Description:

(UNION NAVY) USS WACHUSETT ACTING MASTER WRITES HIS ATTORNEY
An interesting pair of war-date letters from PHINEAS LEACH (1807-1892) as Acting Master of the steam sloop USS WACHUSETT, both to his attorney, an Allen Danforth of Plymouth, Massachusetts. The first, 1p. 8vo., Hampton Roads, March 31, 1862, alludes to the ship's imminent deployment in support of McClellan's Peninsula Campaign, in full: ‘I was unable to do as I expected & told you I should before I left Boston. My expenses in fitting out were more than I anticipated. I wish it were otherwise. We are now about entering upon an important Expedition of which this Ship commands – should I fall the liability above alluded to will be paid. It is unnecessary for me to enter into particulars, & should I survive it will be attended to as soon as I am able. I can do no more. It is only a question of time for which I ask indulgence.' Leach signs at the conclusion in black ink. Leach follows up in his second letter, 2pp. 8vo., Plymouth, Sep. 29, 1862, in part: ‘Yours addressed to me on board the ‘Wachusett' at Washington has been received… I shall send you the Extra interest as soon as my acc't is rec'd… to the [receiving ship USS] North Carolina, to which Ship I am now attached to & shall remain... some weeks & shall return to Plym again before going to sea… There is no doubt I think but I shall remain in the Navy, & without entering into particulars will say the recent change is satisfactory…' Leach again signs at the conclusion. Both letters show original mailing folds and are faintly toned, with the earlier example showing archival tape marks to the verso, else very good. Two pieces. Around the time of Leach's second letter, the Wachusett was made flagship of Commodore Charles Wilkes' ‘Flying Squadron', established to hunt for the Confederate raiders CSS ALABAMA and CSS FLORIDA. Although this search was a failure, the ship captured several blockade runners. After refit, Wachusett put to sea again at the beginning of 1864, cruising the South American coast in search of the raiders. Finally, in October of 1864, she located the Florida in the Brazilian port of Bahia. Her commander, Napoleon Collins, dared the raider to exit the port to engage in combat, but her commander declined. Collins, violating Brazilian neutrality, rammed the Florida and forced her surrender, towing her prize out of the harbor under fire from Brazilian forts.

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

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