Rare Ephemera: Civil War and Britain
Posted by Richard Gabriel on Tue, May 18, 2010 @ 11:21 AM
Britain and the American Civil War Rare Ephemera. SOLD AT THE AUCTION 6-15-2010!!!
The rare first edition rare ephemera document, written by George Bemis a preeminent Boston lawyer who was involved in many unique clashes, including the most notorious murder at Harvard Medical School and the prosecution of Harvard Professor John White Webster for the brutal murder of John Parkman (one of the first cases to use forensic evidence in a trial to convict in the U.S.). He was also involved in the pending dispute between the United States and Great Britain over Great Britain's role in supplying men-of-war ships to the confederacy during the conflict, while claiming neutrality in public. The honorable Judge A. H Bullock was a professor at Amherst College and a three time president of the college, first in 1851, then 1862 and finally 1871. Bullock and Bemis obviously knew each other or of each other as they were both very active in public issues and affairs. This piece is a rare item as it has Bemis's signature and a 'with regards' comment to Hon. A. H. Bullock by Bemis.
The focus of this document was on the CSS Alabama, a fast, sail and steam powered ship that confiscated and burned 65 vessels that belonged to Northern supporters or were supplying goods and materials to the North.
The attorney General of Great Britain took the untenable position that Great Britain was in fact ‘neutral’ in accordance with what the United States had done in earlier times, focusing on maritime actions during Washington’s presidency while he attempted to balance the interests of the newly formed United States and the conflict that was fully raging between Great Britain and France. Washington and his administration held a tight fist policy over neutrality and turned and confiscated ships that were either purchased by the French and outfitted for war in a U.S. port or were confiscated by the French and brought to an American port.
Bemis argues that Great Britain’s claim that the U.S. had also behaved badly was in fact a lie made up by the government of Great Britain to save face in the participation of Great Britain and practice of allowing ships like the Alabama not only be built but falsely protected and deliberately changed over to the confederacy in international waters
The Alabama was finally cornered by a U.S. Ship in Cherbourg, France by the USS Kearsarge and the USS St. Louis also proceeded to help blocking the CSS Alabama and its crew from escaping. Captain Raphael Semmes, deciding he would rather fight than watch his ship rot at the dock, sent a message to Captain John Ancrum Winslow the following: ‘My intention is to fight the Kearsarge as soon as I can make the necessary arrangements. I hope these will not detain me more than until to-morrow or the morrow morning at farthest. I beg she will not depart until I am ready to go out. I have the honor to by Your obedient servant, R. Semmes.” The battle was recorded and the Alabama fired nearly 370 rounds at her adversary, about one round per minute while the Kearsarge fired about half that number, instead focusing on accuracy. As it turns out, the Alabama was out gunned and out maneuvered by the Kearsarge and its crew, sinking the Alabama in the harbor. Nearly all the crew, including the Captain of the Alabama escaped to England on a private yacht called the Deerhound, denying Captain Winslow his opportunity to capture Captain Semmes and his crew. The Alabama’s chief medical officer, who remained behind on the ship while the wounded were being offloaded won the Confederate equivalent of the Medal of Honor for his selfless sacrifice in the sure face of death, as he could not swim, rather giving his berth on the rescue boats to the wounded.
During her two year career as a pirate raider for the Confederacy, the CSS Alabama racked up over $6.0 million in damages and the United States Government pursued restitution from Great Britain and won a settlement from Great Britain in 1871 only after the death of Lord Palmerston did Prime Minister Gladstone apologize to the United States while admitting no guilt in the matter and paid $15.5 million in compensation.
Bemis, in his argument with the attorney General of Great Britain, Sir Roundell Palmer, must have been gratified at the award as his circular helped contribute to the eventual settlement by setting the records straight that had been twisted by the British to avoid facing the fact that the Alabama had been built in Britain, armed in Britain and received coal and provision support in British ports across the world. A rare ephemera first edition item with some historical significance combined with a rare autograph of George Bemis.