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.

McPherson & Oliver Admiral Farragut and Captain Drayton on deck of U.S. frigate Hartford

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05111.01.0234 Author/Creator: McPherson & Oliver Place Written: Mobile, Alabama Type: Photograph Date: 1864 Pagination: 1 albumen print ; 24.4 x 19.7 cm. Order a Copy

A print of a photograph of Admiral David G. Farragut and Captain Percival Drayton on the deck of the USS Hartford (1858). Farragut leans against the wheel, while the ship's commander, Captain Drayton stands to the left of him. The Hartford served as Farragut's flagship in his position as Admiral of the US Navy. Cancelled, red five cent "playing card" stamp on verso. Three other sailors stand behind the officers on an upper deck.
See GLC 5111.01.0233

The Hartford was at Mobile Bay twice, once in 1861 and again during the battle in 1864. Farragut used her as his flagship throughout the war. The description on the backing material mentions that this was entered into the Congress on November 10th, 1864, therefore that cannot be the date the photograph was taken. The Library of Congress gives the date as being in 1861, however she was at Mobile Bay for a considerably longer time (and more famously) in 1864. It seems likely the photograph was taken sometime between August and October 1864. See Library of Congress information here: https://www.loc.gov/item/2013646182/.

Farragut, David Glasgow, 1801-1870
Drayton, Percival, 1812-1865

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