Raynors HCA 2015-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/19/2015
A good war-date Union soldier's letter, 8pp. 4to., written by Sgt. John G. Abbott [MWIA Battery Wagner, S. C., July 18, 1863], Co. D, 48th New York Vols. (Perry's Saints), Fort Pulaski, Cockspur Island, Ga., Aug. 5, [62], giving a great account of the capture of Blockade Runner Lodona by the USS Unadilla on August 4 at Hell's Gate, Georgia, in small part: "…I feel quite strong now. have been very careful what I eat and of being out in the sun. Another died yesterday with the same disease that I had. He was taken to the Hospital on the 2nd and died the 4th…there was 3 contrabands acme in from Savannah, one of them was nearly white and he was the most intelligent Niger that I ever talked with. The others was so drunk as beatles…he gave us a history of the Rebel army in Savannah. All the troops has gone to Richmond but 2000 which garrison the batteries and keep order in the cit. They was there until yesterday when the white one was judged of being a spy and the Col. had him searched and [found] he had taken an accurate plot of the fort, number of guns and C. also…different picket posts and the chance of landing troops. The other two betrayed him. They went to the Col. and told him that Tom was putting down on paper and wanted them to go back to the city. He told them that he would give them $100 if they would go back but they said that they [would not] go back. Their Massa killed them. He had fooled them, but they fooled him. He was sent to Hilton Head where he will have good care taken of him. As soon as he left the other two told us all about him. He had been a servant of the Gen. in command…and he had been sent on his mission but he slipped up on it. They say that their is not a man that is able to bear arms but what is in the army. There conscription act took all…one of them lived on the…plantation [next] to…Mrs. Bacon's brother. He described him so closely that I am certain it was him….he said that when they took the white men…off…his master Andrews and Risley refused to go, but they was told that resistance was certain death…they both concluded to go…they was granted Lieut. in the army. Risley is 1st Lieut. He is now at Richmond. I asked him if Andrews and Risley was Southern men and he said no massa dey bof cum from New Jersey…I am sure he is the same man. He is from the same plantation the other slave was…so you can tell Mrs. Bacon…he was forced into the service…the battery on Tybee…discovered by lightening flash a 3 masted steamer [Lodona] very long and low in the water…as she…was seen they signalled to the fort…as soon as she got in good range they opened fire upon them. She did not mind it at first but kept on…until she received heavy damage in her machinery when she turned and put to sea…she took the advantage of the shower…it was very dark…this morning about 8 o'clock. She came in opposite the Warsaw Sound and seeing now of our gunboats she ran into the sound and up about 5 miles when they discovered our blockade and again put to sea. The vandal put out after her but was about 4 miles behind…she had scarcely got clear of the ;and…when they found themselves in a Yankee trap. The Unadilla had just come from Jacksonville…she run into see who she was…the Unadilla soon ran near her when she discovered the English flag flying. She…gave her a call to stop by a shot…she did not stop…she gave her another shot that went right through her larboard bow about 13 inched above the water…the Unidilla ran along side and the armed marines…boarded her in an instant when they surrendered. She was…an English steamer of near 2000 tons…loaded with munitions of war. They did not examine her cargo…she had quite a large number of rifled Parrot Guns and heavy mortars, besides a large amount of clothing…she was sent to Hilton Head…the Unadilla put a prize crew onboard…she is the same one that tried to run in here on Sunday…she has been 14 days from Nassau…we are fitting out an expedition to…take a rebel battery on Wilmington Island…there are about 300 Rebels on the island…the citizens of Savannah want to see the 48th that built Fort Vulean and Battery Hamilton…we have been expecting the iron clad ram [CSS Georgia] down from Savannah…they expect to engage her in shoal water but she proved a failure. She looks so bad that they cant keep her free with steam pumps…they expect to cut our blockade all to pieces…". Overall VG
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