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 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, 7p. octavo, 'Florida' Port Royal, South Carolina, April 16, 1862, with stamped cover, accompanied by an ALS by Admiral Samuel DuPont inviting Goldsborough to visit Fort Pulaski. Goldsborough's letter reads in part: "…I accepted the Flag Officers invitation which I enclose and yesterday morning steamed out of the harbor of Port Royal…We reached the scene of the late bombardment about 1/2 past 12 and landed at a wharf on Cockspur Island were received by a Major and a few soldiers of the 7th Connecticut Regt. and escorted for about 1/2 mile up a plank road until we reached the fort…The S.W. Angle of the Fort facing our batteries on Tybee is completely demolished two casemates knocked into one sufficiently large to admit a storming party. The parapet knocked off nearly all round the Fort. Guns dismounted muzzle knocked off and I never in my life witnessed so much destruction in so short a space of time. It was truly wonderful and I am not surprised at Col. Olmstead surrendering it. They had one killed & three wounded, one since died. It was the intentions of our troops to storm the Fort on the night of the 15th if it had not surrendered. They had several 10 in guns 42 & 32 pdrs, two Blakely rifles that came over in the Frigate besides 10 & 13 in mortars. The capture of Fort Pulaski fully demonstrated that bricks & mortar cannot resist rifle shot…". Much more interesting content. VG.
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