The Union Fleet Occupies Baton Rouge

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/31/2006

A good war-date Union naval officer's, 4pp. 8vo., ink inscribed, letter written by Acting Assistant Paymaster Henry W. Diman, "U.S. Gun Boat 'Kineo', Off Baton Rouge, July 13, 1862"to his cousin giving a good description of Baton Rouge after the fall of New Orleans, reading, in small part: "…although I am away off among rebels, contrabands, sugar cane and mosquitoes, you must not think that I have forgotten my little nieces…it is now Sunday and…I may…take a walk about the streets of Baton Rouge…I wrote Lizzie a few days ago and sent her a little rebel flag, and in this letter I enclose one for you. The little girls here used to carry them, but since we have been here they do not dare…the stars and stripes float from the state house and all the public buildings, and of course is the only flag allowed. Everything here is so very different from what it is at home. We have no clams…no milk…the water instead of being salt and blue, is fresh and muddy…it is not safe to go in bathing for fear the alligators might catch us…some negros killed an alligator about seven feet long and dragged him ashore close by our vessel. Several others have been killed…since we have been here, so you can see that it would be hardly safe to jump overboard when such ugly monsters are around…the houses are all low and have awnings…to keep the sun out and the people do not move out much until…during the evening…we have bombarded the town once and the people are very much frightened for fear that the place will be attacked again…I have received no official information of my appointment as consul…I expect when I get out of Portugal that you will write me some long letters…the enclosed flag is a trophy from Baton Rouge, Capital of Louisiana…". After serving in the battle of Baton Rouge, Diman resigned from the navy in August 1862 to accept a government appointment to Portugal. The Kineo served throughout the remainder of the war on the Mississippi and was decommissioned in 1866. Minor fold splits, else very good.

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