Night Order-Book of the U.S.S. Chaumont, 1924-1925: Finding Aid

Itinerary of U.S.S. Chaumont, 1924-1925

1924

• January 2: departs Quantico for Hampton Roads.
• January 3: departs Hampton Roads for the West Indies.
• January 7: arrives off Puerto Rico.
• January 8: departs for the New York Navy Yard.
• January 12: arrives at New York Navy Yard for overhaul.
• March 2: departs New York Navy Yard for Hampton Roads.
• March 3: departs Hampton Roads for Haiti.
• March 7-8: at Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
• March 10: arrives at Cristóbal, Colón.
• March 11: begins transiting the Panama Canal.
• March 14: arrives at Corinto, Nicaragua.
• March 20-23: at San Diego.
• March 23: at San Pedro.
• March 24: arrives as Mare Island Navy Yard for maintenance.
• March 28: departs San Francisco for China.
• April 2-5: at Honolulu.
• April 16-17: at Guam.
• April 21-May 1: at Manila.
• May 3: arrives at Hong Kong.
• May 7-14: at Shanghai.
• May 25: arrives at Honolulu.
• June 2: arrives at San Francisco.
• June 3: enters Mare Island Navy Yard.
• June 8: exits Mare Island Navy Yard.
• June 10: departs San Francisco for San Pedro.
• June 11-13: at San Diego.
• June 19: arrives at Corinto.
• June 22: arrives at Balboa en route to crossing the Panama Canal.
• June 27: arrives at Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
• July 1: arrives at Hampton Roads.
• July 2: arrives at New York Navy Yard for maintenance.
• July 3: Captain Frederick L. Oliver relieves Commander John M. Enochs as Commanding Officer.
• July 16: departs New York Navy Yard for Hampton Roads.
• July 18: departs Hampton Roads for the Canal Zone.
• July 24: arrives at Cristóbal, Colón to transit the Panama Canal.
• July 26: departs Balboa for Honolulu.
• August 6: transferred from the War Department to the Navy Department by Executive Order.
• August 9: arrives at Honolulu.
• August 13: departs Honolulu for the Asia.
• August 23-26: at Guam.
• August 30-September 10: at Manila.
• September 14: arrives at the Shanghai Bund.
• September 20: departs Shanghai for Chefoo [Yantai].
• September 22: arrives at Chefoo.
• September 23: departs Chefoo for Honolulu.
• October 5: arrives at Honolulu.
• October 13: arrives at San Francisco.
• October 16: enters Mare Island Navy Yard for maintenance.
• October 29: exits Mare Island Navy Yard.
• November 1: departs San Francisco for Honolulu.
• November 7: arrives at Honolulu.
• November 8: departs Honolulu for China.
• November 19: at Guam.
• November 25-December 4: at Manila.
• December 6-9: at Woosung [Wusong], China.
• December 9-12: at Shanghai.
• December 12: departs Shanghai for Honolulu.
• December 24: arrives at Honolulu.
• December 27: departs Honolulu for San Francisco.

1925

• January 2: arrives at San Francisco.
• January 6: enters Mare Island Navy Yard for overhaul.
• February 28: exits Mare Island Navy Yard.
• March 3: departs San Francisco for Asia.
• March 9-11: at Honolulu.
• March 22-25: at Guam.
• March 29-April 4: at Manila.
• April 6: arrives at Hong Kong.
• April 7: departs Hong Kong for Shanghai.
• April 9: touches at Matsu Island.
• April 10: docks at Shanghai in the Whangpoo [Huangpu] River.
• April 16: departs Shanghai for San Francisco.
• April 27-28: at Honolulu.
• May 4: arrives at San Francisco.
• May 7: enters Mare Island Navy Yard for overhaul.
• June 8: exits Mare Island Navy Yard.
• June 11: departs San Francisco for China.
• June 17-19: at Honolulu.
• June 29-July 2: at Guam.
• July 6-12: at Manila.
• July 12: departs Manila for Hong Kong, but diverts to Shanghai.
• July 17: arrives at Shanghai.
• July 19-20: at Chefoo.
• July 22-27: at Shanghai.
• July 27: departs Shanghai for San Francisco.
• July 28-August 1: at Yokohama, Japan.
• August 10: at Honolulu.
• August 11: at Hilo.
• August 17: arrives at San Francisco.
• August 18: enters Mare Island Navy Yard.
• August 29: exits Mare Island Navy Yard.
• September 1: departs San Francisco for China.
• September 7-10: at Honolulu.
• September 21-23: at Guam.
• September 27-October 5: at Manila.
• October 10: arrives at Shanghai.
• October 14: departs Shanghai for San Francisco.
• October 27-28: at Honolulu.
• November 3: arrives at San Francisco.
• November 5: enters Mare Island Navy Yard.
• November 21: exits Mare Island Navy Yard. Commander John H. Blackthorn relieves Captain Frederick L. Oliver as Commanding Officer.
• November 24: departs San Francisco for China.
• November 30-December 2: at Honolulu.
• December 11-16: at Guam.
• December 21-28: at Manila.
• December 31: arrives at Shanghai.

