“Confederate States, Office of Orders and Detail – Navy Department” is the imprint on this blue Confederate Navy form.  Confederate Navy documents are quite scarce and this one with the Navy imprint and signed “F. Forrest” is very nice!  The book Autographs of the Confederacy lists Forrest as, “A Scarce Signature”.  Forrest was the man in charge of armoring the C. S. S. Virginia and in 1863-64 commanded the James River Squadron.  The document is also docketed at the bottom by Thomas N. Brent, Commander of the station to which the topic of our document – John Rutlege was assigned. 

 
                                                                                                                            Confederate States,

Office of Orders and Detail

Navy Department
Richmond, Va. May 13th, 1862

    Sir,

            You are hereby detached from the C. S. “Nansemond”, and will proceed to
Savannah, Ga. and report to Commander Brent, coming ready for duty in the
Battery from which you were formerly detached.

                                                                        Respectfully,

                                                                            Your Obt. Servant,

                                                                                        F. Forrest

                                                                                        Chief of Bureau

Lieutenant

John Rutlege C.S.N.

Richmond, Va.

 

Reported May 20th, 1862

Thos. N. Brent

Comdg. Station

Condition of this document is very fine and an excellent Confederate Navy piece! 

#D98 – Price $595