61

Watson Smith.

Sketch of an iceberg in Baffin Bay, with related papers.

Baffin Bay, 4 September 1855
Pencil and wash, 5 x 6¼ inches; toning, minor wear and dampstaining. With worn original caption slip affixed to original backing board.

This sketch was drawn aboard the USS Release, which was in the Baffin Bay between Canada and Greenland searching for the lost Elisha Kane expedition, which in turn was searching for the lost Franklin expedition. Kane and his men were later found alive on the coast of Greenland. The caption of this sketch reads:

"At midnight on the 4th of September 1855, during a snow storm and a stormy gale, the Release suddenly found herself afoul of an immense iceberg. The collision was so great, that the bows of the vessel were smashed, and the front work notwithstanding it was double planked and covered with thick iron, was broken in. The scene was a terrible one. For a time it seemed as tho the vessel was doomed. The ice was cleared by the 11th of September." 

The artist Watson Smith (1825-1864) was a career naval officer from New Jersey who reached the rank of Lieutenant Commander during the Civil War (see lot 125). 

With--6 documents from the artist's naval career during this period, 1854-1858. 

Retained draft of a letter requesting to be on this mission: "In the event of relief being sent by the government  to . . . E.K. Kane, U.S. Navy, I respectfully request that I may be considered as an applicant for duty in that service," 11 December 1854. 

Pair of Letters Signed by Secretary of the Navy J.C. Dobbin, stating that Smith would be considered, 13 December 1854 and 16 February 1855.

Letter Signed by Dobbin appointing Smith as a Master backdated to 14 September. Washington, 23 October 1855.

Pass issued to Smith as a lieutenant in Sardinia, 4 September 1858.

Smith's French passport, 5 September 1858.

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