CIVIL War Confederate Cruiser Css Tallahassee Courtmartial Order
The CSS Tallahassee was one of the South's great raiders, capturing over 23 Northern vessels in 19 days, until running low on coal she docked at Halifax, Nova Scotia fo refueling in1864. Captain John Taylor Wood commanded the famous raider, eluding 2 union waships that had been waiting for her off the harbor entrance. An Original Civil War US Navy General Order, courtmartialing Lt Commander George A Stevens, USS Pontoosuk for leaving his post at sea, allowing the Raider to refuel and escape Halifax Harbor. The courtmartial sentences him to be suspended from the Navy for one year with loss of wages.
The Order, issued by Navy Secretary Gideon Welles states that this capital offense, of the gravest nature and which could carry a sentence of death, was mitigated by the officers of the Court, that a much harsher should have been passed, and Welles orders that Stevens be relieved from arrest, as the glaringly insufficient sentence is bound to outrage public sentiment and be an embarrassment to the Navy. The 4pp printed Order also has the trial and findings by Navy Courtmartial of Commander William A Parker, Commanding the ironclad U. S Onandaga, The James River Fleet- having learned a rebel fleet was coming down the River, withdrew, allowing the rebels control of that portion of the River.
For failure to capture or destroy the enemy Vessels, the Court finding him guilty but failing to prove these allegations, Welles orders Commander Parker also released from arrest. 4ppp 8 x 5 pt. 2 small holes in left margin, age stains & edge wear, Overall VG.
I got this with other papers of US Navy Admiral Richard W Meade. General & Special Orders were issued to communicate commands and information to the Army. Each order, issued in writing by a commander, was then printed for distribution to each unit, either at an army department headquarter or by commanders at local headquarters, sometimes in the field on portable printing presses.The orders were then issued to regiments, often to be read aloud to the troops. General Orders were printed as issued with date & location; at the end of a year the regimental adjutant might retain them loose or simply string bind them by punching holes and stringing on ΒΌ" red cloth string tape (the source of the old expression "government red tape). Sometimes an officer or HQ clerk might take a group of orders to a local print shop or bookbinder and have an accumulation bound with leather or cloth covers. Usually, American Military Orders of the 19.
Century including Civil War era were printed on an 8 x 5 sheet of quality rag paper. NOTE: Any repair to a paper item is listed. I use only museum curator approved archival repair tape. All items are unconditionally guaranteed to be authentic and in the condition as described.