?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 600 - $ 900
(NAVY.) Caldwell, Henry W. Staff journal kept on behalf of Commodore Charles H.B. Caldwell. 98 manuscript pages. Oblong 4to, original 1/4 calf, minor wear, small chip to head of backstrip; minimal wear to contents. Vp, 15 July 1876 to 12 August 1877
This journal was kept by Henry Wyllys Caldwell (1853-1906) as secretary on behalf of his father Commodore Charles Henry Bromedge Caldwell (1823-1877) of the 4-ship South Atlantic and South Pacific stations including the flagship USS Richmond. Commodore Caldwell had served in the blockade of the Mississippi during the Civil War; this was the final cruise of his distinguished career. The Richmond sailed from port to port along the South American coast, making stops in Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil, and stopped for several months at Montevideo, Uruguay for repairs in early 1877. Much of the ship's activity was ceremonial. Visits from diplomats and generals of various nations were frequent while the ship was in port, and artillery salutes were often noted. These were not always routine. During an elaborate exchange of salutes in Montevideo, "the Richmond returned the salute gun for gun, and then the Brazilian flagship returned theirs and unfortunately severely wounded 3 men in doing it" (23 March). The passage approaching the Straits of Magellan was memorable: "Fired a few shells at the rocks. Passed a little drift ice and anchored in Ringdove Inlet at 7 o'clock. Named the little harbor Richmond Cove and put up a little board to that effect. . . . Scenery is still magnificent" (25-26 September). The name Richmond Cove would be used in United States navigational guides through at least 1916. A disturbing story was recorded on 6 October 1876, when a British ship reported that "she rescued the crew of a burning vessel while on her way here. This crew reported that the steamer Wilmington passed them while their barque was on fire and that she paid no attention to the signal of distress and offered them no assistance." Several courts martial are noted, including one for an ordinary seaman charged with "1st assault with intent to kill and 2nd assaulting with a knife and wounding another person in the Navy" (3 February 1877). On a lighter note, the crew of the Richmond gave three minstrel troupe performances on their deck to fellow sailors and foreign dignitaries (16 February, 23 March 1877). with--a framed carte-de-visite photograph of Commodore Caldwell bearing a backmark from his hometown of Waltham, MA and a silver cup engraved "Henry Wyllys Caldwell, March 27th 1853," 3 inches in height.
