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(CIVIL WAR MARINE LETTER: BATTLE OF PORT ROYAL)

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(CIVIL WAR MARINE LETTER: BATTLE OF PORT ROYAL)
Very rare war-date A.L.S. from a sailor aboard the USS Wabash concerning the battle of Port Royal, 4pp. 8vo., New York City, Mar. 9, 1862, in part: "...I saw a marine who was on the Wabash at the Port Royal fight. He said there were thirty men killed on this vessel…he is not eighteen years of age…he was ordered to march at the head of the column…they were two hundred, two abreast, 15 charged a house where some Southerners were stationed. He was told to go upstairs; he saw a tall man pointing a pistol over the banister at his head; he expected to be shot, but went on, and got up to the head of the stairs and cut the man's throat with his cutlass, the poor fellow's pistol was not loaded, neither did he have ammunition. The young marine was terribly excited; a tall Irishman (on the Southern side) clubbed his musket to brain him; but it slipped to his shoulder and the next minute the Irishman was run through the chest by the cutlass. He dreams of it now…I only hope the trouble will end soon…".Unusual and rare commentary on marine warfare during the Civil War. Very good.