740

(VOYAGE TO MOBILE BAY)

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:100.00 - 200.00 USD
(VOYAGE TO MOBILE BAY)
<b>740. VOYAGE TO MOBILE BAY</b> A great 5pp. 8vo., sea captain's letter, Mobile Bay, [Ala.], Jan. 8, 1866, concerning a voyage to deliver some type of engines from Virginia to Mobile just after the Civil War, in part: <i>"...We were along trip getting down the James River...we did not get to sea from Hampton Road till Friday...we had a good run off the coast...we have been laying in the Bay one week...there has been a Northern during that time which has drove all the water out of the bay...Haskell...met with damage and came near losing his vessel. Last night while sitting down aft I saw a schr going up by and she looked so much like a Roanoke coaster [that] I took the glass and looked at her...she ran up a little past us and then jibed over and hauled to and ran far us...she ran across our stern and Capt. Roe sang out to me wanting to know if I wanted to get to town...I embraced the opportunity and went onboard. We did not get there until late in the evening...this morning we started to see my consignee...the pilots have been telling me it was impossible to get up without steam and the steamers would not take hold of me short of $125. I saw my consignee and told him I had his engines here all right...he wanted to know where I lay and I told him. He wanted to know when we were to get up to town ...[it] might be a long time...there was no water on the bar and I had come to see if he would not send a tug down to tow her through the mud. He said he would so he sent a man down with me and engaged a tow boat to take us up for $125...we shall try to tow over the bar tonight...I want to get rid of these engines for they are ugly things...as soon as we can see to get through the obstructions we shall tow to town...I was only in town a few moments but I believe business is not very brisk...I...dreamed of meeting you...the crowd was great and I got in a row with a police man and he shot me through the left shoulder...</i>". Minor stains, else very good. <b>$100-200</b>