John Thomas Scharf
Encyclopedia
John Thomas Scharf was a United States
historian
, author
, journalist
, antiquarian
, politician
, lawyer
and Confederate States of America
soldier
and sailor
. He is best known for his published historical works. Modern historians and researchers today continue to cite
his comprehensive histories as primary source
materials. Scharf used a formulaic and detailed approach to preparing his historical works. He contacted everyone who could provide information about his subject and used detail questionnaires to capture responses to his inquiries. The Maryland Historical Society
J. Thomas Scharf Collection, 1730s-1892 is a testament to the massive volume of original source materials he amassed as a result of his writings.
Scharf was one of the first American historians who consistently used newspapers as a primary source. Rather than trying to analyze the source material he often includes lengthy quotations from newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, and state and city documents in his works. When writing about the American Civil War, the central event of his generation, he could not remain objective. His strong pro-South perspective and prejudice about the war he fought is clearly articulated. His books are written in the flowery style of his day, and several of his works, although long, are still considered among the best primary sources available. Scharf's History of the Confederate States Navy remains a particularly valuable contribution to the literature of the American Civil War.
Scharf enlisted with the 1st Maryland Artillery at the outbreak of the American Civil War
. He fought in the Confederate States Army
, as well as, the Confederate States Navy
. Returning from the war, Scharf assisted with the reorganization of the Maryland
state militia
. He practiced law and took positions as a city editor for the Baltimore Evening News and managing editor for the Baltimore Sunday Telegram. He accumulated a mass of papers on the city of Baltimore and from these he published his first major work, The Chronicles of Baltimore.
In 1878, Scharf, a Democrat from Baltimore City-District 2
, was elected and served one term in the Maryland General Assembly
, House of Delegates
. He served as Commissioner of the Land Office of Maryland from 1884 until 1892 and was an active member of the Maryland Historical Society
. In the year before he died he was dismissed from his position as "Special Chinese Inspector" for the Southern District of New York, a post charged with enforcing the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Geary Act
of 1892.
of Maryland
to Thomas George and Anna Maria (born McNulty) Scharf, the second of eleven children.
He received elementary education at the local Roman Catholic Parish School of St. Peter the Apostle Church
. Scharf attended Calvert Hall
private Catholic college preparatory high school for boys. At sixteen years of age he started work in the counting-room of his father, a bookkeeper and lumber company owner.
Young Scharf was well versed in the political history of his time
. His convictions, as well as his
sympathies, induced him to espouse the cause of the American Southern States. This was the Southern States pro-slavery ideology of white supremacy that emerged from an agrarian society
that existed with the continuing contradiction between its inhumanity towards African-Americans and its claim to uphold republic
an values and democratic
institutions.
At eighteen, he, with a number of other young men in Baltimore, formed a volunteer company called the Scott Guards, of which he was elected Orderly Sergeant. This company was soon disbanded and young Scharf then joined the 19th Ward Volunteers, under Captain William B. Redgraves. The company was organized for the defense of the city, but was also disbanded after doing some service in preserving order.
and without his family's knowledge, Scharf and a friend took passage on the steamer
SS Mary Washington for the Patuxent River
. They reached and crossed the Potomac River
and made their way to Richmond, Virginia
. At Richmond, on July 29, 1861 Scharf enlisted in the 1st Maryland Artillery ("Dements Battery") under Capt. R. Snowden Andrews for "three years or the war." His first encampment was "Brook's Station", near Aquia Creek
, where the battery remained until sent to join the Confederate States Army
batteries overlooking the Potomac in October 1861. Here on the Potomac the battery honed its skills by firing upon and sometimes sinking Unionist
ships.
In March 1862, when Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston
fell back from Manassas, Virginia
, the 1st Maryland Artillery was moved to Fredericksburg
and attached to Brig. Gen. J. Johnston Pettigrew
's Brigade. The battery proceeded to Yorktown, Virginia
and placed under reserve corps of Maj. Gen. Gustavus Woodson Smith
in a defensive response to the Unionist
Peninsula Campaign
. The battery, part of a delaying action against the Union Army
advance on Richmond, eventually ending up at "Poor's farm" just prior to the Battle of Seven Pines
(May 31 and June 1, 1862).
The battery was engaged in the Seven Days Battles
from June 25 to July 1, 1862 around Richmond, Virginia
. On June 26, 1862 the 1st Maryland Artillery was given credit for firing the first shots at the Battle of Mechanicsville. The battery was engaged heavily and suffered sever loses. The following day the battery was in the thick of fighting again at the Battle of Gaines' Mill
firing upon the enemy in support of Lt. Gen. Ambrose P. Hill
and Maj. Gen. George Edward Pickett. They then fought at the Battle of Glendale (Frazier's Farm)
and the Battle of Malvern Hill
.
After the siege of Richmond, the battery was ordered to join Lt. Gen. Stonewall Jackson
. Attached to Brig. Gen. Alexander Lawton
's Georgia Brigade, the 1st Maryland Artillery fought with the Georgians at the Battle of Cedar Mountain
on August 9, 1862. It has been written that the 1st Maryland's fire was so accurate that they decimated the Union battery opposite them. Even though it was a decided Confederate victory under General Jackson the battery suffered severely.
Following the Battle of Cedar Mountain Lt. Gen. Jackson united his command with Lt. Gen. Jubal Anderson Early
at Warrenton Springs
. The 1st Maryland Artillery was mistakenly ordered to cross the Rappahannock River
along with Lt. Gen. Early's Brigade. During the night heavy rain washed the bridges out and cut them off from Jackson and the main force. During the following day, Early's infantry and the Maryland batteries beat back several attacks by Bvt.
Maj. Gen.
John Pope
, while Jackson built a bridge to provide a means of escape.
After Jackson moved around Pope's right to Manassas Junction the 1st Maryland Artillery became heavily engaged in the Second Battle of Bull Run
. The battery lost several men and horses and J. Thomas Scharf was slightly wounded in the ankle. Following the battle the 1st Maryland Artillery marched nearly two weeks to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. At the Battle of Harpers Ferry
, Col.
Stapleton Crutchfield
(Jackson's Chief of Artillery) ordered the battery to cross the Shenandoah River
and make their way up the mountain to Loudoun Heights
. From this position a fierce artillery barrage rained down on Gen.
Dixon S. Miles
and his Union troops, forcing Miles to surrender.
The 1st Maryland Artillery followed Lt. Gen. Early's Division back to Virginia and in December joined the Army of Northern Virginia
at the Battle of Fredericksburg
. The battery saw little action itself, but was fired upon hotly and Scharf just escaped being made a prisoner. In May 1863 during the Battle of Chancellorsville
Maj. Gen.
John Sedgwick
's Union infantry attacked Early and the 1st Maryland Artillery was moved into position on Mayre's Heights. Once in place their fire was deadly; however, the shear weight of Sedgwick's force enabled him to capture the heights. The battery pulled back to a concealed position near the Telegraph Road and unleashed a terrible fire upon the advancing Union infantry. This gave Early time to counter-attack and drive Sedgwick's force from the heights. Lt. Gen. Early sent his compliments to every man in the 1st Maryland Artillery for their gallant and noble conduct on the field. The battery sustained heavy damage at Chancellorsville and Scharf was wounded in his right knee. The battery proceeded to "Holliday's Farm" to repair the pieces and rest and J. Thomas Scharf was sent to a Richmond hospital. Hospitalized seven weeks, he considered other ways to serve the South and applied for a commission in the struggling Confederate States Navy
.
in the Confederate States Navy
on June 20, 1863,. Under the command of First Lieutenant William Harwar Parker
, superintendent of the Confederate States Naval Academy, he received his training on board the CSS Patrick Henry
in the James River (Virginia)
. Scharf was sent to the iron-clad CSS Chicora
at Charleston, South Carolina
, where he participated in picket-boat duty between Fort Sumter
and Morris Island
during the winter of 1864. The crew's task was to watch in case of attack on Fort Sumter. While engaged in this service, he was selected by his commanding officer, Captain Thomas T. Hunter, to lead fifteen men on an expedition to New Bern, North Carolina
. They were accompanied by similar crews from vessels in the harbors of Charleston, Savannah, Wilmington, and Richmond. Lying at anchor off New Bern was the Union steamer
USS Underwriter
. She was the largest gunboat in Albemarle Sound
and credited with firing the first shot at Roanoke Island
. The Confederates, led by Commander John Taylor Wood
, grandson of President Zachary Taylor
and nephew of the Confederate States
President Jefferson Davis
, surprised the crew of the Underwriter and she was taken in hand-to-hand combat early on the morning of February 2, 1884. Under heavy fire from surrounding Union batteries she was burned to the waters' edge; however, her boilers and engines survived relatively unscathed and were later salvaged.
