Description:

(UNION NAVY) USS LEXINGTON COMMANDER GEORGE M. BACHE CAPTURES CONFEDERATE COTTON
GEORGE M. BACHE (1841-1896) Career U.S. Navy officer, commander of the gunboat USS CINCINNATI during the Vicksburg campaign and later commander of the gunboat USS LEXINGTON. Fine content and association, war-date A.L.S., 1p. 4to., [n.p.], March 9, 1864, to U.S. Navy rear admiral David D. Porter. Bache writes from aboard the Lexington, in full: ‘I have the honor to enclose the prize list of this vessel [not present] for her share of sixty two bales of C. S. A. cotton, captured during our late expedition up the Black and Washita [Ouachita] rivers.' He signs ‘Geo. M. Bache' at the conclusion in black ink, adding his rank ‘Lieut. Comdg'. Shows original mailing folds, with mounting remnants to the verso, otherwise in very good to fine condition. The sidewheel gunboat Lexington had one of the most active records of any warship in the Civil War: under Army control, she first supported Grant during his drive to capture Paducah, Kentucky and secure the mouths of the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, before suppressing Confederate shore batteries at the Battles of Belmont and Fort Henry. Operating with USS TYLER, she played a pivotal role at the Battle of Shiloh when her artillery turned back a push against Grant's forces by Albert Sidney Johnston. She was transferred to the Navy in October of 1862 and participated in the Yazoo River expedition, which sought to assault Vicksburg from the rear, and operated on the Cumberland River. She was among the squadron sent to capture Shreveport during the abortive Red River campaign, and fought Confederate cavalry general Thomas Green's forces at Blair's Landing, resulting in Green's death. Lexington and the rest of her squadron were trapped at Alexandria by the dangerously low level of the Red River, and a system of dams was built to allow the squadron to pass over the falls, with the Lexington being the first to make the dangerous passage.

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

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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