ONLINE ENCORE - Militaria Auction
Lot 2075:
Description
This significant collection features original 1871 correspondence from Henry B. Colby, a Volunteer Officer during the Civil War, addressed to Hon. N.P. Banks (Major General and Congressman). The primary document is a multi-page handwritten letter detailing a scathing “Mustang” (volunteer) officer’s perspective on the naval academy system and Admiral David Dixon Porter’s leadership. Colby provides firsthand accounts of the attack on Fort Fisher, the “Powder Boat” failure, and his mission conveying dispatches through the Carolinas to General Sherman, noting Sherman’s belief that Wilmington would have “fallen by its own weight.” Naval records confirm Colby served as an Acting Master’s Mate and was attached to the USS Nyack, a screw gunboat in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Included is a modern typed transcription for ease of reading and a smaller 1863 handwritten note regarding military appointments, signed by command of Major General Rosecrans. The original 19th-century stationery shows age-appropriate yellowing, distinct fold lines, and minor edge wear, but the ink remains dark and highly legible. Condition: Good; original papers show expected toning and fold-related wear; transcription is modern. Measurements: Transcript: H 10″, W 8″; Letter: H 8”, W 5”. Note: 3”x3.25”. Please see photos.
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