Samuel Francis du Pont (1803-1865) was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy and fought in the Mexican-American War and the Civil War. He was the fourth child and second surviving son of Victor Marie du Pont (1767-1827) and his wife, Gabrielle Joséphine de la Fite de Pelleport (1770-1837). The collection is a microfilmed selection of du Pont's correspondence with contemporaries, primarily Alexander Dallas Bache (1806-1867). The letters concern Civil War activities, especially the use of ironclads in naval operations.