Raynor HCA 2013-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/10/2013
A great manuscript naval poem, 5pp. 8vo., written by 3rd Asst. Engineer, Montgomery P. Griffis, entitled: "Cruise of the U. S. S. Powhatan in Chase of the Pirate 'Sumter' ", reading, in part: "When we lay at the South-West Pass in the old ship Powhatan to catch Jeff Davis privateers…a schooner hove in sight with a prize crew from the 'Sumter'…her crew were well prepared 'giants danger from a famine. Despatchs too she had…telling all about the 'Sumter' cruise…our lieutenant took this prize crew and prisoners he made them…he reported to the captain and they both…drank success to the Powhatan and hoped she'd catch the 'Sumter'. To Pensacola first we went…but first we had to coal…in Jamaica…the work of coaling ship was done by ugly nigger wenches…at Curacoa there's a fort, some hotels and fat Dutch women…they told us at St. thomas we were sure to find the Sumter…we left our boilers leaking from forty different patches…when we arrived we found ourselves three days behind the Sumter…we discovered that the pirate had gone South…we started still keeping in the race. When we arrived she'd gone to Europe and we gave up the…chase…in the gale off Hatteras , the leak gained on us fast…to defend our flag and country we'll risk it all again…success to Uncle Sam's next ship that goes to catch the Sumter…". VG
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