When wars broke out, ships at sea with large crews composed of mixed ethnicities and national loyalties created a strained environment for captains. These two documents are loyalty oaths, stating loyalty to the Union Navy of the United States during the outbreak of the American Civil War. The longer one, on blue paper, was signed by the common seamen, the other by Captain William McKean and the officers aboard the U.S.S. Niagara.

Catalog record