[CIVIL WAR - NAVY]. A group of documents related to artillery, mechanics, and gunboat specifications, including:

ROWAN, Stephen G. Autograph letter signed ("Ste. Rowan"), to Captain Dahlgren. Navy Yard, New York, 9 February 1860. 3 pages, 4to. Begins: "Before leaving the yard and separating myself from ordnance matters I must in accordance with your request inform you of the arrangements finally made to work the Iroquois[?] big guns." Much more technical discussion then reports on work on Dahlgren's "Niagara carriages." A long and detailed letter regarding pre-war Naval construction projects.  Rowan served actively in battle during the war and was promoted twice for gallantry, becoming a rear admiral in 1866.

[With:] HUBBELL, William Wheeler. Autograph letter signed ("W.W. Hubbell"), to historian Benson Lossing. N.p, 11 May 1863. 1 page, 4to, WITH 4 page manuscript, folio, ALSO WITH 16 January clipping and engraved portrait of Hubbell. Letter address an error in the date of an article he sent to Lossing; the date on which the article appeared in the Philadelphia Press should be 16 January 1861, not 1860. The accompanying manuscript provides a detailed and unstintingly laudatory history of the development of the Thunderbolt Shell and fuse, and the shell's effectiveness in battle, describing in some detail battles in which it played a decisive role.

[Also with:] CHOATE, Rufus. Letter signed ("Rufus Choat"), to Isaac Toucey, as Secretary of the Navy. Boston, 22 August 1857. 1 page, 8vo. Offering high praise for Donald McKay, who he understands is being considered for a shipbuilding contract. McKay was a ship designer and builder known for his extremely large and fast clippers. -- PROSSER[?], Thomas[?]. Autograph letter signed ("Thos. Prosser"[?]), to A.H. Hooley. "U.S. Gun Boats," 29 June 1861. 2 pages, 4to, tape seals a marginal tear at lower left. Headed "From Drawings furnished by the Navy Department," with technical details of the Michigan and San Jacinto. -- GOLDSBROUGH, L. M. Letter signed ("L.M. Goldsbrough"), to the Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance. U.S. Flag Ship Minnesota, Hampton Roads, VA, 25 April 1862. 1 page, 8vo, on U.S. Flag Ship Minnesota, Hampton Roads, VA letterhead. He writes: "Marsilly carriages are to be preferred for the 100-pdr rifles if elevation enough for long ranges can be secured; otherwise, they should be mounted on pivot carriages with the chassis made as short as possible."  More good technical detail and comment follows. -- MELVILLE, George Wallace. Letter signed ("Geo. Melville"). Washington, D.C., Navy Department, 11 April 1899. 1 page, 16mo, on Navy Department letterhead. To the Fairmont Park Arts Association, declining an invitation to attend an event. An engineer, Melville served onboard various vessels throughout the War. In 1889, he was appointed Chief of the Bureau of Steam Engineering within the Navy Department. There he superintended the design of 120 vessels, championing innovation in the development of the "New Navy." He achieved the rank of Rear Admiral.


The Richard B. Cohen Civil War Collection