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Table of Contents > Historic Autographs > Lot 6 |
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Lot Number: 6
Click for a Printable PageSign-in to Bid or Register to Bid Estimate Range: $800 - $1,000 Starting Bid: $400 |
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Civil War Union Navy Hero William B. Cushing Lot of Two Significant Autograph Letters Signed in 1862 and 1863 with Excellent Outstanding Content: “My business just at present is to look out for the rebels iron clad 'New Merrimac' and her consorts...” |
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William B. Cushing (1842-1874), United States Civil War Navy Officer best known for Sinking the Ironclad Ram CSS Albemarle in a daring nighttime raid on October 27, 1864 at Plymouth, NC, for which he received the thanks of Congress and became a national hero. In January, 1865, he helped lead the Navy landing force in the assault on Fort Fisher. He died at age 32. Lot of Two excellent content Civil War Autograph Letters Signed by William B. Cushing (1842-1874):1. The first is dated "U.S.S. 'Ellis', Off Newbern N.C., Nov. 3d, 1862, Signed, "Will", "Lt. Wm. B. Cushing" and "Him of the Navy", 7 pages, measuring 5" x 8-1/8". 2. The second is dated, "U.S.S. Commodore Barney, James River, Va., Feb. 28th, 1863", Signed, "Will" and "W.B.C.", 4 pages, measuring 5" 8-1/8". Both letters are well written and Choice, Very Fine. Both letters are to William B. Cushing’s cousin, Delia, and both contain excellent Civil War content, including a detailed account of his personally leading a party ashore and destroying a large Confederate salt works. Both Letters have outstanding historic content. That information is transcribed and available to review in our EAHA ONLINE AUCTION SITE at: www.EarlyAmerican.com. (2 items) Provenance: Collection of Ambassador J. William Middendorf II. "Didn't I write to you after our hard fight up the Blackwater river? You came very near losing a cousin there. However, I gained quite a name, and got more credit in the official report than any other officer in the fight. I was at once placed in command of this steamer 'for gallant conduct in time of action' as they expressed it. --- For the past three weeks I have been down on the coast under special orders from the Admiral. The first thing that I did was to run down the coast to 'New Topsail Inlet', and there capture a prize worth seventy five thousand dollars. As I did not know the channel I had to burn her... Since then I have captured a ton - 'Swansboro', and been down to New Topsail Inlet again. This time I found one of the largest salt works in the Confederate States. I took possession, and soon destroyed it. I broke up their kettles and pans, tore down the mason and brick work, cut holes in their flat boats and lighters, cut through their cisterns and water works, threw the salt into the ditch, hove their tools overboard, and set fire to the buildings. Just as I got through and had got my men in the boats to go off to the gun-boat, the enemy opened fire on us with two pieces of artillery. The rebels had come down from Wilmington, twelve miles off, with a section of a battery and a large force of infantry to save their salt work, and when they discovered that it was too late, they tried hard to sink my boats - their shots fell all around me but none struck, and I reached my vessel in safety. I promptly answered their fire and soon sent an 85 lb. shell into their midst that, when it exploded, caused them to beat a hasty retreat. I did the Government good service this time, for salt is the article most needed in the South just now. I have come up to Newbern to get provisions and clothing for the men. As soon as I have done this, I shall again go out on the broad Atlantic 'Seeking whom I may devour somebody'. I am constantly moving about now, and my life is one of excitement. I enjoy it keenly. I am, while on my station, constantly exposed to attack from the rebels. Several times they have gathered in strong force for that purpose, but the name of 'Gun-boat' sounds to them like a strong argument against such a course. I never go to sleep without knowing that there is a good chance of being woke up by the bullets of the enemy. Then, as I am under special orders from the Admiral, I am under the orders of no one on the coast - I have a sort of roving commission; and, all in all, I call this the very poetry of sea life... Tomorrow I shall be twenty years old. Twenty years! I'm getting aged, and yet my whiskers won't grow. I'm afraid that I shall not look a bit more dignified or fierce tomorrow than I do this evening... I am glad to see that the war is progressing so finely. Our army is doing well in the West. I hope the 'little Mac' will be no longer troubled with the radicals who have so long hung on him like weights - holding him back and ruining all his plans. Like 'Lon', I love McClellan and would die with him or for him. Your Governor Andrew might try to pull him down, but his wickedness will only recoil upon his own head. The heart of the nation is with the brave young General, and the Army and Navy will not see him injured. I am glad that the