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Commander George Mifflin Bache, USN

An Inventory of His Collection in the Navy Department Library

Table of Contents

Overview of the Collection

Biographical Note

Scope and Contents

Arrangement

Detailed Description of the Collection

Survey of Lighthouses, 1838

Ship Rigging and Fittings Book, n.d.

Official Correspondence, Orders, and Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1860-1899

Watch, Quarter Station Bill Journals, circa 1870

Map of Washington, DC, 1892

Restrictions

Index Terms

Administrative Information

Biographical Note

George Mifflin Bache [2nd] was born in Washington, DC on 12 November 1840. He was appointed to the US Naval Academy in 1857 and graduated in 1861. During the Civil War he served on USS Jamestown, USS Powhatan, USS New Ironsides, USS Cincinnati and USS Lexington and was wounded while leading a division of sailors during the assault on Fort Fisher. Following the Civil War he served on USS Sacramento and commanded USS Juniata. Commander Bache retired in 1875. He died at Washington, DC on 11 February 1896.

Note: It appears likely that George Mifflin Bache [2nd] was the son of the Commander George Mifflin Bache [1st] of the US Coast Survey who perished in a gale off Cape Hatteras, 8 September 1846. His uncle, Alexander Dallas Bache, also served in the US Coast Survey.

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Scope and Contents

The bulk of the collection consist of official correspondence and orders relating to Bache's service in the Civil War and shortly thereafter. The collection also includes an 1838 survey of lighthouses that may have been prepared by his father. A contemporary journal on rigging that appears to have been kept by his uncle, Alexander Dallas Bache, who was made Superintendent of the United States Coast Survey, is included in the collection as well.

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Arrangement

The collection is arranged by subject matter.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Survey of Lighthouses, 1838
		Bound journal containing a report of the survey and examination of the Third District from Newport to New York made in accordance to the third section of "An Act Making Appropriations for Building Lighthouses, Light-boats, Beacon-lights, Buoys, and Making Soundings for the Year 1838."

Ship Rigging and Fittings Book, n.d.
		Bound journal containing detailed descriptions of various aspects of the rigging and fittings used on 18th century sailing ships containing numerous exquisitely detailed drawings. Title page inscribed "Bache" contains a small portrait labeled "Dallas Bache, M.D."

Official Correspondence, Orders, and Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1860-1899
		Mostly orders and communications addressed to Bache and/or the ships attached to the Mississippi Squadron during 1863-64. Contains detailed reports relating to the action involving the sternwheel casemate gunboat USS Cincinnati, Lieutenant George M. Bache, commanding, that took place against the Vicksburg's batteries on 27 May 1863. Additional correspondence and orders documenting his post Civil War assignments. Note: a typed written transcription of this material has been produced and is boxed with the originals.

Watch, Quarter and Station Bill Journals, circa 1870
		Bound journal containing the Watch, Station, Quarter and Fire Drill of the steamer USS Sacramento.
		Two (2) empty bound journals to be used as "Watch, Quarter and Station Bill [for] U.S. Ship." Headings are beautifully executed in calligraphy and books have been meticulously laid out and ruled.

Map of Washington, DC, 1892
		Housed in map drawer No. 5.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Use

Manuscripts are unavailable for loan and must be consulted in the library. Photocopying of manuscripts is generally prohibited, though the use of digital cameras by researchers to reproduce non-copyrighted materials is permitted. Permission to photocopy a limited number of pages may be granted by the reference staff, contingent upon the physical state of items. All photocopying of materials shall be done by the reference staff, or under their close supervision. The use of personal scanners by non-library staff personnel must be approved by the reference staff on a document-by-document basis (Reference: Naval Historical Center Instruction [NAVHISTCENTINST] 5070.1C.).

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Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Personal Subject:

Corporate Subject:

Subject term:

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Cite as: Historical Manuscripts, Navy Department Library, Naval Historical Center, Washington DC, George M. Bache Collection.

Processing Information

The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Thomas Wildenberg in April 2004.

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