In the spring, Scharf was ordered to the gunboat CSS Chattahoochee
at Columbus, Georgia
and in May 1864 was involved in another daring mission. The plan was to send a cluster of small boats loaded with soldiers to capture a Union blockade
ship, which they would then use to seize the rest of the blockaders on Florida's Gulf Coast. Lieutenant George W. Gift commanded the Confederate force of about 100 men, which include Scharf. Not keeping the matter very secret, Gift sailed south from Columbus on the steamboat Marianna along with his new wife. Near the Georgia-Florida border the Marianna halted briefly to allow Mrs. Gift to disembark. Near the town of Apalachicola, Florida
, Gift and his soldiers crowded onto seven small boats and under the cover of night crossed the Apalachicola Bay
to St. George Island (Florida). There they waited almost a week for idea conditions to launch their attack. Shrouded in darkness, they planned to sneak up on the USS Adela, and then use it to force the surrender of the USS Somerset
. Gift decided to abandon the expedition when scouts returning from Apalachicola brought news that the Union blockaders knew about their plans to attack. Late on the night of May 12, 1864 the seven boats left the island. Gift's boat, with 17 aboard, and another boat carrying 10 men charted a course across the open water. The crossing was rough, and amid wildly tumbling and tossing waves the smaller boat took on water and sank, leaving 10 men desperately holding on to the other boat. Gift became so terribly sick he was unable to function and relinquished command to midshipman J. Thomas Scharf. Scharf later recalled, "The boat was about two miles from shore and all expected every moment would be the last." Scharf ordered the men to toss overboard any extra weight. Soldiers in the boat grabbed the six weakest men hanging onto the sides and pulled them in. Their boat was barely afloat and Scharf feared the remaining soldiers in the water would drown. Scharf decided to risk the extra weight and hoist them inside. When they heard the sound of the waves crashing against the beach of St. Georges Island everyone dove in the water and swam safely ashore. They hid on the island for two days living on oysters, palmetto cabbage and alligator until sympathizers from Apalachicola found them and ferried them across to the town. From there they escaped to safety, away from Union troops.
After the failed expedition, Scharf was sent to the recently captured Union gunboat
Water Witch
, at White Bluff, Georgia
and then to the nearby steamer CSS Sampson, at Savannah
. Here he remained until the beginning of Sherman's March to the Sea
from Atlanta, Georgia
. In early December 1864, the CSS Sampson, with Scharf aboard, along with the CSS Macon and CSS Resolute
were sent to destroy the Charleston and Savannah Railway bridge spanning the Savannah River
. The CSS Sampson continued up the river to Augusta, Georgia
prior to the capture of Savannah by Maj. Gen.
William Tecumseh Sherman
on December 12, 1864.
sent for him and requested he secretly take important dispatches to Canada. His arrangements were made, and the Confederate Secret Service
was ordered to put him across the Potomac. His crossing was delayed by floating ice but he reached Maryland safely. The Unionist, receiving notice of his crossing, captured him at Port Tobacco, Maryland. He was imprisoned in Carroll Prison in Washington in February 1865 and released on parole (with a bond of $5,000) on March 25, 1865. President Andrew Johnson
pardoned him in September 1865 as he could have been executed as a spy.
. Scharf organized Company C and was elected their Captain. On the organization of the 2nd Regiment, he was tendered the Colonelcy, but owing to the prejudices that existed against the returned Confederates, he declined the honor, but accepted when elected position of Lieutenant-Colonel. In a short time, he resigned to accept the position of Ordnance Officer with the rank of Captain, on the staff of Brigadier-General Robert H. Carr, of the Second Brigade. On May 5, 1869 Scharf resigned to accept the position of aide-de-camp
to Maryland Governor Oden Bowie
, the first Governor of Maryland
to be elected under the post Civil War Maryland Constitution of 1867. With this position brought the honorary rank of Colonel, a title he delighted in using. On December 2, 1869, Colonel Scharf married Mary McDougall, the eldest daughter of James McDougall, Esq., a wholesale lumber and commission merchant of Baltimore. They had a son and two daughters.
examination Scharf read law. He joined Samuel Snowden's law offices and was allowed to practice law in Baltimore County in 1874. In 1885 he received the degree of Doctor of law
(LL.D.) from Georgetown College
. While practicing law Scharf began writing articles for newspapers and magazines on various aspects of Baltimore and Maryland history. In 1876, he accepted the job of city editor of the Baltimore Evening News
, later working as managing editor of the Baltimore Sunday Telegram. Quitting his law practice he turned to journalism and historical writing.
. He accumulated a mass of papers on the city of Baltimore and from these he published his first major work, The Chronicles of Baltimore. Scharf was one of the first American historians who consistently used newspapers as a primary source. He often includes lengthy quotations from newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, and state and city documents in his works. When writing about the American Civil War, the central event of his generation, he could not remain objective. His strong pro-South perspective and prejudice about the war he fought is clearly articulated. His books are written in the flowery style of his day, and several of his works, although long, are still considered among the best primary sources available. Scharf's History of the Confederate States Navy remains a particularly valuable contribution to the literature of the American Civil War.
, was elected and served one term in the Maryland General Assembly
, House of Delegates
. From 1884 until 1892 he served as Commissioner of the Land Office of Maryland. In this capacity he had access to thousands of state documents and records, some of which ended up in his private collection. During the 1870s, 1880s, and 1890s Scharf spoke and represented the state of Maryland in a number of public offices, events and celebrations:
passed the Immigration Act
of 1891, the nation's first comprehensive immigration law. This act established an Office of the Superintendent of Immigration under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Treasury, John G. Carlisle. This office was responsible for admitting, rejecting, and processing all immigrants seeking admission to the United States and for implementing national immigration policy. Legislation in March 1895 would upgrade the Office of Immigration to the Bureau of Immigration and the agency head's title would change from Superintendent to Commissioner-General of Immigration.
Prior to 1891, the United States Customs Service
, an agency of the United States Treasury Department, took the enforcement lead because of the maritime nature of immigration. In addition to enforcing immigration legislation the Immigration Inspectors stationed at major United States ports of entry, also collected the 50 cents tax placed on each alien entering the country. By 1892, Ellis Island
, located in the harbor of New York City
, became the nation’s primary immigration station and also became infamous for corruption and brutality scandals.
On April 8, 1893, President Grover Cleveland
appointed former Chairman of the House Committee on Immigration and Naturalization, Herman Stump
, a Maryland Democrat, Superintendent of Immigration. Stump served until July 16, 1897, resigning his appointment together with the transition to the Republican
presidential administration of William McKinley
.
In July 1893, Colonel J. Thomas Scharf was appointed by the Treasury Department to investigate alleged frauds and to regulate and systematize the immigration of Chinese at the Port of New York
. As a result of his three weeks' preliminary investigation, Scharf said: "Great frauds have been perpetrated in the admission of Chinese into this Port." Scharf made formal and specific charges to the Secretary of the Treasury, against Special Deputy Collector of Customs Joseph J. Conch (Acting Collector), Deputy Collector Gunner and Chief Clerk Thomas J. Dunn of the Marine Division, which had charge of the Chinese under the provisions of the Geary act. Scharf also charged customs officers, working with certain large Chinese merchants in Mott Street, with smuggling Chinese into the country by means of false impersonation. Scharf said large sums of money were made by this practice and divided among those in the deal.
