1860s CIVIL WAR NAVY COMMANDER CDV PHOTO BROWN WATER NAVY KILLED IN BATTLE

Description

Rare and original, 1860's CDV Photograph of a United States Navy Civil War Lieutenant Commander John Elliot Hart in full uniform taken at New Orleans, Louisiana. While Hart is listed as “Killed in Battle” he actually committed suicide after becoming delusional while suffering from yellow fever.
This outstanding, period, albumen Photograph measures approx. 2 1/8” by 3 3/8” and is mounted on its original, square corner, gold rule border, CDV Card Mount (card measures approx 2 1/2" by 4"). The back of the mount carries the mark of new Orleans photographer E. Jacobs.
This wonderful, vignette bust portrait was taken sometime between July 16, 1862 when he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander and June 1863 when he died on board the USS Albatross in the Mississippi River near St. Francisville, Louisiana. In the Photograph he wears a frock coat with shoulder bars of a Lieutenant Commander (or Commander) in the United States Navy (1862 Regulations).
This fantastic CDV Photograph came to us from the legendary Brown Water Navy Collection of Richard B. Cohen.
The Lieutenant Commander is identified in pencil on the reverse that reads simply “Hart”. The only "Hart" so ranked with Civil War service as Lieutenant Commander was John Elliot Hart (1824-1863).
Hart was appointed a midshipman in the Navy on February 2, 1841. He served in the Brazil Squadron aboard USS Marion and USS John Adams, and in 1846 he circumnavigated the globe aboard USS Constitution. In late 1846 he was admitted to the newly opened United States Naval Academy and graduated as a Passed Midshipman in the class of 1847. He was promoted to Master, 9/14/55; Lieutenant, 9/15/55 and Lieutenant-Commander, 7/16/62. He is listed as "Killed in Battle," 6/11/63 (actually committed suicide).
With the outbreak of the war Lieutenant Hart was assigned to the USS Vincennes, part of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron commanded by David Farragut, and was advanced to the wartime rank of Lieutenant Commander. In August 1862 Lieut. Commander Hart was transferred to the screw steamer USS Albatross and assumed command of the vessel in October during an outbreak of yellow fever after the ship's commanding officer was relieved. Albatross returned to duty in mid-November and executed "a series of raids against Confederate salt works" along the Florida Gulf Coast in company with the brig USS Bohio. In December Albatross sailed for the Mississippi River and took part in operations supporting the landing of General Banks' Army at Baton Rouge which surrendered without a fight. Farragut's next objective to clear the Mississippi was the passage of Port Hudson. On the evening of March 13, 1863 Farragut lashed smaller gunboats to three of his larger warships as protection against the batteries of Port Hudson. Albatross was paired with the flagship Hartford and as darkness prevailed the fleet got underway. The dangerous operation to run the guns at Port Hudson was, after a valiant effort, largely unsuccessful due the both the volume of enemy fire and the stubborn current. As the flagship and her consort were passing the lower batteries, the current swung the pair around and grounded them; "but" Farragut later reported, "backing the Albatross and going ahead strong on this ship, the Hartford, we at length headed her up the river." Only the Hartford and the Albatross succeeded in running the enemy gauntlet. Wrote Farragut, "...although it was not in Lieutenant Commander Hart's power to do much, he still he did all that was in his power, and whenever he could bring a gun to bear, ahead or astern, on the port side, it was instantly fired." The rest of the fleet was severely punished by the intensity of Confederate shot and turned away, the trailing sloop USS Mississippi forced aground and "set afire in four places" and abandoned, later to blow up. Operating on the lower Mississippi in March Albatross engaged the Confederate batteries at Grand Gulf, Mississippi suffering 10 casualties. Later on May 10, 1863 she and her consorts attacked Fort De Russy on the Red River and engaged a pair of Rebel steamers, the CSS Grand Duke and Mary T. tied to the earthworks. During the exchange the Grand Duke was set on fire while "Albatross was badly shot up, suffering heavy casualties when a 32-pound ball smashed through the wheelhouse and destroyed the steering." One of her crew, Quartermaster James H. Brown, "displayed most unusual courage during the action" for extracting the Albatross from a perilous position, resulting in the award of the Medal of Honor.
While stationed at Port Hudson in June 1863 Lieutenant Commander Hart contracted yellow fever. It is said that after a few days confined to his cabin, Hart "became delusional" and on June 11, committed suicide with his revolver. As a footnote to navy sources he was officially listed as "killed in battle." Unable to return his body home to Schenectady, NY for burial, the ship's Executive Officer, Theodore B. DuBois, went ashore under a flag of truce and purposefully made arrangements for a Masonic funeral - evidently Hart's known preference - with local Confederate authorities, also Masons. Lieutenant Commander Hart was buried with full Masonic rights at the Grace Episcopal Church in the nearby town of St. Francisville, Louisiana. To this day the unusual event that June is celebrated in St. Francisville as "The Day the War Stopped."
This rare and wonderful, albumen CDV Photograph is in excellent condition - clean and crisp and well preserved. The Photograph exhibits sharp focus, strong contrast and good tonality although a bit light overall. Both the Photo and the card mount are clean and crisp and well preserved.
A very rare and very attractive, 1860's CDV Photograph of United States Navy Civil War Lieutenant Commander John Elliot Hart and a fantastic addition to any collection!!
Be sure to check out this sellers other auctions for a number of other, fantastic, original Civil War Photographs and Autographs which are also being offered for sale this week on eBay!!!
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