McBlair, William (d. 1863) to V. McBlair
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00722.65 Author/Creator: McBlair, William (d. 1863) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 14 March 1859 - 16 March 1859 Pagination: 4 p. ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
To his wife, discussing his dislike of the British, the death of a United States Consul in Sierra Leone by "homicide", and the island of Goree, a former center of the African slave trade. States he is "Anti-Anglais," calling the British "National Pirates" on the African coast. Discusses his dinner with a French captain, commenting on their culture and the bad food. Also mentions the foolishness of the Liberian Secretary of State and complains about Navy food. He closes in expectation of orders to return home, which would soon arrive. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" off Goree, an island just off Dakar, Senegal.
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.
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