John A. Dahlgren Directs Naval Officer Who Served Aboard "Dai Ching"

A signed directive from famed naval officer John A. Dahlgren. 1p of a bifolium, measuring 7.75" x 9.75", Off Morris Island aboard the US Flag Ship "Philadelphia", dated September 25, 1863. Signed "JA Dahlgren" and addressed to Commander J.C. Williamson. Dahlgren orders Williamson to report to Captain W. Reynolds at Port Royal "as soon as relieved on blockade by the U.S. Str. 'Dai Ching'…" With docketing on verso. The document has flattened folds with toning at the edges and folds. Boldly signed.

James C. Williamson (1813-1871) was a U.S. naval officer who enlisted in the Navy as a midshipman in 1832. He spent nearly three decades serving in the Mediterranean, West Indies, off the African Coast, and the United States eastern coast prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. Williamson was then given command of several ships attached to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. The USS Dai Ching was a steam gunboat commissioned into the US Navy in 1863. She was purchased by Henry G. Ward during the late stages of the Taiping Rebellion but was sold to the U.S. rather than to Shanghai when construction was completed. Dai Ching was commissioned in the Union blockade during the war and served until she was burned in 1865 to avoid falling into Confederate hands.

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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