(CIVIL WAR NAVY) Giles Henry C Letter from aboard the USS N

Sale 2391 - Lot 113

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Estimate: $ 400 - $ 600

(CIVIL WAR--NAVY.) Giles, Henry C. Letter from aboard the USS Niphon describing the destruction of two Confederate blockade runners. Autograph Letter Signed to brother, 3 pages, 12 1/2 x 7 3/4 inches, on one folding sheet; minor wear. (MRS) Off Wilmington, NC, 5 October 1864

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Giles describes the destruction of the Confederate blockade runners Lynx and Night Hawk as they attempted to escape Wilmington, NC. The Lynx was spotted on 25 September: "She immediately turned and headed for the beach. We then gave her our starboard battery and then kept firing until she was under the protection of the Rebel fort. In 15 minutes after she struck the beach she was in flames and before morning burnt to water's edge . . . loaded with cotton and turpentine, with $150,000 dollars in gold on board, also a lot of passengers, some of which was killed." A few days later came the Night Hawk: "She was very fast and we found her gaining ground, so we opened fire on her and gave her grape and cannister. . . . When she run ashore, we immediately lowered boats with armed men . . . and captured 28 prisoners including her captain. . . . After getting all off except of about five or six which the boats would not hold, we set her on fire and she also burnt to water's edge."