::. NORTH CAROLINA POSTAL HISTORIAN The Journal of the North Carolina Postal History Society Volume 18, No.2 Fall 1999 Whole 69 USS Raleigh (Cruiser No.8) Affiliate #155 of the American Philatelic Society ~---P_R_Es_a_o_E_N_T_'s__ M_ E_s_s_A_G_E__ ~ I ~~--------IN_T_H_I _S_I s_s_u_e__ ____~ The North Carolina Postal History Exhibit has The Four USS Raleighs completed its showing at the North Carolina Museum of History Tony L. Crumbley .... ....... ... .. .. .. 3 in Raleigh. By all accounts, the showing was a success. All copies Ignored North Carolina History from the first printing of the map titled "North Carolina People, Tony L. Crumbley . .. ..... .. .. ..... ...9 Places and Events on United States Stamps" quickly disappeared Camp Hoffman? Where Did It Go? as they were offered to the public who viewed the exhibit. A Frank J. Nelson . .. ...... .... .... ..... 12 second, larger printing of the map was undertaken by the Museum The Mining Town of Ore Knob, Ashe County of History for future use when the exhibit travels. Plans are Scott Troutman .............. .. .... 14 underway for the exhibit to become a traveling exhibit. It will tour Fallstown, Iredell County several of the major cities in the state under the North Carolina FrankJ. Nelson ...... .. .. .... .. ....... 15 Museum of History Traveling Exhibit Program. In its most recent meeting, the North Carolina Postal History Commission voted to Volume IV of the catalog when published next year. help offset some of the expenses to travel the exhibit to locations A second project is well under way. This project around the state using commission funds. The continuing efforts involves the database recording of early North Carolina covers of the North Carolina Postal History Society members have which reside in other archives' collections. When added to the played an important role in this museum project. data from the postal history collection, we expect the postal Cataloging work on the postal history collection by history database will one day provide an excellent source of members of the North Carolina Postal History Society continues information on the period of use of the various markings. In at the State Archives in Raleigh. Recently, member Jack Scott addition, as we proceed we are assembling any information that joined the effort by volunteering some of his time to help sort we find on the post office before 1800 in hopes of sorting out and through and organize material in the collection. We really better understanding early North Carolina postal operations. appreciate his help. Any other society member, who might be Access to the extensive collections in the State Archives is making willing to spare some time on this long-term project, can assist all this possible. The potential for the North Carolina Postal also. Just contact Harvey Tilles or me for more information. To History Society to continue to make a significant mark on date, we have added over 200 new markings to the archive copy available reference information for collectors is very grea ~ . of Post Offices and Postmasters of North Carolina. These new I welcome your comments and suggestions for markings have come from the postal history collection in the first improving the society. Please feel free to call me at home (336 44 counties alphabetically. We expect to find many more 545-0175), send me an e-mail message, or write to me. Both my markings as the project continues. The new data is passed on to e-mail address and my mailing address appear in this journal. Vernon Stroupe for future inclusion in the catalogs. Some of the markings will make it into the Addenda, which will appear in Dick Winter North Carolina Postal Historian The North Carolina Postal Historian is the official journal of the North Carolina Postal History Society. It is published quarterly in January, April, July and October. Membership in the Society is $15 per year. Applications for member­ ship may be obtained fro m the Treasurer. Submissions for the News-letter or inquiries may be addressed to the editors. Library of Congress #ISSN 1054-9158. President Secretary - Treasurer Editors Richard F. Winter Thomas Richardson Tony L. Crumbley 31 Flagship Cove 3764 Pine Ridge Dr. PO Box 219 Greensboro, NC 27455 Trinity, N.C. 27370 Newell, N.C. 28126 Vice-President Dr. John W. Allen Vernon S. Stroupe 3801 Friendly Acres Drive PO Box 8879 Greensboro, NC 27410 Asheville, N.C. 28814 Page 2 NCPHS Postal Historian THE FOUR U.S.S. R:AbEIGHs by Tony L. Crumbley The First Raleigh The capital of North Carolina was named for English Caribbean. explorer Sir Walter Raleigh, the first to attempt an English During the summer of 1886, the Raleigh trained naval establishment in North America. Over the years there have been military