Description:

UNION SAILOR'S LETTER ABOUT THE BATTLE OF GRAND GULF
Fine content Union sailor's letter written in ink by Albert Philips, 3pp. 4to., U.S.S. Iroquois, [Mississippi River], June 15, 1862, in part: "...We are just below Vicksburg waiting for the remainder of the fleet to come up...then we will make the attack on the batteries. They are on a large hill [most likely Fort Castle which was home to the feared cannon nicknamed "Whistling Dick']...the mortar boats...can shell them out of the batteries while we attack the city...we are up the river between seven and eight hundred miles...we left the West Indies...March the 15th and...arrived in due time to prepare for battle...went up to...Forts Jackson & Philips and opened fire on them and fired over two hundred shells doing great damage to Fort Jackson...their shot fell all around us...we dropt down...and lay there until Thursday morning April 24th and then we all got under way and started for Battle. We passed the forts at day break...we had eight killed and twenty wounded. Then we proceeded up the river to New Orleans. We took charge of the Crescent City of the South on the 25th and hoisted the Stars & Strips and pulled down the Rebel flag and then proceeded up the river and took charge of Baton Rouge and Natchez...we came up here where we are now...the mail did not come up and we sent two gunboats down to see what the matter was...there was a Rebel party at Grand Gulf...they fired into our gun boats killing one man and wounding several...one of the boats...told us the sad story...we got under weigh and went down there and opened on them with our 32 lbr Rifle 9 inch and 11 inches driving them off...then we sent boats ashore and set fire to the city and burned it to the ground...so shall every city that fires on the Stars & Stripes...is very warm and unhealthy [here]. There are quite a number sick...tell George Albert that I have got a Rebel gun for him...". The original patriotic cachet "SHIP" rating transmittal cover included, very good.

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June 3, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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