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.

DuPont, Samuel Francis (1803-1865) to John B. Marchand

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02680.12 Author/Creator: DuPont, Samuel Francis (1803-1865) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Letter signed Date: 8 June 1862 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 31.2 x 20.1 cm. Order a Copy

Copy of a circular letter from the Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography ordering captains to "instruct the officers commanding Prize vessels to deliver to the ordnance officer of the nearest Navy Yard, all arms belonging to the service, immediately on their arrival." The circular letter was first sent to DuPont, who now sends a copy to Marchand, and orders him to distribute it "to the vessels in your Division." DuPont signs as Flag Officer Commanding of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. DuPont was a noted American naval officer. He figured prominently in the Mexican-American War and Civil War, and helped to modernize the US Navy. He reached the rank of rear admiral.

Samuel F. Du Pont was a United States Naval officer who rose to the rank of Rear Admiral.
John B. Marchand was an officer in the United States Navy. He captained the steamer "Memphis" during the Paraguay expedition, served as Captain of the U.S.S. Lackawanna during the Civil War, later promoted to Commodore.

Du Pont, Samuel Francis, 1803-1865
Marchand, John Bonnett, 1808-1875

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