urn:taro:tamu.cush.00150 Inventory of the Don Bosworth Correspondence: June-July, 1919 Finding aid prepared by Suyeon Kim Cushing Memorial LibraryTexas A & M University
College Station, TX 77843-5000 Phone: 979/845-1951 Fax: 979/845-1441 Email: cushing-library@tamu.edu
2004 Finding aid encoded by Suyeon Kim in EAD Version 2002 as part of the TARO project. January 2004 Finding aid written inEnglish. This electronic finding aid was updated by . Updates included : Descriptive Summary and Abstract Cushing Memorial Library
College Station, TX 77843-5000
Bosworth, Don Inventory of the Don Bosworth Papers June-July, 1919. .3 linear ft. The Don Bosworth Papers consist of twelve letters written by Don Bosworth during his time spent on the third U.S.S. Albany from June 16, 1919 to July 7, 1919. The letters, which are handwritten in black ink, were sent to Mrs. J.E. Bosworth, who lived on 141 Midland Ave. in Syracuse, New York. The letters relate his experiences in Vladivostok in 1919. RAGAN MSS 00150 English. Biographical Note

At the age of 24, Don Bosworth was enlisted as an apprentice seaman at the Navy Recruiting Station at Syracuse, New York on June 13, 1917. His service number was 112-59-73. From August 1917 to August 1920, Don Bosworth served as a seaman, second class, on the third U.S.S.Albany, the United States Navy protected cruiser. He was discharged in San Francisco as a quartermaster of the second class on August 26, 1920.

The third U.S.S. Albany, originally named Almirante Abreu, was constructed in Newcastle, England by Armstrong, Whitworth Co., for the Brazilian Government in 1879. She was purchased in 1898 by the United States. As the third U.S.S.Albany, she was launched in 1899 under the sponsorship of Mrs. John C. Colwell, the wife of the American naval attache in London.

In 1919, she joined the Asiatic Fleet. At that time, the Russian Civil War against Bolsheviks continued. The United States sent troops to Vladivostok, one of the ports where the Allied supplies had been stockpiled. The Albany stayed in Vladivostok until early 1920, protecting American troops on shore and evacuating sick and wounded men. She was decommissioned in 1922.

The Albany had a displacement of 3,340 tons, a length of 354 feet, 9.5 inches, and a beam of 43 feet, 9 inches. She was rated at 20.52 knots and was armed with six 6-inch guns, four 4.7-inch guns, ten 6-pounders, four 1-pounders, four machine guns, two field pieces, and three torpedo tubes.

Bibliography

Mooney, James L. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.vol. 1. 1959.

Mooney, James L. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.vol. 1. 1991.

War Service Records provided by New York States Archives.

 Scope and Content Note

The Don Bosworth collection consists of twelve letters handwritten in black ink on both sides of thirteen pages of blue lined paper with an envelope. The letters are arranged into two series. At the center of the top of paper is printed the words "Nation War Work Council of the Young Men's Christian Association," each side of which is decorated with an American Flag and the symbol of the YMCA printed in red and dark blue ink. Each page, measuring 27 cm. x 15 cm., is now housed in a transparent plastic folder. On the upper-right side of the envelope is handwritten the words "Sailor's Mail." The addressee written on the envelope is Mrs. J.E. Bosworth, who lived on 141 Midland Ave. in Syracuse, New York. However, the letters are addressed to "Dear Folks." Bosworth seems to have bought the envelope before he wrote the letters because his letters begin on June 16,1919 but the date stamped in blue ink on the envelope is June 14, 1919. In his letters, Bosworth very often does not write the first singular pronoun "I" and uses "" in preference to the word "and." He crosses out with one or two lines on the words he writes incorrectly. He provides some hand-drawn maps and pictures. He frequently mentions numbers to detail his stories. Of interest is that he comments on the characteristics of Bolsheviks. He also mentions that he hopes to fight them because he has had no chance to hear gun shots, except in practice.

Organization of the Papers

This collection is organized into 2 series:

Series 1. Letters, June 16, 1919-July 7, 1919. Series 2. Transcripts. Access

No restrictions.

 Usage Restrictions

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Online Catalog Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog of Cushing Memorial Library. Researchers wishing to find related materials should search the catalog under these index terms.

Names Bosworth, Don. Bosworth, J.E., Mrs. Organizations United States. Navy. Subjects U.S.S. Albany. Places Vladivostok (Russia) Processing Information

Processed by Suyeon Kim in January 2004.

Detailed Description of the Collection

Series 1. Letters, June 16, 1919-July 7, 1919. 1/1 June 16, 1919. Bosworth explains how the third U.S.S. Albany anchors along with the British cruiser Kent with a hand-drawn diagram. He draws a map of Golden Horn, one of the harbors in Vladivostok. He shows a hand-drawn ring initialed with the words "USS DB Albany." 1/1 June 18, 1919. Bosworth mentions cruising around in Peter the Great Bay. Describing a Russian bathing beach, he comments that Russians do not wear anything while swimming. He thinks Vladivostok is a good place for hunting. 1/1 June 21, 1919. Bosworth records that the British cruiser Kent plans to leave Vladivostok Monday morning, but her relief the Carlisle has not come yet. He asks his folks to send some film for his camera because it is expensive in Vladivostok. He informs them that the Navy Department is preparing a bill for Congress by which crews will get a raise in pay. 1/2 June 22, 1919. Bosworth talks about the concert of the Middlesex Regiment Band at "Y." In the concert, he meets a well-educated Czech. Bosworth explains the Battalion of Death, a group of Russian women forces. He mentions two American merchant ships, the West Helix and the Archer. 1/2 June 25, 1919. Bosworth writes that he has gone to Russian Island for a test with the navigator, the chief quarter master, the first class general manager, and the third general manager. They have a swim while they are waiting for the boat after they have finished their test. 1/3June 28, 1919. Bosworth recalls that about 3 days or so ago 500 Bolsheviks attacked a small number of Americans and they killed sixteen and wounded thirty six. Since Bolsheviks warn that they will attack the town by tomorrow, all of the Marines are guarding American consulate. 1/4 June 30, 1919. Bosworth informs that small arms, ammunition and equipment are distributed for the landing force. He offers the chief 41 dollars to get him on the list of the forces, which will go ashore tomorrow morning, but he does not make it. 1/4 July 1, 1919. Bosworth describes that the Albany puts ashore the one hundred forty landing forces in order to capture Petrovka, which is about 8 or 9 miles inland from Andreeva Bay. Each man is armed with a rife and 220 rounds. When they attack the town, they find that the Bolsheviks have already left. 1/4 July 2, 1919. Bosworth mentions the arrival of the Carlisle, which relieves the Kent, when the Albany gets back to port. The Carlisle is a super-destroyer and is armed with five 6-inch guns and ten torpedo tubes. Her speed is 35 knots. 1/4 July 5, 1919. Bosworth writes that his shipmates have games on the ship in the morning. The games include an obstacle race, boon fight, shoe race, bottle royal, three- legged race on the dock, pie eating contest, and a boat race. 1/4 July 6, 1919. Bosworth details that the Albany and the Carlisle accompany the ships loaded with supplies for the Americans at Suchan mines. The troops land at about seven in the morning. Even though there is no opposition to the landing, mounted men scout the land. 1/4 July 7, 1919. Bosworth records that nothing much happens today. The Carlisle leaves this morning. The Albany returns back from the Suchan river at 10 pm. Series 2. Transcripts. 1/5 The transcripts are undated. One is handwritten in pen. The other is computer-generated.