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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.

Totten, Benjamin J. (1806-1877) to William McBlair

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00722.53 Author/Creator: Totten, Benjamin J. (1806-1877) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 25 March 1859 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 33 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Forwarding papers describing the sentences of Thomas Connor and Frederick Breckendorf. Both men had been discharged from the Navy for bad conduct. Written on board the U.S.S. "Vincennes" at Porto Praya. Benjamin J. Totten, the commander of the U.S.S. "Vincennes," was later promoted to commodore, served as governor of the Naval asylum at Philadelphia for two years, and published a number of works regarding the Navy.

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.
Benjamin J. Totten was the commander of the U.S.S. "Vincennes," later promoted to commodore and served as governor of the naval asylum at Philadelphia for two years. Also published a number of works regarding the navy.

McBlair, William, ?-1863
Totten, Benjamin J., 1806-1877

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