September 22, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/22/2011
War-date, Union paymaster's, Autograph Letter Signed by Maj. Theodore D. Greenwalt, 4pp. quarto, St. Louis, [Mo.], Aug. 14, 1863. His statement is as follows, in part: "…the boxes said to contain the money to pay the troops were placed in the cabin…under the guard of a detachment of soldiers. When the 'Ruth' arrived at Cairo…I was informed [that] she would remain until the arrival of the cars…Doctor Beidlers & I went ashore…we visited the Saint Charles Hotel [and] met Mr. Theodore Adams…[we] returned to the boat and found the 'Ruth' had left for Memphis…the City of Alton lay at the wharf. I engaged passage upon her…[and] took a seat upon deck…at about twelve o'clock I discovered a bright light in a southerly direction…about 5 o'clock a. m. on the morning of the 5th inst we passed the burning hulk of a large boat looking like a large ark filled with burning coals, which proved to be the remains of the steamboat 'Ruth'…during the day previous to the burning…she took on a large stock of wood…and a large amount of bacon…should the money have been on board, which doubtless it was…must be totally destroyed…the burning boat appeared to be anchored, as I…saw a chain hanging over the bow…a few miles below the burning wreck we came upon a large number of burning and dead cattle floating upon the water…I continued on the City of Alton and could learn nothing of the name of the lost boat until…we arrived at Memphis, when the pilot of the 'Ruth' arrived and informed me [that] the fire was first discovered in the nursery…I left Cairo for Columbus on board the Crawford…to recover the body of Theodore D. Fisher, my nephew & clerk, who I now believe to be lost…on the morning of the 10th inst I visited the wreck and found it sunken, filled with water, resting on a sand-bar, with a portion of the bow & stern visible, the Rob Roy laying alongside, all in charge of Major Farrish, who was making every effort to recover the bodies of those lost…Major Tilden & I with four men & boat proceeded down the river to Columbus…to recover the bodies of our clerks and to learn [the] description of three bodies picked up below…when about leaving Columbus for the wreck we received your telegram ordering us to St. Louis, which we promptly obeyed…". Ironically, Greenwalt was at first assumed dead and his demise was reported in local newspapers soon after the disaster occurred. VG.
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