Texas Archival Resources Online

TABLE OF CONTENTS


Descriptive Summary

Biographical Note

Scope and Contents

Arrangement

Restrictions

Index Terms

Administrative Information

Description of Series

Folder 1: 1861-1865

Folder 2: 1881-1885

Folder 3: Order Books

Woodson Research Center, Rice University

Guide to George W. Frost Military and Personal papers, 1861-1885



Descriptive Summary

CreatorFrost, George W.
Title:George W. Frost Military and Personal papers,
Dates: 1861-1885
Abstract:This collection is comprised chiefly of George W. Frost's correspondence, created while Frost served as a Union naval officer during the U.S. Civil War, including his service aboard the U.S.S. Fort Donelson (1861-1865).
Identification:MS 321
Extent:0.25 cubic feet
Language:Materials are in English.
Repository:Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, TX

Biographical Note

George W. Frost spent the final months of the American Civil War as Acting Master of the U.S.S. Fort Donelson. He was assigned to this position by Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles after some three years of various short-term assignments throughout the Navy. On several occasions Frost ran awry of naval regulations, most notably in January and February 1863 when he was arrested for `disobedience' and in March 1865 when an order - which was revoked in the same month - was issued for Frost's dismissal from the Navy. Despite these irregularities, however, Frost survived in the Navy and performed guard, convoy and messenger duties aboard the Fort Donelson until the war's end.

George Frost died 14 November 1885 (his birth date remains unknown) as can be seen in folder two of `kidney and heart trouble.' This illness was, in Frost's opinion, contracted while in the U. S. Navy and he felt himself justified in claiming a compensatory pension increase. The Department of the Interior Pension Office, however, disagreed and as folder two illustrates, Frost died without receiving the desired increase.

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Scope and Contents

This collection is comprised chiefly of George W. Frost's correspondence, created while Frost served as a Union naval officer during the Civil War, including his service aboard the U.S.S. Fort Donelson (1861-1865). Other correspondence relates to Frost's pension, dating from the 1880s. Two order books are also present.

Several documents contained in the Frost Papers were issued by high-ranking Civil War personalities including Rear Admiral David D. Porter (1813-1891) and Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles (1802-1878).

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Arrangement

The material is arranged into three separate folders, and in chronological order within each folder.
The first folder contains 71 items of correspondence either to or from Frost or relating directly to Frost's activities as a Naval Officer during the Civil War.
Folder two contains 7 pieces dating from the 1880's referring to the issue of Frost's application for a Naval pension increase.
The third folder comprises two order books probably from the year 1864. One is from the U. S.S. Fort Donelson and includes Naval laws and regulations, ships' watches and bills, regulations in case of fire and for firing the ship's guns, and some records of the operations of the ship throughout the conflict. The other item is a general Naval order book from Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter distributed to all beneath his command in October 1864.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

No access restrictions; this material is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from the George W. Frost Papers must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University.

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Index Terms

Corporate subject:
Fort Donelson (stern wheel steamer)
United States. Pension Bureau.
United States. Navy - Officers - Naval and personal papers - 19th century.
United States. Navy - Pay, allowances, etc.
Subject:
Military pensions - United States.
Armored vessels - United States.
United States - History - Civil War, 1861-1865 - Naval operations.
Formats:
Correspondence.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

George W. Frost Papers, 1861-1885, MS 321, Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University.

Acquisition Information

The George W. Frost Papers were acquired through the Friends of Fondren Fund (Whittington Gift) in 1954, previously formed part of MSS collection 18.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

