Rare war-dated ALS signed “T. E. Smith,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 7.75 x 9.75, February 20, 1864. Commander of the Tennessee gunboat, Thomas E. Smith, writes to his wife, in part: “On my way up the Tennessee River I had a small skirmish with a party of guerillas and killed one and shot the arm off another, and am sorry that I did not send more of them to their long home…Capt. George W. Brown is here…He has got a new and fine command. His vessel is one of the new monitors. The whole of the vessel is iron with a revolving turret, eight inches solid iron, and his battery consists of two eleven inch guns and is the most formidable looking vessel out here…The Admiral sails tomorrow and it is supposed that he is about to start an expedition up the Red River, and when that is through, the fighting is about done in his part…” In fine condition, with intersecting folds and some light toning. The USS Peosta, also known as Tinclad #36, was a 204 ton side wheeler that was outfitted as an armed gunboat. She was equipped with 14 heavy guns, making her capable of doing battle on the rivers, as well as land bombardments. She was assigned to duty with the Union naval forces operating on the Tennessee River, protecting Union shipping, and supporting the Union army. RRAuction COA.
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