First document is a two page letter written in ink and dated on board the Macedonian on August 7, 1865. This is a newsy letter from Rowland Gordon to his mother. He talks about the ship being in port at New London, Connecticut and that they had to leave the port early because "some of the men got on shore and kicked up the duce." The next document is dated June 14, 1866. Again it is written on board the USS Macedonian. This document is in ink and informs Rowland Gordon that he is discharged as Surgeon's Steward. The document is signed by the ships Surgeon George H. Cooke and approved by the ships commanding officer. The third document in the group was filled out at Annapolis, Maryland on December 14, 1865 and lists 5 men sick on the crew,  including on with syphilis. This document is written out in ink and signed Surgeon's Steward Gordon. The next document is again written in ink by Surgeon Charles W. Page, US Navy informing Mr. Gordon that Surgeons Stewards are wanted. This document has a pre-printed heading of "SURGEON'S OFFICE, NAVY YARD, BOSTON, MASS." and is dated June 5, 1865. The last item is a one page letter dated February 16, 1852 and written to Rowland Gordon by his Grandmother.

The USS Macedonian was a three masted frigate launched in 1836. During the Civil War she served on the Gulf Coast and sailed with the famous USS Kearsarge in search of Southern raiders. From late 1863 through the end of the war she served as a School Ship. In 1871 she was sold and became a hotel on Island City, New York. After being a hotel she was converted into a casino and burned in 1922.