Biography of Frederick Lansing Oliver

Frederick Lansing Oliver was born in Paterson, New Jersey on May 30, 1879. Having grown up in Charlotte, North Carolina, he was admitted to the United States Naval Academy from that state as a member of the Class of 1901 on September 8, 1897. While still a Midshipman, Oliver saw action in the Spanish-American War, serving off the coast of Cuba and taking part in the landings at Puerto Rico. Following his two years of mandatory sea service as a Passed Midshipman, he was commissioned Ensign on June 7, 1903 and proceeded through the ranks until reaching the rank of Captain on June 23, 1923.

During World War I, at which time he received temporary promotions to both Commander and Captain, Oliver served as navigator aboard U.S.S. Connecticut (Battleship: BB-18) and Executive Officer aboard U.S.S. America (Troop transport: ID-3006). From July 3, 1924 and November 21, 1925, he commanded U.S.S. Chaumont (Transport: AP-5) on her runs between San Francisco and China. Later in his career, Oliver served as the first Command Officer of U.S.S. Salt Lake City (Heavy cruiser: CA-25), assuming command upon her commissioning on December 11, 1929. In 1932, he detached from Salt Lake City and assumed command of the receiving ship at the Navy Yard in New York.

Oliver retired from the United States Navy on June 30, 1936, but was recalled to active duty on January 10, 1941 to serve as inspector of U.S. Navy material for the Pittsburgh district until May 1945. Frederick Lansing Oliver died on May 30, 1963 at the Bethesda Naval Hospital after suffering a heart attack.

Description of Contents

The Night Order-Book of the U.S.S. Chaumont, comprising 0.1 linear feet of documentation in a single volume of 95 leaves, spans from July 16, 1924 to August 16, 1925. The volume consists of the Captain's night orders issued by the Chaumont's Commanding Officer, Frederick L. Oliver, while the Chaumont cruised between San Francisco, Shanghai, Manila, and Guam in support of U.S. Marine Corps forces in Asia. The orders contain instructions regarding course, speed, and specific actions to be taken at certain locations. Attached to the inside cover are standing night orders.

Arrangement

The Night Order-Book of the U.S.S. Chaumont comprises a single volume.

Access and Use

Access

Patron use restricted to microfilm.

Copyright and Permission

The Night Order-Book of the U.S.S. Chaumont 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

Gift of Frederick L. Oliver in 1949.

Related Materials

Location of Copies or Alternate Formats

This collection also available on microfilm.

Related Archival Material

Additional material pertaining to the Chaumont's commanding officer, Frederick Lansing Oliver, can be found in Oliver's Midshipman Conduct Record and Alumni Jacket.

Logbooks of U.S.S. Chaumont may be available in Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships, 1801-1940, part of 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

Night Order-Book of the U.S.S. Chaumont, MS 116

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

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

Havern, Christopher B., Sr. "Chaumont (AP-5)." Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Washington: Naval History and Heritage Command, 2018, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/chaumont.html.

United States Naval Academy. Annual Register of the United States Naval Academy. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1898.

Oliver, Frederick Lansing Alumni Jacket, RG 405, Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library.

Processing Information

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

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Chaumont (Transport : AP-5)
• Oliver, Frederick L.
• United States. Navy -- History -- 20th century -- Sources

Genre Terms

• Manuscripts
• Orders (military records)
• Ships' logs

Additional Creator/Author

• Oliver, Frederick L.