor off the Entrance to Indian River, to Secretary of Navy Gideon Welles, reporting the capture of the blockade-running sloop Ann, bound from Nassau, with four crew and a small cargo of salt and other provisions. Baxter deemed her "old and leaky" and her cargo of insufficient value to be sent for adjudication, so he destroyed her and much of her cargo, forwarded her papers to the commanding officers of the East Gulf Blockading Squadron, and transferred her crew (four British subjects) to gunboat Sagamore.

March 6, 1863, At Anchor of Indian River, to Theodore Bailey, Cmdg. E.G.B. Squadron, stating grievances of the officers and crew relating to expedition of the US Gunboat Sagamore up Indian River, which forced the Gem of the Sea to temporarily cease her own operations and traverse a treacherous sandbar in order to provide provisions for Sagamore's crew. Baxter requests a portion of any of Sagamore's prize money as she would not have been successful without the aid of his crew.

August 1, 1863, Charlotte Harbor, FL, to Secretary of Navy Gideon Welles, reporting capture of the British schooner Georgie, abandoned but less than six months old and in good condition, and asking permission to keep her as a tender.

Provenance: The M. Clifford (Cliff) and Lynne B. Young Confederate Blockade Runner Collection

Condition

Binding and corners of cover have been reinforced with modern buckram tape.
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