Barclay, Charles J. (fl. 1864) to Lester A. Beardslee
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01920.03 Author/Creator: Barclay, Charles J. (fl. 1864) Place Written: Aboard U.S. Prize Steamer Florida Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 7 November 1864 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 24.8 x 19.7 cm. Order a Copy
Written by Acting Ensign Barclay to Lieutenant Commander Beardslee. Both were serving on the recently captured ship "Florida." As requested, Barclay is submitting his version of events from the night of 29 October, which have caused accusations of dereliction of duty from Beardslee's superior Commander Napoleon Collins. Says he was officer on deck that night and gives description of the sails that night. Says he noticed the "Florida" was drifting from the "Wachusett," where Collins was, but that it was nothing out of the ordinary. Describes how the "Wachusett" caught up to the "Florida." Collins claims that Beardslee let the "Florida" drift 20 miles, which Barclay says could not have happened.
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