LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 December Signature Texana Auction #661  / 

56385

Eyewitness Account of Battle of Galveston Bay

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Militaria Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:1,500.00 - 1,750.00 USD
Eyewitness Account of Battle of Galveston Bay
<B>Thomas D. Babb: </B></I><B><I>Eyewitness Account of the Battle of Galveston Bay.</B></I></B></I> An original manuscript draft of testimony given in the case of Lieut. Commander Law, being an eyewitness account of the Battle of Galveston Bay. [Np. 1863]. Two pages densely written, in pencil, on folio sheet, plus an additional page on smaller half sheet. Overall condition is quite good. Babb was Acting Master on board the Union ship, <I>Owasco</B></I>, during the Battle of Galveston Bay in 1862-63. His testimony presents a fine eye-witness account of the attack, counterattack, surrender of the <I>Harriet Lane </B></I>(a Union ship), the burning of the <I>Westfield </B></I>(also a Union ship), and other details of this engagement. The battle occurred as part of the Union blockade of the Texas coast, with the counterattack of Jan. 1, 1863 by the Confederates leaving the port of Galveston under Confederate control for the rest of the war. An extract from the manuscript follows: "<I>Actg. Master Tho. D. Babb - testifies in the case of Lt. Com. Law as follows - Jan. 1st 1863 attached to Owasco gunboat in Galveston Harbor on blockade duty & to defend the place...there were at Galveston the following U.S. vessels steamer Westfield, Clifton, H. Lane, Owasco, Sachem, & schooner </B></I>[Corypheus<I>?], six in all. Commander Renshaw was in command. The crew of the Owasco were at quarters about 20 past 4 A.M. On the occasion of the attack of Rebel troops on Galveston & the Harriet Lane - one officer on deck during the Mid watch - two steamers at first and another afterwards attacked the H. Lane - three in all...The Clifton was firing at the enemy's steamers on the flats above and at the town she couldn't fire at the steamers that attacked the Harriet Lane without firing over us...Lt. Com. Law ordered us to hoist a flag of war & keep our position. I answered him that I couldn't keep our position as we were touching the bottom. Law ordered us to steam out a little...I knew the Harriet Lane was in the enemy's possession as they were firing on us with musketry, we fired the 11 in gun solid shot...no other attempt by any of the squadron was made to recapture the Harriet Lane.</B></I>" <BR><BR><B>Reference:</B></I> Eberstadt 162:319.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Flat Material, Small (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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