Home Products Civil War 1865 letter from seaman on USS Burnsides, Bridgeport TN
Civil War 1865 letter from seaman on USS Burnsides, Bridgeport TN
Civil War 1865 letter from seaman on USS Burnsides, Bridgeport TN
Civil War 1865 letter from seaman on USS Burnsides, Bridgeport TN
Civil War 1865 letter from seaman on USS Burnsides, Bridgeport TN
Civil War 1865 letter from seaman on USS Burnsides, Bridgeport TN
Civil War 1865 letter from seaman on USS Burnsides, Bridgeport TN
Civil War 1865 letter from seaman on USS Burnsides, Bridgeport TN
Civil War 1865 letter from seaman on USS Burnsides, Bridgeport TN
Civil War 1865 letter from seaman on USS Burnsides, Bridgeport TN
Civil War 1865 letter from seaman on USS Burnsides, Bridgeport TN

Civil War 1865 letter from seaman on USS Burnsides, Bridgeport TN

$150.00 CAD

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Eight-page letter from seaman on the USS Burnside to his mother in Baltimore MD.

Included is envelope, two three cent Washington stamps postmarked ‘Nashville Ten Apr 6’ and sent to 'Mrs M. Forrest No. 98 E. Balt. St Baltimore MD.'

--- Ship Gen. Burnside
Off Bridgeport Ala
April 4 1865
My dear mother,
...We arrived here yesterday evening from Chattanooga.  The flagship and Gen. Thomas left Chatanooga yesterday and arrived yesterday evening. We had a pleasant time at Chattanooga, having been recd there with distinguished consideration ...
We found on arrival here several important communications from the Adml...We have a court martial also to carry on. I recd all the things you enumerate except the shirt. I must buy some clothes my coat and pants being unquestionably too shabby. We learned yesterday Richmond had been taken but are as yet without detailed statements. When we arrived here yesterday we found the army firing a salute.
...I would like a position in the navy out at sea better than on these inland waters. To command one of those divisions places the commander under a great deal of responsibility...Bridgeport consists of a small frame depot some camps an old sawmill and some buildings, one story was made in a few days where stores are kept for the Navy...I am sorry ever came out here, or rather I wish I was away. There is no profit in the life to me. I wd like Balt. – much with money. I don’t expect – live there again unless I have some with three or four thousand dollars we could all fix ourselves in style and comfort --- I think you all make a real mistake in --- to Baltimore and poverty.
The duty on the boats would not do for George. He would be killed up in no time. He would have to fill the furnaces besides he could not be taken for less than two years. He would be glad enough to get away from here to Mrs. Dunn’s comfortable home.
Love to all. The boy has come for the mails
Hugs &c
-----

7 ⅞” x 5”

 

USS General Burnside, built in 1862 at Wilmington, Delaware, was sold to the U.S. War Department in 1863; chartered by the Union Navy; commissioned 8 August 1864 at Bridgeport, Alabama, Acting Volunteer Lt. H. A. Glassford in command.

General Burnside became flagship of the upper Tennessee River Fleet, Mississippi Squadron, 15 October 1864. Based at Bridgeport, she patrolled the river to Whitesburg, Decatur, and Chattanooga, Tennessee.

On 27 December 1864 she helped repulse Confederate attacks at Decatur. She was hulled several times while exchanging gunfire with Confederate sharpshooters. This gunboat action in concert with Union Army land forces brought about the evacuation of Decatur by the Confederates and left the upper Tennessee region under firm Union control.

The gunboat continued river patrol until 1 June 1865 when she was returned to the War Department at Bridgeport, Alabama.

 WIKIPEDIA

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