Includes three Cooper letters written aboard the USS Chocura, dated Jan. 29th, Feb. 2nd, and March 16^th, 1862—as well as a pre-printed Navy Department document ordering Cooper to report to “Chief Engineer Kellog, without delay, for your examination,” dated “10^th October, 1863,” signed by “Gideon Welles,” Secretary of the Navy. Also includes a cased carte de visite depicting Cooper in uniform, w/Annapolis back-mark, along with two CDV’s and two cased tintype images of Cooper family members. Also two Cooper navy frock uniform buttons w/London back-mark.

The letters and Welles document are in plastic sleeves with a vinyl folder and the six photo images and buttons are housed in a Riker box, 12.25 x 8,25.” All in very good condition.

On Dec. 24, 1861 twenty-two-year-old Thomas Cooper was appointed Third Assistant Engineer and ordered the USS Chocura, a Unadilla-class gunboat in service with the U.S. Navy during the Civil War. Cooper was appointed to 2^nd Assist. Engineer, Sept. 8, 1863, and 1^st Asst. Engineer, and resigned 26 July, 1872.

In early 1862, the USS Chocura was assigned to the blockade of Yorktown and later to the Atlantic blockading squadron for service off Wilmington, where she captured two prizes. In late 1863 she was dispatched to New Orleans to join the West coast blockading squadron, and was credited in taking six prizes. Following the war, she resumed cruising as part of the newly activated Gulf Squadron, and finally decommissioned in New York in May 1867.

Following his Dec. 1861 appointment, Cooper’s first two letters to a brother and a friend are written from ashore in Boston while waiting the Chocura, one of eight gunboats on hand, is being made ready for sea.

In his Feb. 2^nd letter, Cooper describes the boat and his “mess” as follows: “The boat is 170 feet long and 28 feet broad, will probably carry four or five guns. Our quarters are in the steerage next to the ward room, and are very good. Our mess will have 8 persons, viz. 3 engineers 4 masters mates and captains clerk of which the engineers rank first, and of the two engineers yet reported I am the senior. So have at least the second choice of berths and I think I shall get along all right but can tell better after a trial.”

In his March 16^th letter, written from aboard ship, provides a more explicit picture of gunboat engineer duty:

“We now mess on board and cannot go ashore without permission….Begin to understand my duties very well and think I shall along very well…I have during the 24 hours two watches of four hours each, having eight hours off after each, which time I will have for sleep and own use if there is nothing else to do…There are three assistant engineers I being the middle one in rank, which suits me first rate as I have neither the responsibility which may devolve on the senior nor the keeping of the log or stores as the junior has…

In case of an engagement each have our place, mine is in the fire room to see the pressure maintained, steam alright, etc., the junior on deck to give the signals, the senior in the engine rooms to help run the engine. We carry four guns, pivot gun 11 inch and a 20 inch parrot rifle. parrot rifle and two howitzers.”

Cooper lists the his messmates again, and has this to say…”They are pretty good sort of fellows, but a couple of the master mates are rather roughs, having been use to living somewhat like pigs in the merchant service they can’t get it out of their grain now. But all in all we live very good and comfortable.”

An interesting collection. Cooper’s letters that the provide a solid sketch of the duties, duty stations and officers messing and berthing arrangements aboard a Union civil War gunboat. Accompanied by documentation.  [jp] [ph:L]

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