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1862 Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles Letter About The Capture Of The Civil War Confederate Ship CSS Calhoun

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GIDEON WELLES (1802-1878). American politician who served as the Secretary of the Navy during the Civil War (1861-1869), playing a crucial role in expanding and modernizing the Union Navy; steadfast supporter of President Abraham Lincoln's policies and his contributions to the Union war effort.

September 19, 1862-Dated Important Content Civil War Letter Signed, “Gideon Welles” as Secretary of the Navy, Navy Department, 2-1/2 pages, measuring 10” x 8”, Choice Extremely Fine. Transmitted to Henry Flanders, Prize Commissioner, Philadelphia concerning Prize Money to be issued for the capture of the famous sidewheeler steamer Confederate gunboat blockade runner, CSS Calhoun. It reads, in part:

“the Samuel Rotan and Rachel Seaman were independent vessels of the U.S. Navy on the 23rd January, 1862, when the Calhoun was captured as much so as any other vessel in the Squadron of Flag officer McKean. If their officers and men were borne on the books of the Colorado, it was for the better keeping of their accounts as those vessels being small had no paymasters. They were not officered or manned from the Colorado and could not be regarded as a part of the compliment of that vessel or under the immediate command of Captain Bailey. Captain Bailey being the senior officer present at the time the Calhoun appeared, it was his privilege as also his duty, to direct the movements of the junior Commanders with a view to prevent the running of the blockade and to capture the Calhoun....” plus more interesting content.

The capture of the Confederate ship CSS Calhoun in 1862 was a notable event during the American Civil War. The CSS Calhoun, originally a sidewheeler steamer named the Nashville, was converted into a Confederate gunboat and renamed in honor of John C. Calhoun, the prominent Southern statesman and advocate of States' Rights. The CSS Calhoun had been a Confederate blockade runner. Commodore Theodorus Bailey was in charge of the Union blockade in the Gulf of Mexico, and the “Rotan and Rachel Seaman” here are prominently mentioned in connection with that blockade. The problem referred to is probably which ship and its crew had the Prize rights to the CSS Calhoun. As a slap in the face at the Confederates, a Union gun boat commissioned for the blockade in this same month was also named the “Calhoun”! Beautifully handwritten and easily readable in rich brown ink on clean light blue lined wove period paper. Very attractive Civil War date Letter, with choice eye appeal, especially the bold “Gideon Welles” signature, measuring 2.25 long.
The capture of the Confederate ship Calhoun in 1862 was a notable event during the American Civil War. The CSS Calhoun, originally a sidewheel steamer named the Nashville, was converted into a Confederate gunboat and renamed in honor of John C. Calhoun, the prominent Southern statesman and advocate of states' rights.

The CSS Calhoun played a role in Confederate efforts to control the Mississippi River and its tributaries, particularly in the Western Theater of the Civil War. However, the exact circumstances of its capture are not widely documented in historical accounts, and it's possible that the event you're referring to might not be well-known or documented.
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