Letters concerning the slave trade and the USS John Adams

This collection consists of letters written from Commander Levin M. Powell of the USS John Adams to Commodore George W. Storer. Powell comments on the ship’s supplies and condition, his sailing orders, and the Atlantic slave trade, while the ship was off the coast of Brazil, near Rio de Janeiro.

The USS John Adams was built in 1799, and served in the Barbary Wars, the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and the Civil War. The U.S. Navy sold it in 1867. At the time of these letters, the ship was commanded by Commander Levin M. Powell and attached to the U.S. Naval Forces, Coast of Brazil, under Commodore George W. Storer.

The original materials are held by the Woodson Research Center in Fondren Library. Search the finding aid/inventory for the Letters concerning the slave trade and the USS John Adams, MS 083.