This letter authorized attorney William Crapo to collect and receive for the owners of the whaleship Ocmulgee the "Alabama Award". The Alabama Awards were monies paid to owners of ships destroyed by the Confederate Raider, CSS Alabama, during the Civil War. The letter instructs Attorney Crapo to pay the officers and crew of the vessel what they were due as their share of the catch, pay bills owed to the Captain and the remainder to the owners.