Naval Logbooks Locations

[Sesech]

Where can you find the logbooks of Civil War naval vessels, specifically the East Gulf Blockading Squadron. Will they all be found in the National Archives? I am researching the Confederate vessel C.S.S. Spray. She was surrendered in St. Mark's Florida. She was surrendered completely intact with "everything in order". I'm not sure which naval commander received her surrender but I believe it to be Lt. Commander W. Gibson of the U.S.S. Mahaska. It is my belief that the Spray's logbook is still in existence somewhere out there. I thought perhaps it might could be found with the logbook or papers with one of the ships in the blockading squadron. Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[BrianB]

The National Archives has US navy logs

Here is list of logs available:

https://www.archives.gov/research/military/logbooks/special-list-44-named.html

There are 2 separate ships named Mahaska listed .. The logs are in National Archives Record Group 24 Entry 118. To access them, you would either have to go to D.C. or have a researcher examine the log for you.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

The collection of logbooks in the National Archives is extensive but not complete. One thing to be aware of is that the logbooks are primarily weather conditions, course and speed, etc., with a small block for events; what you might want to be looking for instead are the captain's letter-books. Captains' clerks ordinarily made manual copies of incoming and outgoing correspondence, and there would more likely be commentary in those... it all depends on exactly what you're looking for.

 

[Sesech]

The National Archives has US navy logs

Here is list of logs available:

https://www.archives.gov/research/military/logbooks/special-list-44-named.html

There are 2 separate ships named Mahaska listed .. The logs are in National Archives Record Group 24 Entry 118. To access them, you would either have to go to D.C. or have a researcher examine the log for you.

Thanks so much. Appreciate the link!!

 

[Sesech]

The collection of logbooks in the National Archives is extensive but not complete. One thing to be aware of is that the logbooks are primarily weather conditions, course and speed, etc., with a small block for events; what you might want to be looking for instead are the captain's letter-books. Captains' clerks ordinarily made manual copies of incoming and outgoing correspondence, and there would more likely be commentary in those... it all depends on exactly what you're looking for.

Thanks for the reply. Would the captain's letterbooks also be in the National Archives or are they scattered about?

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Thanks for the reply. Would the captain's letterbooks also be in the National Archives or are they scattered about?

I would imagine in RG 45, along with other navy admin records: http://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/045.html Again, I would expect the collection to be 'extensive' rather than 'exhaustive'... no guarantee the exact thing you're looking for is there.

 

[gary]

Mark Jenkins is right. Log books can be very uninformative. I read some for the monitors involved in the Siege of Charleston.