Autographs: Admiral, Commodores, Generals -- Gettysburg, Lake Champlain, Civil War, Mexican American War

JOSEPH SMITH (March 30, 1790 – January 17, 1877) was a rear admiral of the United States Navy who served in the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War and the Civil War. He was promoted to lieutenant during the War of 1812. He was second in command of the 20- gun brig USS Eagle during the Battle of Lake Champlain on September 11, 1814.  He was wounded in the battle and received the Thanks of Congress and a silver commemorative medal.  During the Civil War, Smith was a member of the Ironclad Board, which oversaw the planning, development and construction of the USS Monitor, the Navy’s first ironclad warship. 

AUGUSTUS LUDLOW CASE (February 3, 1812 – February 16, 1893) was a rear admiral in the United States Navy who served in the Civil War.  He was appointed midshipman in 1828.  He participated in the Wilkes Expedition of 1837-1842, which discovered the Antarctic Continent.  During the Mexican-American War, he held the town of Palisada with 25 men against the Mexican cavalry for two weeks to block the escape of Gen. Santa Ana. He also participated in the Paraguay expedition of 1859.  Case was Fleet Captain of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron in its capture of Forts Clark and Hatteras in August 1861.  Later, Case commanded the European Squadron and the combined European, North and South Atlantic Squadrons assembled at Key West in 1874.

THORNTON A. JENKINS (December 11, 1811 – August 9, 1893) served in the United States Navy during the Mexican-American War and the Civil War and later as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation and as President of the United States Naval Institute.

During the war with Mexico, as executive officer of Germantown, he led landing parties from his ship at Tuxpan and Tabsco. Later he commanded the stove-ship Relief and the Supply Station at Salmedina Island.   Jenkins had a distinguished Civil War record. He performed secret services for President Lincoln until he became ill in 1861.  Afterward, he became captain and served primarily in the West Gulf Blockading Squadron of David Farragut, commanding Oneida. Jenkins received the surrender of Port Hudson on July 9, 1863, as commander of the Richmond.

JOHN JAY ALMY (April 21, 1815 – May, 16, 1895) was a U.S. Navy Rear Admiral who held the record for the longest period of seagoing service with 27 years and 10 months. In the Mexican-American War, he took part in the capture of Vera Cruz.  During the Civil War, he captured four blockade-runners and destroyed four others.  As a Rear Admiral during the violent revolt in Panama in 1873, he was able to protect American and European property.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BUTLER (November 5, 1818 – January 11, 1893) was best known as a political major general of the Union Army and was known for his leadership in the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson after the war. He served one term as Massachusetts Governor and ran for President on the Greenback ticket of 1884. Butler joined the Union Army in the early part of the Civil War. He was noted for his lack of military skill and his controversial command in New Orleans, which brought him great dislike in the South and earned him the name “Beast Butler.”  He helped create the legal idea of freeing fugitive slaves by designating them as contraband of war. This led to a political groundswell in the North, which included general emancipation and the end of slavery as official war goals.   Butler co-authored the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1875. 

JOHN ALEXANDER LOGAN (February 9, 1826 – December 26, 1886) served in the Mexican-American War and was a general in the Union Army in the Civil War. He also served Illinois as a state senator, a Congressman, U.S. Senator and was an unsuccessful candidate for Vice President with James G. Blain. As the 3^rd Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, he is regarded as the most important figure in the recognition of Memorial Day.

Offering the autographs of all six.  The naval autographs have been affixed to a sheet removed from an autograph album and contain biographies of each on the verso. The autograph of Butler has been placed on the verso of the letter requesting it. Logan’s autograph is on a card that had been affixed to and removed from an autograph album.

Expected toning. But overall very good.

Everything we sell is guaranteed authentic forever to the original buyer. We also offer a 30-day return policy. If you discover a problem or are dissatisfied with an item, please contact us immediately. Our goal is to please every customer. We are pleased to be members of The Manuscript Society, Universal Autograph Collectors Club and The Ephemera Society.  [CW 184]