Auction Name: 2026 February 26 Historical Manuscripts & Texana Signature® Auction

Lot Number: 47135

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/6328*47135

Civil War Soldier's Letter by Martin Luther Moore of the 94th Illinois Infantry with Mobile Magazine Explosion Content. Four pages of a bifolium, 8 x 10 inches, "Camp Near Mobile," Alabama; May 27, 1865. Penned just two days after the catastrophic explosion of the Mobile Ordnance Depot, Moore's letter offers a rare firsthand account of the disaster that claimed more than 300 lives, exceeding the casualties of both the Battle of the Crater and Fort Fisher magazine explosions. He writes, in part:

"A dreadful accident occured in the City on Thursday PM. An Ordnance Depo near the Central portion of the City, with a large amt of fixed ammunition, and about thirty Tons of Powder, Blew up destroying many lives, and a large amt of property. The Depo was a large warehouse used temperrarially for storing the Captured Ammunition as it was collected from different points...The real cause may remain a 'Sealed Book' as all in the immediate Vacinity were instantly blown to pieces. It was however from some carelessness on the part of those engaged handling the fixed ammunition, such as shells filled with powder, with fuses, ready for use. The sudden falling of One was in all probability the cause of the Explosion. Many persons were injured by the Concussion at the distance of half a mile and some more killed dead, many men killed or injured at a distance by the Bursting of those large shells. The Scene was horrible to behold whole Blocks of Buildings were a mass of Ruins and hundreds of persons Burried amongst them. Two Steamers lying at the wharf were also destroyed..."

Moore goes on to note that, while none in his regiment were injured, "the greatest loss of life probably occurred amongst the Col'd troops and Paroled Prisoners. The number has not yet been ascertained, nor is it likely it ever will as many persons must have been Blown to atoms..."

His observation proved tragically accurate. On June 4, 1865, the New York Times reported that five white employees of the Ordnance Department and thirty Black soldiers were in the warehouse at the time of the explosion. All were killed, leaving the precise cause of the incident forever unknown.

Condition: Moderately toned with smoothed folds. Light dampstaining throughout. Fading to the verso, with a few words illegible.

Reference: "The Fearful Explosion at Mobile." New York Times, June 4, 1865.

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