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USA Naval Letter from 2nd Class Fireman Rodney Chipp with Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip Content. ...
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USA Naval Letter from 2nd Class Fireman Rodney Chipp with Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip Content. Four pages of a bifolium, 7.5" x 9.5", "US Gun Boat Katahdin, Mississippi River" [Louisiana]; April 17-25, 1862. Chipp writes to his brother Joseph "Deyo" Chipp in detail about his experience on the USS Katahdin during the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip. He discusses skirmishing with Confederate gunboats during their advance to the forts, culminating in their intensive bombardment on the 24th with the passage of Flag Officer Farragut's fleet. On the final page, Chipp triumphantly declares that city of New Orleans has fallen into their hands. It is written diary-style with entries spanning several days. The letter is titled "Part I" at the top center. The April 25th entry appears to be partial and ends with Chipp concluding "(See No 2)." It reads in part:"...Just as I expected I was called from my letter by the summons All Hands to Quarters and for the first time in my life I was in an engagement. There was at first but one Rebel Gun boat that opened Fire on the US Gun Kenio [Kineo] they replied but neither done any damage... [April 19] the Fort opened on our mortar boats who were taking their Position in a little while they returned the fire and the bombardment commenced and continued through the day without ceasing at 4 pm the Mast Head reported the Fort on Fire. At 6.30 PM the magazine exploded, and thus fell Fort Jackson (the strongest one on the River) after a Bombardment of 9 ½ hours. This morning at 7am the Bombardment of Fort St. Philip commended.
Above I say that the Bombardment of Fort St. Philip commenced this morning well that is a mistake for the Fire & Explosion last night was not the Fort but only some ruse of the Rebels...they have sunk one of our mortar Boats today and also sent a shot through the Gun Boat Onieda [Onedia] wounding 6 men, we will ramp up the Firing all night. Oh Deyo what a splendid yet awful night to see the Shells flying through the air with darts of Fire which look like so many snakes from a Rocket... Give my love to all and in case I fall you can have one consolation, that I died in a Holy Cause...
[April 25th] Today I am 20 years old and today the City of New Orleans fell into our hands...At 2 am on the morning of the 24th "All hands up Anchor" at 3 we got under way (but I am ahead of my story I will tell you first what we intended doing) 15 Boats of us the Hartford, Brooklyn, Pensacola, Mississippi, & Richmond. Large ones, the Verona [Veruna], Oneida [Onedia] & Iroquois Medium & Gun Boats Katahadin, Kenio [Kineo], Kennebeck, Cayuga, Itasca, and 2 others were to run...the Fort and so cut off their supplys, and starve them out...Forts opened on us and then the Circus commenced. Oh but it was a Grand sight one Continued Booming of Cannon the Sky was all ablaze with shells we run so close to the Fort that we could see the men on it working the Guns..."
The success of this battle allowed the fleet to continue on and take the city and port of New Orleans, thus dealing a devastating blow to the Confederacy from which they would not recover. In gratitude, Congress created and awarded the rank of rear admiral to David Farragut in July 1862, a first in U.S. naval history. The original transmittal envelope accompanies the letter. Please visit our website for a complete transcription of the letter.
Condition: Soiling on page four extends throughout bifolium but does not affect the legibility of any text. Smoothed folds. Pencil notations to envelope.
More Information: "Day before yesterday I received your letter dated Feb 27th which was before we left Boston. I was very glad to get it for it was the first and only one that I have received from home since we sailed I also received the M. J. Herald of Mar 21st, and your little not "All Well" on the Margin of it, but the letter you wrote the day before has not come to hand. I have no doubt but what then is at least a dozen of letters on their way to me but I don't expect o get them till we get to New Orleans. All is now excitement last night on our way up here (we are not about 1 ½ miles from the Fort) we ran into the Gun Boat Sciota but it amounts to nothing, we only lost our cut water, and they had their smoke stack knocked in two and their Bulwarks stove in.
