USS Tyler, Two Albumen Photographs of Brown Water Navy Gunboat

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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
  USS Tyler, Two Albumen Photographs of Brown Water Navy Gunboat
  
  Lot of 2. Oval albumen photograph, approx. 7.5 x 5.5 in., mounted to approx. 9.75 x 7.5 in., featuring the USS Tyler. Uncredited, n.d. Affixed printed caption lists names and ranks of the ship's officers. Various pencil inscriptions on verso including the name "John Powers 2nd Boatswainsmate [sic]" suggesting original ownership by a member of Tyler's crew. Oval albumen photograph, 5.25 x 7.5 in., on poorly trimmed mount, 6.25 x 9.25 in., of USS Tyler taken from the port side with crewmen relaxing on the bow. J.W. Taft: Memphis, TN, April 10, 1865. Small photographer's stamp on verso.
  
  The A.O. Tyler (built 1857) was a commercial side-wheel steamboat taken over by the Navy and commissioned in September 1861 as the gunboat USS Tyler. The Tyler saw early service on the upper Mississippi transporting troops under U.S. Grant in the abortive attack on Belmont, Missouri, later joining in the bombardment of Columbus, Kentucky. She aided in the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson while simultaneously engaged in aggressive patrolling of the Tennessee River that resulted in the capture of three incomplete Rebel gunboats, notably the CSS Eastport on February 7, 1862. During a desperate moment at the Battle of Shiloh on April 6 the gunboats Tyler and Lexington were instrumental in securing the left of the hard pressed Union line with "devastating enfilade fire that forced the Southern right flank to fall back" allowing Grant to stage a counterattack next day. Wrote Grant, "in this repulse much is due to the presence of the gunboats." On April 19 Tyler captured a Confederate transport on the river and burned another. For the next fourteen months Tyler was engaged in various operations, both navy and army, that culminated with the capture of fortress Vicksburg.  Of particular note, in mid-July 1862 Tyler led a contingent of warships on the Yazoo to locate and engage the Rebel ram CSS Arkansas, reported as still incomplete. On July 15 General Quarters sounded as billowing smoke from Arkansas's funnel was spotted. A short but heavy cannonade commenced with Arkansas quickly disabling the USS Carondelet. USS Queen of the West healed and disengaged leaving the timberclad Tyler to face the enemy ironclad alone. Tyler was forced to turn and retreat down the Yazoo with Arkansas steaming as fast as her faulty engines allowed, the two vessels exchanging intermittent fire. Disaster was only averted as Tyler came under the protective guns of the rest Union fleet moored at the confluence of the rivers. Such was the trajectory of Arkansas that she "ran through (them), delivering salvo after salvo into the aggregate of Union ships" before coming to anchor beneath the guns of the Vicksburg water batteries. 
  
  USS Tyler was noteworthy in operations underlying the capture of Arkansas Port and Haines Bluff mentioned before as well as Helena, Arkansas where she brought her guns "to bear on an attacking Confederate force." During the first half of 1864 Tyler steamed principally on the White River taking part in the bombardment of Confederate batteries near Clarendon, Arkansas on June 24 after which combat operations on the Mississippi and its tributaries gradually subsided. At the end of the war USS Tyler, with a volunteer crew (the wartime complement having already been discharged), assisted in the rescue of numerous survivors - many of whom were former Andersonville inmates - of the Sultana explosion that occurred north of Memphis on April 27, 1865. Tyler was then laid up at Mound City in June until the Navy sold her at auction on August 17, 1865.
  
  Provenance: The Richard B. Cohen Civil War Collection

  Condition

  Both oval albumens undamaged with strong clarity, near EXC.  Black Hawk with portion of left margin of mount completely trimmed away with the two right corners dented. Tyler mount soiled with all four corners rounded, bottoms actually trimmed, and top edge worn and rough.  Properly matted presentation of both photographs would improve. 
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