Autographed Card By Rear Admiral Samuel Francis DuPont, USN – SOLD

Description

Autographed Card By Samuel Francis DuPont, 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.

Samuel Francis DuPont (1803 -1865).  DuPont was an accomplished navigator, having learned mathematics, and navigation at sea, since there was no Naval Academy at the time he was commissioned in the U.S. Navy.  His first assignment was aboard the USS Constitution in 1821.  He served during the Mexican War, and captured San Diego, and made commander of the California Naval Blockade.

In 1855, DuPont was promoted to captain, and had a good part in the U.S. relations in Asia. At the beginning of the Civil War, he was given command of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, aboard the Steam Frigate Wabash, and took part in the first amphibious operations of the war at the battle of Port Royal, November 7, 1861. DuPont was the first officer to command an iron clad vessel. In April of 1863, he took 9 iron clad ships into Charleston Harbor, in an attempt to reduce the defenses there, but obstacles in the harbor, and the heavy cross fire of defense guns made the attack unsuccessful, and 5 of the 9 ships under his command were heavily damaged.  The Sec. of War, Gideon Wells blamed DuPont for the failure was relieved on command in July of that year.

The card is 2 1/4 x 3 1/2 inches.  It reads, “S. F. DuPont / Rear Admiral / U.S. Navy.”

Fine condition.

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