Naval History and Heritage Command

Finding aid (Word)

Biographical Note

Wells Field was born on 31 January 1846 in St. Louis, Missouri.  He was appointed Midshipman in 1862 at the U.S. Naval Academy. The following year he was found "deficient" and the Naval Academy reassigned him to the incoming class of Plebes.  He graduated in 1867 and received his first assignment on USS Piscataqua.

Field had an active career, spanning 44 years of service. He was put on the retired list in 1911 and died three years later. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on 30 November 1914.

Of note on his service record is the fact that Field was on USS Marion in 1863 as a Midshipman when it went to sea in search of Taconey.

Scope and Content Note

The Papers of Wells Field contain documents he accumulated during his Navy service. The collection is organized in a single series, arranged alphabetically by subject. Topics include steamboats, the Grigsby Case, Pichilinque Bay, and correspondence from the Treasury Department and Navy Department.

Preferred Citation

This collection should be cited as the Papers of Wells Field, Archives Branch, Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington, D.C.

Subject Headings (LCSH)

Ranger (Screw steamer)
United States Naval Academy.
United States. Dept. of the Treasury.
United States. Navy--Officers.
Admirals--United States.

For associated photographic materials, please visit the photo archive donated collections related to Wells Field, UA 02.03 and S-427-F