Autograph, Admiral Hiram Paulding, U.S. Navy

(1797-1878) Born in Cortlandt, New York, he entered the navy as a midshipman in 1811. During the War of 1812, he served on Lakes Ontario and Champlain, participating in the victory at the latter place for which he received the "Thanks of Congress." He served on the frigate Constellation during the Algerine War, cruised on the frigate Macedonia suppressing piracy in the West Indies, commanded the schooner Shark and the sloop Levant in the Mediterranean, and commanded the sloop Vincennes in the East Indies. He was in charge of the Navy Yard at...  

Autograph, Admiral Louis M. Goldsborough

He earned the Thanks of Congress in 1862 for the capture of Roanoke Island, North Carolina

Signature With Rank

(1805-73) Born in Washington, D.C., he was the son of a chief clerk of the U.S. Navy Department. He was appointed a midshipman in the United States Navy by Secretary of the Navy Paul Hamilton on June 28, 1812. He received his lieutenant's commission in 1825. After cruising the Pacific in the frigate United States, he participated in the bombardment of Veracruz during the Mexican War. He served consecutively as: commander of...  

Autograph, Commodore Henry W. Morris, U.S. Navy

Commander of the USS Pensacola during the bombardment of Forts Jackson & St. Philip, and capture of New Orleans, Louisiana in 1862

(1806-63) Born in Manhattan, New York City, he was the grandson of Robert Morris, signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was appointed as a midshipman on August 21, 1819, and by 1828 was promoted to lieutenant. Over the next decade and a half he served in various sea duty assignments. He was promoted to commander on October 12, 1849, where he was in charge of recruiting at New York from 1851 to 1853. His...  

Autograph, Gideon Welles

Union Secretary of the Navy during the Civil War

War Date Letter Signed

(1802-78) A former newspaper editor, he held various minor political offices and had been in the Navy Department before joining the Republican party in 1855. Named Secretary of the Navy by President Abraham Lincoln, he served with great efficiency during the war. Completely loyal to Lincoln, his support of Andrew Johnson as well made him a steadying influence in the presidential cabinet. Resigning in 1869, he later wrote "Lincoln & Seward" and published...  

Autograph, Admiral John A. Dahlgren, U.S. Navy

Inventor of the famous Dahlgren gun!

(1809-70) Appointed Midshipman in the U.S. Navy in 1826, he served as an ordnance officer for 16 years, during which time he invented the "Dahlgren Gun," a rifled cannon, which became one of the standard weapons used by the Civil War navies, and he also set in motion major advances in gunnery. Dahlgren was given command of the Washington Naval Yard on April 22, 1861, a post previously held by Captain Franklin Buchanan, one of the most experienced Federal naval officers, and the first commandant...  

Autograph, Admiral Thomas T. Craven, U.S. Navy

(1808-87) Appointed a midshipman in 1822, he rose to the rank of lieutenant in 1830, and in 1838, Craven commanded the U.S.S. Vincennes, the flagship of Captain Charles Wilkes during the Antarctic exploring expedition. He served as commandant of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, 1850-52, and was subsequently promoted to rank of commander. At the beginning of the Civil War, he commanded the Potomac River flotilla, and in 1862, as captain of the U.S.S. Brooklyn, he served under Rear Admiral David G. Farragut, participating in the capture of New...  

Autograph, Commodore John M.B. Clitz, U.S. Navy

Signature with rank

(1821-97) Born in Sackets Harbor, N.Y., he entered the U.S. Navy as a midshipman in 1837, and was promoted to passed midshipman in 1843. During his long naval career he served in the West Indies Squadron, the Mediterranean Squadron, the Home Squadron, the U.S. Coast Survey, the East India Squadron, and the Pacific Squadron. During the Mexican War, he participated in the siege of Isla de Sacrificios off Vera Cruz, the surrender of the Castle San Juan de Ulua, he was on patrol in the Gulf of Mexico, and took part in the...  

Autograph, Admiral Charles S. Boggs, U.S. Navy

U.S. Navy pay voucher signed by this Union Civil War naval hero!

(1811-88) Born in New Brunswick, N.J., he was a career navy man. He was appointed midshipman, November 1, 1826; lieutenant, September 6, 1837; commander, September 14, 1855; captain, July 16, 1862; commodore, July 25, 1866; rear admiral, July 1, 1870; retired, January 28, 1872. He served on the "Princeton" during the Mexican War. From April 18-24, 1862, Boggs commanded the Union gunboat "Varuna" during the attack on Forts Jackson & St. Philip,...  

Autograph, Admiral Christopher R.P. Rodgers, U.S. Navy

Signed as Rear Admiral and Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy

(1819-92) Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he was appointed a midshipman in 1833. He saw action in the Seminole War, 1839-42, and participated in the Mexican War at the taking of Vera Cruz, Tobasco, and Tupan. Commissioned commander in October 1861, he served with much distinction on the "Wabash," and as fleet captain of Rear Admiral Samuel F. Dupont at the battle of Port Royal, S.C., and was in command of the naval forces in the trenches at the capture of Fort...  

Autograph, Admiral Charles H. Davis

Signature With Rank

(1807-77) Entering the navy as a Midshipman in 1823, he served in the Pacific, the Mediterranean, and the South Atlantic. Promoted to Captain in November 1861, he was Chief of Staff and Fleet Officer in the Port Royal expedition. He was promoted to Flag Officer of the Mississippi flotilla, in May 1862, fighting at Fort Pillow, Memphis, Vicksburg, and the Yazoo River. As Commodore, in July 1862, Davis was made chief of the Bureau of Navigation and promoted to Rear Admiral in Feb. 1863. Staying in the U.S. Navy after the...  

Autograph Admiral John M.B. Clitz

Document Signed

(1821-97) Born in Sackets Harbor, New York, he entered the U.S. Navy as a midshipman in 1837, and was promoted to passed midshipman in 1843. During his long naval career he served in the West Indies Squadron, the Mediterranean Squadron, the Home Squadron, the U.S. Coast Survey, the East India Squadron, and the Pacific Squadron. During the Mexican War, he participated in the siege of Isla de Sacrificios off Vera Cruz, the surrender of the Castle San Juan de Ulua, was on patrol in the Gulf of Mexico, and took part in the...  

Autograph Admiral Charles H. Davis, U.S. Navy

Document Signed

(1807-77) Entering the navy as a Midshipman in 1823, he served in the Pacific, the Mediterranean, and the South Atlantic. Promoted to Captain in November 1861, he was Chief of Staff and Fleet Officer in the Port Royal expedition. He was promoted to Flag Officer of the Mississippi flotilla, in May 1862, fighting at Fort Pillow, Memphis, Vicksburg, and the Yazoo River. As Commodore, in July 1862, Davis was made chief of the Bureau of Navigation and promoted to Rear Admiral in February 1863. Staying in the U.S. Navy after the...