Auctions@EarlyAmerican.com
Phone: 858-759-3290
Type in Your EMAIL Address
to Receive Notices
of Important Events

Auctions
• SATURDAY - MAR. 30th
• Terms of Sale
• Print Out a Bid Form
Links to Other Sites:
• Tortuga Trading
This Auction is Now OPEN for Bidding
Closing LIVE ONLINE: SATURDAY • March 30th • Starting at 9:00 AM Pacific Time
Absentee Bidding on a Specific Lot Will Remain OPEN
Until the LIVE BIDDING begins for that Specific Lot on SATURDAY • March 30th
Lot Number: 196
Sign-in to Bid or Register to Bid
Click for a Printable Page
Estimate Range: $500 - $600
Current Bidding Status
Register or Sign-In to Bid
Estimate Range
$500 - $600
Next Available Bid
$250
Bids MUST match our Standard Increment Levels.
CLICK HERE to see a chart of Standard Increment Levels.
USS Victory Ensign’s Resignation Letter to Gideon Welles

Click an Image to Enlarge It
August 19, 1863-Dated Civil War Period, Manuscript Handwritten Letter from Acting Ensign Charles J. Stanley on the "tinclad" USS "Victory" of the Mississippi Squadron, Tendering his Resignation to Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles, Endorsed by “LeRoy Fitch, Lieut. Comdr”, Very Fine.

Letter written on board the U.S. Steamer Victory, No. 33, Off Cincinnati, 1 page, measuring 7.25" x 12", small light waterstain at bottom right corner, crease at top right. Here, Acting Ensign Charles J. Stanley writes to Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles, in part:

"I have the honor to forward through my Commanding Officer my resignation as Acting Ensign and respectfully request that it may be accepted". Signed as: "Approved" by Frederick Read, Acting Ensign Commanding the U.S.S. Victory.

Autograph endorsement at bottom: "Respectfully forwarded. LeRoy Fitch, Lieut. Comdr" Le Roy Fitch (1835-1875), an 1856 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, served with great distinction during the Civil War. Promoted to Lt. Commander in Feb. 1862 after the Naval Victory at Memphis; In commanding the USS "Moose" in the Mississippi River Squadron, he pursued Confederate John Hunt Morgan for 500 miles up the Ohio River, frustrating Morgan's attempts to cross the river and retire to Confederate Territory; Fitch was renowned for his abilities in counterinsurgency and convoy tactics. He died at age 39 in Logansport, Indiana.

A scarce letter from one of the "tinclads" of the Mississippi Squadron, which were lightly armor-plated gunboats used for shallow water patrol and reconnaissance duty in the Tennessee, Ohio & Cumberland Rivers. The "Victory" was commissioned on July 8, 1863, the day that Confederate General John Hunt Morgan and his 2800 man raiding party crossed the Ohio river into Indiana. The "Victory", along with Lt. Commander Fitch's USS "Moose", and 4 other vessels chased Morgan up the Ohio River and prevented his recrossing it to safety in the South.


LeRoy Fitch (1835-1875) was a career officer in the United States Navy who served during the American Civil War. Here are some key details about his life and military career:

LeRoy Fitch was born on March 9, 1835, in Danbury, Connecticut.

Naval Career: Fitch entered the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 1855. He embarked on a career in the U.S. Navy, rising through the ranks.

Civil War Service: During the Civil War, Fitch served in the Union Navy and became known for his contributions to naval operations in the Western Theater. He played a significant role in the Mississippi Squadron, which was tasked with controlling the Mississippi River and its tributaries.

Command of the Gunboat USS "Carondelet": Fitch assumed command of the ironclad gunboat USS Carondelet in 1862. The Carondelet was part of the Mississippi Squadron, and Fitch played a key role in various naval engagements along the Mississippi River.

Battle of Memphis (1862): Fitch participated in the Battle of Memphis on June 6, 1862, which was a significant Union victory in the Western Theater. The Union fleet, including the USS Carondelet, engaged Confederate river defense fleet, resulting in the capture of Memphis, Tennessee.

Later Service: LeRoy Fitch continued to serve in the Navy after the Civil War. He was promoted to the rank of captain.

Death: LeRoy Fitch died on February 6, 1875, in Washington, D.C., at the age of 39.

LeRoy Fitch's contributions during the Civil War, particularly in the Western Theater, showcased the importance of naval operations in securing control of critical waterways. His leadership and service played a role in the Union's efforts to gain control of the Mississippi River and its strategic advantages during the conflict.
Keywords:
Lot Number: 196
Sign-in to Bid or Register to Bid
Click for a Printable Page
Estimate Range: $500 - $600
Early American
1520 Commerce St., # 312 • Winchester, VA 22601
Phone: 858 • 759 • 3290
Email: Auctions@EarlyAmerican.com