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Field name | Value |
---|---|
Collection Reference Number | GLC03681.01 |
From Archive Folder | Unassociated Civil War Documents 1863 |
Title | Asa Smith to his mother describing a naval battle |
Date | 9 March 1862 |
Author | Smith, Asa (fl. 1861-1862) |
Document Type | Correspondence; Military document |
Content Description | Says there was a big fight at Newport News the day before. Says the "Merrimac" came down with the "Yorktown," "Jamestown," and other boats. Reports that "Merrimac ran into and sunk Cumberland killing half her crew, raked the Congress fore and aft till she struck her colors. Minnesota aground, but fought till dark and flies the colors this morning." Says the "Congress" is burned and her magazine blew up. Says the 20th and 99th New York were deployed as Confederate troops were reported landing above Newport News and advancing from Yorktown, but they did not come. Says "The Ericson battery [the USS "Monitor"] is reported in if so there will be a fight. Nothing else can hurt her. 100 lbs shot fall off like snowballs." Written on stationery with the word "Justice" emblazoned on top and image of justice with crossed flags and scales. The words "The Guardian of our Liberty" are printed beneath the image. |
Subjects | Civil War Military History Union Forces Soldier's Letter Union Soldier's Letter Navy Ironclad Monitor and Merrimac Confederate States of America Patriotic Stationery and Postal Covers Battle Death Maritime |
Place written | Camp Hamilton at Newport News, Virginia |
Theme | The American Civil War; Women in American History; Naval & Maritime |
Sub-collection | Papers and Images of the American Civil War |
Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
Module | Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era: 1860-1945 |
Civil War: Recipient Relationship | Mother |
Civil War: Theater of War | Lower Seaboard Theater and Gulf Approach |