Original Autographed Card By Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes, USN

Autographed Card By Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes, USN. From the papers of Colonel John Smythe Schultz, 93rd Pa Infantry, and later transferred to the US Volunteer Adjutant General’s Department, (ADC).  Schultz of meeting with the higher ranking and influential had something to do no doubt with his becoming a politician after the war, and being a state senator in New Jersey.

The card is 2 1/4 x 3 1/2 inches, and signed, “Charles Wilkes / U.S.N. / Washington City 6th June, 1864.”  

Charles Wilkes (1798 – 1877).  A naval officer and explorer.  The Wilkes Expedition began in August of 1838, and lasted until June of 1842, leaving Hampton Roads, sailing down the east coast of South America, to Australia, into the Antarctic Ocean, South Pacific Islands, Hawaii, Philippines, up to the North West Coast of the U.S., San Francisco Bay, and many more places before returning the New York.

During the Civil War, Wilkes now a captain, sailed on the USS San Jacinto, with the assignment to search and destroy the Confederate destroyer CSS Sumter.  Later, while in the British Colony of Bermuda, Wilkes fired on the RMS Trent, and arrested two Confederate commissioners heading to Great Britain, who were detained at Fort Warren, Boston Harbor. This set off a heated problem for the Lincoln Administration, with had to disavow Wilkes’ actions to keep the U.S. out of hot water with Great Britain. After the “Trent Affair,” Wilkes was stationed with the James River flotilla.  He was promoted to commodore in July of 1862.

His next assignment was commander of the West Indies Squadron. Wilkes was recalled from his command in June of 1863, for creating political turmoil with several countries in the performance of his duties, but mainly for his failure to capture the Confederate raiders CSS Alabama, and Florida.  He was involved in a court martial brought on by Gideon Wells, Sec. of the Navy, and found guilty on a host of charges which cost him a three year suspension which President Lincoln reduced to 1 year afterward and most of the charges were dropped. After that he was promoted to rear admiral in 1866, and retired from the Navy.  He passed away in 1877 at Washington, D.C.

Fine condition.