personnel from south Carolina and Louisiana, then four United States Navy ships also named Raleigh. returned to the east coast and to the North Atlantic Squadron. The first Raleigh, a sailing frigate built by Messrs. On 6 May the Raleigh steamed east, and on 11 June she Hackett, Hill and Paul of Portsmouth, N.H. under the supervision reported for duty on the European Station at Smvroda on the of Thomas Thompson, was authorized by the Continental Aegean Sea. In December she operated off Levant and by year Congress on 13 December 1775. The Raleigh's keel was laid end she transited the Suez Canal en route to the Asiatic Station. down on 21 March 1776, and was launched on 21 May 1776. This On 18 February 1898 she reached Hong Kong, where she joined was a very fast tum-around by todays standards. Admiral Dewey's squadron. Raleigh, with a full length figure of Sir Walter Raleigh On 26 April the United States declared war against as a figurehead, put to sea under Captain Thomas Thompson on Spain, and on the 27th the squadron got underway for Manila with 12 August 1777. Three days out, along with the Alfred, on their the Concord and the Boston, where they confronted the Spanish way to France, they captured a schooner carrying counterfeit Fleet. Steaming in column, the American squadron ran by the Massachusetts currency. Spanish firing at close range. Two hours later, five cross runs had The Raleigh then sailed on to France with theA !fred and been completed and the Spanish fleet had been destroyed. The took on military stores. They then swung down the coast of Africa United States fleet then turned on the Spanish shore batteries. and captured a British vessel off Senegal. They then crossed the On 2 May the Raleigh sent officers ashore to demand the Atlantic to the West Indies, and there, on 9 March 1778, the surrender ofCorregidor, and sent men to disable the batteries and Alfred was captured by the British ships Ariadne and Ceres. The destroy the munitions. In July the Raleigh shifted from Manila Raleigh, some distance away, was unable to assist the Alfred. Bay to Subic Bay, where on the 7th she shelled Spanish positions Raleigh continued north to New England in early April. on Grande Island until the Spanish surrendered. On 10 May she After being accused of cowardice and dereliction of duty returned to Manila where she remained until after the Spanish in not aiding the Alfred, Thompson was suspended from duty on surrendered the city in mid August. 30 May 1778. John Barry was appointed captain. On 15 April1899 the Raleigh arrived back in New York On 25 September 1778 the Raleigh sailed from where she received honors. Ten days later she sailed for the Portsmouth, Virginia with a brig and a sloop under convoy. Six Delaware River and moved to Philadelphia where President hours later two British sails were sighted. In late afternoon on the McKinley and the Secretary of the Navy came on board to honor 27th, the British ships closed in and a seven hour running battle the ship. On 2 May the Raleigh got under way again for ports in followed. The Raleigh grounded on Wooden Ball Island. Barry the Carolinas and put into Portsmouth, N.H., where she was ordered the crew ashore to continue the fight and burn the decommissioned on 10 June 1899. Raleigh, but the British boarded the ship before it could be set Recommissioned on 5 January 1903, the Raleigh was afire. fitted out at New York, and in mid March sailed for Honduras. The British refloated theRaleigh at high tide on the 28th, The Raleigh joined the Asiatic Fleet in late August, and for four and after repairs, took her into the Royal Navy as HRMS Raleigh. years she cruised in Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Philipine She continued to fight during theWar of Independence and took waters. In 1907 theRaleigh sailed back to the west coast and went part in the capture of Charleston in May 1780. She was through several periods of decommissioning and recommission­ decommissioned at Portsmouth, England on 10 June 1781 and ing. sold in July 1783. No known postal markings were applied by the In mid May 1918 German U-boats appeared off the east first USS Raleigh. coast of the United States. The Raleigh was ordered to patrol Key West. In July she began guarding convoys in the Gulf of Mexico The Second Raleigh (Cruiser No.8) and off the coast of the Carolinas. On 6 April 1919 the Raleigh entered the Charleston The second Raleigh's keel was laid down on 19 Navy Yard and was decommissioned for the last time on 21 April December 1889 at the Norfolk Navy Yard in Portsmouth, 1919, and on 21 August 1921 she was sold for scrap. Virginia. It was launched on 31 May 1892 and commissioned on Four different postmarks are recorded from the second 17 April 1894.