Fascinating archive of seven ALSs, signed “F. Buchanan” and “Frank’n Buchanan,” twenty-two total pages, dated between 1841 and 1864. The letters are all addressed to friend and Boston surgeon William Edward Coale, and shed rare and emotional insight into the minds of one of the Navy’s most decorated officers, chronicling his time as a revered naval commander to his reassignment and subsequent appointment as full admiral in the Confederate Navy during the American Civil War. Of notable significance is a letter dated September 1, 1861, in which Buchanan, only days out from joining the Confederate Navy and earning his captain’s commission, reveals his strong Southern loyalties, in part: “I was anxious to have a long conversation with you on the present state of affairs in the country. When I resigned from the navy, I did so in good faith to my native state under the impression she was virtually out of the union, my sympathies and feeling here with the South and I was ready to assist her cause and offered my services by letter to that old rascal Hicks, he never replied to my letter. When I found the state did not secede, and my resignation had not been accepted but ‘was held under consideration,’ I asked to recall it with a hope of being sent on a foreign station where I could remain until Congress reconciled matters, I was not permitted to recall it, nor did Congress settle matters, after that I had no desire to return to the Navy as I would not war against the South, and since the President’s proclamations & the acts of Congress, and the still later side acts of the President, I would not serve this government if they made me a Lord High Admiral. I am now thoroughly disgruntled and cannot any longer remain neutral…No man of woman’s life or property is safe, cause for imprisonment is of no consequence, suspicion only is necessary…All the unconstitutional, unlawful, tyrannical, oppressive acts of that creature Lyncoln & his advisors, old Scott among them, the day of retribution is at hand, the South must succeed, nothing can prevent it, and before many months Lyncoln’s own party will take him out of the White House and hang him.” By the date of the following letter, October 10, 1864, written from “Marsh Hospital, Pensacola,” Buchanan had led the Confederacy at the Battle of Mobile Bay, suffered a broken leg and was taken prisoner, in part: “Tell them I improve daily and hope soon to be on my crutches if not on both legs, the wound is entirely healed and the bones united, but are not yet sufficiently strong to justify the removal of the splint and bandages.” Buchanan was eventually transported to New York, as three such letters indicate, and are each addressed “Fort Lafayette.” The final letter shows Buchanan’s expectancy of an exchange and transfer south, a prospect that would come to fruition just weeks after writing this final letter, in part: “I am now convinced that it never has been the intention of the authorities in W[ashington] to remove me from this prison until I am exchanged, therefore I hope you will not take further steps in my behalf…My mind is no made up that I am to remain here until the order for my exchange is carried out. Our worthy friend Dr. Palmer informed by letter a day or two since that the order for my exchange had reached there some time since, & he supposed I would soon be South, the President told a friend of your Aunt that he had given three orders for my exchange, as the friends of the persons who are to be exchanged for me, ‘were pushing him.’” Also included is an ALS from the aforementioned Dr. James Palmer, dated December 1, 1864, and addressed to Coale. In overall very good to fine condition.
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