Civil War Confederate Documents
1864 CONFEDERATE STATES, NAVY DEPARTMENT Richmond, VA Orders Report to CSA Steamer North Carolina
February 20, 1864-Dated Civil War Period Partly Printed Confederate States Navy Department Letter Ordering an Assistant Surgeon to the CSS "North Carolina" Very Fine.
A scarce Confederate States Navy Department letter, 1 page, measuring 7.5" x 8.75", Richmond, VA, with official letterhead of "Confederate States. Office of Orders and Detail, Navy Department", Signed by Commander John K. Mitchell (1811-1889), a former U.S. Navy Officer who entered the Confederate Naval service in Nov. 1861; Chief of the Bureau of Orders and Detail, 1862-1864; Commanded the James River Squadron, 1864-1865. The letter is to Assistant Surgeon William Sheppardson, Richmond, VA, ordering him to: "Proceed to Wilmington, N.C. without delay, and report to Flag Officer Wm. F. Lynch, Commanding, &c., for duty on board C. Steamer 'North Carolina'".
Autograph endorsement signed at bottom by William F. Lynch, who had resigned from the U.S. Navy as Captain on April 21, 1861 and entered the Confederate States Navy; Served as Capt. Of the CSS "Curlew" in 1861; Chief of the Bureau of Orders and Detail, 1862; Commanded the defenses of North Carolina, 1863-1864; CSS 'North Carolina", 1864. Lynch writes:
"Presented March 3, 1864. Asst. Surgeon Sheppardson will report to commanding officer of the 'Raleigh' for duty".
At bottom right is a notation signed by the Executive Officer of the "Raleigh", A. G. Hudgins, stating that Sheppardson reported on March 4, 1864. ALBERT GALLATIN HUDGINS, born in Virginia, he resigned from the U.S. Navy as an Acting Midshipman on March 11, 1861, and was appointed Midshipman in the Confederate States Navy on April 11, 1861; Served on the CSS Sumter, 1861; CSS Baltic, 1862-63; Johnsons Island Expedition, Oct., 1863; CSS Raleigh, 1863-1864; Captured in Albemarle Sound, May 5, 1864; Semmes Naval Brigade, 1865.