2004-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004
An important bound archive of nearly 90 action-filled letters, over 300 pages, octavo and quarto, 1855 - 1869, written by Lt. Louis J. Sands, USN to family and friends. The bulk of these letters were written aboard warships on station. 20 of the letters are predate the war, describing voyages to Europe and South America. Only 3 letters are of post-war vintage. The Civil War letters dominate the collection and describe in great detail the Lieutenant's experiences on duty in Virginia and the Carolinas. Sands relates his part in numerous engagements from the early Potomac River skirmishes of '61 to bloody late war actions against Confederate rams in North Carolina. His letters are neatly pasted into a large book bound with marbleized covers and are each inscribed with red ink as to its general content. The collection also includes two photographs of Sands, one taken during the war and the other as an aging veteran, as well as a magnificent sketch of a Confederate "torpedo". The war letters of Lt. Sands read in very small part: "(Off Charleston, South Carolina, 8/30/61)...Last night as we were coming into this port we saw the Frigate 'Wabash' running along at the rate of about 4 knots. Beat to quarters, not knowing what she was and when all hands were at their guns the Wabash ran in to us, cutting us on the port bow - carrying away bowsprit - boats - rigging and upper works - making a nasty looking wreck of us...(Off Fort Monroe, Virginia, 8/23/61)...We have just arrived here with a prize from Charleston, which we took after a short, but decisive contest...our prize is a schooner of about fifty tons with a crew of five men. They tried to run the Blockade, into Wilmington, North Carolina, but we bagged them: They flew Eng. colors and had Eng. papers, but they were a damned sight too Yankee not to know what they were...(Newport News, Virginia, 8 /31/61)...The Fleet (and soldiers that accompanied it) seized all the Batteries of the Enemy, destroying everything and taking the whole place with seven hundred prisoners...An awkward thing occurred yesterday. A little nasty Secession steamer came down the coast, and commenced shelling our squadron here. The Frigate "Savannah"...lost one boast and the shells burst all around her...(Fortress Monroe, Virginia, 10/20/61)...I thank you for your congratulations for my safety during the late fray, between our Ship and the rebel Batteries on the Potomac...it was entirely owing to Providence that some of us did not lose our heads...Those horrid rifled shots came fizzing and hissing through the air in a manner that is rather fatiguing...we planted some very pretty 135 lbr's in among the rascals...(Port Royal, South Carolina, 11/10/61)...Last night the Steam Frigate 'San Jacinto' passed by this way having on board the Rebel Ministers, Mssrs. Slidell, Mason & Co. from Havana..." (Skidway Island, Georgia, 12/31/61)...A war with John Bull & France combined would be most disastrous...England is bound to ruin our country if she can and will use no scruples about the way of doing it...(Hampton Roads, Virginia, 4/4/62)...The Merrimac has not yet made her appearance and I advise her not to do it- for I do not believe she will get back again. I made a bet with one of our fellows (off.) who says they cannot sail her, that she will go under & split up the moment the Vanderbilt str. strikes her, no matter what angle...(Old Point, Virginia, 4/10/62)...The Merrimac & six Consort steamers are out again & when the weather is good we anticipate a little practice in Naval Evolutions with them. We are pretty well prepared for that...(Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina, 6/20/64)...We put around here this afternoon about 5 p.m. and found the 'Sassacus' at anchor with her bows all stove in from running into the Rebel Ram 'Albermarle'. The 'Sassacus' goes to New York in the morning and we take her place - with the hope that we will have better luck when we get hold of the Rebel...(Roanoke Island, North Carolina, 6/28/64)...we have specific orders to come to this place & engage the rebel Ram & run her down & such orders are not unattended with peril and great risk - and tho' I am not afraid to do my duty yet we must know that there is always danger of being cut off and not seeing our homes again...we have fifty miles to go yet to the mouth of the Roanoke River , where the Ram lays and it may take us some days...(Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 7/5/64)...I read all the accounts of the Battle between the 'Kearsarge' and Alabama & it was very interesting...We hear the rebels have two rams now ready & a floating Battery to attack us next time...(Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 8/21/64)...I will support the Gov any way & do not care what party get(s) in - so long as the country is not disgraced by a 'Copperhead' peace...(Plymouth, North Carolina, 10/8/64)...We go strong for Lincoln here and were I home I would vote that ticket...Today two bodies floated along side of our ship - one of an officer and one of a man both drowned from Lt. Cushing's steam Launch on Exploding the Ram...They looked horribly - one shot thro' the neck - the other with his eyes eat out by the buzzards...(Plymouth, North Carolina, 11/1/64)...The Ram was sunk on Friday night at 2 o'clock (last) by Lieut. Cushing & was without exception the most daring & coolest thing of the war...Cushing got back to us in a horrible plight - lost most of his clothes - was torn to pieces in the swamp with Briar - was wore out...& well nigh dead from his cold swim...(Plymouth, North Carolina, 11/2/64)...another of our fine old 'shell-backs' died from a severe wound he rec'd during the action from a minnie ball sent by a sharp-shooter from the shore; the ball entered his side - chipped the spine & passed out of the back...Sharp-shooters fired along the shore at us, but we soon ratted those fellows out of that with a dose of grape...Thus ended the capture of Plymouth by us for the third time. I suppose the Rebs now will make it their turn to drive us off again...(Jamesville, North Carolina, 12/28/64)...For the present we are going to remain quiet & throw a Barricade across the river to prevent an attack from the rebel Ram (from Halifax) on this River which we learn is now being rapidly plated - we don't care for Rams...(Plymouth, North Carolina, 4/25/65)...we are focusing on our own great victories and grieving over the loss of our good & beloved President...we did not know how much we liked him 'til we heard of the horrid and cruel manner in which he has been stricken down by the blow of an assassin...". An excellent grouping in Fine to Very Fine condition throughout.
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