Charles Blue diary kept on board the U.S.S. Vandalia

Home

Search Browse About

Items Collections Divisions

Digital Collections Using Images Using Data

Charles Blue diary kept on board the U.S.S. Vandalia

About Filters

Collection Data

Description: Charles Blue kept this diary from February 14, 1853 through September 30, 1856 aboard the U.S. Sloop of War Vandalia, sailing from Philadelphia by way of Rio de Janeiro, the Cape of Good Hope, Christmas Island, Sunda Straits, Singapore and Macao to the Loo Choo Islands (Ryukyu Islands). Entries describe life and people on the island of Grand Loo Choo; the voyage to Japan and Commodore Matthew Perry's reception there; negotiations held on March 8, 1854; the signing of the Treaty of Kanagawa; Japan and its people, their lives, and government; gifts from the President of the United States (includes a list); and Vandalia's departure for Shanghai on May 31, 1854. Entries also describe Shanghai's being in the hands of rebels at that time; the city itself; skirmishes between Imperialists and Rebels; the defense of the city by American, English, and French forces; and the final defeat of Rebels. The Vandalia sailed home by same route.
Names: Blue, Charles (Creator)
Dates / Origin: Date Created: 1853 - 1856
Library locations: Manuscripts and Archives Division; Shelf locator: MssCol 324
Topics: Vandalia (Sloop of war); United States Naval Expedition to Japan (1852-1854); Perry, Matthew Calbraith, 1794-1858; United States. Navy; Cape of Good Hope (South Africa); China -- History -- Taiping Rebellion, 1850-1864; Christmas Island (Indian Ocean); Japan -- Description and travel; Japan -- Foreign relations -- United States; Macau (China : Special Administrative Region); Rio de Janeiro (Brazil); Ryukyu Islands -- Description and travel; Shanghai (China) -- Description and travel; Singapore; United States -- Foreign relations
Genres: Diaries; Travel sketches
Notes: Bibliographic history: The U.S. Sloop of War Vandalia set sail on February 14, 1853 and joined Commodore Matthew C. Perry's East Indies Squadron. She was present at Perry's historic entrance into Tokyo Bay on February 13, 1854 and in 1855 helped to protect American interests in China during the Taiping Rebellion. Vandalia was decommissioned at the Portsmouth Navy Yard on September 30, 1856.; Content: The volume is illustrated by 11 sketches and includes a list of ports touched at and crew members who died.
Physical Description: Extent: .31 linear feet (1 volume, 1 folder)
Type of Resource: Text; Still image
Identifiers: NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b19334094; MSS Unit ID: 324; Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 7d8ffaa0-c606-012f-0323-58d385a7bc34

1 result found

Sailing past Fusee-Jammi, Sn…

The New York Public Library

Digital Collections

Charles Blue diary kept on board the U.S.S. Vandalia

Collection Data

topic

name

collection

place

genre

division

type

Date Range