Incomparable Civil War Composite Atlas with Stellar Provenance From Lincoln's Assistant Secretary of the Navy, with a Map of Mobile Bay Inscribed to him by Admiral David Farragut
A superb composite Civil War atlas, including fourteen large-format maps of the theaters of the war, many of which are extremely rare and have never appeared individually on the antiquarian market.
Contemporary atlases of the Civil War are extremely rare and they typically take the form of compilations of more common government-issued battle plans. This atlas, by contrast, was compiled from maps in the possession of one of the war's most important administrators, Gustavus Vasa Fox.
Perhaps the most intriguing map in the atlas is an original hand-color rendition of Admiral David Farragut's 1864 victory at Mobile Bay, which he inscribed to Fox. Fox had nominated Farragut to conduct the New Orleans expedition in 1862; Farragut then successfully captured the city, an action which turned out to be one of the definitive events of the war. The victory was extremely important for Farragut's career as well. Before his success in New Orleans, Farragut was suspected of Southern sympathies (he was born in New Orleans); afterward, he became one of the most celebrated Union naval commanders and, on July 16, 1862, he was awarded the rank of Rear Admiral by Congress.
Another example of the map, from the Library of Congress, is often illustrated online. However, the map is extremely rare and, as far as we can confirm, has never appeared on the antiquarian market.
Gustavus Vasa Fox
Vasa Fox was one of the most important administrators in the Union war effort. Born in Massachusetts in 1821, he attended the Phillips Academy in Andover before securing a place at the United States Naval Academy. He graduated in 1841 and began a career in government service. He transported troops during the Mexican-American War, for example.
In 1856, Fox left the Navy and married Virginia Woodbury, whose father was a prominent Jacksonian Democrat. They lived in Lawrence, Massachusetts while Fox worked as an agent for the Bay State Mills.
As war loomed, Fox reported to Washington D.C., determined to aid the Union cause. He pitched a plan to relieve Fort Sumter, but President James Buchanan rejected it. Abraham Lincoln, however, favorably reviewed the proposal.
During the war, Fox worked as chief clerk to the Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles. He was promoted to Assistant Secretary of the Navy on August 1, 1861, a post that was created especially for him. From this position, Fox had major influence on naval strategy, with one of his most significant contributions being his coordination of the Farragut expedition. He also promoted the creation and deployment of the ironclad Monitor.
After the war, Fox returned to private life. He worked as an agent for the Middlesex Company in Lowell, Massachusetts and then for Mudge, Sawyer & Co. in Boston. He died in 1883.
Provenance
- Gustavus Vasa Fox, Lincoln's Assistant Secretary of the Navy (1861-1866)
- Seemingly thence to George W. Nason, with his purple ink stamps:
"Geo. W. Nason, Jr., Franklin, Mass., & Boston.
April 15th, 1861, Co. I, 5th Mass. (Minute Men of '61).
Aug. 14th, 1861, Co. H, 23d Regt. Mass. Vols.
Jan. 4th, 1861, U.S. Steamer Huzzar, (Gunboat.)
May 2d, 1864, Colonel New-Berne Fire Dept. Regt.
- Grand Army of the Republic Post 60, Franklin, Mass., with the posts ink stamp "Lib. no. 33"
Maps
- Portions of the Military Departments of Virginia Washington Middle & The Susquehanna Prepared in the Engineer Department July 1863
LC Civil War Maps (2nd ed.), 47.3 - Central Virginia showing Lieut Genl. U.S. Grants Campaign and Marches of the Armies under his Command in 1864-5 Engineer Bureau War Dept.
With manuscript annotations.
See LC Civil War maps (2nd ed.), 513 (There are many variants of this map. The present map seems to be an early iteration without the color-printing of the key fully completed.)
Swem, E.G. Maps relating to Virginia, 1190 - Central Virginia compiled in the Bureau of Topographl. Engrs. of the War Department for Military purposes. July 1862.
LC Civil War maps (2nd ed.) 501.5 - Portions of Virginia and North Carolina, Embracing Richmond & Lynchburg, VA. And Goldsboro & Salisbury, N.C. compiled in the Engineer Bureau War Department, For Military Purposes. 1864.
