Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Engles, S. Allen (fl. 1858-1859) to William McBlair

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00722.50 Author/Creator: Engles, S. Allen (fl. 1858-1859) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 18 March 1859 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 32 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Letter with McBlair's autograph endorsement signed at the bottom, regarding the injury caused by confinement at sea. Letter reports that Henry O. Jennings and William Bainbridge have been ordered by a court martial to be confined in cells for eight hours a day for ten days, but Engles believes this will injure their health. Engles believes "confinement in the cells for a longer period than 6 consecutive hours is calculated sensibly to injure the health of the persons confined." McBlair's endorsement reduces the sentences for both men to six hours a day of imprisonment. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" while at sea. S. Allen Engles was an Assistant Surgeon on board the "Dale."

William McBlair was a United States naval officer in command of the ship "Dale," responsible for catching illegal slave trading ships off the coast of Africa. Later served in the Confederate Navy.

Engels, L. Allen, fl. 1858-1859

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources