Lot # : 18a - INCREDIBLE ARCHIVE RELATED TO THE U.S.S. MERRIMAC

OF THE EAST GULF BLOCKADING SQUADRON DURING THE CIVIL WAR. SIMPSON JENNEY A WHALESHIP CAPTAIN WAS AN ENSIGN ON THIS SHIP. THE ARCHIVE INCLUDES A CDV OF SIMPSON JENNEY IN HIS OFFICER'S UNIFORM AND A CDV OF THE MERRIMAC. GOLD LACE WORN BY JENNEY WHILE IN THE NAVY, A CHILD'S BONNET AND CHILD'S UNDERGARMENTS MADE FROM LINEN FROM THE MERRIMAC IN 1864, A LEATHER U.S.N. AMMUNITION POUCH, A LETTER DATED FEB. 1865 WHICH DISCUSSES THE MERRIMACS LEAVING PORTSMOUTH FOR FORT FISHER, WILMINGTON, DELAWARE. THEN GOING TO ATTACK CHARLESTON, SC. THERE IS A VIVID DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE REBELS BLEW UP FORT FISHER BEFORE THEY RETREATED AFTER CHARLESTON THE SHIP SAILED FOR KEY WEST AND FINALLY DESCRIBES THE TAKING OF THE SLOOP HENRIETTA WITH 16 BALES OF COTTON. THERE IS ALSO A DOCUMENT FOR SIMPSON JENNEY FOR RELIEF AND PROTECTION AS AN AMERICAN SEAMAN FROM THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS. A 20 DOLLAR CONFEDERATE BILL FROM RICHMOND 1861, A RECEIPT FROM 1867 FOR MARINE INSURANCE, A PENSION CERTIFICATE FROM 1890 FOR BEING AN ENSIGN IN THE NAVY AND SEVERAL FAMILY LETTERS DISCUSSING HIS PENSION.