Autographs
1864 Civil War Date Confederate Navy Commodore Duncan N. Ingraham ALS, Commandeers a Building near the Charleston, SC. Naval Station
DUNCAN N. INGRAHAM (1802-1887). Presented a special Gold Medal by the United States Congress; later a Confederate Navy Commodore who served as Chief of Ordnance, Construction and Repair and Commanded much of the South Carolina Coast during the Civil War.
January 18, 1864-Dated Civil War Period, Autograph Letter Signed, "D N Ingraham", measuring 8" x 10", 1 page, on blue ruled wove period paper, Charleston Naval Station, Very Fine. Minor ink bleeding, one small fold tear just beneath Ingraham's signature. Here, Duncan Ingraham personally writes, in part:
"Messrs. D & H Hurlbect / Gentlemen / Mr Duffus has made every exertion to obtain another place suitable for a store but without success. The Public urgency demands that the building now occupied by you as a store be turned over for Government use. I understand there are a few barrels now stored there which you will please remove as early as possible." The store owners reply at bottom that they "... cannot surrender their store without great loss... they will take all legal measures to defend their property..."
Duncan Nathaniel Ingraham (1802 - 1891) was an officer in the United States Navy who later served in the Confederate States Navy.
A native of Charleston, South Carolina, Ingraham was appointed Midshipman in the United States Navy on 18 June 1812 at the age of 10. After years of distinguished service, he was commissioned Captain 14 September 1855. While in command of the Sloop-of-war St. Louis in the Mediterranean.
In July 1853, he interfered with the detention by the Austrian consul at Smyrna (Izmir, Turkey) of Martin Koszta, a Hungarian who had declared in New York his intention of becoming an American citizen, and, who had been seized and confined in the Austrian ship Hussar. For his conduct in this matter he was voted thanks and presented a special Gold Medal by the United States Congress.
Captain Ingraham served as Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrographer of the Navy from 1856 until 1860.
He resigned from the U.S. Navy 4 February 1861 to enter the Confederate States Navy with the rank of captain. He served as Chief of the Ordnance Bureau from 1861 to 1863, and as Commandant of the Charleston naval station from 1862 to 1865.
Ingraham died at Charleston 16 October 1891.
KEYWORDS:
Civil War, Union, Confederate, U.S. Navy, Confederate Navy, CSA Navy, Confederate Charleston Naval Station