2008-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008
GOLDSBOROUGH, JOHN RODGERS (1809-1877) Union naval commodore who commanded the ships USS Union, Florida, Colorado, Shenandoah during the war as part of the Potomac Flotilla, Southern Atlantic and Gulf and Southern Blockading Squadron. He also commanded the USS Hartford as part of the Asiatic fleet in 1868 and was the brother of famed Union naval hero Rear Admiral Louis Goldsborough. War-date Autograph Letter Signed by Naval Commander John Goldsborough, 28p. octavo, "A Secesh butterfly - fr. South Carolina, 'Florida' off Savanah, November 18, 1861, with stamped cover, it reads in part: "…My last…was written the day after our arrival at Port Royal, S.C. and on the eve of our starting for Blockading duty on my old station off the Port of Savannah. In this service I am accompanied by Commander [John S.] Missroon (who is the senior) in the Frigate Savannah and Comdr. Parrott (my junior) in the Augusta so that we have the port effectually and almost hermetically sealed. Neither John Bull or Johnny Crapeau can find any fault in there not being an efficient force at this place and indeed the same may be said of every port and inlet in both South Carolina & Georgia, and I now defy an vessel to attempt to violate the Blockade…Port Royal likewise is in sight so that occasionally we have opportunities of boarding vessels either in or out of the harbor…I think I have the best position on the coast for blockading and I am very much pleased with it…this [the capture of Port Royal, S. C.] was entirely, wholly and completely a Naval Battle and a Naval victory. The Navy bombarded and drove the Rebels from their batteries on each side of the harbor took possession & turned them over to Genl. [Thomas] Sherman & his Army of 14,000 men. Genl. S. now occupies the island of Hilton Head about 10 miles long & 2 wide which is not only fertile but of fine producing soil…we found fine crops of both corn & cotton, besides plenty of 'contrabands' which were set immediately to picking the latter. These two islands of Hilton Head & St. Philip's commands the entrance to Port Royal Sound leading up to Beaufort and affording a complete water communication inland between Charleston and Savannah, which is now effectually stopped…On Hilton Head Genl. Drayton who commanded the rebel army on that island resided he has a magnificent mansion and most gorgeously furnished, a splendid plantation with a fine crop of cotton & corn and plenty of negroes to work it, everything was deserted ladies dresses, pianos, presentation swords of the most costly kind, sashes, belts, shirts, buttons, clothing belonging to both ladies & gentlemen of the latest Parisian fashion and when our forces reached his dwelling they actually found the Negroes plundering their masters houses & wearing their masters clothes, this we had to put a stop to and place sentinels to prevent further depredations. The negroes appeared perfectly delighted when the Yankees as they called us came up and took possession. They said they would do anything in the world if they could only be free. I have heard and know but little of the island of St. Philips. We have some two or three thousand troops on that island and Genl. [Isaac] Stevens was in command but I understood he was going home…A Genl. Elliot [South Carolina Captain Stephen Elliott who was wounded in the leg while commanding Fort Beauregard] commanded the Battery on this island which consisted of nineteen heavy guns and 4 heavy field pieces, one or two of their pieces bursted early in the engagement killing everyone around and among them it is supposed Genl. Elliot…It was perfectly astonishing I am told the way they ran, throwing away everything absolutely striping themselves naked so that the whole island was strewed with all sorts of soldiers apparel and I learn when they arrived at the upper end the island to cross over in the ferry to the mainland, some of them were in a perfect state of nudity completely demoralized. And as the negro women said to some of our officers 'Yesterday white man massa plenty as de grain of sand upon de ground' (stirring up the and at the same with her foot) and naked Lord bless you Massa naked as a turkey without a feather…During the bombardment Comm. [Josiah] Tattnall with three small steamers made his appearance in the upper part of the sound and opened fire at a tremendous long range his shot falling short one or two miles during the fight when either of our gunboats would make an effort to entrap him he would show his stern and steam away into shoal water behind the island where he knew very well that our gun boats could not follow. A letter from Comm Tattnall to Genl [Thomas F.] Drayton picked up a day or two after the battle in which he informs his gallant comrade that he Tattnall and his noble & brave companion of the Confederate flotilla would share the fate of the army sink or swim, life or death, nothing was said about running…". Much more interesting content. Near fine.
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