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(JOURNAL OF THE UNION WARSHIP COMMODORE HULL): A great journal of the North Carolinian river serv...

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(JOURNAL OF THE UNION WARSHIP COMMODORE HULL): A great journal of the North Carolinian river serv...
(JOURNAL OF THE UNION WARSHIP COMMODORE HULL): A great journal of the North Carolinian river service of the Commodore Hull, 66pp. folio, covering Nov. 1862 to Sept. 1863, written by John H. Blodgett. Although Blodgett did not sign the work, he was the writer and possibly an assistant to the ship's surgeon. He was a very prolific writer and added a personal touch to the journal, giving the manuscript a diary-like quality describing river service, a three-week long siege and subsequent battles, and the exploits of Union land and naval forces during their various operations in North Carolina. In very small part: "...[Nov. 27, 62]...The steamer went into commission at Brooklyn Navy Yard, the crew came aboard and the ensign were unfurled...[Dec. 7]...Went up James River to act as picket for the Ironsides, Galena, Monitor, and the other vessels of the squadron...[Dec. 12]...Steamed up to the Flag ship, when the admiral came aboard and inspected the vessel...passed Sewell's Point and the remains of the old Merrimack...[Neuse River, N. C.] [Dec. 26]...Moved down the steam a short distance to take the place of the Miami which left today. Our vessel now being the Flag ship and guard ship of the river [Dec. 27]...The guns were fired several time at different objects...the reports especially of the rifled cannon were almost deafening...[Jan. 3]...The doctor and myself...ransacked some apothecary stores, a doctors office...we took aboard ship quite a number of valuable articles among other things was a skull [Feb. 12...]...A troop of the 3rd N. Y. Cavalry returned from a scout...bringing in eleven horses and seven soldiers after a hard chase of three miles...[Feb. 16]...Our two patients at the hospital ran away last night and it is supposed they have gone over to the enemy...[Feb. 17]...Towards night the ship was attacked by a photographer and after a somewhat wearisome contest...she was at length taken [Feb. 24]...The alarm...was caused by a clash of the Rebel cavalry upon our pickets, who after firing a few volleys fell back upon the fort...[Mar. 30]...The steamer John Parron came up...having Gen. Foster and staff aboard...one troop of the N. Y. cavalry...encountered a body of rebel infantry...who suddenly rising up from their entrenchment's fired a volley at our troops compelling them to beat a retreat with the loss of four killed...[Mar. 31]...The pickets were attacked during the night by rebel infantry and compelled to abandon their position, with a terrible loss in killed and wounded. They retreated to a scow...the pole were shot out from between their fingers. In this manner the scow drifted down river with the men wounded and killed piled in promiscuously without oars or rudder...at the present time of writing (2 o'clock p.m.) we are entirely surrounded...advance has been made for the surrender of the town within five hours but Gen. Foster who is in command says he can't 'see it'...[Apr. 1]...At 5 o'clock this morning the rebel opened fire upon us from a masked battery...we returned the fire vigorously...Our position was an exposed one...after proceeding a few hundred yards we ran hard aground...The captain nobly resolved to stand by the ship until the last extremity. For ten hours this unequaled contest was maintained...our ship was riddled with shell and ball over one hundred shot and shell having struck us. The casualties are slight only four men wounded...the captain appropriated eleven bales of [cotton] in order to form a protection for the gun crews...[Apr. 2]...The order has been given for all hands to dress in clean clothes and men have been appointed to fire the ship...the prospects of a journey to Raleigh or Salisbury are freely discussed...[Apr. 3]...The rebels opened on us from a new battery directly abreast of us...we succeeded in silencing their battery...killing half the men and four horses...several shell (shrapnel) exploded on our decks and one struck us just below the water line, exploding in the fire room and scattering fragments in every direction...[Apr. 4]...One shell exploded upon the decks of the Ceres, killing one and wounding two...[Apr. 7]...We were struck by the 32pdr. three times today and have two of the shot upon our decks as trophies...Gen. Foster and staff visited us today...being well pleased with the gallant conduct of the men under fire...the rebels gave Gen. Foster a salute as he was leaving the ship...[Apr. 13]...One shell from the Point struck the pilot house and exploded with a tremendous crash...[Apr. 15]...The steamer Escort left this morning at daybreak having on board Gen'l. Foster...[Apr. 16]...This morning the rebels had evacuated their batteries...two small boats filled with soldiers and sailors attempted to land and plant the flag upon the batteries when near the shore however they were compelled to return with a loss of two killed and several wounded...found the Point to be entirely deserted with the exception of one negro hanging from a tree...[Apr. 18]...I saw a newly made grave...Henry Davenport Co. C 52nd regiment N. C. Vols...[Apr. 19]...Our cavalry encountered Gen. Hill and staff who had lingered in the rear of the retreating rebels. They immediately charged and fired upon them killing one of the general's aide-de-camps...". With more great content outlining the Commodore Hull's attachment to a small river fleet. Regiments such as the 23rd Mass. Vol., 44th Mass. Vol., and 3rd N. Y. Cav. are routinely mentioned, along with Blodgett's encounters with drunken servicemen, the freed blacks, and the political atmosphere of the region. Some light soiling and stain, else very good. $3,000-4,000