Auction Date:2009 Jun 24 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Location:6270 Este Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45232, United States
21 documents and letters, 6 photographs.
At the age of 18, Stephen Barker, a young printer from Buffalo, N.Y., enlisted for service as a replacement in the 21st New York Infantry, but at the end of his enlistment in May 1863, he mustered out and joined the Navy. Barker initially served aboard a receiving ship in the Mississippi Squadron, based in Cairo, Ill., but he was soon promoted to Master's Mate and assigned to duty aboard the gunboats Conestoga and Manitou (later renamed the Fort Hindman). By the end of the war, Barker had earned promotion to Acting Ensign, serving aboard a captured rebel gunboat the USS Missouri. He resigned from the Navy in February 1866 and settled in Nashua, N.H.
The collection provides a slim view of Barker's career in the army, including only a certificate of mustering out of the 21st New York Infantry on May 1863 at the expiration of his term, but his naval career is marked out by a more extensive series of documents, a handful of which are signed by significant figures in Civil War Naval history such as Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles, Admiral Gustavus Vasa Fox, and Rear Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee, mostly relating to service aboard gunboats in the U.S. Mississippi Squadron.
Among other items, the collection includes Barker's discharge from the receiving ship Clara Dolsen upon promotion to Master's Mate, June 1863; a power of attorney to collect prize money on Barker's behalf accrued by the USS Ft. Hindman in 1863-1864; partially printed appointment as master's mate in the Mississippi Squadron signed by Gideon Welles; a fine printed form appointing Barker Acting Master's Mate in the US Mississippi Squadron, June 1863, signed by Fleet Captain A.M. Pennock; Mss order to report for duty to the US Gunboat Conestoga, June 1863, signed by A.M. Pennock; appointment as Acting Ensign in the Navy, May 25, 1865, signed by both Acting Secretary of the Navy (and Adm.) Gustavus Vasa Fox and Adm. S.P. Lee; order to report to rear admiral for assignment, May 1865, signed by S.P. Lee; and two leaves of absence and one return from leave, one of which is signed by Lee.
Among the few additional manuscript items in the collection is a brief two page summary of Barker's military career prepared in 1907 for a pension application, and a letter from a relative A.M. Barker, a dentist in New York. Rounding out the collection are five cartes de visite, four of which depict officers in the Mississippi River Fleet: a vignetted portrait of B.G. Van Dyke (autographed) of the USS Choctaw; John Cook, 2nd Asst Engineer; E.P. Grapevine, Pilot; and M.S. Gerould, Acting Surgeon, all of the USS Ft. Hindman. A fifth carte is a half length portrait of Barker, in uniform, and the collection also includes a photo of an elderly Barker framed above his printed military history.
An interesting archive documenting the career of a lower ranking officer in the famed Mississippi fleet.
Condition: Generally good condition with some age toning (cartes de visite in very good condition).
Auction Location:
6270 Este Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45232, United States
Previewing Details:
Tuesday, June 23, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday, June 24 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Taxes:
| Tax | Rate | Desc. |
| Ohio |
5.5% |
Ohio State Tax |
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
17.5% |
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
Cowan's is happy to provide a shipping estimate in advance of the auction. We have partnered with an outside shipper - Wrap-It Postal. Their services to our respected customers are based inside the Cowans facility.Please contact Wrap-It Postal by email at shipping@cowans.com, or call 513.871.1670 (ext.19). You can also submit a request for an online quote . All shipping and packing costs will be charged separately by Wrap-It Postal to your credit card on file.
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Cowan's is happy to provide a shipping estimate in advance of the auction. We have partnered with an outside shipper - Wrap-It Postal. Their services to our respected customers are based inside the Cowans facility.Please contact Wrap-It Postal by email at shipping@cowans.com, or call 513.871.1670 (ext.19). You can also submit a request for an online quote . All shipping and packing costs will be charged separately by Wrap-It Postal to your credit card on file.
Cowan's is in no way responsible for the acts or omissions of independent handlers, packers or shippers of purchased items or for any loss, damage or delay from the packing or shipping of any property.
ADVICE TO INTERNATIONAL BUYERS: Cowan's will not ship any package containing a firearm to any location other than within the United States. Buyers outside the United States must make their own shipping arrangements taking full risk for the transportation of any firearm.
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