2008-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008
A nice war-date Union sailor's letter written by Ordinary Seaman Jim Gifford of New Bedford, Massachusetts, with cover addressed to his parents, 4p. octavo, U.S. Ship Release Off Beaufort, NC, June 10, 1864, and reads in part: "…The captain and Paymaster with a boats crew went about 10 miles to a steamer that was run ashore today and they all came back with a pair of shoes, each which were taken out of the prize yesterday. I was setting in my room and I thought I heard the report of cannons and I went on deck and I got on deck just in time enough to see the Blockade runner blow up. It seems the [USS] Newbern while coming up from the Wilmington fleet made out this steamer about daylight and put chase to her. The Blockade runner finding the Newbern gained on her put for the shore and when she struck they deserted her having arranged the boilers so they would burst which they did as soon as they left her. All the men have been taken prisoners but one or two. She happened to run ashore just inside our pickets…this has been quite a busy week among our gunboats in taking prizes. We have one officer under arrest and two men in irons. It seems this officer smuggled some liquor aboard from one of the prizes and hid it, some of the sailors found it and got drunk and got to fighting and then reported the officer for bringing liquor aboard…" VG.
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