Folder 1: 1861-1865

BoxFolder
11Item 1
Letter from W. H. Henderson to George W. Frost, August 28, 1861
1Item 2
Order from Gideon Welles to George W. Frost, November 11, 1862
1Item 3
Letter from M. Devenhewes(?) to George W. Frost, November 17, 1862
1Item 4
Letter from officers of U.S.S. Circassion to unknown (probably commander of the ship), January 27, 1863
1Item 5
Order from S. F. Du Pont to George W. Frost, January 27, 1863
1Item 6
Order from S. F. Du Pont to George W. Frost, February 17, 1863
1Item 7
Letter from S. F. Du Pont to George W. Frost, February 17, 1863
1Item 8
Order from S. F. Du Pont to George W. Frost, February 20, 1863
1Item 9
Message from Fourth Auditor's Office to George W. Frost, March 16, 1863
1Item 10
Letter from George W. Frost to Katie Frost, July 19, 1863
1Item 11
Order from Gideon Welles to George W. Frost, December 24, 1863
1Item 12
Order from Gideon Welles to George W. Frost, May 24, 1864
1Item 13
Order from David D. Porter to George W. Frost, January 3, 1865
1Item 14
Report from George W. Frost to David D. Porter, January 4, 1865
1Item 15
Report from George W. Frost to David D. Porter, January 4, 1865
1Item 16
Order from H. A. Adams to George W. Frost, January 11, 1865
1Item 17
Order from unknown (fleet captain) to George W. Frost, January 16, 1865
1Item 18
Order from David D. Porter to George W. Frost, January 21, 1865
1Item 19
Order from David D. Porter to J. M. B. Clitz, January 25, 1865
1Item 20
Letter from Gideon Welles to George W. Frost, January 28, 1865
1Item 21
Orders from David D. Porter to George W. Frost, January 28, 1865
1Item 22
Order from David D. Porter to George W. Frost, February 16, 1865
1Item 23
Order from David D. Porter to George W. Frost, February 18, 1865
1Item 24
Order from David D. Porter to George W. Frost, February 21, 1865
1Item 25
Report from Ensigns J. W. Willard, E. Manning, & H. Hanson to George W. Frost, February 22, 1865
1Item 26
Report from Ensigns J. W. Willard, E. Manning, & H. Hanson to George W. Frost, (second copy) February 22, 1865
1Item 27
Report from Ensigns J. W. Willard, E. Manning, & H. Hanson to George W. Frost, (third copy) February 22, 1865
1Item 28
Order from David D. Porter to George W. Frost, February 23, 1865
1Item 29
Order from David D. Porter to George W. Frost, February 24, 1865
1Item 30
Order from David D. Porter to George W. Frost, February 25, 1865
1Item 31
Letter from General S. Dodge to unknown (George W. Frost?), February 25, 1865
1Item 32
Letter from Sam? T. Lamb to George W. Frost, February 26, 1865
1Item 33
Letter from unknown (C. Watmough?) to George W. Frost, February 27, 1865
1Item 34
Order from David D. Porter to George W. Frost, & Note from D. L. Braine? to unknown, February 28, 1865March 12, 1865
1Item 35
Order from David D. Porter to George W. Frost, February 28, 1865
1Item 36
Order from William West to George W. Frost, March 3, 1865
1Item 37
Letter from Gideon Welles to George W. Frost, March 9, 1865
1Item 38
Order from David D. Porter to George W. Frost, March 20, 1865
1Item 39
Order from David D. Porter to George W. Frost, March 20, 1865
1Item 40
Order from David D. Porter to George W. Frost, April 1, 1865
1Item 41
Order from Thomas S. Phelps to George W. Frost, April 1, 1865
1Item 42
Telegraph from Thomas S. Phelps to George W. Frost, April 3, 1865
1Item 43
Order from David D. Porter to George W. Frost, April 10, 1865
1Item 44
Order from unknown (W. Febiger?) to George W. Frost, April 14, 1865
1Item 45
Letter from M. A. Macomb to George W. Frost, April 16, 1865
1Item 46
Order from William Radford to George W. Frost, April 18, 1865
1Item 47
Order from William Radford to George W. Frost, (second copy) April 18, 1865
1Item 48
Letter from Louis Sands to George W. Frost, April 20, 1865
1Item 49
Order from M. A. Macomb to George W. Frost, April 30, 1865
1Item 50
Order from William West to George W. Frost, May 11, 1865
1Item 51
Order from William Radford to George W. Frost, May 17, 1865
1Item 52
Order from William Radford to George W. Frost, May 19, 1865
1Item 53
Letter from William Reynolds to George W. Frost, May 20, 1865
1Item 54
Letter from William West to William Radford, May 31, 1865
1Item 55
Order from unknown (Thatcher?) to George W. Frost, July 9, 1865
1Item 56
Order from unknown (Thatcher?) to George W. Frost, July 14, 1865
1Item 57
Order from E. Simpson to George W. Frost, July 15, 1865
1Item 58
Order from E. Simpson to George W. Frost, July 15, 1865
1Item 59
Order from unknown (Thatcher?) to George W. Frost, July 22, 1865
1Item 60
Order from David D. porter to George W. Frost, August 14, 1865
1Item 61
Order from J. B. Hull to George W. Frost, August 15, 1865
1Item 62
Order from J. B. Hull to George W. Frost, August 15, 1865
1Item 63
Note from James W. Phisk to George W. Frost, August 15, 1865
1Item 64
Note from George Thompson to George W. Frost, August 18, 1865
1Item 65
Receipt from Rick Wood to George W. Frost, August 18, 1865
1Item 66
Letter from George W. Frost to Henry M. Wise, August 18, 1865
1Item 67
Note from Charles Bell to George W. Frost, August 22, 1865
1Item 68
Letter from A. N. Smith to George W. Frost, October 7, 1865
1Item 69
Letter from Gideon Welles to George W. Frost, October 18, 1865
1Item 70
Statement by unknown (probably G. W. Frost), October 20, 1865
1Item 71
Statement regarding ammunition in two different ships, n. d.

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Folder 2: 1881-1885

BoxFolder
12Item 1
Letter from William W. Dudley to Thaddeus C. Pound, November 29, 1881
2Item 2
Letter from unknown (acting commissioner of Dept. of Interior, Pensions Office) to George W. Frost, March 8, 1882
2Item 3
Letter from C. B. Walker? (acting commissioner of Dept. of Interior, Pensions Office) to George W. Frost, July 18, 1883
2Item 4
Request for Affidavits from William W. Dudley to George W. Frost, February 29, 1884
2Item 5
Letter from unknown (commissioner of Dept. of Interior, Pensions Office) to George W. Frost, February 29, 1884
2Item 6
Document certifying the death of George W. Frost, signed by Mary A. Frost and Katie C. Call, November 27, 1885
2Item 7
Printed Page from a document of information for pensioners, attributed to William W. Dudley, n.d.

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Folder 3: Order Books

BoxFolder
13Item 1
List of orders given by David D. Porter to the Flag-Ship "Malvern," October 12-13, 1864
3Item 2
Order book of the U. S. S. Fort Donelson, includes: Navy Laws, General Orders, Officers' Duties, Officer List, Details of Operation Regulations for Firing and Maneuvers, Fire Instructions, Watch Bill, and Station Bill, ca. 1864

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