Description:

CHASING THE MERRIMAC ON THE JAMES RIVER
Fine content Union sailor's letter with cover, 2pp. 8vo., 'U.S. Steamer Commodore Hull', Newport News, Dec. 7, 1862. Thomas H. Rebanks writes his family in Chicago, in part: '...arrived at fortress Monroe Friday morning layed there until last night we ordered up the james river we went up last night about as far as it would be safe to go. We are the advance picket next behind us about a mile is the Ironsides Galena monitor and all the iron clads. they expect the Merrimac down every night if we see [her] we are to slip our cable and scadattle down the river till the iron clads do the work. We are laying opposite Newport News and the hulks of the Congress and Cumberland that were sunk by the Merrimac are sticking out of the water...[I] don't expect soldiers are here...' Very good. USS Commodore Hull was a converted ferryboat that later joined in the attacks on and the capture of Plymouth, N.C. on 29 October 1864. On 31 October, she was heavily damaged by Confederate batteries, losing four killed and three wounded.

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March 27, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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