Both the Chinese Bureau within the Customs Service and the Chinese Division of the Bureau of Immigration employed Chinese Inspectors. These inspectors were designated to implement Federal regulations mandated by the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Geary Act
of 1892. These laws cut off legal immigration from China and outlawed the granting of citizenship to the Chinese. Immigration decisions made by these Federal officials were generally unchallenged, but appeals to Federal courts did occur. In November 1893, Judge Lacombe of the United States Circuit Court
decided in favor of ten Chinese Scharf had endeavored to have deported. Scharf asserted they were laborers not entitled to entry even though they had the proper passport certificates and papers in their possession.
Scharf tackled his duties as Special Chinese Inspector with enthusiasm and rigor and would question every contention. In interviews with the New York Times, Scharf stated the Chinese Exclusion Act was a farce causing the corruption of the Treasury Department. He said fraud existed and had good reason to believe that men in the employment and confidence of the Government were making $15,000 a year each from the illegal importation of Chinese. He did not get along pleasantly with the Custom House staff, which was under the authority of the Collector of the Port of New York. They often charged each other with interference, and often carried their disputes to the Collector, who usually upheld his own officers. Since Scharf could not get along with the regular force, the Collector believed the customs service would be improved by his removal, or transfer to another post. On October 1, 1897, Scharf was told that his services were no longer required as Chinese Inspector after October 15.
On October 6 Scharf wrote to Secretary of the Treasury, Lyman J. Gage
. He pointed out that he knew another man had been appointed to take his place and said public officials were influenced by corrupt motives. He said he had returned more illegal immigrants then the other inspectors put together and suspected it was the Canadian Pacific Railway
who had planned his downfall. Scharf caused the substance of his letter to be released to the press and the Secretary withdrew an offer to allow him to resign before being dismissed at once. "Mr. Scharf was fertile in suspicion, but not very fruitful in evidence." said Secretary Gage.
, H. Furlong Baldwin Library preserves the J. Thomas Scharf Collection, 1730s-1892. The collection was estimated in 1972 to number about 50,000 manuscripts. Scharf and Thompson Westcott collected the contents of this collection during the late 19th century. Roughly 80% of the total collection is Maryland state documents. The manuscripts of the collection can be divided into four categories:
, Milton S. Eisenhower Library, preserves the John Thomas Scharf papers. The collection consists of his manuscript notes and those of other historians relating to various aspects of American history. Subjects include events from the Revolutionary period, settlement of Native Americans in Florida, and early histories of cities in New York and Pennsylvania. The collection consists of original documents and manuscript notes of historian and author, John Thomas Scharf, and those of other historians including Henry B. Dawson and Thompson Westcott. The material relates to various aspects of American history in the 18th and 19th centuries. Subjects include events from the period of the American Revolution, settlement of Native Americans in Florida, and early histories of cities in New York and Pennsylvania.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, antiquarian
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
and sailor
Sailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
. He is best known for his published historical works. Modern historians and researchers today continue to cite
CITE
You may be looking for Wikipedia:Citing sources.CITE may refer to:* CITE-FM* Certified Incentive Travel Executive - a type of certification for a Meeting and convention planner...
his comprehensive histories as primary source
Primary source
Primary source is a term used in a number of disciplines to describe source material that is closest to the person, information, period, or idea being studied....
materials. Scharf used a formulaic and detailed approach to preparing his historical works. He contacted everyone who could provide information about his subject and used detail questionnaires to capture responses to his inquiries. The Maryland Historical Society
Maryland Historical Society
The Maryland Historical Society , founded in 1844, is the oldest cultural institution in the U.S. state of Maryland. The society "collects, preserves, and interprets objects and materials reflecting Maryland's diverse heritage." MdHS has a museum, library, holds educational programs, and publishes...
J. Thomas Scharf Collection, 1730s-1892 is a testament to the massive volume of original source materials he amassed as a result of his writings.
Scharf was one of the first American historians who consistently used newspapers as a primary source. Rather than trying to analyze the source material he often includes lengthy quotations from newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, and state and city documents in his works. When writing about the American Civil War, the central event of his generation, he could not remain objective. His strong pro-South perspective and prejudice about the war he fought is clearly articulated. His books are written in the flowery style of his day, and several of his works, although long, are still considered among the best primary sources available. Scharf's History of the Confederate States Navy remains a particularly valuable contribution to the literature of the American Civil War.
Scharf enlisted with the 1st Maryland Artillery at the outbreak of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He fought in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
, as well as, the Confederate States Navy
Confederate States Navy
The Confederate States Navy was the naval branch of the Confederate States armed forces established by an act of the Confederate Congress on February 21, 1861. It was responsible for Confederate naval operations during the American Civil War...
. Returning from the war, Scharf assisted with the reorganization of the Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
state militia
Militia (United States)
The role of militia, also known as military service and duty, in the United States is complex and has transformed over time.Spitzer, Robert J.: The Politics of Gun Control, Page 36. Chatham House Publishers, Inc., 1995. " The term militia can be used to describe any number of groups within the...
. He practiced law and took positions as a city editor for the Baltimore Evening News and managing editor for the Baltimore Sunday Telegram. He accumulated a mass of papers on the city of Baltimore and from these he published his first major work, The Chronicles of Baltimore.
In 1878, Scharf, a Democrat from Baltimore City-District 2
Baltimore City Delegation
The Baltimore City Delegation refers to the 18 delegates who are elected from districts in Baltimore to serve in the Maryland House of Delegates in the United States. There are currently 6 legislative districts in Baltimore City with each having 3 delegates. The chairman of the delegation is...
, was elected and served one term in the Maryland General Assembly
Maryland General Assembly
The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is a bicameral body. The upper chamber, the Maryland State Senate, has 47 representatives and the lower chamber, the Maryland House of Delegates, has 141 representatives...
, House of Delegates
Maryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
. He served as Commissioner of the Land Office of Maryland from 1884 until 1892 and was an active member of the Maryland Historical Society
Maryland Historical Society
The Maryland Historical Society , founded in 1844, is the oldest cultural institution in the U.S. state of Maryland. The society "collects, preserves, and interprets objects and materials reflecting Maryland's diverse heritage." MdHS has a museum, library, holds educational programs, and publishes...
. In the year before he died he was dismissed from his position as "Special Chinese Inspector" for the Southern District of New York, a post charged with enforcing the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Geary Act
Geary Act
The Geary Act was a United States law passed in 1892 written by California Congressman Thomas J. Geary. It extended the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 by adding onerous new requirements....
of 1892.
Life before the Civil War
J. Thomas Scharf was born in Baltimore in the U.S. stateU.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
to Thomas George and Anna Maria (born McNulty) Scharf, the second of eleven children.
He received elementary education at the local Roman Catholic Parish School of St. Peter the Apostle Church
St. Peter the Apostle Church
St. Peter the Apostle Church is a Roman Catholic church located at the corner of Hollins and Poppleton Streets in Baltimore, Maryland. It is often referred to as "The Mother Church of West Baltimore." The church was built in 1842 to minister to the growing Irish population of West Baltimore, who...
. Scharf attended Calvert Hall
Calvert Hall College High School
Calvert Hall College High School is a Catholic college preparatory high school for boys located in Towson, Maryland, United States...
private Catholic college preparatory high school for boys. At sixteen years of age he started work in the counting-room of his father, a bookkeeper and lumber company owner.
Young Scharf was well versed in the political history of his time
Origins of the American Civil War
The main explanation for the origins of the American Civil War is slavery, especially Southern anger at the attempts by Northern antislavery political forces to block the expansion of slavery into the western territories...
