Lanman, Joseph (1811-1874) to J. W. A. Nicholson
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03479.42 Author/Creator: Lanman, Joseph (1811-1874) Place Written: Aboard USS Lancaster off Montevideo, Uruguay Type: Letter signed Date: 27 February 1872 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 24.5 x 19.6 cm. Order a Copy
Written in secretarial hand and signed by Rear Admiral Lanman to Captain Nicholson of the USS "Lancaster." Orders Nicholson to release John Carroll who was confined for smuggling liquor. He also directs that Carroll be taken from the crew of the barge. Stamp in blue ink says: "U.S. Flag Ship / Lancaster / Feb 27 1872."
He entered the navy as a midshipman, 1 January, 1825, and passed that grade on 4 June, 1831. His first years of service were spent on the Brazil, West India, and Pacific squadrons. He was commissioned lieutenant, 3 March, 1835, and served in the West India squadron in 1840, on ordnance duty in 1845-6, and in the Pacific squadron in 1847-8. He was on special duty from 1849 till 1851, and in 1852 in the sloop-of-war "San Jacinto," of the Mediterranean squadron. He was commissioned commander, 14 September, 1855, and stationed in the Washington navy yard in 1855-6, after which he commanded the steamer " Michigan" in the great lakes from 1859 till 1861, when he became captain. He commanded the steam-sloop "Saranac," of the Pacific squadron, in 1862. On 29 August of that year he was made commodore and assigned to the steam-sloop "Lancaster," of the Pacific squadron, in 1863, and the frigate "Minnesota," of the North Atlantic blockading squadron, in 1864-5. Commander Lanman commanded the 2d division of Admiral Porter's squadron at the two attacks on Fort Fisher, and was commended in the admiral's official report. He became rear-admiral, 8 December, 1867, and was made commandant of the Portsmouth navy yard, after which he commanded the south Atlantic squadron on the coast of Brazil. On his return to the United States in May, 1872, he was retired, and resided in Norwich until his death.
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