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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC06368 |
| From Archive Folder | Unassociated Civil War Documents 1864 |
| Title | Log of W. F. Shankland commanding the U.S. Monitor Winnebago |
| Date | 8 June 1864-17 November 1864 |
| Author | Shankland, William F. (fl. 1862-1866) |
| Document Type | Military document |
| Content Description | There are two log books. This file was dated using the first book covering Acting Master Shankland's time on the USS "Winnebago," while the second book covers his time as a lieutenant on the USS "Guard" from March 1866 to May 1866. The USS "Winnebago" log: Note written on a preliminary leaf says that information on engagements can found on pages 9, 39, 44, 45, 46, 49, 50, 53, 57, 58, and 75. Says he reported for duty on the "Chickasaw" on 16 May 1864, but was given command of the "Winnebago" on the Red River on 24 May 1864 instead. Took command on 8 June 1864 and reported 28 sick men. Begins steaming down the Mississippi River on 9 July and is off New Orleans by 10 July. He left New Orleans on 29 July and was at sea by 31 July and was stationed off Mobile Bay by 1 August. Describes engagement in the Battle of Mobile Bay near Fort Morgan on 5 August: "opened fire on Fort Morgan enemy firing rapidly, at 8. Tecumseh was blown up and sunk by a Torpedo." Log book ends with the "Winnebago" at Mobile Bay in November. Shankland turned the ship over to Lieutenant Commander Edward B. Kirkland by order of Admiral Farragut on 17 November. Page 122 delineates his silverware, glassware, china, and crockery. The USS "Guard" log: has been given a new black cloth cover. Each day has an entry of 2 pages. One page gives weather readings while the other summarizes events of the day, which are mostly mundane reports on position and the activities of the crew. The "Guard" was off the coast of Lisbon and Belem, Portugal during the time this log book was kept. On 29 April he saw that "At 12 a salute of 21 guns was fired by the U.S. Str "Kearsarge" in honor of the inauguration of the Portuguese Constitution." Some pages were torn out or removed previously. In February 1862 Shankland was given command of the "Currituck" as acting master. In April 1863 he was in command of the "Preble," which burned in an accident involving spilled tar oil in Pensacola, Florida (the "Preble" is known for making the first successful trip to Japan). Another log book that Shankland created exists at the Library of Congress. |
| Subjects | Civil War Military History Union Forces Ironclad Navy Soldier's Diary Fortification Battle Confederate States of America Home Furnishings Global History and Civics Foreign Affairs |
| People | Shankland, W. F. |
| Place written | [various places] |
| Theme | The American Civil War; Naval & Maritime |
| Sub-collection | Papers and Images of the American Civil War |
| Additional Information | In February 1862 Shankland was given command of the "Currituck" as acting master. In April 1863 he was in command of the "Preble," which burned in an accident involving spilled tar oil in Pensacola, Florida (the "Preble" is known for making the first successful trip to Japan). Another log book that Shankland created exists at the Library of Congress. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era: 1860-1945 |