Help Wanted

[L Verge]

We had an excellent program at Surratt House today on "The Civil War Afloat," presented by author Andrew C.A. Jampoler, who wrote The Last Lincoln Conspirator, about the escape and capture of John Surratt, Jr. Today's talk, however, focused on both the Union and Confederate Navies.

One of the points that Andy brought out was the "wintering" of Tsar Alexander II's naval forces in New York City and San Francisco during 1863-64. After the program, I asked him about an incident that I read about years ago where one of the Russian sailors was set upon, robbed, and murdered by one or more members of an Irish gang in New York. The incident turned into a near diplomatic war over the U.S. refusing to return the sailor's body, but I cannot remember all the details. Andy had not heard about it.

For some reason, I want to say that it got so heated that Lincoln had to step in. Does anyone recall hearing this story, know what it involved, know where to find it? I promised Andy details if I ever found it again because he studies anything and everything that deals with the Navy. Guess what he did for a living.....

[Craig Hipkins]

Laurie,
I have never heard this particular story before. However, I recall that during the time when the Russians were at port in New York, or San Francisco, (I forget which) American merchant officers would get the Russians sailors drunk. After they passed out they would wake up the next morning and would find themselves impressed on one of the American ships many miles out at sea. I guess the American's learned this from the British.

I'll check Gangs of New York and see if Asbury wrote about this particular incident.

Craig

[LincolnMan]

Hmmm....they were drinking White Russians with white Russians?

[Laurie Verge]

Does anyone have a subscription to the Quarterly Journal of Military History? If so, there is an article in the Autumn 2012 issue about "Teacher, Preacher, Soldier, Spy" by Ernest Furgurson that I would like to have a copy of for the research library at Surratt House IF it is about whom I think it is - Thomas Nelson Conrad.

Yes, if all else fails, I'll contact the Journal, but I'm trying to save time.

[RJNorton]

Laurie, please try going here.

[L Verge]

Thank you, Roger. Just needed to satisfy my curiosity as to whether Ernest Furgurson had found out something about Thomas Nelson Conrad that we didn't already know. If he has, he didn't mention it in this article.

We have photos of both Conrad and his wife in the late-1800s. A very handsome couple, and this sketch that appears in this article doesn't come close to looking like him! I had the pleasure of knowing a great-niece of his about twenty years ago. She gave us the photos and a copy of his writings. Another relative of the Conrads lived diagonally across the street from us and their daughter and mine were friends all through school. Her father was named Benjamin Conrad Perrie. The Perrie family is another of those Southern Maryland old-timers that I have always suspected of being part of the Secret Line, but they ain't talking!

BTW: Ernest Furgurson's book Freedom Rising is about Civil War Washington and very well done.

[L Verge]

I need help in order to help a researcher. We need to locate a photograph of Maj. Albert E.H. Johnson, who was Sec. Stanton's private secretary and keeper of military telegrams. Anyone have any idea where such a thing might be found??

[RJNorton]

Laurie, go to this page.

The actual link for the photo is here.

[brtmchl]

I need help in order to help a researcher. We need to locate a photograph of Maj. Albert E.H. Johnson, who was Sec. Stanton's private secretary and keeper of military telegrams. Anyone have any idea where such a thing might be found??

Try this Laurie
http://www.jstor.org/stable/40067012?seq=3

[L Verge]

Wow - I wish I could make you two paid researchers for the museum! Thanks so much.

[brtmchl]

Roger is much faster than I am. He contains a wealth of knowledge. The answers are always right at his fingertips. I would like to borrow his brain for a few days.

[John E.]

Does anyone have a photo of him from circa 1865? I'd like to see it.