{"product_id":"1869-u-s-navy-department-letter-signed-by-vice-admiral-david-dixon-porter-forwarded-by-rear-admiral-john-rodgers-to-commander-john-g-walker-uss-sabine","title":"1869 U.S. Navy Department Letter Signed by Vice Admiral David Dixon Porter, Forwarded by Rear Admiral John Rodgers, to Commander John G. Walker – USS Sabine","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"164\" data-end=\"448\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eAn exceptional original \u003cstrong data-start=\"188\" data-end=\"212\"\u003eU.S. Navy Department\u003c\/strong\u003e official letter dated \u003cstrong data-start=\"235\" data-end=\"251\"\u003eJuly 1, 1869\u003c\/strong\u003e, signed by \u003cstrong data-start=\"263\" data-end=\"298\"\u003eVice Admiral David Dixon Porter\u003c\/strong\u003e, one of the most celebrated naval commanders of the American Civil War and later the second officer to hold the rank of \u003cstrong data-start=\"419\" data-end=\"447\"\u003eAdmiral of the U.S. Navy\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"450\" data-end=\"1092\"\u003eAddressed to \u003cstrong data-start=\"463\" data-end=\"495\"\u003eCommander John Grimes Walker\u003c\/strong\u003e, commanding the training ship \u003cstrong data-start=\"526\" data-end=\"542\"\u003eUSS \u003cem data-start=\"532\" data-end=\"540\"\u003eSabine\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, the letter modifies previous sailing orders and directs Walker to arrange the vessel's cruise so that she returns to the \u003cstrong data-start=\"665\" data-end=\"703\"\u003eBoston Navy Yard by August 1, 1870\u003c\/strong\u003e. The purpose was to permit the embarked \u003cstrong data-start=\"744\" data-end=\"772\"\u003eNaval Academy midshipmen\u003c\/strong\u003e to report for their examinations and promotion to the rank of \u003cstrong data-start=\"835\" data-end=\"845\"\u003eEnsign\u003c\/strong\u003e. The letter further grants Walker considerable discretion regarding the timing of the cruise and the ports visited, providing an excellent glimpse into the administration of the post-Civil War U.S. Navy and the education of future naval officers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1094\" data-end=\"1516\"\u003eWritten on engraved \u003cstrong data-start=\"1114\" data-end=\"1133\"\u003eNavy Department\u003c\/strong\u003e stationery with an embossed federal paper seal, the document is boldly signed \u003cstrong data-start=\"1212\" data-end=\"1247\"\u003e\"David D. Porter, Vice Admiral\"\u003c\/strong\u003e by direction of the Secretary of the Navy. The reverse bears the blue \u003cstrong data-start=\"1318\" data-end=\"1344\"\u003eU.S. Navy Yard, Boston\u003c\/strong\u003e receiving stamp dated \u003cstrong data-start=\"1367\" data-end=\"1383\"\u003eJuly 3, 1869\u003c\/strong\u003e, together with an important forwarding endorsement signed by \u003cstrong data-start=\"1445\" data-end=\"1474\"\u003eRear Admiral John Rodgers\u003c\/strong\u003e, then Commandant of the Boston Navy Yard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1518\" data-end=\"1670\"\u003eThis remarkable document unites the signatures and official actions of \u003cstrong data-start=\"1589\" data-end=\"1669\"\u003ethree of the nineteenth century's most distinguished American naval officers\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"1672\" data-end=\"2279\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1e9d4j3\" data-start=\"1672\" data-end=\"1812\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"1674\" data-end=\"1721\"\u003eVice Admiral David Dixon Porter (1813–1891)\u003c\/strong\u003e – Civil War hero, victor at Vicksburg and Fort Fisher, and later Admiral of the U.S. Navy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1sn9t3c\" data-start=\"1813\" data-end=\"2016\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"1815\" data-end=\"1856\"\u003eRear Admiral John Rodgers (1812–1882)\u003c\/strong\u003e – Distinguished Civil War commander, explorer, and Commandant of the Boston Navy Yard, whose forwarding signature appears beneath the official receiving stamp.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"8mmm7w\" data-start=\"2017\" data-end=\"2279\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"2019\" data-end=\"2063\"\u003eCommander John Grimes Walker (1835–1907)\u003c\/strong\u003e – Recipient of the letter, future Rear Admiral, leader in the modernization of the U.S. Navy, and later chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission, whose work helped pave the way for construction of the Panama Canal.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2281\" data-end=\"2680\"\u003eOfficial Navy Department correspondence bearing the signature of \u003cstrong data-start=\"2346\" data-end=\"2368\"\u003eDavid Dixon Porter\u003c\/strong\u003e is highly collectible, while examples additionally endorsed by \u003cstrong data-start=\"2432\" data-end=\"2448\"\u003eJohn Rodgers\u003c\/strong\u003e are encountered far less frequently. The association with \u003cstrong data-start=\"2507\" data-end=\"2525\"\u003eJohn G. Walker\u003c\/strong\u003e, another historically significant naval officer, elevates this beyond routine military correspondence into an outstanding piece of American naval history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2682\" data-end=\"2702\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2682\" data-end=\"2702\"\u003eDocument Details\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"2704\" data-end=\"3323\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"zpp9g7\" data-start=\"2704\" data-end=\"2728\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"2706\" data-end=\"2715\"\u003eDate:\u003c\/strong\u003e July 1, 1869\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"fma271\" data-start=\"2729\" data-end=\"2776\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"2731\" data-end=\"2742\"\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Navy Department, Washington, D.C.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"2fc2tx\" data-start=\"2777\" data-end=\"2822\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"2779\" data-end=\"2790\"\u003eSigner:\u003c\/strong\u003e Vice Admiral David Dixon Porter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"2wazvg\" data-start=\"2823\" data-end=\"2878\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"2825\" data-end=\"2852\"\u003eForwarding Endorsement:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rear Admiral John Rodgers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"yecyam\" data-start=\"2879\" data-end=\"2934\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"2881\" data-end=\"2895\"\u003eRecipient:\u003c\/strong\u003e Commander John G. Walker, USS \u003cem data-start=\"2926\" data-end=\"2934\"\u003eSabine\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"ga92yk\" data-start=\"2935\" data-end=\"3058\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"2937\" data-end=\"2949\"\u003eSubject:\u003c\/strong\u003e Modified sailing orders, return to Boston Navy Yard, and Naval Academy midshipmen examinations and promotion\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1ss9o2g\" data-start=\"3059\" data-end=\"3202\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"3061\" data-end=\"3072\"\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Four-page folded manuscript letter on engraved Navy Department stationery with embossed seal and Boston Navy Yard receiving stamp\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"yegap7\" data-start=\"3203\" data-end=\"3323\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"3205\" data-end=\"3219\"\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Very good original condition with expected fold lines, minor handling wear, and clear, bold signatures.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52594982650138,"sku":null,"price":2143.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_1840.jpg?v=1785168136","url":"https:\/\/princetonaudubonprints.com\/en-ca\/products\/1869-u-s-navy-department-letter-signed-by-vice-admiral-david-dixon-porter-forwarded-by-rear-admiral-john-rodgers-to-commander-john-g-walker-uss-sabine","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}