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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