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This collection contains a letter, journal, and sketchbook belonging to Midshipman Edwin Osgood Carnes, who sailed along the South American coast and to Japan with the United States Navy in the early 1850s. The letter, from a friend in San Francisco, California, describes the author's financial situation and recent employment history.

This collection contains a letter, a journal, and a sketchbook belonging to Midshipman Edwin Osgood Carnes, pertaining to his service in the United States Navy in the early 1850s.

The letter, signed "Bill H." and dated April 6, 1853, is three pages long and describes the author's financial situation and "real California life" in San Francisco. Bill mentioned his recent employment at a quartz mine and brickyard, and went into detail about his finances, offering Carnes the use of his bank account after the sailor's return to California.

The journal (71 pages), kept by Edwin Osgood Carnes between 1850 and 1851, chronicles his service on the USS Falmouth (January 4, 1850-May 24, 1850, pp.1-24) and on the United States Store Ship Fredonia (May 25, 1850-January 18, 1851, pp. 31-68); he also intended to keep a journal of his time on board the USS Porpoise, beginning in June 1853, but wrote no entries following the emph page (pp. 69-71). Carnes kept a daily chart of wind type, speed, and direction; weather conditions; and barometric readings, applying a personal set of abbreviations to the wind and weather. Entries from his time on the Fredonia also track the ship's daily latitude and longitude. The Falmouth, commanded by Thomas Petigree, left San Francisco on January 4, 1850, and traveled along the western coasts of the United States and Mexico, stopping at several islands along the way. Occasional notes record encounters with other ships, most frequently English or American vessels, and on one occasion the ship "Saluted the Mexican flag with 21 guns. It was returned" (March 4, 1850). Carnes was reassigned to the Fredonia on May 24, 1850; the ship sailed around Cape Horn to the Atlantic Ocean and north to Sandy Hook, New Jersey. During this journey, Carnes mentioned observing the national salutes celebrating the Chilean Independence Day (September 18, 1850) and lowering the Fredonia's flags to half-mast to honor deceased President Zachary Taylor (September 25, 1850). He included several illustrations of scenery, naval personnel, and the logo of the Porpoise for its 1853 surveying and exploring expedition.

The sketchbook contains 8 drawings, primarily in pencil, portraying several islands near Japan, a naval officer, and "a patent 'quick working,' 'time saving' steam sextant." For lists of illustrations in the journal and sketchbook, see "Additional Descriptive Data" below.

This log book contains information about several voyages of the ships Moro Castle and Southern Rights between the United States and Europe from 1860-1867. Log entries pertain to weather, sailing, crew members, the discharge of cargo, and other matters. The volume also contains a brief excerpt from William Shakespeare's poem "Venus and Adonis."

This log book (93 pages) contains entries regarding multiple voyages of the ships Moro Castle and Southern Rights between the United States and Europe from 1860-1867.

Under W. L. Knowles, the Moro Castle traveled between New York and Bristol, England, from October 5, 1860-May 26, 1861. The volume also regards voyages between United States and European ports from August 1862-February 1864. Log entries typically report information about the ship's course, the use of sails, and the weather. The author occasionally mentioned crew members, including "green" sailor William Andrewson, who later deserted (October 12, 1860, and October 27-28, 1860); Thomas Brooks, who fell overboard (December 7, 1860); and the ship's cook, who appeared to have a mental breakdown (March 5, 1861). While in port, the Moro Castle discharged cargo, usually wheat. Earlier entries include partially completed hourly charts reporting wind speed, the ship's course, and similar information; later "abstract log" entries consist solely of prose.

The latter part of the volume contains the brief logs of several voyages of the Southern Rights between the United States and Europe. These entries are similar to those of the Moro Castle and appear to be written in the same hand as the later Moro Castle records. The author most frequently documented weather conditions, but also reported the crew's harsh language in an entry dated June 23, 1863, and a crew member's case of "sulks" in an entry dated February 10, 1864. The final pages include a short extract from William Shakespeare's poem "Venus and Adonis" and brief financial records.

• Moro Castle
  • October 5, 1860-May 26, 1861: New York to Bristol, England, and back to New York (including entries made during time in port)
  • August 30, 1862-September 23, 1862: [Mediterranean Sea] to Atlantic Ocean
  • March 24, 1863-April 6, 1863: New Orleans, Louisiana, to New York
  • June 23, 1863-July 23, 1863: New York to Glasgow, Scotland
  • January 5, 1864, and February 4, 1864-February 24, 1864: Leghorn, Italy, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Southern Rights
  • March 15, 1865-March 28, 1865: Shields, [England], to Atlantic Ocean
  • February 28, 1866-March 11, 1866: Charleston, South Carolina, to Liverpool, England
  • April 6, 1867-April 7, 1867: Charleston, South Carolina, to Liverpool, England

This log book chronicles the actions of the United States Navy sloop Marion between June 1861 and January 1862. During this time, the Marion was stationed at Key West, Florida; "Ships Island"; and Dog Island, Florida, as part of the Gulf Blockading Squadron. Entries pertain to the ship's movements and sails, crew discipline, and other naval matters.

This log book (106 pages) chronicles the actions of the United States Navy sloop Marion between June 29, 1861, and January 24, 1862. During this time, the Marion was stationed at Key West, Florida; "Ships Island"; and Dog Island, Florida, as part of the Gulf Blockading Squadron. The emph page is signed by Edward A. Pendexter of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and the first few pages of entries are signed by officers including John W. Brown, G. F. Philbrick, W. H. Swaine (or Swain), G. F. Pendleton, and J. W. Philips. The Marion served under the command of William H. Ball (June 29, 1861-September 13, 1861), N[athan] C. Bryant (September 14, 1861-November 7, 1861), and George W. Doty (November 7, 1861-January 24, 1862). The log notes Ball's burial at sea on September 13, 1861.

The Marion's log entries pertain to aspects of daily life onboard the ship, such as the use of sails, crew exercises, and ship and gun maintenance. Some refer to punishments for disrespect, intoxication, and attempted desertion; the affected sailors were often bound in irons. During the Marion's time at sea, the log provides information about the ship's course, winds, the temperature, and barometer readings, reported every few hours. The Marion sometimes encountered other ships, most often Union vessels, and its crew sometimes heard distant gunfire. The log includes at least one mention of a court martial (January 10, 1862). A small piece of paper with brief log entries dated July 27 and August 1 (no year given) is laid into the volume.