September 22, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/22/2011
GOLDSBOROUGH, John Rodgers (1809-1877) Union naval commodore who commanded the ships USS Union, Florida, Colorado, Shenandoah during the war as part of the Potomac Flotilla, Southern Atlantic and Gulf and Southern Blockading Squadron. He also commanded the USS Hartford as part of the Asiatic fleet in 1868 and was the brother of famed Union naval hero Rear Admiral Louis Goldsborough. War-date Autograph Letter Signed by Naval Commander John Goldsborough, to his wife, signed "John," 15pp. 8vo., ink, [USS] Florida, St. Simons, Ga., July 27, 1862 with original cover concerning the effort to bottle up and capture the CSS Nashville which had run the Union blockade near Beaufort, North Carolina in February 1862 after destroying a Union vessel just days before. She fled to the waters off of Savannah, Georgia and while there was sold to a private merchant, eventually being renamed the Rattlesnake and in February 1863 she was destroyed by the Union ironclad Montauk, in part: "...The 'Paul Jones' Commodore Steedman arrived yesterday from Port Royal... She came here for a Pilot to take her into Ossabaw [Sound] where we learn the Confederate steamer Nashville is loaded with cotton - waiting for an opportunity to slip out, but has been prevented from doing so by the Gunboat Unadilla. The Gunboat Hudson and the Madgie from my division will accompany Steedman in his undertaking…the Nashville days are numbered. They must either destroy her or Steedman will capture her. Vessels have been coming in and out of Ossabaw [Sound] for some weeks notwithstanding as far back as May I asked the Commo. for a steamer to blockade that sound...This wicked fratricidal interminable war when will it end - I believe it will continue until we have another election for President and I shall hope and pray that Mr. Lincoln will be reelected. I want to see Stanton out of the War and either Mr. Holt or Genl. Dix at the head of that Department. Did you see the correspondence between Mr. Stanton and Genl. McClellan relative to the occupation of the White House as a hospital for our sick and wounded. McClellan floored him handsomely. There is no doubt in my mind that Mr. Stanton has been a great drawback to McClellan's success and I firmly believe that he and Genl. Wool have been cooperating together to a friend somewhere in the North, published in all the newspapers about two months ago, where he claims the sole and entire credit of the destruction of the Merrimac. The old wretch, I believe he has been working against both LMG [his brother, Admiral Louis M. Goldsborough] and Genl. McClellan all the time and that was the real cause which induced the President to remove him from Old Point. I am glad he has not succeeded in obtaining the Thanks of Congress, which he so much coveted. They ought to have put him on the retired list long ago, he is a regular old Granny - ten times more so then John Gardner. I don't think Wilkes will accomplish much up the James River, he is a poor stick. Lieut. Stevens in the Port Royal should have been appointed to the command of that Flotilla, he is a devil, me-care-go-ahead sort of a fellow and it would not take him long to remove those obstructions - provided they are removable...Since I divided my school I find they have all increased wonderfully. I now have over sixty scholars in the two schools ... They all know their ABC's ... My mode of punishment is to whip the boys and tie the girls up by their thumbs until their big toe just touches the floor ... It works like a charm, and as they know they will be punished if they misbehave, the consequence is that very little punishment is inflicted. ... A disposition to shirk work is the sin of ninety-nine out of every hundred of these contrabands .. even when they know that the work is solely for their own comfort ... the women are a degree better ...[August 1, 1862] ..A coal schooner and an army transport with troops are to be landed on St. Simons. This last may bring down the ladies from Port Royal that were intended for our colony. ... What is right and proper for our students to learn is very much needed right now. They receive a commission from the government and a passport, and they stay for one year .....". VG.
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