Jun 21, 2016 - Sale 2420

Sale 2420 - Lot 103

Price Realized: $ 688
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 1,000 - $ 1,500
(CIVIL WAR--NAVY.) Prisoner log and battle station assignment register of the USS Grand Gulf. [38] manuscript pages. Folio, contemporary wrappers, moderate wear; minor foxing. Vp, 29 September [1863] to 21 September [1864]

Additional Details

The screw steamer Grand Gulf served in blockade duty under the command of Captain George Marcellus Ransom (1820-1889). Its initial service came along the North Carolina coast from October 1863, where it captured at least three blockade runners. In August 1864, it moved on to New York and then Panama. This record book begins with a 6-page register of prisoners--not prisoners of war, but rather crew members bound in double irons for a variety of infractions. 78 crew members are listed, along with their position, the term of their confinement, and their offence. Desertion, disobedience, fighting, drunkenness, and stealing were the most common offences. The second part of the volume lists the battle station assignments for crew members, including gun crews, a list of boarding party members, duties for fire emergencies, and more.