1860s CIVIL WAR NAVY MASTER THOMAS E SMITH CDV PHOTOGRAPH BROWN WATER NAVY PHOTO

Description

Very rare and original, ca1860's Civil War CDV Photograph of a United States Navy Master Thomas E. Smith. This outstanding, period, albumen Photograph measures approx. 2 1/8” by 3 3/4” and is mounted on its original, square corner Card Mount (card measures approx 2 1/2" by 4").
This is a 3/4 length, standing portrait of a Union Navy Officer wearing the ca1862 uniform of a Master in the United States Navy. He holds his cap in his right hand and his sleeve insignia and shoulder straps identify his rank. The subject is identified on the reverse with a later pencil inscription that reads in part "Thomas Smith / Northport L.I., N.Y.” and “@New Orleans Apr 62 / Arletta”." The mount carries the mark of the photographer - J. Renowden of Brooklyn, New York - on the reverse.
This fantastic CDV Photograph came to us from the legendary Brown Water Navy Collection of Richard B. Cohen.
The Navy List includes one Thomas E. Smith who entered service as Acting Master 10/22/61; promoted Acting Volunteer Lieutenant 1/29/63; Discharged 2/28/69. In addition to several citations mentioned in the Navy O.R.'s, a sketch (but no photograph) of Lieutenant Thomas E. Smith's (1840-1890) wartime service is found on p. 223-24 of Civil War Biographies from the Western Waters.
Briefly, Smith was appointed Acting Master as mentioned and serving under Comdr. Porter commanded the Mortar Schooner USS Arletta during the capture of New Orleans in April 1862 and during the fleet's subsequent "sojourn up the Mississippi to the vicinity of Vicksburg." Porter was aboard Arletta when she test-fired her heavy 13" mortar against Fort Jackson on April 16 and became the target of a Confederate attempt to burn her with a fire ship the next day. Following the reduction of New Orleans, Farragut employed the mortar flotilla (including USS Arletta) in a campaign of preliminary bombardment against the Vicksburg defenses while grand strategy coalesced around an infantry siege still in the making.
Meanwhile, in the east a Union drive to capture Richmond had been rebuffed and the army hemmed in at Harrison's Landing protected by the gunboats of the James River Squadron. Washington ordered a large detachment of the Mortar Flotilla back east to reinforce the James River Squadron including the Arletta. During the month of August Arletta and her consorts operated on the James River "to protect General McClellan's army as it withdrew from the peninsula to return to Northern Virginia" and the Washington Defenses. Afterwards, she was assigned to the Potomac Flotilla in defense of the Capital.
About this time, Acting Master Smith was reassigned to command the Brown Water Navy tinclad USS Linden (No. 10) and was promoted to the rank of Acting Volunteer Lieutenant. During 1863 Smith commanded the USS Linden in an expedition to Lake Providence Channel and later to the Black Bayou in support of Steel's Bayou Expedition, then followed by a feint up the Yazoo River to divert Rebel attention away from the army landing at Bruinsburg, Mississippi. In May the Linden participated in the attack on Liverpool Landing and bombardment of Yazoo City. Lieutenant Smith was then detached to oversee the conversion of the tinclad USS Peosta (No. 36) which operated on the Tennessee River in support of army operations. Peosta happened to be at Paducah, Kentucky when N.B. Forrest attacked the post at the end of March 1864. In the fall of 1864 Smith was ordered to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron and finished the war aboard the receiving ship USS Independence at the Mare Island Navy Yard in San Francisco. Awaiting orders Smith was honorably discharged in 1869 - a glut of officers and too few command billets - and became captain of a Reading Steamship Company vessel until his death in 1890 from diabetes.
This rare, CDV Portrait of United States Navy Civil War Master Thomas E. Smith is in very good condition. The Photograph itself is clean and crisp exhibiting sharp focus, strong contrast and rich, warm tonality. The card mount has some light edge wear and soft corners.
A rare and original, 1860's Civil War period CDV Photograph of U. S. Navy Master Thomas E. Smith and a fantastic addition to any collection!!
Be sure to check out this sellers other auctions for a number of other, original Civil War Photographs which are also being offered for sale this week on eBay!!!
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