2006-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/31/2006
A great war-date Union naval officer's, 6pp. 4to., ink inscribed letter written by Acting Assistant Paymaster Henry W. Diman, "U.S. Gun Boat 'Kineo', Mississippi River 5 miles Below Ft Jackson, [Miss.], April 9, 1862"to his brother concerning his ship's preparation to run the gauntlet of Forts Jackson and Philip in her baptism of fire during Farragut's drive to capture New Orleans in1862, reading, in small part: "…we have not yet reached New Orleans…[on] the 4th while lying up the river in company with the sloop of war "Iroquois," a large rebel steamer…covered with men…bore directly down on us. She carried the broad blue pennant signifying that the commander was on board…when she reached within about three miles of us she stopped…the "Iroquois" following us…we gave him a shot with our "little dick" (rifled gun) which took effect in his stern. The rebel…immediately got underway and went up stream. We chased her…firing at her nineteen times…one of our shells took effect near her paddle boxes…we could easily see…the men jump up…in order to get out of the way of the explosion…we could not imagine why she did not return our fire, but…[there were] six steamers just behind it…the next day…we made a reconnaissance in company with the Iroquois, Kenebec, Kartadin, Wissahickon and Sciota…went up in plain sight of the Fort. We saw… the row of schooners holding the chain across the river…the chain passes both under and over them in this manner [Diman sketches the chain here] so that if you cut it in one place it will not wholly give way…the river makes a sharp curve at this place…from our mast head we got a…good view of both forts…some of their shells fell…near us, one passed between the foremast and smoke stack of the Iroquois…the commodore…was on the Iroquois…Commodore Farragut…is considered one of the best officers in our navy…the other night…Capt De Camp of the Iroquois came on board and purposed a trip…towards the forts…the "Kineo" went alone…there was a dense fog on the surface of the river…we felt our way along the shore occasionally sending a boat ashore to search a house…[with] all hands being at quarters ready for an immediate attack. At one time we got aground…after a few minutes backed off…about one o'clock we found ourselves close up to the schooners…Capt De Camp has been censured by the flag officer for taking us up there…our life here is now of continued excitement, most every night expecting that the "Ram" will be upon us…the river is…very muddy…many of the little houses on the banks are submerged some two feet…we drink the river water but it is previously distilled which makes it very palatable. The transport Connecticut arrived a few days since brings us a good supply of fresh beef and rice…the enclosed flower is for Johnnie…it was picked in the garden of a Rebels house at the little deserted village of Pilottown…". 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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