Details
FARRAGUT, DAVID GLASGOW, Rear Admiral, U.S.N. Autograph letter signed ("D.G. Farragut") and with initialed postscript, to his wife in Hastings-on-Hudson; U.S. Flagship Hartford, West Gulf Squadron, Off Mobile, [Alabama], 26 July 1864. 2 1/2 pages, 8vo, first page yellowed.
A very good letter from the hero of the Battle of New Orleans, written while preparing to assault the Confederate port of Mobile, which took place only 10 days later, on 5 August. "I wrote you yesterday by way of N[ew] O[rleans] but as Eaton goes direct, I must drop you a line to-day, besides you know they pick up letters now occasionally, & it will be a great thing for you to know that I was well...I have just been on board of the Admiral to see Genl. [Daniel] Sickles, who I gave a passage home...Governor Hahn also goes home in her, he is the little fellow who made such a [illegible] speech for me, on my arrival at New Orleans, when I came down the River after passing Port Hudson [a reference to Farragut's celebrated bombardment of that fort in March and May 1863, during the Vicksburg campaign]. Eaton takes my sword home to you, if the Pirates do not get it....The whole Fleet enjoy excellent health. Mr. Brownell suffers with his eyes very much as I used to, & is unable to attend to anything but the printing...." The celebrated assault on Mobile, during which Farragut is reputed to have made the famous remark "Damn the torpedoes," is described in the notes to the following lot.
A very good letter from the hero of the Battle of New Orleans, written while preparing to assault the Confederate port of Mobile, which took place only 10 days later, on 5 August. "I wrote you yesterday by way of N[ew] O[rleans] but as Eaton goes direct, I must drop you a line to-day, besides you know they pick up letters now occasionally, & it will be a great thing for you to know that I was well...I have just been on board of the Admiral to see Genl. [Daniel] Sickles, who I gave a passage home...Governor Hahn also goes home in her, he is the little fellow who made such a [illegible] speech for me, on my arrival at New Orleans, when I came down the River after passing Port Hudson [a reference to Farragut's celebrated bombardment of that fort in March and May 1863, during the Vicksburg campaign]. Eaton takes my sword home to you, if the Pirates do not get it....The whole Fleet enjoy excellent health. Mr. Brownell suffers with his eyes very much as I used to, & is unable to attend to anything but the printing...." The celebrated assault on Mobile, during which Farragut is reputed to have made the famous remark "Damn the torpedoes," is described in the notes to the following lot.