Archive of letters sent to Captain Frank M. Bennett, comprised of over 150 letters and documents contained within a 9 x 13 binder, including two signed by Theodore Roosevelt during his time as assistant secretary of the Navy. The first, signed twice, “T. Roosevelt,” one page, Navy Department letterhead, November 22, 1897, in part: “Proceed to Washington, D.C., and report to Assistant Secretary of the Navy…for temporary duty in connection with the Board on the Reorganization of Personnel of the Navy.” Signed at the conclusion by Secretary of the Navy John D. Long and signed twice by Roosevelt, noting when Bennett reported for duty and completed his duty. The second, signed “T. Roosevelt,” one page, Navy Department letterhead, September 21, 1897, in part: “Upon the reporting of your relief…report to the Commander-in-Chief of the North Atlantic Station, for duty on board the U.S.F.S. New York.” The archive as a whole spans 1878 to 1901, and other notable signers include: William T. Sampson, George W. Melville, Winfield Scott Schley, Benjamin F. Tracy, Edward D. Taussig, Hilary A. Herbert, John R. Lynch, William C. Whitney, William E. Chandler, William H. Hunt, and many by Bennett himself. Also of interest are an 1894 letter from Admiral Francis Ramsey regarding the trial runs of the USS Maine, and a letter from Admiral Sampson requesting a damage report on the Spanish ships ‘Infanta Maria Teresa,’ ‘Oquendo,’ and ‘Cristobel Colon.’ Letters regarding these key ships in the Spanish-American War are highly desirable. In overall very good to fine condition. Bennett was a career Navy officer who began his service as an engineer in 1879. He served on several different ships and was briefly detached for special duty at the Paris Exposition in September 1898. On April 30, 1917, shortly after the United States entered World War I, Bennett assumed the duties of Commander, Division 4, Atlantic Fleet, with his flag onboard USS Minnesota. A historically interesting and substantial archive highlighted by the presence of two Roosevelt letters and significant references to important ships in the Spanish-American War. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA.
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