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Lot 241: Civil War Naval Photos & Letters

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:4,800.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
Lot  241: Civil War Naval Photos & Letters
<b>Autographs</b><hr><b>Spectacular Civil War Naval Photo & Letter Archive</b>

<b>(CIVIL WAR - UNION NAVY). HORATIO LOOMIS WAIT, Union Lt. Commander.</b>
Extensive Wait family archive of letters, documents, photographs, paintings, genealogical materials etc. Horatio Loomis Wait served under both Dupont and Farragut in the blockades of Savannah, Pensacola and Mobile, and later on Admiral Dahlgren’s flagship at the bombardment of Fort Sumter, where he participated in the siege and reoccupation of Charleston and the rehoisting of the old flag on Fort Sumter by Robert Anderson.
Horatio Wait had enlisted in Co. D, 60th Ill. Inf. in 1861, but shortly afterward was commissioned paymaster, with the rank of Master, in the United States Navy. At the conclusion of the War Between the States he served on the U.S.S. Ino, in America’s European Squadron. After 1870, he practiced law in Chicago and was the Dean of the Chicago Law School for many years.
This lot includes a very extensive personal and family archive. There are approximately: eleven Civil War-dated letters to his wife, totaling 48 pages, each approximately 9.75” x 7.75”, most being very neatly written and in Choice Very Fine condition. The letters are written while aboard the Flag Ship Philadelphia, off Pensacola, at Charleston Harbor, Morris Island, and Port Royal. Among the discussions of family affairs, he adds first-hand news of the war. On Dec. 6, 1863, he writes: “...The Admiral and staff are very busy now with some courts martial...occupying time until the new Iron CladsÑget down hereÑwhen it is generally supposed that something great will be undertaken. I hope Grant will march into Charleston by the back door before that time...” On Aug. 21, ‘64, he says, “...two or three years more of Blockading will make me forget how to deport myself in young ladies society...” On Oct. 31, ‘64: “I have a piece of wood that I picked up in Fort WagnerÑsoon after the Rebels evacuated it...Concerning the Chicago Convention there seems to be but one opinion...utter contempt for that assemblage & its actsÑand the same sentiment toward the nominee [McClellan]...Lincoln is sure of his reelectionÑso do all think down hereÑI think the Soldiers’ vote will go in Lincolns favor alsoÑthe N.Y. Troops in this Dept will support the Administration unanimously.” On May 28, ‘66: “...the Hon Secretary of the Navy [Gideon Welles]...arrived this morning in the USS Santiago de Cuba...we have also in the harbor today the Steamer Clyde - with Mrs. Jeff Davis and Mrs. Clay on board...they were sent back from the northÑand are to go to Savannah...Gideon looks older & more imbecile than ever...”
Over 40 additional post-Civil War letters are written from the Mediterranean, mostly from Lisbon, some with quite interesting content. Wait was a skillful artist, and there are numerous original colored sketches of children, family scenes, and three highly detailed colored drawings of United States Navy ships, as well as an original watercolor of two soldiers standing in front of a burned out church during the war. In addition, there are approximately sixteen tintypes and ambrotypes of Wait and other family members, his wife (Chara Long) and her family, in the original cases; (about half of the cases are partial and some are unhinged and show wear). There are several photographs of Horatio Wait in his navy dress uniform, including a wonderful full length pose as an older man measuring 17.5” x 8.5”; also, approximately a dozen more photographs of Wait in later years.
A true gem in this archive is an original collection of Civil War vintage sepia photographs of various Iron-clad, Steam, Paddle Wheel and Sailing ships. Six have an image size of 5.5” x 7.25”; one Ironclad is named the “Choctaw”; a Steamship is named the “Vindicator”; the other ships are identified by numbers. Two photographs are of European ships; one being Norwegian and the other French, which measure 8.25” x 10.75”. There are also two smaller photographs, one of an Ironclad which is 3.5” x 3.5”, and one of a Steamship measuring 3.5” x 4”. Easily, each of these vintage images is easily worth from $500 to $1000 or more.
A genealogy of the Wait family, which originally came to America from England in the year 1608, shows that several of its family members actually fought in the Revolutionary War, including serving with Herrick’s Rangers, Learned’s Regiment, and the Continental Army. All in all, an amazing and well-preserved archive of museum content and quality which will certainly provide many hours of important historical research.
(Approximately 70 letters, 34 photographs, 29 drawings and sketches, and other miscellaneous items)