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, October 23, 1864, , and reads in part: "…The [USS] Newbern arrived here this week and I had a chance to know what was going on in Hampton roads. There is a large fleet of vessels in there, and some seven or eight iron clads. The Dictator in New York is fitting out for the same expedition. I notice all the gunboats that come in here now are sent right north to Hampton Roads. The Steamers Quaker City, Keystone State and Fort Jackson are going to be used as Hospital boats. The Keystone state when she went north took one hundred bales of hair on board, they say that is to stow around the engines some of the vessels are having chains put on the side of the vessels. I don't know whether they will take us down there or not I don't know but they will take ammunition enough with them…We have got a masters mate that plaques the captain almost to death. The captain is a Dutchman and the m.mate tells him if he is going to tell him he must talk English. The M. Mate will call him a damned old Dutchman to his face…" VG.
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