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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC08658 |
| From Archive Folder | Unassociated Civil War Documents 1863 |
| Title | Fred to his father discussing a spree of revenge attacks after the sinking of a mail boat |
| Date | 23 May 1863 |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Written by a Union sailor aboard the USS "Morse". References his father's letter. Says that last Saturday "the mail boat was coming up and the rebels fired into her with field pieces and struck twice, and we got under way and went down and by the time we got there they had gone under[.] the captain was so mad he order us to shell all the houses on the bank of the river and we did to I tell you we fired all that afternoon ... then we went ashore and set all the buildings afire. I tell you we had some fun we burnt one house full of splendid furniture." Says he burned down 3 barns full of ham, grain, carts, and hay. Says in total they destroyed 500 bushels of grain and 10 houses, all belonging to one man. Says they have to convoy with the mail boat "for a while." Says that they recently captured 300 bushels of corn from a "secesh woman." In answer to a question in a previous letter says their captain does order them to kill pigs and cows. The name of the river where this pillaging occurred is given as Mattapony in seller's description. |
| Subjects | Soldier's Letter Union Soldier's Letter Civil War Military History Confederate States of America Wartime Pillaging and Destruction Women's History Military Provisions Diet and Nutrition Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Navy |
| Place written | s.l. |
| Theme | The American Civil War; Naval & Maritime |
| Sub-collection | Papers and Images of the American Civil War |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era: 1860-1945 |
| Civil War: Recipient Relationship | Father |
| Civil War: Unit | USS "Morse" |