July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
Civil War Autograph Letter Signed, “H.M. Matthews” 3pp. octavo, Wyoming, Wyoming Co. New York, June 8, 1865, addressed to Mr. A. Clendening, pertaining to his son and reads in part: “...Your last note was forwarded to me from Bridgeport Ala...I am now at home discharged from the service. On reading your last letter I am quite certain that the Unknown grave is that of your son as there is but one burying ground in Bridgeport and that is ‘on a hill’ s you received information also the body arriving at the place dead would naturally be buried by an order from the Provost Marshal and the date is correct which leaves scarcely any doubt as every other grave of that date is marked with the name in full...” VG. Because of its location on both a rail line and the Tennessee River, Bridgeport was a strategic site during the American Civil War. It was the site of a major skirmish on April 29 and August 26, 1862 and numerous other small actions took place in the area. In the latter part of the war, Bridgeport was the site of a major shipyard building gunboats and transports for the Union Army. The USS Chattanooga was built here and became a vital part of the famous "Cracker Line," which broke the Confederate's siege of Chattanooga in November 1863.
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