Title: Life in the pre-Civil War Navy
Review: William Reynolds was the older brother of Maj. Gen. John Fulton Reynolds who, while commander of the left wing of the Army of the Potomac on July 1, 1863, became the first general officer killed at Gettysburg. Brother William was then a Navy commander and senior officer afloat at Port Royal, SC under Admiral Dahlgren. He was to go on to become an admiral and even acting Secretary of the Navy--twice. This book contains his letters home during the 4-year U. S. Navy Exploring Expedition (the Wilkes Expedition). It also interweaves entries from both his official and personal journal and responses from home--mostly from sister Lydia. Anyone with an interest in the pre-Civil War Navy or even social life (in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, his home) will find this book extremely informative.
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