Gallery of History - Auctioneer of Historical Documents

Click on Image To Enlarge

autographs

Document 177268

ROBERT F. STOCKTON
The future Commodore directs an Ensign to perform the duties of an acting Lieutenant, rewarding his conduct.
ALS: "R.F. Stockton" as Lieutenant Commander, 1p, 8x12. U.S.S. Alligator, 1821 November 9. To W.W. McKeon, Ensign, U.S.S. Alligator. In full: "You are hereby directed to perform the duties of an acting Lieutenant on board of this vessel under my command. Your conduct on the 5th Inst during the attack made on the Alligator entitles you to this testimony of my approbation." In 1821, the year of this letter, aboard the Alligator, ROBERT F. STOCKTON, the first President of the New Jersey Colonization Society, had brought officials of the American Colonization Society to Africa and helped negotiate the cession of Liberia as a home for freed slaves. The first repatriated slaves arrived in Liberia in 1822. Stockton later helped supervise the construction of the Princeton and commanded it on a demonstration cruise on the Potomac in 1844 with President John Tyler aboard. When Stockton attempted to fire the "Peacemaker", a 12-inch gun of his own devising, it burst, killing Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur, Secretary of the Navy Thomas W. Gilmer and four others. Stockton was sent to Texas with the U.S. resolution of annexation in 1845 and then sailed for California aboard the Congress to take command of the Pacific Squadron, arriving in Monterey on July 15, 1846. On August 17th, Stockton declared California a territory of the United States and set up a civil government. He set off for the war zone in Mexico, but during his absence from the north, Californian (Mexican) troops retook most of the towns. In January 1847, Commodore Stockton and General Stephen Kearny joined forces and quickly retook Los Angeles. A dispute broke out between the two men as to the supreme authority in California. After Stockton appointed General John C. Frémont as Governor, Kearny had him court-martialed for disobedience. Washington upheld Kearny's authority. Stained and foxed. Folds with partial separation at lower horizontal fold affecting the "R" and "F" in signature. Holes at folds affect about seven letters. Tattered right edge.

SEE IF DOCUMENT 177268 IS FOR SALE RIGHT NOW!!

This document was available for sale in a previous auction. It may or may not be currently available for sale. It is also highly likely that we have more of this personality available for sale either in our archives or on our direct purchase website www.historyforsale.com.

For direct purchase information, call 1-800-GALLERY (1-800-425-5379) Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm Pacific Time or email inquires to sales@galleryofhistory.com. RIGHT NOW YOU CAN BID ON A SIMILAR ITEM IN OUR CURRENT AUCTION!

Autograph Archive Index