Raynors HCA 2015-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/21/2015
A good war-date Union officer's battle letter,3pp. 4to., written by Captain Augustus Alonzo Hoit, Co. G, 8th Maine Vols. (later captain 34th USCT), Steamer Ariel, Port Royal, S. C., Nov. 7-8, 1861, in part: "We left Hampton Roads Oct. 29…Nov. 1st we met a gale which scattered our fleet…one steamer ran aground and is a total loss…the crew and soldiers were all saved…Nov. 4 we arrived off Port Royal…and were met…by four rebel steamers which commenced firing…but were soon driven in by our gun boats…Nov. 5 the rebel steamers, five in number, came out but were chased back…our boats…were fired upon from two batteries, on eon each side of the harbor. [Beauregard & Walker] The fire was instantly returned…with such effect that…the battery on the right was silenced …the battery on the left side…fired only a few rounds…at night the frigate Wabash and several other steamers anchored farther in…Nov. 6 A gale…prevented our doing anything. Nov. 7…the rebels had been strongly reinforced…the Wabash got under weigh…followed by about 14 or 15 smaller steamers…the battery which had been silenced opened fire again…the fleet stopped only long enough to fire two or three broadsides and then made directly for the other fort which was distant about five or six miles…gave the rebels a perfect shower of shells…the air…was perfectly alive with shot and shells…with very little damage to us…the rebels became panic stricken and ran off leaving everything. A boat load of men were immediately landed and soon the stars and stripes were once more floating over the soil [of] South Carolina. Nov. 8. Some of our gun boats crossed over to the north side of the harbor and found the fort deserted. Our flag was soon floating from the rebel flag staff…one of our regiments was landed…the miserable Yankees have full and complete possession of Port Royal…it is a very strong fortification…the whole country…is most terribly cut to pieces. The rebels were two thousand strong…they left many dead and wounded on the field and in the fort. There were about 30 guns in the fort…several of them rifled. Several of them were dismounted…the interior of the fort presented a most shocking sight…the sight of traitor blood…could be seen in every direction, was to us far more pleasing than shocking. The rebel loss is not ascertained. We captured an immense quantity of ammunition and small arms…we are in hopes that Gen. Sherman will give us a chance to spread ourselves soon…our loss is supposed to be 11 killed and several wounded. The Maine 8th Regt is very sickly with the typhus fever…yours in love, Alonzo…". VG
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