Journal of a cruise in the U.S. Frigate St. Lawrence and the U.S. Brig Bainbridge, 1856-1859: Finding Aid

Biographical Chronology of Rush Richard Wallace

1835

• Born on November 7 in Pond Springs, Tennessee.

1852

• On May 25, appointed Acting Midshipman as a member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1856.

1856

• On June 20, graduates from the Naval Academy and warranted a Midshipman.
• On August 22, ordered to U.S.S. St. Lawrence (Frigate).

1859

• On April 29, promoted to Passed Midshipman.
• On July 13, ordered to U.S.S. Crusader (Screw steamer).
• On September 5, promoted to Master.

1861

• On January 17, promoted to Lieutenant.
• On November 15, ordered to U.S.S. Constellation (Sloop-of-war).

1862

• On October 1, promoted to Lieutenant Commander.

1863

• On December 2, ordered to U.S.S. Shenandoah (Screw sloop-of-war).

1864

• On April 28, ordered detached and to U.S.S. Fort Jackson (Side-wheel steamer).

1865

• On November 6, ordered detached from command of U.S.S. Grand Gulf (Steamer) and to the Naval Academy.

1867

• On April 30, detached and to U.S.S. Guerriere (Frigate).

1868

• On November 21, detached and waiting orders.
• On December 28, attached to U.S.S. Richmond (Steam sloop-of-war).

1869

• On October 9, ordered detached from U.S.S. Richmond.

1870

• On February 14, ordered to ordnance duty at the New York Navy Yard.
• On March 22, ordered detached and to command the store ship U.S.S. Idaho.
• On October 28, promoted to Commander.

1873

• On December 22, ordered to duty as Inspector of Ordnance at the Norfolk Navy Yard.

1874

• On August 4, ordered to duty as Lighthouse Inspector for the 15th District.

1879

• On June 2, ordered detached and waiting orders.
• In July, granted six months leave.

1880

• In January, leave extended six months.

1881

• On May 14, ordered to torpedo instruction.
• On September 5, detached and waiting orders.
• On October 7, ordered to special duty at the Navy Department.

1882

• On February 4, promoted to Captain.
• On May 2, ordered to assume command of U.S.S. Vandalia (Screw sloop-of-war).

1884

• On September 12, reports for duty as Captain of the Yard at the Washington Navy Yard.

1887

• On March 28, assumes duties of Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard.
• On September 15, detached and waiting orders.
• On October 7, ordered to duty as member of an Examining Board.

1888

• On July 14, ordered to duty as member of the Retiring Board.

1891

• In April, receives six months leave.
• On August 28, leave extended six months.

1892

• On March 2, leave extended three months.
• On July 25, assumes command of the receiving ship U.S.S. Franklin.
• On December 1, ordered to duty as member of a General Court Martial at Mare Island.

1893

• On April 14, ordered detached and granted six months leave.
• On November 13, assumes command of U.S.S. Miantonomoh (Monitor: BM-5).

1894

• On August 20, assumes command of Naval Station Newport.
• On November 11, promoted to Commodore.
• On November 20, begins presiding over the General Court Martial at Washington.

1895

• In May, appointed member of the General Court Martial at New York.

1897

• In November, detached and waiting orders.
• On November 7, transferred to the Retired List.

1898

• On June 13, ordered to duty as Senior Member of the General Court Martial at New York.
• On June 29, relieved of duty.
• On July 5, ordered to duty with the Lighthouse Board.
• On September 22, detached and ordered home.

1902

• On October 13, ordered to duty as member of the Board on Awards.

1903

• On July 29, ordered to duty as member of the Naval Examining Board at Washington.

1906

• On October 27, detached from the Board on Awards.

1914

• On June 15, dies in New York City of pneumonia.

Description of Contents

The Journal of a cruise in the U.S. Frigate St. Lawrence and the U.S. Brig Bainbridge, comprising 0.19 linear feet of documentation in a single volume of 162 leaves, spans from 1856 to 1859. The logbook, maintained by Midshipman Rush R. Wallace, covers cruises by U.S.S. St. Lawrence spanning the periods of September 22, 1856-December 29, 1858 and March 3-May 21, 1859, as well as an intervening cruise aboard U.S.S. Bainbridge, spanning the period of December 31, 1858-March 2, 1859.

The volume primarily notes weather conditions, course, condition of the sails, nearby vessels, and personnel actions. The St. Lawrence, under the command of Joseph B. Hull, and serving as the flagship of the Brazil Squadron's French Forrest, cruised in South American waters and participated in the Paraguay Expedition of 1858. The Bainbridge, under the command of Francis B. Renshaw and, later, Maxwell Woodhull, also took part in the Paraguay Expedition.

Arrangement

The Journal of a cruise in the U.S. Frigate St. Lawrence and the U.S. Brig Bainbridge comprises a single volume.

Access and Use

Access

Patron use restricted to microfilm.

Copyright and Permission

The Journal of a cruise in the U.S. Frigate St. Lawrence and the U.S. Brig Bainbridge is 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.

Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

Accessioned on February 3, 1872. Accession No. 13814.

Related Materials

Location of Copies or Alternate Formats

This collection also available on microfilm.

Related Archival Material

Additional material pertaining to the career of Rush Wallace may be available in his Midshipman Conduct Record.

Official logbooks of U.S.S. St. Lawrence and U.S.S. Bainbridge may be available in Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships, ca. 1801 - 1940, Record Group 24: Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, 1798-2007 at the National Archives and Records Administration.

Materials Cataloged Separately

No materials have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately.

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Journal of a cruise in the U.S. Frigate St. Lawrence and the U.S. Brig Bainbridge, MS 19

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

The following sources were consulted during preparation of the biographical note:

Callahan, Edward William. List of Officers of the Navy of the United States and of the Marine Corps, from 1775 to 1900. New York: L.R. Hamersly & Co., 1901.

Abstracts of Service Records of Naval Officers. Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel RG 24, National Archives and Records Administration.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Mary R. Catalfamo. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in May 2020.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Bainbridge (Brig)
• Paraguay Expedition, 1858-1859
• St. Lawrence (Frigate)
• United States. Navy -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
• United States. Navy. South Atlantic Squadron
• Wallace, Rush Richard, 1835-1914

Genre Terms

• Manuscripts
• Ships' logs