Description
Superb carte view by exceptional Naval officer James Alden. The spring of 1861 found Alden in command of the steamer USS South Carolina , in which he participated in the relief of Fort Pickens. Next given the steam sloop USS Richmond , Alden commanded her in the passage of Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip, and in the engagements with Confederate batteries at Chalmette, Louisiana, twice passing the southern guns at Vicksburg and in the battle at Port Hudson. Promoted to captain on January 2, 1863, Alden next assumed command of the steam sloop USS Brooklyn and led that ship in the action with Fort Gaines and Fort Morgan and with the Confederate gunboats in the Battle of Mobile Bay. While Brooklyn was being sent north for repairs, she was attached to the naval forces gathering off Fort Fisher, North Carolina, and took part in both assaults on that Confederate bastion. Promoted to commodore on July 25, 1866, Alden, over the next two years, commanded, in succession, the steam sloop USS Susquehanna and the steam frigate USS Minnesota before he was made commandant of the Mare Island Navy Yard. Appointed Chief of the Bureau of Navigation in April 1869 and promoted to rear admiral on June 19, 1871, Alden returned to sea in 1871 with orders to command the naval force on the European Station. Departing New York in his flagship, USS Wabash, on November 17, 1871, Alden relieved rear admiral Charles Boggs at Villefranche, France, on January 1, 1872. Although placed on the retired list on March 31, 1872, Alden remained on active duty commanding the European Fleet until relieved by Rear Admiral Ludlow Case at Villefranche on June 2, 1873. His last tour of duty afloat completed, he sailed home in his former command, Brooklyn. This example bears a period ink signature by Alden across the front bottom reading, “James Alden Capt. U.S. Navy”. Very nice back mark by McPherson & Oliver as well.