draft has been enforced, and I only hope that they will draft six hundred thousand more. Stern and determined fighting must be the order of the day, and if husbands, fathers and brothers are not willing to sacrifice the comforts of home for the sake of the Nation's life, let us remember the great interests that are at stake, and force them into the field. It is better that there should be a few broken hearts now, than that we should fail in the great work in which we are engaged. My life hangs only by a thread, that any moment may be broken, but it will be offered up freely on my Country's altar whenever, by losing it, I can add one rivet to the shield that guards the honor of our flag - or throw one drop into the ocean of its glory... P.S. - Direct to Lt. Wm. B. Cushing, Commanding U.S.S. 'Ellis', Off Newbern, N. Carolina. My vessel was a rebel boat, and was captured at the fight at Elizabeth City last winter. She is named after Governor Ellis of this State. -- (Signed) Will. The 2nd Letter reads, in part: "Dear Cousin Delia, Again is William the restless at anchor. Once more is he seated - not under his own vine and fig tree - but in his own cabin. W.B.C. can, therefore renew the correspondence that I so much delight in, but which has died out in my wanderings in Seceshia during the past three months. I left Newbern on the 10th and on the 14th expected to be in Washington. I reported to the Admiral at Newport News, but instead of telling me to go to Washington to report to the Department for orders, I was informed that I commanded the U.S.S. 'Commo. Barney'. She is a steamer of 513 tons - six heavy guns, one hundred and fourteen men and twelve officers. I have a 100-pound rifled gun (Parrott) and some broadside guns sending shot and shell nine inches in diameter. My business just at present is to look out for the rebels iron clad 'New Merrimac' and her consorts. My station is in James River, about five miles above Newport News and the highest up of any of the fleet - so that the tug of war will first bear on me - in case the heroes of rebeldom attempt to repeat the exploits of Charleston and Galveston. It is a dark, rainy night, just the time for an attempted surprise, but I shall try to keep such a sharp lookout that the enemy can gain no advantage... I see no encouraging war news in the papers now days, excepting the conscription law. That is what I have been waiting for all through the past bloody and fruitless struggle. Let us have it enforced. As soon as bullets and sickness thin our ranks, take the abolitionists, secessionists, contractors and speculators of the North, and make they meet the issue that they have raised and kept before the people. I don't know why we scatter troops so. An entire Corps of the Army of the Potomac is now encamped at Newport News. It may be that they intend to try this road to Richmond again..." (2 items) ___ William Barker Cushing (1842-1874) was a daring and skilled naval officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. Born on November 4, 1842, in Delafield, Wisconsin, Cushing hailed from a family with a strong naval tradition. His father, Milton B. Cushing was a naval officer and this influence likely played a role in William's decision to pursue a career in the navy. Cushing's most famous exploit occurred during the Civil War when he led a daring and successful raid against the Confederate ironclad CSS Albemarle in October 1864. At the time, the Albemarle posed a significant threat to Union naval operations in North Carolina's inland waters. In a daring nighttime mission, Cushing and a small crew navigated the Roanoke River and approached the anchored Albemarle. Under heavy fire, Cushing managed to attach a spar torpedo to the Confederate vessel, causing a massive explosion that sank the ironclad. This audacious and successful mission earned Cushing national acclaim and established him as a hero. However, Cushing's bravery came at a cost, as he was seriously wounded during the daring raid. Despite his injuries, he managed to evade capture and return to Union lines. His exploits brought him fame and earned him promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. After the Civil War, Cushing continued his naval career and served in various capacities. Tragically, his life was cut short when he died by drowning on December 17, 1874, at the young age of 32. The circumstances surrounding his death remain somewhat unclear, but it is believed that it may have been related to heavy drinking and depression. William B. Cushing's legacy lives on through his daring raid on the CSS Albemarle, which is often cited as one of the most audacious exploits of the Civil War. His courage and determination in the face of adversity have solidified his place in naval history. |
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Lot Number: 6
Click for a Printable Page Sign-in to Bid or Register to Bid |
Estimate Range: $800 - $1,000 Starting Bid: $400 |
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Early American History Auctions, Inc. 1520 Commerce St., # 312 • Winchester, VA 22601 Phone: 858 • 759 • 3290 Email: Auctions@EarlyAmerican.com |
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