Daniel becomes part of the gunboat Cincinnati crew in this letter. The Cincinnati was sunk on May 10, 1862 at the Battle of Plum Point Bend, just north of Fort Pillow, and about 35 miles south of Memphis. In the footnotes are links to relevant documents in the official Navy records describing the skirmish and the damage assessment of the salvaged boat. It would seem that the Navy underestimated the damage done to the boat as the repairs took much longer than initially estimated. Given the subsequent history of the boat, the repairs were probably not as complete as they could have been.

On board gun boat Cincinnati
Nov. 7/ [18]62
Cairo, Ill.

Dear Father & Mother,

As you will see by the date of this letter I have changed my place of abode. I am now on board the ironclad steamer Cincinnati. USS Cincinnati We left the Clara Dolsen yesterday. All the men who were not sick were drafted except the new lot, which came from Erie & Buffalo the day before. The guards were all drafted except two who were sick. This was quite unexpected by all of us, but Mr. Tarintor, the clerk, told us that hereafter the boat will be guarded by regular marines. I saw the marines marching their different beats this morning from our boat as we are anchored quite [near?] the Clara. All the petty officers were drafted. The boat we are now on is a great deal cleaner than the one we left, as it has been all cleaned out and newly painted outside and in. The first thing we done after coming on board was to go to work at a coal boat lying long side as we are a[re] coaling up and going to leave in a day or two for Vicksburg it is said. There are the marks of two balls in the iron plating of the bow of this boat where it has been struck.

I have always forgotten to tell you that we are getting (and have been for some time) fresh meat, onions, potatoes and cabbage three times a week.

Jamie Stewart wanted to go badly but couldn’t as he has been employed by the Ship’s Clerk at a dollar a day and rations. He said he would be lonesome when the boys are gone. He said he would take care of that ream of paper and send it to them.

But what I want to know is why you don’t write. I haven’t heard from you in I don’t know how long. How are all the folks at home? How is Mrs. Lander? I hope she continues to get better. If you see Mrs. Love or Mary tell them where I am and tell them that I would be happy to have them write. Have they closed the business yet? I am sorry that I could not be in Buffalo as I think I would be able to help them a great deal. But I must close, supper is ready and my head is empty which accounts for this empty letter. Please write immediately and write often.

 

Your affectionate son,

Daniel

Footnotes

Photograph: USS Cincinnati. Photograph, circa -1863 1862. U.S. Naval Historical Center. http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h63000/h63211.jpg.

The condition of the Cincinnati, after sinking in 11 feet of water at Plum Point Bend, TN, near Fort Pillow, in May, 1962 is described in the official records, cited below.

United States. Naval War Records Office and United States. Office of Naval Records and Library. Official records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. / Series I - Volume 23: Naval Forces on Western Waters (April 12, 1862 - December 31, 1862). Washington, GPO, 1910. http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/moa/moa-cgi?notisid=ANU4547-0023

An account of the skirmish resulting in the sinking of the Cincinnati is found on pages 18 - 21.

On page 23 C.H. Davis observes on May 16, 1862, "The gunboat Cincinnati left for Cairo last evening. The injury she sustained proved to be much more serious than at first reported.

On page 102 A.M. Pennock details the damage in a report written from Cairo on May 21, 1862.

"In obedience to your instructions requiring me to report the extent of damage sustained by the Cincinnati, and the detention consequent in making repairs of the same, I beg leave to report that she received a severe blow abaft the iron plating on her starboard quarter, which broke the tops of the head timbers for about 14 feet. She also received two blows on the stern, one on each side of the rudder, which did considerable damage.

The work of taking out the crushed timbers consumes more time than it will require to put the new ones in place.

The bulkheads in the hold are down, and the greater portion of her stores, furniture, etc., is ruined, and she will require a new outfit.

I am of the opinion that it will require two weeks constant work to put her in readiness for service."