Radford, William (1809-1890) to Maurice Wakenian
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03479.39 Author/Creator: Radford, William (1809-1890) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Letter signed Date: 23 November 1867 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 24.9 x 19.3 cm. Order a Copy
Letter written in secretarial hand and signed by Rear Admiral Radford as Commandant of the U.S. Navy Yard at Washington, D.C. Says he has no photographs to send at the moment, but he anticipates a sitting at an early day when he will forward a picture. Written on letterhead of the Commandant's Office.
Rear Admiral William Radford was an officer in the United States Navy during the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War. Radford was born in Fincastle, Virginia and entered the U.S. Navy during 1825. He commanded the landing party from Warren which captured the Mexican warship Malek Adhel at Mazatlán and took part in other Pacific coast operations of the Mexican War.During the Civil War, he commanded the ill-fated Cumberland but was on board the frigate Roanoke as a member of a Court of enquiry when his ship was attacked by the Confederate casemate ram Virginia. Captain Radford subsequently commanded the armored ship New Ironsides during Union attacks on Fort Fisher in December 1864 and in January 1865. Promoted rear admiral in 1866, he commanded the European squadron during 1869 and 1870. Rear Admiral Radford died at Washington, D.C.
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