September 22, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/22/2011
War-date retained copy of an Admiral S.P. Lee letter, 1pp. quarto, Beaufort, North Carolina, August 26, 1864, addressed to Capt. B.F. Sands, stating that "Capt. Glisson reports that the 'Tallahassee' succeeded in running into Wilmington last night, and exchanged salutes with the Fort this morning. Use the utmost vigilance to prevent her escape..." With Endorsement by Captain Sands to Lt. Keyser Commanding the USS Victoria, to obey that order. Fine condition. The CSS Tallahassee was a twin-screw steamer and cruiser in the Confederate States Navy, purchased in 1864, and used for commerce raiding off the Atlantic coast. The Tallahassee went through the blockade on August 6, 1864 from her home port of Wilmington, North Carolina. Her first day out, four cruisers chased the Tallahassee without incident. She made a spectacular 19-day raid off the Atlantic coast as far north as Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Tallahassee destroyed 26 vessels and captured 7 others that were bonded or released. Wood sailed the Tallahassee into Halifax Harbour on August 18 to take on bunker coal and water. Neutrality laws limited her stay in Halifax to 24 hours. Tallahassee was granted an extra 12 hours to fix a broken mast but was only allowed to load enough coal to take her to the nearest Confederate port. Two Federal war ships, the USS Nansemond and USS Huron, had chased her north and were believed to be waiting for the Tallahassee at the harbor entrance. Wood hired a legendary Halifax pilot John "Jock" Flemming, who is believed to have guided the warship through the narrow and shallow Eastern Passage between Dartmouth and McNabs Island, a route only suited for small fishing vessels. Tallahassee succeeded in negotiating the passage out of the harbour, although no Northern warships were in fact waiting. The first Northern warship, the gunboat USS Pontoosuc, arrived at the harbour entrance several hours after the Confederate cruiser departed. Being unable to procure enough coal to continue, Wood was forced to return to Wilmington where he arrived safely on August 26.
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