Description:

CHARLES ELLET, JR.
(1810 - 1862) Civil War Engineer and an expert in navigating the Mississippi; planned and built the first suspension bridge at Wheeling, Virginia; commissioned as an aide-de-camp with rank of colonel to command a fleet of rams. On June 8, 1862, he led his flotilla after a highly successful fight against the Confederates and virtually destroyed the enemy…only to die of wounds 15 days later, on June 21, 1862. Rare war-date draft A.L.S. 'Col. Ellet' in the text, written only nine days before he would be mortally wounded, 3pp. 4to., 'U.S. Ram Steamer Queen of the West Fort Pillow', May 30, 1862. Ellet drafts a letter to an unknown party, in part: '...The Col. Commanding was surprised this morning by receiving a written request from Vsl. Master D. M. Dryden of the Steam Ram Monarch to repair immediately to that boat and to call a board of Engineers to examine her boilers...' He further notes that reports indicated that the vessel, under Ellet's command at the time, had defective boilers before she left New Albany, but no such report had been made in advance of sailing. He further notes that the board of engineers must meet to determine the extent of the damage to the boilers. Fine.

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May 4, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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