“I am here in the Midst of Fight & Blood ...”

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/15/2018

Autograph Letter Signed “William Gridley” 1pp. folio, Buenos Ayres, South America, April 22, 1818, with integral leaf addressed to Capt Gridley, of New York, and reads in part: “...I am here in the midst of Fight & Blood, exactly where I wish to be, until, I can fetch with me to North America a sample of the plata (alias cash)...I arrived here in the True Blooded yankee (alias Invincible) Sept. 3rd 1817 after 10 months cruise...we fell in with two Portuguse vessels...there were rising 200 [men] on the Brig who brought us to action (while the ship lay to, within gun shot)...we fought her at long shot an hour & a half (which I can vouch for as it was my business to take the minutes of the action by the compass) we then thinking she would be too much for us at Game, attempted to board ...then the ship opening a fire upon us we could not make the second attempt...they put us in irons, except the officers & some few men, we were then taken to Monte Vidio and their confined in the Citadel...4 months, when about 30 of us were released, but the Captain & remainder of the crew are detained yet....” Fine condition.

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