Raynors 2020-05 Putnal
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2020
A rare pair war-date of Union Naval officer's letters, totaling 5pp. 8vo., written in ink by a certain "B. F. Wright" U. S. S. Chickasaw, Mobile, Ala., Feb. 11 & May 9, 1865 to his friend concerning their operations outside of Mobile in 1865, reading, in part: "…Mobile will [be] easily taken…our own fighting battery has only just been put in complete fighting trim since the battle. We could have fought before this, but not so well as now. We have made various improvements in throwing open the great iron hatches in case of a hole is blown in the bottom in the monitor. [The] Tecumseh which was lost here. Not a man could be saved from drowning…[they] sunk in the…metallic coffin except [but] for a few in the turret [or] at their guns. We have to send to St. Louis or to N. O[rleans] for any kind of machine work & then have the patterns made & cast. We have just got one cast wheel from N. O. which [weighs] 25 hundred [pounds] in case [the] one breaks, in action, under the turret. We can hardly…put this in its place…we are to take advantage [of] the Rebs when…[we] get the right kind of pilots so as not to run on these infernal machines…Torpedoes. Besides, the army had to have a rest & get…ammunition…I am in good health except a weak back which…will always trouble me. I owe Mr. Reb something for that hurt yet… [Mobile, May 9, 1865]…I was strolling through the city all day in search of your friends you wrote about…I have been unable to find them…we are going up to the Tombigbee River to bring down the Rebel fleet. We start tomorrow morning…we have had good luck with ur crew & boat. Mr. Hamilton will take command of the Rebel Ram Nashville…". Original stamped transmittal cover is included. Minor spotting, else very good.
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