. His convictions, as well as his
sympathies, induced him to espouse the cause of the American Southern States. This was the Southern States pro-slavery ideology of white supremacy that emerged from an agrarian society
Agrarian society
An agrarian society is a society that depends on agriculture as its primary means for support and sustenance. The society acknowledges other means of livelihood and work habits but stresses the importance of agriculture and farming, and was the most common form of socio-economic oganization for...
that existed with the continuing contradiction between its inhumanity towards African-Americans and its claim to uphold republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
an values and democratic
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
institutions.
At eighteen, he, with a number of other young men in Baltimore, formed a volunteer company called the Scott Guards, of which he was elected Orderly Sergeant. This company was soon disbanded and young Scharf then joined the 19th Ward Volunteers, under Captain William B. Redgraves. The company was organized for the defense of the city, but was also disbanded after doing some service in preserving order.
Confederate Army Career
At the outset of the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and without his family's knowledge, Scharf and a friend took passage on the steamer
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
SS Mary Washington for the Patuxent River
Patuxent River
The Patuxent River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay in the state of Maryland. There are three main river drainages for central Maryland: the Potomac River to the west passing through Washington D.C., the Patapsco River to the northeast passing through Baltimore, and the Patuxent River between...
. They reached and crossed the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
and made their way to Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. At Richmond, on July 29, 1861 Scharf enlisted in the 1st Maryland Artillery ("Dements Battery") under Capt. R. Snowden Andrews for "three years or the war." His first encampment was "Brook's Station", near Aquia Creek
Aquia Creek
Aquia Creek is a tributary of the tidal segment of the Potomac River and is located in northern Virginia. The creek's headwaters lie in southeastern Fauquier County, and it empties into the Potomac at Brent Point in Stafford County, south of Washington, D.C....
, where the battery remained until sent to join the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
batteries overlooking the Potomac in October 1861. Here on the Potomac the battery honed its skills by firing upon and sometimes sinking Unionist
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
ships.
Joseph E. Johnston
Joseph Eggleston Johnston was a career U.S. Army officer, serving with distinction in the Mexican-American War and Seminole Wars, and was also one of the most senior general officers in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
fell back from Manassas, Virginia
Manassas, Virginia
The City of Manassas is an independent city surrounded by Prince William County and the independent city of Manassas Park in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Its population was 37,821 as of 2010. Manassas also surrounds the county seat for Prince William County but that county...
, the 1st Maryland Artillery was moved to Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia located south of Washington, D.C., and north of Richmond. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,286...
and attached to Brig. Gen. J. Johnston Pettigrew
J. Johnston Pettigrew
James Johnston Pettigrew was an author, lawyer, linguist, diplomat, and a Confederate general in the American Civil War...
's Brigade. The battery proceeded to Yorktown, Virginia
Battle of Yorktown (1862)
The Battle of Yorktown or Siege of Yorktown was fought from April 5 to May 4, 1862, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. Marching from Fort Monroe, Union Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac encountered Maj. Gen. John B. Magruder's small Confederate force...
and placed under reserve corps of Maj. Gen. Gustavus Woodson Smith
Gustavus Woodson Smith
Gustavus Woodson Smith , more commonly known as G.W. Smith, was a career United States Army officer who fought in the Mexican-American War, a civil engineer, and a major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life and Mexico:Smith was born in Georgetown,...
in a defensive response to the Unionist
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
Peninsula Campaign
Peninsula Campaign
The Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. The operation, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B...
. The battery, part of a delaying action against the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
advance on Richmond, eventually ending up at "Poor's farm" just prior to the Battle of Seven Pines
Battle of Seven Pines
The Battle of Seven Pines, also known as the Battle of Fair Oaks or Fair Oaks Station, took place on May 31 and June 1, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive up the Virginia Peninsula by Union Maj. Gen....
(May 31 and June 1, 1862).
Seven Days Battles
The Seven Days Battles was a series of six major battles over the seven days from June 25 to July 1, 1862, near Richmond, Virginia during the American Civil War. Confederate General Robert E. Lee drove the invading Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, away from...
from June 25 to July 1, 1862 around Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. On June 26, 1862 the 1st Maryland Artillery was given credit for firing the first shots at the Battle of Mechanicsville. The battery was engaged heavily and suffered sever loses. The following day the battery was in the thick of fighting again at the Battle of Gaines' Mill
Battle of Gaines' Mill
The Battle of Gaines's Mill, sometimes known as the First Battle of Cold Harbor or the Battle of Chickahominy River, took place on June 27, 1862, in Hanover County, Virginia, as the third of the Seven Days Battles of the American Civil War...
firing upon the enemy in support of Lt. Gen. Ambrose P. Hill
A. P. Hill
Ambrose Powell Hill, Jr. , was a career U.S. Army officer in the Mexican-American War and Seminole Wars and a Confederate general in the American Civil War...
and Maj. Gen. George Edward Pickett. They then fought at the Battle of Glendale (Frazier's Farm)
Battle of Glendale
The Battle of Glendale, also known as the Battle of Frayser's Farm, Frazier's Farm, Nelson's Farm, Charles City Crossroads, New Market Road, or Riddell's Shop, took place on June 30, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, on the sixth day of the Seven Days Battles of the American Civil War.The...
and the Battle of Malvern Hill
Battle of Malvern Hill
The Battle of Malvern Hill, also known as the Battle of Poindexter's Farm, took place on July 1, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, on the seventh and last day of the Seven Days Battles of the American Civil War. Gen. Robert E. Lee launched a series of disjointed assaults on the nearly impregnable...
.
After the siege of Richmond, the battery was ordered to join Lt. Gen. Stonewall Jackson
Stonewall Jackson
ຄຽשת״ׇׂׂׂׂ֣|birth_place= Clarksburg, Virginia |death_place=Guinea Station, Virginia|placeofburial=Stonewall Jackson Memorial CemeteryLexington, Virginia|placeofburial_label= Place of burial|image=...
. Attached to Brig. Gen. Alexander Lawton
Alexander Lawton
Alexander Robert Lawton was a lawyer, politician, diplomat, and brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
's Georgia Brigade, the 1st Maryland Artillery fought with the Georgians at the Battle of Cedar Mountain
Battle of Cedar Mountain
The Battle of Cedar Mountain, also known as Slaughter's Mountain or Cedar Run, took place on August 9, 1862, in Culpeper County, Virginia, as part of the American Civil War. Union forces under Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks attacked Confederate forces under Maj. Gen. Thomas J...
on August 9, 1862. It has been written that the 1st Maryland's fire was so accurate that they decimated the Union battery opposite them. Even though it was a decided Confederate victory under General Jackson the battery suffered severely.
Following the Battle of Cedar Mountain Lt. Gen. Jackson united his command with Lt. Gen. Jubal Anderson Early
Jubal Anderson Early
Jubal Anderson Early was a lawyer and Confederate general in the American Civil War. He served under Stonewall Jackson and then Robert E. Lee for almost the entire war, rising from regimental command to lieutenant general and the command of an infantry corps in the Army of Northern Virginia...
at Warrenton Springs
Warrenton, Virginia
Warrenton is a town in Fauquier County, Virginia, United States. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census, and 14,634 at the 2010 estimate. It is the county seat of Fauquier County. Public schools in the town include Fauquier High School, Warrenton Middle School, Taylor Middle School and two...
. The 1st Maryland Artillery was mistakenly ordered to cross the Rappahannock River
Rappahannock River
The Rappahannock River is a river in eastern Virginia, in the United States, approximately in length. It traverses the entire northern part of the state, from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west, across the Piedmont, to the Chesapeake Bay, south of the Potomac River.An important river in American...
along with Lt. Gen. Early's Brigade. During the night heavy rain washed the bridges out and cut them off from Jackson and the main force. During the following day, Early's infantry and the Maryland batteries beat back several attacks by Bvt.
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
Maj. Gen.
