THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY Manuscripts and Archives Section Charles F.W. Behm Papers, 1826-1871 Melanie A. Yolles May 1990 Main Entry: Behm, Charles F.W., 1813-1882 Title: Papers, 1826-1890 (bulk 1861-1865) Size: .1 linear ft. (1/2 AB) Source: Gift of Angela P. Suter, 1990 Biographical Statement: German-born merchant sea captain. Behm served as a U.S. Navy officer during the Civil War. He was appointed Volunteer Lieutenant in August, 1861 and during his military service commanded the bark Brazilliera and steamer Southfield in the North Atlantic Blockade Squadron, and the steamers Cornubia and Princess Royal in the Gulf of Mexico. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander in December 1864 and discharged in November 1865. Description: Behm's papers consist chiefly of letters and naval orders received, 1861-1865. Included are Behm's appointments to his various posts, twelve letters from Admiral Louis M. Goldsborough concerning his efforts to assist in Behm's promotion, advice on conduct and naval etiquette, and personal matters such as dieting. Of particular note are Behm's report and the ensuing correspondence with Admiral Samuel P. Lee regarding damage to the Southfield during a skirmish off Plymouth, N.C., and two letters to Behm from fellow officers describing the destruction of the Congress and the Cumberland by the Merrimack and the arrival of the Monitor (3/9/62) and a description of the Battle of Mobile Bay with accompanying sketch map (8/7/64). The papers also include two letters from Behm to his daughter Augusta (1858; 1862), an autograph album signed by Behm's friends in Friedland, Pomerania (1826), a photograph of Behm, and five buttons from his naval uniform. The Papers (1826-1890) of CAPTAIN CHARLES F. W. BEHM (1813-1882) Item Autograph album Letter Official communication Official communication Official communication "General Order" Letter Letter Note Letter (copy) Letter (copy) Note Letter Official communication (copy) Official communication (copy) Official communication (copy) Official communication Letter Letter Official communication Official communication Official communication Official communication Letter "Reparation for the bottom of Iron Vessels" Letter Letter Letter Letter Letter Letter Letter Letter Letter Official communication Notice of promotion Official communication Official communication Official communication (and envelope) Official communication Envelope Letter Membership certificate Letter To Capt. Behm Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Charles F. W. Behm (hereafter, simply C. F. W. B.) C. F. W. B. C. F. W. B. "The Officers and men under my command" "My Dear Friend" (C. F. W. B. ?) C. F. W. B. Commanding U. S. S. "Southfield, "Sound of N. Carolina C. F. W. B. Captain G(ustavus) V(asa) Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy "My dear Commodore" "Dear Wife" "My dear Hoppie" (Augusta Hoppley Behm, his daughter) Captain C(harles) W. Flusser, Commanding U.S. Streamer "Commodore Perry" C. F. W. B A. R. Admiral S(amuel) P. Lee C. F. W. B C. F. W. B C. F. W. B C. F. W. B. C. F. W. B. C. F. W. B. C. F. W. B. C. F. W. B. (still commanding "Cornubia") C. F. W. B. C. F. W. B. C. F. W. B. C. F. W. B. C. F. W. B. C. F. W. B. C. F. W. B. C. F. W. B. C. F. W. B. C. F. W. B. C. F. W. B. C. F. W. B. C. F. W. B. C. F. W. B. C. F. W. B. C. F. W. B. "My dear Sister" (?) C. F. W. B. "My dear Augusta" From A. H. Loots (?) Gideon Welles Secretary of the Navy (hereafter, simply G. W.) Samuel D. Bruno, Commander (?) L(ouis) M. Goldsborough, Flag Officer, Commanding N. A. B. S. L(ouis) M. Goldsborough (hereafter, simply L. M. G.), Flag Officer Commanding North Atlantic Blockading Squadron C. H. W. (?) L. M. G (Major) General A(mbrose) E. Burnside (hereafter A. E. B.) A. E. B. A. E. B. C. F. W. B. C. F. W. B. C. F. W. B S(amuel) P. Lee, A. R. Admiral Commanding N. A. B. Squadron C. F. W. B. G. W. L. M. G L. M. G G. W. James S. Palmer (?), Commodore, Commanding at New Orleans D. G. F. D. G. F. Edward Bates (?) aboard U.S. Steam Sloop "Ossipee," Mobile Bay L. M. G. L. M. G. L. M. G L. M. G. L. M. G. L. M. G. L. M. G. L. M. G. L. M. G. G. W. G. W. H(enry) K. Thatcher, A. R. Admiral Navy Department, Bureau of Navigation and Office of Detail G. W. Treasury Department, 4th Auditor's Office Charles & William B. King, Attorneys-At-Law The New York Customs Mutual Aid Association C. F. W. B. Date 1826 4/29/61 8/26/61 9/25/61 1/9/62 2/9/62 3/9/62 5/21/62 5/30/62 5/30/62 5/30/62 5/31/62 6/16/62 12/10/62 12/11/62 12/29/62 12/28/63; duplicate, 1/11/64 2/22/64 3/7/64 4/11/64 5/25/64 5/28/64 7/12/64 8/7/64 10/16/64 12/6/64 12/7/64 12/12/64 12/13/64 12/15/64 12/15/64 12/21/64 12/22/64 12/23/64 4/11/65 4/13/65 4/30/65 7/24/65 11/28/65 4/14/71 11/18/1890 May 17th 11/24/1858 Subject/Description Belonged to C. F. W. B. and contains the autographs of his acquaintances/friends in Pomerania Obtaining for Behm, at the Captain's request, a position in the United States Navy Statement of Behm's appointment to the Navy as "Acting Volunteer Lieutenant. . .on temporary service" Statement of Behm's appointment to command the U.S. Bark "Brazilliera" Orders Behm's detachment from the "Braziliera"; orders Behm to take command of the U. S. Steamer "Southfield, " at Hampton Roads (North Carolina) Congratulates the officers and men involved in the successful campaign "to crush the Hydra of rebellion" at Roanoke Island Island (North Carolina) Describes in detail the destruction of the ships "Cumberland" and "Congress" by the Confederate ironclad "Merrimac"; describes also the confrontation between the Union ironclad "Monitor" and the "Merrimac" (at Hampton Roads) Acknowledges Behm's request for a position