Landsman Charles W. Adams

[AndyHall]

From Ron Field, author of Bluejackets: Uniforms of the United States navy in the Civil War Period, 1852-1865:

One of the images used to illustrate my chapter "The Camera with the Navy" has since been identified as Landsman Charles W. Adams who enlisted for one year at Portsmouth, New Hampshire on August 15, 1862. Prior to this Adams was an apothecary resident at Dover, New Hampshire. He was transferred from the receiving ship Ohio at the Boston Navy Yard to the sloop USS Macedonia, after which he was appointed Paymaster's Clerk and served in this capacity until October 1, 1863 when he was honorably discharged. At some point he was photographed at the gallery of 24 year-old photographer John Bullock, who operated in partnership with 25 year-old Jessi H. Groom, whose studio was about two miles from the Philadelphia Navy Yard. That used by Bullock & Co. was one of the finest navy-themed backdrops of the Civil War period.

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[huntingshirt]

Andy - I used this CDV as one of the illustrations in my article "The Camera with the Navy" in the Fall issue of Civil War Navy - The Magazine. It is also included in Chapter Six of Silent Witness: The Civil War through Photography and its Photographers. I had no ID for it then but another copy of the same CDV inscribed on the reverse with the seaman's name, plus another of him in civilian clothing with the same photographers back mark, was auctioned at Cowan's recently. It is great to be able to ID my copy of the image! Ron

 

[AndyHall]

Ron, allow me as host of the Naval War forum to invite you to post here as often as you like.

 

[skb8721]

Is a "landsman" a sailor with no previous experience as a sailor or being on the water in general?

 

[AndyHall]

Is a "landsman" a sailor with no previous experience as a sailor or being on the water in general?

Yes, generally speaking. The next two rates were Seaman, which was a sailor qualified to work generally around the ship, and Able Seaman, which was a sailor qualified to work in the upper parts of the rigging.

After that were the petty officer ranks, that were more individually specialized (then as now).

 

[O' Be Joyful]

Yes, generally speaking. The next two rates were Seaman, which was a sailor qualified to work generally around the ship, and Able Seaman, which was a sailor qualified to work in the upper parts of the rigging.

After that were the petty officer ranks, that were more individually specialized (then as now).

So then I'm guessing that leaves the "landlubber" the proverbial bridesmaid but never the bride?

 

[huntingshirt]

Thanks for the warm welcome Andy!