Autograph-civil War John M. Kell Confederate Naval Executive Officer On Alabama
KELL CONFEDERATE NAVAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER ON ALABAMA. Autograph of John McIntosh Kell, signed below an offset lithograph (possible a bookplate, stock is a bit heavier than what would be a normal printed page). Born in Mclntosh County, Georgia, in 1823, John Mclntosh Kell entered the U. Navy in September 1841 as a Midshipman. Perry's expedition to Japan. When Georgia seceeded from the Union in early 1861, Lieutenant Kell resigned from the United States' Navy. In April 1861, he briefly commanded the Georgia state gunboat Savannah, but received a Confederate States Navy commission as First Lieutenant the following month and was sent to New Orleans. There, he helped Commander Raphael Semmes fit out the cruiser CSS Sumter. He served as Executive Officer during her commerce raiding cruise in 1861-62. First Lieutenant Kell was Semmes' Executive Officer on CSS Alabama throughout her career, and was present when she was sunk by USS Kecirsarce in June 1864.
He was rescued by the British yacht Dearhound and taken to England. Promoted to the rank of Commander in that month, he commanded the ironclad CSS Richmond in the James River Squadron in 1865. In later years, he served as Adjutant General of Georgia.
John Mclntosh Kell died in 1900. Slight vertical impression left side, light vertical age toning line rt side. Please refer to photographs for condition.
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