Civil War-dated ALS signed “D. G. Farragut, Rear Admiral,” one page, 7.75 x 9.75, U.S. Flag Ship Hartford letterhead, August 12, 1864. Addressed from Farragut’s flagship, the USS Hartford, anchored off of Mobile Bay, Alabama, a handwritten letter to Lieutenant Henry L. Howison, commander of the USS Bienville, in full: “You will receive onboard the rebel prisoners who will be delivered to you by Lieut. Adams of this vessel, and proceed with them at once to New Orleans and on arrival report to Commodore Palmer who will deliver them to the Provost Marshall as prisoners of war.” A secretarial notation to the bottom area affirms the reception of “209 Rebel Prisoners.” Includes a carte-de-visite 2.25 x 3.5 portrait photo of Farragut in uniform, published by Brady’s National Photographic Portrait Galleries. In fine condition.
A remarkable letter from Rear Admiral Farragut written one week after the historic Battle of Mobile Bay, which resulted in the United States Navy’s seizure of the last important port on the Gulf of Mexico east of the Mississippi River that remained in Confederate possession. It was from this fateful battle where Farragut's, perhaps apocryphal, order of ‘Damn the torpedoes! Four bells. Captain Drayton, go ahead! Jouett, full speed!’ became famous in paraphrase, as ‘Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!’
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