in the Regular Navy (probably), but says nothing can be done "until the law for reorganizing the Navy, now up before Congress, is passed." Asks Behm to mail letters to the Secretary of War Praises Behm's service; "it will afford us all infinite gratification to hear, that his very valuable services in these waters have been rewarded by the Department." (Written at New Bern, North Carolina.) Urges the Commodore to "look to" rewarding Behm for "his valuable services in these waters." Different subject: "Please dont take any more of Bowans' vessels, if you can help it." (Also at New Bern, North Carolina.) Accompanies the copies of Burnside's letters of 5/30/62; "I thought you might think them valuable," wrote Behm to his wife. Catching up on family news, including a new photograph of "Hoppie," of which Behm says, "I cannot agree with your friends at Hartford, that it is a good likeness, You look as if you were thirty & as if you were agoing to cry." Reports skirmish at Plymouth, North Carolina, in which Behm's steamer U.S. "Southfield" was disabled Queries Behm on twelve points regarding the disabling of the "Southfield" at Plymouth Behm's response to Lee's queries of 12/11/62 Orders Behm to report to S(ilas) H. Stringham in Boston, Massachusetts, to take command of the U. S. S. "Cornubia" (directed to behm at "No. 17 Lafayette Place, New York. NY") Apologizes for not writing sooner; reports progress in Congress on "incorporating volunteer officers permanently into the Navy"; tells Behm how to apply for the prize money owed him; mentions their mutual friend, Case Writes of exchanging photographs; requests information on the equippage of cunard (foreign?) steamers, of which Behm would see many in Boston; speaks of service "on a General Court-Martial, with Admiral Stringham & others, for the trial. . . of Commodore Wilkes" Orders Behm to proceed with the U. S. Steamer "Cornubia" to New Orleans and report to Rear Admiral D(avid) G(lasgow) Farragut in the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron (hereafter D. G. F. Orders Behm to proceed to Mobile Bay and report to Admiral Farragut Orders Behm to move to Pensacola Bay "and report to Commander Alexander Gibson Senior Officer afloat" Orders Behm to proceed to Galveston, Texas, reporting to Commander M(elancthon) B. Woolsey "for duty on the coast of Texas" Describes battle at Mobile Bay; supplies map of the bay and lines of battle, sketch of the "ram" "Tennessee, " and of that vessel's ramming bow and stern Recommended by James M. Adams, Chief Engineer, U.S.N., U.S. Steamer "Ossipee"; off Galveston, Texas (application of lime and tallow) Responds to Behm's letter of 12/4/64, in which Behm evidently requested information on the examinations of Acting Volunteer Lieutenants; urges Behm to postpone the "ordeal" until his health improves; L. M. G. says he will soon go to Europe. Urges Behm to proceed with his examination by the Navy Department, health permitting; speaks of the failings of the steamer "Cornubia, " Behm's vessel Expresses satisfaction that Behm has applied for an examination by the Navy Department; discusses the format of naval communications, specifically the distinction between the address of a letter and its superscription (apparently Behm had queried Goldsborough on this because of an incident of confusion over a letter); dancing and dieting Promises Behm a copy of the recently released report by the Secretary of the Navy; further comments on the Bantling diet Tells Behm the answer he received from the Navy was incorrect and will be changed so that Behm's request for an examination will be granted Details the mistake over the request Behm had made (a clerk had handled the request in a routine manner); gives advice on being in the Navy, specifically that one shouldn't "get into a feese (?) about every seeming contretemps & threaten resignation" (which Behm had done?) Addresses Behm's health problem and its relevance to the outcome of Behm's examination before the Navy; urges Behm to obtain a special report from the physician Dr. Abernethy Hints at a positive resolution of Behm's case before the Department and urges Behm to "emulate the cucumber, & keep cool" Congratulates Behm on having been "put 'clean through' " and granted the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy, despite his health, of which Goldsborough had made light in presenting Behm's case before the Department; urges Behm never to "mention individuals in talking about" his naval affairs and to "be reticent concerning the action that has been taken in." his case; tells Behm he may report for active sea service at any time, but advises him to wait for his health to improve Orders Behm to proceed to Philadelphia aboard the U. S. S. "Bermuda, where he is to take command of the U. S. S. "Princess Royal, " relieving Commander M(elancthon) B. Woolsey By order and consent of the U. S. Senate, Behm is instated into the U.S. Navy as Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Commander, "next (in rank) after Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Commander William C. Rogers Order Behm to proceed in the U. S. S. "Bermuda" to report to Captain B(enjamin) F. Sands at Galveston, there to take command of the "Princess Royal" Detaches Behm from command of the "Princess Royal" for a four-month Leave of Absence Honorable discharge from the U. S. Navy Notification of prize money to be paid Behm for his participation in the capture of the "Albemarle & c" by the U. S. S. "Southfield" ($103.28) [MISSING] Declares that upon Behm's death, the amount realized "from the Assessment required by said Constitution and By-Laws is to be paid to his Daughters Augusta and Julia" Personal. Mentions Atlantic Cable.