Lloyd Phoenix Papers, 1857-1863 (approximate): Finding Aid
Published in October 2014
Summary Information
- Publisher: United States Naval Academy. Special Collections & Archives.
- Publisher Address:
589 McNair Road
Annapolis, Maryland 21402-5029, USA
Phone: 410-293-6917
https://www.usna.edu/Library/sca/index.php - Call number: MS 12
- Location: Special Collections & Archives Department - Manuscripts
- Title: Lloyd Phoenix Papers
- Dates: 1857-1863 (approximate)
- Size: 0.21 linear feet
- Container Summary: 2 volumes
- Creator: Phoenix, Lloyd, 1841-1926
- Language(s) of material: English
- Abstract: Lloyd Phoenix was an officer in the United States Navy and a member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1861. The Phoenix Papers focus on his education in seamanship at the Naval Academy and his time as an officer in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron during the Civil War.
Biography of Lloyd Phoenix
Born in New York in 1841, Lloyd Phoenix entered the United States Naval Academy on September 24, 1857, and graduated as a member of the Class of 1861. As a member of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Phoenix served aboard U.S.S. Wabash (Frigate) and U.S.S. Pocahontas (Screw steamer), and commanded U.S.S. Planter (Steamship). After being detached from the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron in early 1864, Phoenix was attached to U.S.S. Niagara, which was assigned to European waters to engage Confederate vessels fitting out overseas.
Following his Civil War service, Phoenix resigned from the United States Navy on June 27, 1865. Focusing his efforts in part on yachting, Phoenix won the Aloha Cup in the annual cruise of the New York Yacht Club in 1910. The Lloyd Phoenix Regatta and Lloyd Phoenix Trophy were subsequently named in his honor.
Description of Contents
The Lloyd Phoenix Papers, comprising 0.21 linear feet of documentation in two volumes span from approximately 1857 until 1863. The two volumes focus on Phoenix's brief U.S. Navy career, including his education in seamanship at the Naval Academy and his time as an officer in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron during the Civil War.
Included in the collection are a notebook and a diary.
The first volume of the collection, dating from Phoenix's time as a midshipman at the Naval Academy, pertains solely to his studies in seamanship, and includes notes, assignment questions, and Phoenix's responses. The second volume dates from Phoenix's service as an officer in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron stationed aboard U.S.S. Wabash and U.S.S. Pocahontas, as well as his command of U.S.S. Planter. The diary offers a combination of description of the daily routines of blockade duty aboard Phoenix's duty stations with descriptions of specific engagements with Confederate forces in the area of the North Edisto River and the waters off Port Royal. The diary also illustrates the difficulties the Navy had in keeping the wood-burning U.S.S. Planter well fueled.
Arrangement
The Lloyd Phoenix Papers are arranged chronologically.
Access and Use
Access
Access is unrestricted.
Copyright and Permission
The Lloyd Phoenix Papers are the physical property of Nimitz Library. Copyright belongs to the authors or creators of the works, or their legal representatives. For further information, consult the Head, Special Collections & Archives.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure written permission to publish, reprint, or reproduce material from Special Collections & Archives. The researcher assumes responsibility for infringement of copyright or literary or publication rights. Please contact the Head, Special Collections & Archives for permission to publish and for further information.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Several pages of volume two are missing, torn, or have had sections cut out.>
Acquisition and Appraisal
Provenance and Acquisition
Gift of Whitney Warren in June 1927. Accession Nos. 65546 and 65547.
Related Materials
Related Archival Material
Lloyd Phoenix's Midshipman Conduct Record is available in Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library. Additional material pertaining to Phoenix's life and career may be found in the Papers of Lloyd Phoenix, 1921-1927 at the Manuscripts Division of the Library of Congress.
Materials Cataloged Separately
No materials have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately.
Processing and Other Information
The Lloyd Phoenix Seamanship Notebook was formerly cataloged as MS 175.
The Lloyd Phoenix Journal was formerly cataloged as MS 173.
Preferred Citation
Lloyd Phoenix Papers, MS 12
Special Collections & Archives Department
Nimitz Library
United States Naval Academy
Selected Bibliography
The following sources were consulted during preparation of the biographical note:
United States. Bureau of Naval Personnel. Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1814-.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by David D'Onofrio in October 2014. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in October 2014.
Subject Headings
Name and Subject Terms
- Crusader (Steamship)
- Mohawk (Steamship)
- New Ironsides (Ironclad)
- Phoenix, Lloyd, 1841-1926
- Planter (Steamship)
- Pocahontas (Screw steamer)
- Seamanship
- South Carolina -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Blockades
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Naval operations
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives
- United States. Navy -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
- United States. Navy. South Atlantic Blockading Squadron
- Wabash (Frigate)
Genre Terms
- Diaries
- Manuscripts
- Notebooks
Contents List
Seamanship Notebook, 1857-1861 (approximate) 1 volume (32 leaves)
The notebook was kept by Phoenix while a midshipman at the Naval Academy. The notebook includes sections on topics such as procedures for various types of winds, boxhauling, reefing, scudding, preparing for action, attending to men overboard, flag signals, and responding to masts being carried away. Most items in the notebook consist of a section of general notes or instructions, followed by questions and answers.
A Private Journal, 1862 May 25-1863 March 20 1 volume (78 leaves)
Blockade duty, daily routine such as drills, operations in the waters off and around Port Royal and the North Edisto River with U.S.S. Crusader (Steamship) and U.S.S. Mohawk (Steamship), gathering wood for fuel, modifications to U.S.S. Planter, socializing with officers of other vessels, riverine reconnaissance missions, encounters with escaped slaves, Specific entries include firing on the steamer Cahawba (May 26-29, 1862), assuming command of U.S.S. Planter (June 4, 1862), expedition to burn a plantation (June 11, 1862), assault on rebel batteries and camps at Simmons Bluff (June 12 and 21, 1862), parade of an African American regiment (June 29, 1862), yellow fever quarantine inspections (August 29, 1862), searching for the Confederate steamer Kate (September 1-3, 1862), transfer orders to the Wabash (September 7, 1862), expedition to the Broad River and Ogeechee River to cut off Confederate communications and rail transport (October 21-23, 1862), news of the sinking of the U.S.S. Monitor (January 6, 1863), opinions of U.S.S. New Ironsides (January 18-20, 1863), engagement between U.S.S. Montauk (Ironclad) and batteries on the Ogeechee River (January 29, 1863), and the Confederate attack on U.S.S. Mercedita (Steamship) (January 31, 1863). The volume also includes one newspaper clipping and several sketches of naval vessels.