Terms of SaleBid IncrementsGradingLinksContact

Sale 78: The Westpex Sale

Table of Contents

1861-62 General Issues (Scott 1-7)

Lot 2063    

Confederacy, 1861, 10¢ blue, just barely shaving frameline, trivial gum staining, tied by "Jackson, Miss, Aug. 13" (1862) cds on folded cover addressed to B. Grimball in Spartanburg, S.C., written by his son, John and contains wonderful content regarding the final battle and ultimate fate of the Ram Arkansas, I have at last arrived in Jackson from the late Ram Arkansas which is no more having been burnt above Baton Rouge. We were sent down to cooperate with Breckenridge in his attack, but our engines failed us. And after working night and day at our machinery, several times it was reported ready and every time it broke down. Still we worked on to do our best, expecting an attack every minute. Finally the "Essex" was reported coming up, and our engines also reported ready. So we launched out to meet her but had scarcely cut our lines when the engines again broke down, and we succeeded in getting into the bank. We were now lying in such a position that we could not bring a gun to bear on the enemy, if she chose her position, and the iron was so thin towards them that every shot would have gone through her. So that was nothing left for us but to burn her, which we did under fire of our enemy. I lost everything except my watch and a suit of linen clothes which I had on., some splits along folds, Very Fine.
Scott No. 2    Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

AN IMPORTANT AND HISTORICAL COVER AND LETTER.

John Grimball, First Lieutenant Confederate Navy, was born in Charleston, S.C. and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, June 1858. Grimball resigned from U.S. Navy the day South Carolina seceded, 20 December 1860, when he entered the service of that state and continued therein until the formation of the Confederacy when he was transferred to the Confederate Navy. He was on duty at Fort Moultrie when the "Star of the West" attempted to reinforce Fort Sumter. He served on the Confederate Steamer "Lady Davis" at the battle of Port Royal, and on the "Ram Arkansas", in her celebrated fight on the Mississippi River.

Realized: $1,300

Email Sale 78 - Lot 2063 to a friend

Required fields are marked *

A link back to Sale 78 - Lot 2063, along with its description, will be appended to your message.