A letter signed by 9th U.S. Secretary of the Navy Levi Woodbury (1789-1851), as, "Levi Woodbury" near center right. Issued from the Navy Department on April 6, 1832. Inscribed in a secretarial hand on bifold paper, the inner pages blank and the outermost page docketed. Expected wear and paper flaws including flattened paper folds, toning, and scattered foxing, good to very good. 8" x 10."

The Navy Department memorandum ordered Midshipman James C. Williamson "to report to Commd. Isaac Chauncey, for duty on board the Frigate United States…"

Isaac Chauncey (1772-1840) served as the Commandant of the New York Naval Shipyard between 1807-1813, and again in 1824-1833. Secretary Woodbury was directing Williamson to report to Chauncey, who, as administrator of the New York City naval complex, would in turn release him to his duties aboard the "United States."

The "U.S.S. United States," launched in 1797, was one of the six original wooden-hulled, three-masted frigates authorized by the Naval Act of 1794. It was dispatched during the Quasi-War with France, the War of 1812, and the Second Barbary War before being modernized in the late 1820s and early 1830s in advance of service in the Mediterranean. American novelist Herman Melville served aboard the "United States" as an ordinary seaman after 1843.

New Jersey native James C. Williamson (1813-1871) joined the U.S. Navy in January 1832, and records suggest that this appointment to the "U.S.S. United States" under Capt. J. B. Nicholson was his first. A career naval officer, Williamson served in naval squadrons in the Mediterranean, West Indies, East Indies, Brazil, and Africa. During the Civil War, Williamson commanded steamers in both the East Gulf and South Atlantic Blockading Squadrons, eventually attaining the rank of Captain in 1866.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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