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
John Pope
John Pope (military officer)
John Pope was a career United States Army officer and Union general in the American Civil War. He had a brief but successful career in the Western Theater, but he is best known for his defeat at the Second Battle of Bull Run in the East.Pope was a graduate of the United States Military Academy in...
, while Jackson built a bridge to provide a means of escape.
After Jackson moved around Pope's right to Manassas Junction the 1st Maryland Artillery became heavily engaged in the Second Battle of Bull Run
Second Battle of Bull Run
The Second Battle of Bull Run or Second Manassas was fought August 28–30, 1862, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive campaign waged by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia against Union Maj. Gen...
. The battery lost several men and horses and J. Thomas Scharf was slightly wounded in the ankle. Following the battle the 1st Maryland Artillery marched nearly two weeks to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. At the Battle of Harpers Ferry
Battle of Harpers Ferry
The Battle of Harpers Ferry was fought September 12–15, 1862, as part of the Maryland Campaign of the American Civil War. As Gen. Robert E. Lee's Confederate army invaded Maryland, a portion of his army under Maj. Gen. Thomas J...
, Col.
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
Stapleton Crutchfield
Stapleton Crutchfield
Stapleton Crutchfield served as a Confederate artillerist in the American Civil War. He was closely associated with Stonewall Jackson until the latter's death. Crutchfield lost a leg in battle, removing him from service in the field...
(Jackson's Chief of Artillery) ordered the battery to cross the Shenandoah River
Shenandoah River
The Shenandoah River is a tributary of the Potomac River, long with two forks approximately long each, in the U.S. states of Virginia and West Virginia...
and make their way up the mountain to Loudoun Heights
Loudoun Heights (Mountain)
Loudoun Heights, sometimes referred to as Loudoun Mountain, is the first peak of the Blue Ridge Mountain south of the Potomac River in Loudoun County, Virginia and Jefferson County, West Virginia...
. From this position a fierce artillery barrage rained down on Gen.
General (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
Dixon S. Miles
Dixon S. Miles
Dixon Stansbury Miles was a career United States Army officer who served in the Mexican-American War and the Indian Wars. He was mortally wounded as he surrendered his Union garrison in the Battle of Harpers Ferry during the American Civil War.-Early life and military service:Miles was born in...
and his Union troops, forcing Miles to surrender.
The 1st Maryland Artillery followed Lt. Gen. Early's Division back to Virginia and in December joined the Army of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
at the Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
. The battery saw little action itself, but was fired upon hotly and Scharf just escaped being made a prisoner. In May 1863 during the Battle of Chancellorsville
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War, and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville Campaign. It was fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near the village of Chancellorsville. Two related battles were fought nearby on...
Maj. Gen.
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
John Sedgwick
John Sedgwick
John Sedgwick was a teacher, a career military officer, and a Union Army general in the American Civil War. He was the highest ranking Union casualty in the Civil War, killed by a sniper at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House.-Early life:Sedgwick was born in the Litchfield Hills town of...
's Union infantry attacked Early and the 1st Maryland Artillery was moved into position on Mayre's Heights. Once in place their fire was deadly; however, the shear weight of Sedgwick's force enabled him to capture the heights. The battery pulled back to a concealed position near the Telegraph Road and unleashed a terrible fire upon the advancing Union infantry. This gave Early time to counter-attack and drive Sedgwick's force from the heights. Lt. Gen. Early sent his compliments to every man in the 1st Maryland Artillery for their gallant and noble conduct on the field. The battery sustained heavy damage at Chancellorsville and Scharf was wounded in his right knee. The battery proceeded to "Holliday's Farm" to repair the pieces and rest and J. Thomas Scharf was sent to a Richmond hospital. Hospitalized seven weeks, he considered other ways to serve the South and applied for a commission in the struggling Confederate States Navy
Confederate States Navy
The Confederate States Navy was the naval branch of the Confederate States armed forces established by an act of the Confederate Congress on February 21, 1861. It was responsible for Confederate naval operations during the American Civil War...
.
Confederate Navy Career
Scharf became a midshipmanMidshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
in the Confederate States Navy
Confederate States Navy
The Confederate States Navy was the naval branch of the Confederate States armed forces established by an act of the Confederate Congress on February 21, 1861. It was responsible for Confederate naval operations during the American Civil War...
on June 20, 1863,. Under the command of First Lieutenant William Harwar Parker
William Harwar Parker
William Harwar Parker was an officer in the United States Navy and later in the Confederate States Navy. His auto-biography, entitled Recollections of a Naval Officer 1841-1865, provides a unique insight into the United States Navy of the mid-19th century during an era when the Age of Sail was...
, superintendent of the Confederate States Naval Academy, he received his training on board the CSS Patrick Henry
CSS Patrick Henry
CSS Patrick Henry was built in New York City in 1859 by the renowned William H. Webb for the Old Dominion Steam Ship Line as the civilian steamer Yorktown, a brigantine-rigged side-wheel steamer. She carried passengers and freight between Richmond, Virginia and New York City...
in the James River (Virginia)
James River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
. Scharf was sent to the iron-clad CSS Chicora
CSS Chicora
CSS Chicora was a Confederate ironclad ram that fought in the American Civil War. She was built under contract at Charleston, South Carolina in 1862. James M. Eason built her to John L...
at Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, where he participated in picket-boat duty between Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter is a Third System masonry coastal fortification located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. The fort is best known as the site upon which the shots initiating the American Civil War were fired, at the Battle of Fort Sumter.- Construction :...
and Morris Island
Morris Island
Morris Island is an 840 acre uninhabited island in Charleston Harbor in South Carolina, accessible only by boat. The island lies in the outer reaches of the harbor and was thus a strategic location in the American Civil War.-History:...
during the winter of 1864. The crew's task was to watch in case of attack on Fort Sumter. While engaged in this service, he was selected by his commanding officer, Captain Thomas T. Hunter, to lead fifteen men on an expedition to New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 29,524 as of the 2010 census.. It is located at the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers...
. They were accompanied by similar crews from vessels in the harbors of Charleston, Savannah, Wilmington, and Richmond. Lying at anchor off New Bern was the Union steamer
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
USS Underwriter
USS Underwriter (1852)
USS Underwriter was a 341-ton steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War.Underwriter was outfitted as a gunboat, whose primary task was to prevent ships from penetrating the Union blockade of Southern ports....
. She was the largest gunboat in Albemarle Sound
Albemarle Sound
Albemarle Sound is a large estuary on the coast of North Carolina in the United States located at the confluence of a group of rivers, including the Chowan and Roanoke. It is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Outer Banks, a long barrier peninsula upon which the town of Kitty Hawk is located,...
and credited with firing the first shot at Roanoke Island
Roanoke Island
Roanoke Island is an island in Dare County near the coast of North Carolina, United States. It was named after the historical Roanoke Carolina Algonquian people who inhabited the area in the 16th century at the time of English exploration....
. The Confederates, led by Commander John Taylor Wood
John Taylor Wood
John Taylor Wood was an officer in the United States Navy who became a "leading Confederate naval hero" as a captain in the Confederate Navy during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
, grandson of President Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
and nephew of the Confederate States
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
President Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
, surprised the crew of the Underwriter and she was taken in hand-to-hand combat early on the morning of February 2, 1884. Under heavy fire from surrounding Union batteries she was burned to the waters' edge; however, her boilers and engines survived relatively unscathed and were later salvaged.