LC Civil War maps (2nd ed.) 501.2 - Eastern Portion of the Military Department of North Carolina compiled from the best and latest authorities in the Engineer Bureau War Department May 1862.
LC Civil War maps (2nd ed.) 306.1 - [N.C. Fayetteville, Wilmington, Cape Fear - Northeast Quadrant of "Part of the Military Department of the South Embracing Portions of Georgia and South Carolina And part of the Military Department of North Carolina... 1865"]
Specially prepared section from the rare general map of the area between Cape Fear and Savannah, Georgia.
See LC Civil War maps (2nd ed.) 94 - Part of the Military Department of the South Embracing Portions of Georgia and South Carolina Compiled and Engraved in the Engineer Bureau, War Department 1865.
See LC Civil War maps (2nd ed.) 93.5. This variant without the Corps of Engineers insignia is, therefore, an unrecorded state. - [S.C. Charleston, Branchville, Savannah - Southwest Quadrant of "Part of the Military Department of the South Embracing Portions of Georgia and South Carolina And part of the Military Department of North Carolina... 1865"]
Specially prepared section from the rare general map of the area between Cape Fear and Savannah, Georgia.
See LC Civil War maps (2nd ed.) 94 - General Map of Charleston Harbor South Carolina Showing Rebel Defences and Obstructions Shore Line, channels, fortifications & armaments are from surveys and data of U.S. Coast Survey Positions of obstructions & torpedoes from information furnished by persons who removed them. Prepared by direction of Rear Admiral J.A. Dahlgren U.S.N. commanding South Atlantic Blockading Squadron by C.O. Boutelle Asst. U.S. Coast Survey. 1865. Drawn by E. Willenbücher, U.S. Coast Survey.
LC Civil War maps (2nd ed.), 370.
D.A. Wise, A Descriptive List of Treasure Maps and Charts, 2nd ed., no. 133. - Northwestern Georgia (with portions of the adjoining State of Tennessee and Alabama) being part of the Department of the Cumberland. Engineer Bureau of the War Department January 1863... Note. Corrections and additions from Capt. Wm. C. Merrills Map of "Northern Georgia" in 1864... Denis Callahan, Del.
LC Civil War maps (2nd ed.), 125. - Extract From a Map Entitled Portions of the Military Departments of The Cumberland, (which includes Tennessee west of the Tenn. River (except Forts Henry and Donelson) and the northern portions of Alabama and Georgia) of The South (which includes South Carolina, East Florida, and part of Georgia) And of The Gulf (which comprises all the Coast of the Gulf of Mexico west of Pensacola Harbor, and so much of the Gulf States as may be occupied by Genl. Banks' Forces, also West Florida, and Texas) Compiled in the Bureau of Engineers, War Department 1863. Denis Callahan delt.
LC Civil War maps (2nd ed.), 37.4. - (Presentation Copy) Chart Showing the Entrance of Rear Admiral Farragut into Mobile Bay. 5th of August 1864. Drawn & compiled by Robt. Weir for Rear Admiral D.G. Farragut, Novr. 1st 1864.
Inscribed by Farragut to Fox: "Presented to G.V. Fox Assistant Secty. of the Navy by D. G. Farragut Rear Admiral"
LC Civil War maps (2nd ed.), 110: "Detailed map showing five positions and the tracks of the vessels during the sea battle, obstructions, channels, banks, and shoals. Includes small views of the 'Iron-clad Tennessee,' Federal ship colliding with the Ram Tennessee, a vessel sailing past what appears to be Mobile Point, and a general view of the battle." - Northern Mississippi and Alabama Drawn by A. Lindenkohl H. Lindenkohl & Chas. G. Krebs, Lith.
LC Civil War Maps (2nd ed.), 259.4 - Mountain Region of North Carolina and Tennessee. Drawn by A. Lindenkohl Compiled by W.L. Nicholson & A. Lindenkohl, with correction to January 1865 H. Lindenkohl & Cahs. G. Kreb Lith
LC Civil War maps (2nd ed.) 43.5