September 22, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/22/2011
War-date Union sailor's Autograph Letter Signed by Cornelius Dailey, Acting Masters Mate, 4pp. octavo, Pensacola, Florida, December 25, 1863, with fine cover bearing "PENSACOLA, FLA" circular date stamp, it reads in part:" ...we are waiting for the surrender of Charleston and then we will being here [to move to Mobile Bay]/ All of our ironclad vessels are at Charleston, and we have not one single ironclad vessel here. But we have plenty of wooden vessels here. But they are no good for such a place as Fort Morgan is. Jane, you see, by going into Fort Morgan with wooden vessels you would gain nothing at all. You would loose a good deal of life. And another thing is this Fort Morgan is very strongly fortified. This Fort Morgan is at the entrance of Mobile. It is thirty miles from Pensacola. So I think that just as soon as Charleston falls, then I think that we will have some ironclads here to help us a little. And then the Rebels will see that Fort Morgan is not what they think it is. A few hours work will scuttle them, so that they will be glad to leave it..." Fine condition. Cornelius Dailey enlisted in the 2nd New York Cavalry in August 1861, but left the Army and joined the US Navy as a seaman in September 1861. He served on the USS Oliver H. Lee, as part of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. The USS Oliver H. Lee, was involved in an engagement with the CSS Arkansas on July 15, 1862 and lost twelve of her crew, she later participated in the bombardment of Port Hudson as well as the Battle of Mobile Bay. In December 1864 she captured the blockade runner 'Sorts.'
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