In the spring, Scharf was ordered to the gunboat CSS Chattahoochee
CSS Chattahoochee
CSS Chattahoochee was a twin-screw steam gunboat built at Saffold, Georgia, entered service in February 1863 for the Confederate States and was named after the river it was built on.- Career :...
at Columbus, Georgia
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
and in May 1864 was involved in another daring mission. The plan was to send a cluster of small boats loaded with soldiers to capture a Union blockade
Union blockade
The Union Blockade, or the Blockade of the South, took place between 1861 and 1865, during the American Civil War, when the Union Navy maintained a strenuous effort on the Atlantic and Gulf Coast of the Confederate States of America designed to prevent the passage of trade goods, supplies, and arms...
ship, which they would then use to seize the rest of the blockaders on Florida's Gulf Coast. Lieutenant George W. Gift commanded the Confederate force of about 100 men, which include Scharf. Not keeping the matter very secret, Gift sailed south from Columbus on the steamboat Marianna along with his new wife. Near the Georgia-Florida border the Marianna halted briefly to allow Mrs. Gift to disembark. Near the town of Apalachicola, Florida
Apalachicola, Florida
Apalachicola is a city in Franklin County, Florida, on US 98 about southwest of Tallahassee. The population was 2,334 at the 2000 census. The 2005 census estimated the city's population at 2,340...
, Gift and his soldiers crowded onto seven small boats and under the cover of night crossed the Apalachicola Bay
Apalachicola Bay
Apalachicola Bay is an estuary and lagoon located on Florida's northwest coast renowned for its oysters. The Apalachicola Bay system also includes St. Georges Sound, St. Vincent Sound and East Bay, covering an area of about . Four islands St. Vincent Island to the west, Cape St. George Island and St...
to St. George Island (Florida). There they waited almost a week for idea conditions to launch their attack. Shrouded in darkness, they planned to sneak up on the USS Adela, and then use it to force the surrender of the USS Somerset
USS Somerset (1862)
USS Somerset was a wooden-hulled, side-wheel ferryboat built at Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1862, which was purchased by the Navy at Washington, D. C., on 4 March 1862 and was commissioned at the New York Navy Yard on 3 April 1862, Lt...
. Gift decided to abandon the expedition when scouts returning from Apalachicola brought news that the Union blockaders knew about their plans to attack. Late on the night of May 12, 1864 the seven boats left the island. Gift's boat, with 17 aboard, and another boat carrying 10 men charted a course across the open water. The crossing was rough, and amid wildly tumbling and tossing waves the smaller boat took on water and sank, leaving 10 men desperately holding on to the other boat. Gift became so terribly sick he was unable to function and relinquished command to midshipman J. Thomas Scharf. Scharf later recalled, "The boat was about two miles from shore and all expected every moment would be the last." Scharf ordered the men to toss overboard any extra weight. Soldiers in the boat grabbed the six weakest men hanging onto the sides and pulled them in. Their boat was barely afloat and Scharf feared the remaining soldiers in the water would drown. Scharf decided to risk the extra weight and hoist them inside. When they heard the sound of the waves crashing against the beach of St. Georges Island everyone dove in the water and swam safely ashore. They hid on the island for two days living on oysters, palmetto cabbage and alligator until sympathizers from Apalachicola found them and ferried them across to the town. From there they escaped to safety, away from Union troops.
After the failed expedition, Scharf was sent to the recently captured Union gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
Water Witch
USS Water Witch (1851)
The third USS Water Witch was a wooden-hulled, sidewheel gunboat in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She is best known as the ship fired on by Paraguay in 1855...
, at White Bluff, Georgia
White Bluff, Georgia
White Bluff was a collection of communities—Nicholsonboro, Rose Dhu, Twin Hill, and Cedar Grove—located in Chatham County, Georgia, United States and now part of Savannah. In 1940, as part of research published in Drums and Shadows: Survival Studies Among the Georgia Coastal Negroes,...
and then to the nearby steamer CSS Sampson, at Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
. Here he remained until the beginning of Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea is the name commonly given to the Savannah Campaign conducted around Georgia from November 15, 1864 to December 21, 1864 by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army in the American Civil War...
from Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. In early December 1864, the CSS Sampson, with Scharf aboard, along with the CSS Macon and CSS Resolute
CSS Resolute
CSS Resolute was a tugboat built in 1858 at Savannah Georgia as the Ajax which served in the Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War....
were sent to destroy the Charleston and Savannah Railway bridge spanning the Savannah River
Savannah River
The Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. Two tributaries of the Savannah, the Tugaloo River and the Chattooga River, form the northernmost part of the border...
. The CSS Sampson continued up the river to Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
prior to the capture of Savannah by Maj. Gen.
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
on December 12, 1864.
Secret mission to Canada
As all the landings were now controlled by Union forces, Scharf decided to resign his naval commission and rejoin the army. The Confederate War DepartmentConfederate States Secretary of War
The Confederate States Secretary of War was a member of the Confederate States President's Cabinet during the Civil War. The Secretary of War led the Confederate States Department of War. The position ended in May 1865 when the Confederacy crumbled during John C. Breckinridge's tenure of the...
sent for him and requested he secretly take important dispatches to Canada. His arrangements were made, and the Confederate Secret Service
Confederate Secret Service
Confederate Secret Service is an umbrella term for a number of official and semi-official secret service operations conducted by the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.-Overview:...
was ordered to put him across the Potomac. His crossing was delayed by floating ice but he reached Maryland safely. The Unionist, receiving notice of his crossing, captured him at Port Tobacco, Maryland. He was imprisoned in Carroll Prison in Washington in February 1865 and released on parole (with a bond of $5,000) on March 25, 1865. President Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
pardoned him in September 1865 as he could have been executed as a spy.
Returning home and the State Militia
Returning home, Scharf resumed business with his father. In 1867, he assisted with the reorganization of the Maryland State militiaMilitia (United States)
The role of militia, also known as military service and duty, in the United States is complex and has transformed over time.Spitzer, Robert J.: The Politics of Gun Control, Page 36. Chatham House Publishers, Inc., 1995. " The term militia can be used to describe any number of groups within the...
. Scharf organized Company C and was elected their Captain. On the organization of the 2nd Regiment, he was tendered the Colonelcy, but owing to the prejudices that existed against the returned Confederates, he declined the honor, but accepted when elected position of Lieutenant-Colonel. In a short time, he resigned to accept the position of Ordnance Officer with the rank of Captain, on the staff of Brigadier-General Robert H. Carr, of the Second Brigade. On May 5, 1869 Scharf resigned to accept the position of aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Maryland Governor Oden Bowie
Oden Bowie
Oden Bowie , a member of the United States Democratic Party, was the 34th Governor of the State of Maryland in the United States from 1869 to 1872.-Childhood:...
, the first Governor of Maryland
Governor of Maryland
The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...
to be elected under the post Civil War Maryland Constitution of 1867. With this position brought the honorary rank of Colonel, a title he delighted in using. On December 2, 1869, Colonel Scharf married Mary McDougall, the eldest daughter of James McDougall, Esq., a wholesale lumber and commission merchant of Baltimore. They had a son and two daughters.
Law and Journalism
To prepare for the Maryland State barState bar association
A state bar association is a bar association that represents or seeks to represent all of the attorneys in a specific U.S. state. Membership in such an association may be voluntary or mandatory for practitioners in that state. State bar associations may be tasked with the administration of the...
examination Scharf read law. He joined Samuel Snowden's law offices and was allowed to practice law in Baltimore County in 1874. In 1885 he received the degree of Doctor of law
Doctor of law
Doctor of Law or Doctor of Laws is a doctoral degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country, and includes degrees such as the LL.D., Ph.D., J.D., J.S.D., and Dr. iur.-Argentina:...
(LL.D.) from Georgetown College
Georgetown College (Georgetown University)
Georgetown College, infrequently Georgetown College of Arts and Sciences, is the oldest school within Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The College is the largest undergraduate school at Georgetown, and until the founding of the Medical School in 1850, was the only higher education division...
. While practicing law Scharf began writing articles for newspapers and magazines on various aspects of Baltimore and Maryland history. In 1876, he accepted the job of city editor of the Baltimore Evening News
Baltimore News-American
The Baltimore News-American was a Baltimore, Maryland, broadsheet newspaper with a continuous lineage of more than two hundred years of Baltimore newspapers. Its final edition was published on May 27, 1986.-History:...
, later working as managing editor of the Baltimore Sunday Telegram. Quitting his law practice he turned to journalism and historical writing.
