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USA Naval Letter from Paymaster's Steward Rodney Chipp on Patrolling the Sabine Pass. ... (Total: 0 )
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Description
USA Naval Letter from Paymaster's Steward Rodney Chipp on Patrolling the Sabine Pass. Nine pages of bifolia, 7.75" x 9.75", "US Gun Boat Katahdin, Near Pilot Town" [Louisiana]; January 23 to February 14, 1863. In January 1863, the Katahdin was sent to bolster the blockade off the Texas coast. Chipp, now promoted to paymaster's steward, writes a lengthy letter to his brother, Joseph "Deyo" Chipp, describing patrolling the Sabine Pass. He mentions that several of the crew deserted before the Katahdin left New Orleans out of fear that they would meet with the formidable CSS Alabama. In an entry from January 30th, Chipp writes about a failed chase between the Katahdin and a blockade runner he presumes to be either the Alabama or the CSS Oveto. The Alabama was an infamous Confederate sloop-of-war that took over 2,000 prisoners and burned 65 Union vessels in her short two-year career. She was known to be active in the Gulf of Mexico during this time.Chipp then discusses the shelling of a fort near Galveston and their run-ins with the USRC Harriet Lane, which had fallen into Confederate hands following the Battle of Galveston earlier in the month. Despite the action described in this letter, Chipp did not enjoy blockade duty and complained about the monotony of long days at sea. It is written diary-style with entries spanning several days. It reads in part:
"[Jan 29th] We all got under way and stood in towards the city to have a little bout with the 'Rebs' we played long ball with them about 1 ½ hours and then fell back having come to the conclusion that they could play long ball as well as we, they made some excellent shots coming very near the Sciota and us. We put a few shell in the city and 2 or 3 in the Batteries. [Jan 30th]...the cause of our alarm was a vessel heaving in sight - off our Starboard beam we immediately rounded to and gave chase...she turned tail and steamed rapidly away from us and the moon going down left us in the dark so that we soon lost sight of her...the steamer that eluded us...we firmly believe is either the 'Alabama' or 'Orveto.'
[Feb. 13th] ...I am tired of the Blockade for one reason and that is we get no news here we lay day in and day our and nothing occurs to break the dull monotony, all we do is Roll Roll Roll, all we see sky, water and Galveston, all we hear is an occasional discharge of a gun from the batteries on shore..."
Condition: Four small pinholes at the intersection of vertical and horizontal folds. A few minor areas of light soiling. Smoothed folds.
Auction Info
2022 June 4 Historical Manuscripts Signature® Auction #6247 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
June, 2022
4th
Saturday
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