Journal of a cruise in the U.S. Steam Sloop Richmond

Collection

Identifier: MSS 0097-Item 0041

Staff Only

Scope and Content Note

This official United States Navy deck log of the USS Richmond describes the daily routine of the crew, the travels of the ship, and any official naval actions that happened aboard ship or to a crew member from September 27, 1860 to June 28, 1861. The author of the log is unknown but he reported weather, latitude and longitude, meteorological events, and ships seen, and also included a chart of navigational and weather conditions for each day at sea.

The book is one leather bound volume, circa 200 pages, with entries in ink. The front cover has the handwritten title "Journal."

Dates

Creation: 1860 September 27-1861 June 28

Creator

Ingraham, Duncan N. (Duncan Nathaniel), 1802-1891 (Person)

Language of Materials

Materials entirely in English.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, http://library.udel.edu/spec/askspec/

Historical Note

The official United States Navy deck log of the United States steam sloop Richmond describes the journey of the Mediterranean Squadron from Norfolk, Virginia, to patrol the Mediterranean protecting American shipping interests from September 27, 1860, to June 28, 1861. The Flag Officer and Commander of the sloop was Charles H. Bell (d. 1875), who began his service in the Navy on June 18, 1812, as a Midshipman and was named a Rear Admiral in 1866. The captain of the sloop from September 27, 1860, to January 2, 1861, was Duncan N. Ingraham (1802-1891). Captain Ingraham began his service in the Navy on the same day as Flag Officer Bell and left the Richmond to resign from the Navy on February 4, 1861. The replacement captain for the rest of the tour was Captain John Pope (d. 1876), who served on the sloop from March 19, 1861, to June 28, 1861. Captain Pope began his naval service also as a Midshipman on May 30, 1816, and appears on the Navy's Retired List in 1861.

Official naval deck logs were similar to ship's logs kept by commercial vessels, but regulations prevented the authors from deviating from a standard formula. The logs were to only include information about the ship and the crew members, and not about the docking shipyard or incidents involving crew members if the incident did not happen on board ship. Individual crew members could not be mentioned unless the individual was being punished, or had been injured, was sick or dead, and only a brief note was allowed about these events. The crew of the Richmond were given punishments for offenses such as drunkenness and suffered several deaths during this tour; each incident was given a brief note as per regulations.

"Officers of the Continental and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, 1775-1900." Naval Historical Center. http://www.history.navy.mil/books/callahan/index.htm (Accessed February 27, 2007)."Deck Log Section, Ships History Branch." Naval Historical Center. http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/nhcorg15.htm (Accessed February 27, 2007).Additional information derived from the collection.

Extent

1 volume (circa 200 pages) ; 27 cm

Additional Description

Abstract

Official United States Navy deck log of the United States Steam Sloop Richmond describing the journey of the Mediterranean Squadron from Norfolk, Virginia, to patrol on the Mediterranean from September 27, 1860, to June 28, 1861.