Literary career
Scharf was an active member of the Maryland Historical SocietyMaryland Historical Society
The Maryland Historical Society , founded in 1844, is the oldest cultural institution in the U.S. state of Maryland. The society "collects, preserves, and interprets objects and materials reflecting Maryland's diverse heritage." MdHS has a museum, library, holds educational programs, and publishes...
. He accumulated a mass of papers on the city of Baltimore and from these he published his first major work, The Chronicles of Baltimore. Scharf was one of the first American historians who consistently used newspapers as a primary source. He often includes lengthy quotations from newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, and state and city documents in his works. When writing about the American Civil War, the central event of his generation, he could not remain objective. His strong pro-South perspective and prejudice about the war he fought is clearly articulated. His books are written in the flowery style of his day, and several of his works, although long, are still considered among the best primary sources available. Scharf's History of the Confederate States Navy remains a particularly valuable contribution to the literature of the American Civil War.
Maryland public service
In 1878, J. Thomas Scharf, a Democrat from Baltimore City-District 2Baltimore City Delegation
The Baltimore City Delegation refers to the 18 delegates who are elected from districts in Baltimore to serve in the Maryland House of Delegates in the United States. There are currently 6 legislative districts in Baltimore City with each having 3 delegates. The chairman of the delegation is...
, was elected and served one term in the Maryland General Assembly
Maryland General Assembly
The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is a bicameral body. The upper chamber, the Maryland State Senate, has 47 representatives and the lower chamber, the Maryland House of Delegates, has 141 representatives...
, House of Delegates
Maryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
. From 1884 until 1892 he served as Commissioner of the Land Office of Maryland. In this capacity he had access to thousands of state documents and records, some of which ended up in his private collection. During the 1870s, 1880s, and 1890s Scharf spoke and represented the state of Maryland in a number of public offices, events and celebrations:
- 1874
- Centennial anniversary of the burning of the "Peggy Stewart," at Annapolis, on October 19, 1874; chosen by the municipal authorities of Annapolis to be the historiographer of the occasion, and delivered his first address in public, which was very favorably received.
- 1875
- By invitation he delivered an eloquent and instructive address for the benefit of the German Orphan Asylum, in March, 1875, choosing as his subject the “Development of the German Element in Baltimore."
- Selected by the Professors of Rock Hill College, near Ellicott City, to pronounce the graduating address, on June 24, 1875.
- Selected by the St. Vincent De Paul's Beneficial Society to deliver an address upon the services of the Irish people in the American Revolution at a grand Irish-American demonstration at Walker's Pavilion, July 5, 1875, on the Patapsco River.
- O'Connell Centennial celebration in Baltimore, at Druid Hill Park, on August 6, 1875; selected as one of the orators of the day.
- 1880
- Served one term in the Maryland General AssemblyMaryland General AssemblyThe Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is a bicameral body. The upper chamber, the Maryland State Senate, has 47 representatives and the lower chamber, the Maryland House of Delegates, has 141 representatives...
, House of DelegatesMaryland House of DelegatesThe Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
, 1878-1880. - Member of the executive committee of the sesquicentennial celebration of Baltimore.
- Served one term in the Maryland General Assembly
- 1884
- Served as Commissioner of the Land Office of Maryland, 1884-1892.
- Associate U.S. commissioner from Maryland to the World Cotton CentennialWorld Cotton CentennialThe 1884 World's Fair was held in New Orleans, Louisiana. At a time when nearly one third of all cotton produced in the United States was handled in New Orleans and the city was home to the Cotton Exchange, the idea for the fair was first advanced by the Cotton Planters Association...
. This was the 1884 World's Fair held in New Orleans, Louisiana, when nearly one third of all cotton produced in the United States was handled in New Orleans and the city was home to the Cotton Exchange.
- 1886
- 1875
- Maryland executive committee member to the Philadelphia Centennial ExpositionCentennial ExpositionThe Centennial International Exhibition of 1876, the first official World's Fair in the United States, was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 10 to November 10, 1876, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. It was officially...
. The Centennial International Exhibition of 1876, the first official World's FairWorld's FairWorld's fair, World fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo are various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All...
in the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, held in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of IndependenceUnited States Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
in Philadelphia.- 1889
- Manager of the Maryland exposition.
- 1893
- Manager of the Maryland state exhibit at the World's Columbian ExpositionWorld's Columbian ExpositionThe World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
in Chicago.
Special Chinese Inspector appointment
In 1891 the United States CongressUnited States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
passed the Immigration Act
Immigration Act
An Immigration Act is a law regulating immigration. A number of countries have had Immigration Acts including:*Canada**The Immigration Act, 1906**The Chinese Immigration Act of 1923**The Immigration Act, 1952**The Immigration Act, 1978...
of 1891, the nation's first comprehensive immigration law. This act established an Office of the Superintendent of Immigration under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Treasury, John G. Carlisle. This office was responsible for admitting, rejecting, and processing all immigrants seeking admission to the United States and for implementing national immigration policy. Legislation in March 1895 would upgrade the Office of Immigration to the Bureau of Immigration and the agency head's title would change from Superintendent to Commissioner-General of Immigration.
United States Customs Service
Until March 2003, the United States Customs Service was an agency of the U.S. federal government that collected import tariffs and performed other selected border security duties.Before it was rolled into form part of the U.S...
, an agency of the United States Treasury Department, took the enforcement lead because of the maritime nature of immigration. In addition to enforcing immigration legislation the Immigration Inspectors stationed at major United States ports of entry, also collected the 50 cents tax placed on each alien entering the country. By 1892, Ellis Island
Ellis Island
Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...
, located in the harbor of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, became the nation’s primary immigration station and also became infamous for corruption and brutality scandals.
On April 8, 1893, President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
appointed former Chairman of the House Committee on Immigration and Naturalization, Herman Stump
Herman Stump
Herman Stump was an American politician.Stump was born on Oakington farm in Harford County, Maryland. He pursued the study of classics and law, was admitted to the bar in 1856, and commenced practice in Bel Air, Maryland...
, a Maryland Democrat, Superintendent of Immigration. Stump served until July 16, 1897, resigning his appointment together with the transition to the Republican
History of the United States Republican Party
The United States Republican Party is the second oldest currently existing political party in the United States after its great rival, the Democratic Party. It emerged in 1854 to combat the Kansas Nebraska Act which threatened to extend slavery into the territories, and to promote more vigorous...
presidential administration of William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
.
In July 1893, Colonel J. Thomas Scharf was appointed by the Treasury Department to investigate alleged frauds and to regulate and systematize the immigration of Chinese at the Port of New York
Port of New York and New Jersey
The Port of New York and New Jersey comprises the waterways in the estuary of the New York-Newark metropolitan area with a port district encompassing an approximate area within a radius of the Statue of Liberty National Monument...
. As a result of his three weeks' preliminary investigation, Scharf said: "Great frauds have been perpetrated in the admission of Chinese into this Port." Scharf made formal and specific charges to the Secretary of the Treasury, against Special Deputy Collector of Customs Joseph J. Conch (Acting Collector), Deputy Collector Gunner and Chief Clerk Thomas J. Dunn of the Marine Division, which had charge of the Chinese under the provisions of the Geary act. Scharf also charged customs officers, working with certain large Chinese merchants in Mott Street, with smuggling Chinese into the country by means of false impersonation. Scharf said large sums of money were made by this practice and divided among those in the deal.
