Stephen C. Rowan
A Register of His Papers in the Naval Historical Foundation
Collection in the Library of Congress
Prepared by Ruth S. Nicholson
Revised by Harry G.
Heiss
Manuscript Division,
Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
2008
Contact information:
http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/mss/address.html
Finding aid encoded by Library of Congress Manuscript Division,
2008
Finding aid URL: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/eadmss.ms008003
Title: Stephen C. Rowan Papers
Span Dates: 1826-1890
Bulk Dates: (bulk 1841-1870)
ID No.: MSS22236
Creator:
Rowan, Stephen C.
(Stephen Clegg), 1808-1890
Extent: 4 items;
1 container;
0.4 linear feet
Language: Collection material in
English
Repository:
Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress,
Washington, D.C.
Abstract: United States Navy
officer. Journals and a letterbook relating to Rowan's naval
service.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person
or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed
alphabetically therein.
Personal Names
Burnside,
Ambrose Everett, 1824-1881--Correspondence.
Chase,
Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873--Correspondence.
Dahlgren,
John Adolphus Bernard, 1809-1870--Correspondence.
Dobbin,
James C. (James Cochran), 1814-1857--Correspondence.
Fox,
Gustavus Vasa, 1821-1883--Correspondence.
Goldsborough, Louis Malesherbes,
1805-1877--Correspondence.
Porter,
David D. (David Dixon), 1813-1891--Correspondence.
Rowan,
Stephen C. (Stephen Clegg), 1808-1890.
Shufeldt,
Robert Wilson, 1822-1895--Correspondence.
Toucey,
Isaac, 1796-1869--Correspondence.
Welles,
Gideon, 1802-1878--Correspondence.
Whitney,
William C. (William Collins), 1841-1904--Correspondence.
Organizations
Cyane
(Sloop-of-war)
Delaware
(Ship)
Piscataqua (Screw steamer)
United
States. Navy--Foreign service--French
Polynesia--Tahiti (Island)
United
States. Navy--Foreign
service--Italy.
United
States. Navy--Foreign service--South
America.
United
States. Navy--History.
Vincennes (Ship)
Subjects
Mexican War,
1846-1848--Campaigns--California.
Mexican War,
1846-1848--Naval operations, American.
Locations
Charleston
(S.C.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Charleston
Harbor (S.C.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
North
Carolina--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Campaigns.
South
Carolina--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Campaigns.
United
States--History, Naval.
United
States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Campaigns.
United
States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Naval operations.
Occupations
Naval
officers.
Provenance:The papers of Stephen C. Rowan, naval officer, were deposited in the
Library of Congress by the Naval Historical Foundation in 1969 and converted to
a gift in 1998.
Processing History:The papers of Stephen C. Rowan were arranged and described in 1971.
The collection was expanded and revised in 1999. The finding aid was revised in
2008.
Copyright Status:The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Stephen C.
Rowan is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17,
U.S.C.).
Preferred Citation:Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the
following information: Container number, Stephen C. Rowan Papers, Naval
Historical Foundation Collection, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress,
Washington, D.C.
| Date |
Event |
| 1808, Dec. 25 |
Born, near Dublin, Ireland |
| 1818 |
Immigrated to United States |
| 1826 |
Appointed midshipman, U.S. Navy
Served duty on Vincennes
(sloop-of-war), first American man-of-war to circumnavigate the globe
|
| 1834 |
Served duty on Vandalia (sloop),
West India squadron
|
| 1837 |
Promoted to lieutenant
Served duty on Relief (ship),
Brazil station
|
| 1841-1844 |
Served duty on Delaware
(ship-of-the-line), Brazil and Mediterranean stations
|
| 1845 |
Made executive officer of Cyane
(sloop), Pacific station
|
| 1850-1853 |
Served as ordnance inspector, U.S. Navy Yard, New York,
N.Y
|
| 1855 |
Promoted to commander
Commanded Relief (ship), Brazil
station
|
| 1861 |
Commanded Pawnee (screw
sloop-of-war) during Abraham Lincoln's inauguration
Directed fist shot fired from naval vessel in Civil War
against batteries at Aquia Creek, Va.
|
| 1862 |
Promoted to commodore
Assisted General Ambrose Everett Burnside in destruction of
Confederate gunboat and capture of Roanoke Island, Va.
Attacked Cable's Point on Pasquotank River, N.C., destroyed
fort, and captured or routed Confederate squadron
Assisted U.S. Army in capture of New Bern, N.C.
|
| 1863 |
Commanded New Ironsides (ironclad
steamer), Charleston Harbor, S.C.
|
| 1864 |
Commanded naval flotilla, North Carolina Sound |
| 1866 |
Promoted to rear admiral |
| 1866-1867 |
Served as commandant, U.S. Navy Yard, Norfolk, Va. |
| 1867-1870 |
Served as commander in chief, Asiatic Squadron |
| 1870 |
Promoted to vice admiral |
| 1872-1876 |
Served as commandant, U.S. Navy Yard, New York, N.Y. |
| 1881 |
Appointed governor, U.S. Naval Asylum, Philadelphia,
Pa.
|
| 1882 |
Appointed superintendent, U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington,
D.C.
|
| 1889 |
Retired from U.S. Navy |
| 1890, Mar. 31 |
Died, Washington, D.C. |
The papers of Stephen Clegg Rowan (1808-1890) span the years
1826-1890, with the bulk of the items dated from 1841 to 1870. The collection
consists of three journals and a letterbook.
The first journal, which Rowan kept on board the Vincennes, 1826-1828, describes cities, villages,
people, and customs in South America and Tahiti. A journal kept on the
Delaware, 1841-1843, recounts experiences in South
America and Italy and contains abstracts of the ship's cruises. In the third
journal, Rowan related his service in battles off the coast of California
during the Mexican War, made general observations about the United States
before the Civil War, and discussed cities, people, and customs in Asia. The
latter volume also contains abstracts of cruises and logs for the
Cyane, Dale,
Malec Adhel, and Relief.
The letterbook contains notes on Rowan's service in the navy and
copies of orders to duty and letters sent. The letters document his
participation in battles off the North Carolina sounds and in Charleston
harbor. Recipients include Ambrose Everett Burnside, Salmon P. Chase, John
Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren, James C. Dobbin, Gustavus V. Fox, Louis Malesherbes
Goldsborough, David Porter, Robert W. Shufeldt, Isaac Toucey, Gideon Welles,
and William C. Whitney.
This collection is arranged alphabetically by type of material.
| Container |
Contents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| BOX 1
|
Journals |
|
| BOX 1
|
Vol. 1, Vincennes (sloop-of-war)
1826-1828
|
|
| BOX 1
|
Vol. 2, Delaware (ship-of-the-line),
1841-1843
|
|
| BOX 1
|
Vol. 3, Cyane (sloop) and Piscataqua (screw steamer),
1845, 1868
|
|
| BOX 1
|
Letterbook,
1852-1890
|
|
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