6 PM Just as I expected I was called from my letter by the summons All Hands to Quarters and for the first time in my life I was in an engagement. There was at first but one Rebel Hun boat that opened Fire on the US Gun Kenio [Kineo] they replied but neither done any damage then 2 more Rebel Gun Boats came in and then the ? 24 Pound Rifled cannon of the Katahdin sent forth her Death dealing missile the first shot fell short, but the 2nd one from us lodged itself in the Stern of one of them. The engagements lasted about 1 hour and was finally ended by the Rebels running. One 150 lb shell form the Kenio landed right amidships of one of the Rebels they immediately made sail and left thus showing that it disabled her Engine, and this Eve we can see the Rebel Flags on the Fort, and Boats at half mast thus showing that it killed someone of note. One shell form the Fort landed about 20 feet ahead of us but done us no damage. It will be but a few days now before the right will begin in earnest, and then look out for New Orleans for take it we must.
April 19th 1.25
Yesterday Morning at 9am the Fort opened on our mortar boats who were taking their Position in a little while they returned the fire and the bombardment commenced and continued through the day without ceasing at 4 pm the Mast Head reported the Fort on Fire. At 6.30 PM the magazine exploded, and thus fell Fort Jackson (the strongest one on the River) after a Bombardment of 9 ½ hours. The firing then ceased for the night. The loss on our side was 2 killed and they by an accidental discharge of a shell from one of our mortars. Their loss must have been immense for shell after shell was lodged in the Fort with unerring accuracy. Last night a man fell from the main loft and was killed. He was supposed to have been asleep at the time and if so but not the penalty which a court martial would have passed upon him. This morning at 7am the Bombardment of Fort St. Philip commended.
9PM
I will finish to days proceedings for early tomorrow morning we have to go in the fight and there is no telling who will live through it. Above I say that the Bombardment of Fort St. Philip commenced this morning well that I is a mistake for the Fire & Explosion last night was not the Fort but only some ruse of the Rebels, either to get our Boats under their guns or else to get time to reinforce and I think it was the latter for they have fired all day and have also hoisted the Black Flag. But we carried it away 2 or 3 times with our shells and put it up again, they have sunk one of our mortar Boats today and also sent a shot through the Gun Boat Onieda [Onedia] wounding 6 men, we will ramp up the Firing all night. Oh Deyo what a splendid yet awful night to see the Shells flying through the air with darts of Fire which look like so many snakes from a Rocket. Well Dr Brother I must get a little sleep for we will get under weigh at 3 or 4 Oclock so I will bid you Good Bye. Give my love to all and in case I fall you can have one consolation, that I died in a Holy Cause. Your Brother Rodney
Off New Orleans April 25th /62 8 PM
Dr Brother
Today I am 20 years old and today the City of New Orleans fell into our hands. On the Evening of the 23rd I saw for certain that the fight was going to commence for the Deck was all cleaned up for Action and we had no Hammock to sleep in but had to turn in on the soft side of an Oak Plank. At 2 am on the morning of the 24th "All hands up Anchor" at 3 we got under way (but I am ahead of my story I will tell you first what we intended doing) 15 Boats of us the Hartford, Brooklyn, Pensacola, Mississippi, & Richmond. Large ones, the Verona [Veruna], Oneida [Onedia] & Iroquois Medium & Gun Boats Katahadin, Kenio [Kineo], Kennebeck, Cayuga, Itasca, and 2 others were to run ? the Fort and so cut off their supplys, and starve them out. As I said above at 3 we got under way half on one side of the Ruins and half on the other at 3.30 the Forts opened on us and then the Circus commenced. Oh but it was a Grand sight one Continued Booming of Cannon the Sky was all ablaze with shells we run so close to the Fort that we could see the men on it working the Guns just after we past the Fort we came alongside of 2 Rebel Boats and if they (see No 2)...
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2022 June 4 Historical Manuscripts Signature® Auction #6247 (go to Auction Home page)
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