2024-07 Raynors Historical Collectible Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/13/2024
A great pre-battle of First Bull Run Confederate officer's letter written to Brigadier General Daniel Ruggles concerning the concentration of Union naval forces near Mathias' Point, Virginia and the resulting battle between the Union navy and the Confederate shoreline batteries on June 1, 1861. During the engagement, the USS Pawnee under the command off Commander Stephen C. Rowan in conjunction with the USS Freeborn attacked the rebel fort near the Point during which a bridge was destroyed along with several nearby dwellings. Rowan in his after action report to the Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles wrote: "- we opened a terrible fire from five 9-inch guns. The batteries were twice silenced - the houses near the forts were destroyed and the southern end of the bridge set on fire - this ship was struck nine times - four in the hull - one passed through the maintop-sail yard, another shattered the mizzenmast head and topsail, and another passed through the smokestack - I have no casualties to report; the only scratch was one that I received on the face from one small splinter."
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