Green, Joseph F., 1811-1897 [Letter books of Captain Joseph Foster Green of the USS Canandaigua] [word processed inventory available]

Three letter books from the USS "Canandaigua," belonging to Captain Joseph F. Green, the Commander of the Charleston Blockade Squadron. Volume 1 covers 18 August 1862-25 September 1863. Volume 2 covers 25 September 1863-30 April 1864. Volume 3 covers 30 April 1864-11 September 1864. Volumes 1-2 are the same size (34.3 x 21.3 cm.) while the third volume is different (32.4 x 20.3 cm.). These letter books contain copies of his official correspondence as commander of the Charleston Squadron in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Most deal with administrative matters, statistical information, and various reports on the men underneath him. References condition of the ship, amount of coal used, accuracy of target practice, leave for his crew, and disciplinary measures. Of particular interest is his description of the sinking of the USS "Housatonic" from entries in February 1864 pages 53-55 of volume 2. Other information on the sinking of the ship can be found scattered in the rest of the pages in this volume. Several references to contrabands and freed slaves. Green's last entry is on 22 June 1864 when Lieutenant Henry DeHaven Manley begins copying letters as commander of the "Canandaigua." No reason for the change of command was given. Each book has been marked "Examined" in a contemporary hand and many pages contain a purple ink stamp of a "D" in a circle. Green married Ruth Elizabeth Bowman in 1840. Green was commandant at the U.S. Naval Academy 1855-1858. In 1859 he was ordered to the Charleston Navy Yard and left his family in Brookline, Massachusetts (information from a typed sheet in the collateral file). During the war he served as chief officer of the Charleston Squadron of the South Atlantic Blockade Squadron. Manley had fought the ironclad "Merrimac" on March 8, 1862 aboard the doomed USS "Congress," before the "Monitor" arrived.