Description:

CHARLES ELLETT, 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. War-date A.L.S. ‘C. E. Jr.' on docket on verso, 1p. legal folio, ‘Before Memphis', June 11, 1862, to CHARLES H. DAVIS (1807–1877), a self-educated American astronomer and Navy rear admiral. During the Civil War, he commanded the Western Gunboat Flotilla, where he won an important engagement in the First Battle of Memphis beforecapturing enemy supplies on a successful expedition up the Yazoo River. Ellet's retained copy of his letter to Davis, it reads in part: In part: ‘…I received your verbal proposition this morning through Capt. Phelps to send of a detachment of my fleet today to cooperate with two of the gun-boats of your squadron in an expedition up White River, the whole to be placed under the command of one of your officers. I find the notice is too short. All my boats are nearly out of provisions and several of them were last night directed to blow off and clear out their boilers today. I know of nothing however to prevent the expedition from starting tomorrow, if we obtain subsistence for the trip from your fleet. But I think it would be better to keep the two branches of your expedition entirely distinct, that emulation may be excited and that some men of spirit in the Ram Fleet who had not a chance to distinguish themselves at Memphis may have it on this occasion. I could contribute the Lancaster, a side-wheel steamer, the best I have for that purpose, two stern-wheel rams, the Mingo and Lioness, and the Horner as a tug, to tow a couple of coal barges. I propose to place the whole of this expedition under the command of the bearer of this note, Lieutenant George E. Currie, with instructions to cooperate in every respect cordially and energetically with your officers, taking either the advance or the rear, as they may prefer, but reserving for him the privilege of driving his rams against the enemy whenever he gets a chance…' Written only ten days before he would succumb from his injury to the knee, which he refused to have amputated. Small splits around the margins with the signature cut off, otherwise very good.

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April 1, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
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$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000