Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Dale, Richard, 1756-1826
2. Randall, Samuel J. (Samuel Jackson), 1828-1890
3. Ronckendorff, George R., 1860-1897

Description

1. .21 linear feet (1 box)

Summary

1. William Ronckendorff (1812-1891) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was an American naval officer. He joined the U.S. Navy as midshipman in 1832 (passed 1838), and was commissioned Lieutenant in 1843, Commander in June 1861, and Captain in 1866, retiring as Commodore in 1874. The William Ronckendorff papers, 1844-1896, chiefly contain naval orders and instructions documenting his service from 1859 to his retirement in 1874. Most items date from the Civil War, pertaining to his command of U.S. Ships Water Witch, San Jacinto, Ticonderoga, Powhatan, Monadnock, and Tonawanda. Ronckendorff's letter of November 21, 1862 to Gideon Welles (copy) describes his attempt to track the C.S.S. Alabama at Martinique; there are also instructions for the Monadnock on the James River at the fall of Richmond, April 1865, and a letter from Congressman Samuel J. Randall regarding Ronckerdorff's promotion prospects, 1870. Other items include his commission as Lieutenant, 1844, effective 1843, and incomplete instructions to his son George R. Ronckendorff upon his death, 1890. Also found are George R. Ronckendorff's passport, 1896, and a letter to him, 1894; a few genealogical notes and clippings; and a letter from [Philip McLachlin?] of Charleston, South Carolina expressing thanks to his friend Richard Dale at Philadelphia, dated May 12, [1817?].

Subject

1. Naval officers
2. United States > Navy > History > Civil War, 1861-1865
3. United States > Navy > Officers
4. Military commissions
5. Ronckendorff, William, 1812-1891
6. United States > History > Civil War, 1861-1865 > Naval operations

Genre/Form

1. Military commissions.

Call number

1. MssCol 2617

Access (note)

1. Apply to Manuscripts and Archives Division for access at http://www.nypl.org/mssref

Source (note)

1. Purchased from the estate of Catherine Ronckendorff, 1934.

Author

1. Ronckendorff, William, 1812-1891, creator.

Title

1. William Ronckendorff papers.

Production

1. 1844-1896.

Type of content

1. text

Type of medium

1. unmediated

Type of carrier

1. sheet

Restricted access

1. Apply to Manuscripts and Archives Division for access at http://www.nypl.org/mssref

Source

1. Purchased from the estate of Catherine Ronckendorff, 1934.

Connect to:

1. Finding aid

Occupation

1. Naval officers.

Added author

1. Dale, Richard, 1756-1826, correspondent.
2. Randall, Samuel J. (Samuel Jackson), 1828-1890, correspondent.
3. Ronckendorff, George R., 1860-1897, correspondent.

Research call number

1. MssCol 2617