Lot 1184

(UNION NAVY) DISCHARGE CERTIFICATE FOR A USS CARONDELET SAILOR

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(UNION NAVY) DISCHARGE CERTIFICATE FOR A USS CARONDELET SAILOR

Estimate: $100 - $150

Starting Bid: $50

(0 Bids)

by Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
July 31, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
106 East Main Street, Suite 103
Elkton, MD, US 21921

(UNION NAVY) DISCHARGE CERTIFICATE FOR A USS CARONDELET SAILOR
A fine war-date partly-printed document, 1p. oblong 8vo., [n.p., likely Cairo, IL], April 3, 1863, a discharge certificate for Seaman 1st Class Charles Wilson of the City-class ironclad gunboat USS CARONDELET, signed boldly at lower left by her third commander, JOHN MCLEOD MURPHY (1827-1871) and countersigned by her paymaster, Francis M. Hawley. Shows a horizontal fold at center, slightly ragged at the bottom edge, and with archival tape residue top the verso, otherwise in very good to fine overall condition. USS CARONDELET would have one of the most active service lives of any of the Union's river gunboats, participating in the captures of Forts Henry and Donelson, the passing of Island No. 10, and the bombardments of Fort Pillow and Memphis. She would suffer heavy damage in action against the ironclad CSS ARKANSAS as the latter forced he way out of the Yazoo river to Vicksburg. After her transfer to the Navy, she would participate in the ill-fated Steel's Bayou Expedition and would bombard Vicksburg until that city's surrender, before joining the Red River Expedition and then attempting to suppress Confederate batteries at Nashville.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000