2020-01 Putnal
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/18/2020
Partly-printed telegraph, 1p. octavo, June 22, 1855, Macon, Georgia, sent by the "Macon & Western Branch Magnetic Telegraph Company" and reads "Miss Monroe. A Chinese Umbrella per Steamer Susquehanna United States Navy. Bearer in Macon. H.R. Reese." Notation on verso reads "John M Kell & Blanche Monroe met first on the 23rd of June 1855 & were married Oct. 15th 1856 by Rev. H.R. Reese." From a scrapbook with small note that reads "June 22, 1855. First Communication between J. Kell & his future wife, Miss Monroe." The couple were married in 1856. John McIntosh KELL (1823-1900) Confederate States naval officer. Participated in Matthew Perry's expedition to Japan before the war. When Georgia seceded from the Union in early 1861, Kell resigned from the USN. In April 1861, he briefly commanded the Georgia state gunboat SAVANNAH, but received a Confederate States Navy commission as First Lieutenant the following month and was sent to New Orleans. There, he helped Commander Raphael Semmes fit out the cruiser CSS SUMTER. He served as Executive Officer during her commerce raiding cruise in 1861-62. First Lieutenant Kell was Semmes' Executive Officer on CSS ALABAMA throughout her career, and was present when she was sunk by USS Kearsarge in June 1864. He was rescued by the British yacht Dearhound and taken to England. Promoted to the rank of Commander in that month, he commanded the ironclad CSS RICHMOND in the James River Squadron in 1865.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.