Post-Revolutionary War to Civil War
Historic Voyage To Nicaragua Against William Walker In 1856 - With An Original Engraved 1853 Commemorative Quarter From The Launch of The Frigate “WABASH”
(WILLIAM WALKER & UNITED STATES NAVAL HISTORY), Plus ... An 1853 Liberty Seated Quarter, With Arrows Type, Hand-Engraved to Mark the Launching of the New Steamship FRIGATE USS WABASH in 1855, Choice Extermely Fine.
November 23, 1856, Autographed Letter Signed, “A.O. Shuff,” on lined, two-page integral sheet with mailing leaf, measuring 9.75” x 7.75”, from the "U.S. Frigate Wabash," New York, to N.C. Shuff at Philadelphia, Choice Very Fine. This important letter is reporting on preparations to sail to Nicaragua to put down the expedition of American William Walker, who sought to control Central America. Shuff writes, in part:

"...Our departure has been postponed till Wednesday next... I should certainly go to Panama... Washington Irving [the noted author] came on board on Friday, to see the ship, and was received with a salute of 154 guns, being an ex-minister... I will be very glad when we get off... I have not tasted a drop of anything stronger than water, although I have been placed in positions of great temptation..."

Accompanied by a 1853 Quarter, Engraved by a skilled hand reading, “A.M. KELLY - Oct. 24, 1855” with “WABASH - Couldn’t go - rain’d”. It has nice blue-gray toning, well detailed surfaces, with a hole located at Liberty’s head for suspension, as intended.

The USS Frigate Wabash was launched on the date mentioned in 1855 from the Philadelphia Navy Yard and was fully Commissioned in 1856. The Frigate first made its way to Nicaragua, to stop adventurer William Walker’s attempts to overthrow the country! The Wabash set sail on November 28th and was part of a squadron that was instrumental in foiling William Walker's plan of uniting Central America into an Anglo-dominated republic in the same way that Texas was established in the early 1800s. The letter has an intact integral address leaf, with a small loss from seal tear, usual light folds, otherwise very nice. A great content, historic letter accompanied with a remarkable piece of commemorative US Naval related history from the maiden launch of the very ship about this important letter was written. (2 items).
William Walker (1824–60), was a doctor, lawyer, and a journalist by the time he was 24, but sought a more adventurous career. After a short stay in San Francisco, his filibustering expeditions began with an invasion of Lower California (1853–54) intended to take control of the region together with Sonora from Mexico. The invasion failed and he was tried for violating neutrality laws but was acquitted by a sympathetic jury.

In 1855, Walker set out on another expedition, this time to Nicaragua, and, after his government was recognized by the United States (May, 1856), Walker declared himself president of Nicaragua. An alliance of hostile Central American states and the enmity of his former friend Cornelius Vanderbilt, whose Accessory Transit Company controlled Walker's supply lines, led to his defeat and surrender to the U.S. Navy in May, 1857. Walker was again acquitted of violating neutrality, and attempted once again to conquer Central America in 1860. He was defeated and had to surrender to the British navy. He was turned over to Honduras and was shot by a firing squad Sept. 12, 1860.

The U.S.S. Wabash was fully commissioned in 1856 and the Steamship Frigate first made its way to Nicaragua to stop adventurer William Walker’s attempts to overthrow the country. The Wabash served in the Civil War as the Flagship of the American Blockading Squadron beginning in May 1861 and later served in the assaults on Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina and Port Royal, South Carolina. After her Civil War service, the ship cruised the Mediterranean and later housed sailors in Boston Navy Yard until she was sold for scrap in 1912.