Both the Chinese Bureau within the Customs Service and the Chinese Division of the Bureau of Immigration employed Chinese Inspectors. These inspectors were designated to implement Federal regulations mandated by the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Geary Act
Geary Act
The Geary Act was a United States law passed in 1892 written by California Congressman Thomas J. Geary. It extended the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 by adding onerous new requirements....
of 1892. These laws cut off legal immigration from China and outlawed the granting of citizenship to the Chinese. Immigration decisions made by these Federal officials were generally unchallenged, but appeals to Federal courts did occur. In November 1893, Judge Lacombe of the United States Circuit Court
United States circuit court
The United States circuit courts were the original intermediate level courts of the United States federal court system. They were established by the Judiciary Act of 1789. They had trial court jurisdiction over civil suits of diversity jurisdiction and major federal crimes. They also had appellate...
decided in favor of ten Chinese Scharf had endeavored to have deported. Scharf asserted they were laborers not entitled to entry even though they had the proper passport certificates and papers in their possession.
| "It is bad enough for a member of the Maryland bar, and LL.D. and M.A., author of standard histories and member of fifteen historical societies, to be going around Chinatown doing detective work, but when, in addition to that, I must constantly find myself, thwarted and hampered by those in high and low places, who should help me execute the law, I feel that self-respect demands that I resign." |
| Colonel J. Thomas Scharf quotation, Published: October 14, 1897 by The New York Times. |
| "I could startle you with facts about the doing of these men, not only near the border, but right under your nose." "These people don't want me in the business because they say I know too much." "If I am turned out then I ask for permission to resign as I don't wish to be disgraced by dismissal." |
| Substance of Scharf's letter to Treasury Secretary Gage, Published: October 14, 1897 by The New York Times. |
On October 6 Scharf wrote to Secretary of the Treasury, Lyman J. Gage
Lyman J. Gage
Lyman Judson Gage was an American financier and Presidential Cabinet officer.He was born at DeRuyter, New York, educated at an academy at Rome, New York, and at the age of 17 he became a bank clerk...
. He pointed out that he knew another man had been appointed to take his place and said public officials were influenced by corrupt motives. He said he had returned more illegal immigrants then the other inspectors put together and suspected it was the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
who had planned his downfall. Scharf caused the substance of his letter to be released to the press and the Secretary withdrew an offer to allow him to resign before being dismissed at once. "Mr. Scharf was fertile in suspicion, but not very fruitful in evidence." said Secretary Gage.
Epilogue
Colonel John Thomas Scharf, the author, politician and Confederate veteran, after being ill for three days, died of paralysis of the heart and pneumonia on February 28, 1898, at his home, 80 Manhattan Avenue, New York City, New York . He had entered the practice of law in New York after his tenure as Special Chinese Inspector for the Southern District of New York, at the Port of New York, ended on October 15, 1897. In addition to the Maryland Historical Society, he was also President of the Bureau of American History, Genealogy and Heraldry; a member of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, the Southern Historical Society; an honorary member of the Georgia Historical Society and a corresponding member of the historical societies of New York, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Carolina, Virginia, and of the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio, of the New England Historic-Genealogical Society.Published works
J. Thomas Scharf Collection, 1730s-1892
The Maryland Historical SocietyMaryland Historical Society
The Maryland Historical Society , founded in 1844, is the oldest cultural institution in the U.S. state of Maryland. The society "collects, preserves, and interprets objects and materials reflecting Maryland's diverse heritage." MdHS has a museum, library, holds educational programs, and publishes...
, H. Furlong Baldwin Library preserves the J. Thomas Scharf Collection, 1730s-1892. The collection was estimated in 1972 to number about 50,000 manuscripts. Scharf and Thompson Westcott collected the contents of this collection during the late 19th century. Roughly 80% of the total collection is Maryland state documents. The manuscripts of the collection can be divided into four categories:
- Personal papers of J. Thomas Scharf - His personal papers consist of incoming letters (1866–1892), his research notes, and drafts of his various histories of Maryland. An especially large part of his personal papers is biographical research on Marylanders.
- Personal papers of Thompson Westcott - A smaller portion of the collection is that of Thompson Westcott (1820–1888) of Philadelphia. Westcott and Scharf collaborated on a history of Philadelphia, and on Westcott's death Scharf purchased some of Westcott's papers, largely his correspondence, notes, and the Philadelphia documents Westcott collected.
- Maryland and Pennsylvania state documents
- Maryland documents - The Maryland state documents Scharf collected are the largest part of the total collection. Many were acquired during his tenure as Commissioner of the Land Office of Maryland from 1884 until 1892. These state documents were separated from the collection in July 1975 and sent to the Maryland Hall of Records to be indexed and microfilmed.
- Pennsylvania documents - The Pennsylvania state documents were presumably collected by Thompson Westcott, and acquired by Scharf through a purchase of Westcott's papers. This group of documents is almost entirely Philadelphia court records; especially prominent are petitions for tavern licenses.
- Confederate States of America naval documents and other original manuscripts
- Confederate States of America naval documents - Scharf collected about 1,500 official documents that pertain to the Confederate States Navy. These documents (1863–1864) are largely financial and originated in Shreveport, LouisianaShreveport, LouisianaShreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
. Presumably he acquired these while writing his history of the Confederate States NavyConfederate States NavyThe Confederate States Navy was the naval branch of the Confederate States armed forces established by an act of the Confederate Congress on February 21, 1861. It was responsible for Confederate naval operations during the American Civil War...
. - Other original manuscripts - These documents are largely non-official papers. The items do not have any unifying subject and it is assumed these were collected by Scharf or Westcott
- Confederate States of America naval documents - Scharf collected about 1,500 official documents that pertain to the Confederate States Navy. These documents (1863–1864) are largely financial and originated in Shreveport, Louisiana
John Thomas Scharf papers
The Johns Hopkins UniversityJohns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, Milton S. Eisenhower Library, preserves the John Thomas Scharf papers. The collection consists of his manuscript notes and those of other historians relating to various aspects of American history. Subjects include events from the Revolutionary period, settlement of Native Americans in Florida, and early histories of cities in New York and Pennsylvania. The collection consists of original documents and manuscript notes of historian and author, John Thomas Scharf, and those of other historians including Henry B. Dawson and Thompson Westcott. The material relates to various aspects of American history in the 18th and 19th centuries. Subjects include events from the period of the American Revolution, settlement of Native Americans in Florida, and early histories of cities in New York and Pennsylvania.
Further reading
- References used by –
-
- Richard J. Cox, A Century of Frustration: The Movement for a State Archives in Maryland, 1811-1935, Maryland Historical Magazine, 78 (Summer 1983): 106-117.
- Francis B. Culver, The War Romance of John Thomas Scharf, Maryland Historical Magazine, 21 (September 1926): 295-302.
- Edward G. Howard, Introduction to History of Baltimore City and County, by J. Thomas Scharf (Baltimore: Regional Publishing, 1971).
- Morris L. Radoff, An Elusive Manuscript—The Proceedings of the Maryland Convention of 1774, American ArchivistAmerican ArchivistThe American Archivist is the official publication of the Society of American Archivists . The American Archivist seeks to reflect thinking about theoretical and practical developments in the archival profession, particularly in North America; about the relationships between archivists and the...
, 30 (January 1967): 59-65. - Radoff, Foreword to The History of Maryland, by J. Thomas Scharf (Hatboro, Pa.: Tradition Press, 1967).
- Frank F. White, Jr., ed., Correspondence of Jefferson Davis and J. Thomas Scharf, Journal of Mississippi History, 10 (April 1948): 118-131.
- Tom Kelley, The personal memoirs of Jonathan Thomas Scharf of the First Maryland Artillery, Baltimore: Butternut and Blue, (1992). . ISBN 0935523308.
- Maryland Historical Society, Proceedings of the Maryland historical society, in connection with the celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of Baltimore, Baltimore:J. Murphy & Co, (1880). .
- Catalogue of aportion of the library of J. Thomas Scharf, Boston, Mass: C.F. Libbie & Co, (1883). .
External links
- J. Thomas Scharf works available in digital form through The Internet Archive, a non-profit digital library of Internet sites and cultural artifacts.
- J. Thomas Scharf Collection, 1730s-1892, preserved by the Maryland Historical Society, H. Furlong Baldwin Library
- Maryland State Archives, a Maryland historical agency and central depository for government records of permanent value.
- History of 1st Maryland Artillery, CSA, available through Maryland Units in the Civil War, a website devoted to said topic.
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