.MzkyMQ.NjM3Ng

[First Letter]

[Stamped envelope]

9-14-64

[postmark] Norfolk Va Sep15 ‘64

S. Cobb Esq Mauricetown Cumberland Co. N.J.

9/19/69

[Letter Pg1]

On board U.S.S. Shenandoah Septr 14th /64

Dear Father

I has not bin vary long since I last wrote to you. I made an allotment of half pay for you to day. it will begin on the 1st of next month. my pay is $16 per month and I alloted half of that for it will take the rest to get clothes with as wee have to pay for our own clothes here. the Government dose not furnish us with clothes as in the army. you can draw it evry month or let it run for two or three

[Pg2]

months just as you pleas. the 1st month will be up on the last of October and if you want to draw that months you will have to go (or send by mail) betwen the 1st and 10th of November and so on. Directins Jos. S. Chambers Navy Agent 3rd Pl below Chestnut Philadelphia. this money you can use if you need it. I send it to you and the family. it is a small sum but it may do some good, in the Family, wee expect to go to sea to morrow wee are going a cruiceing betwen the Islands of the West Indies and perhaps will not be back here befor spring and wee may be back here in a few weeks

[Pg3]

pleas write soon direct as befor. give my love to Mother and all of the Children and tell them that I have a little over a year to stay and then I want to come home to stay. I am well and hope you are all the, same,

  all  are

I also send my love to you. I will close for the presant, write soon. Direct Shenandoah insted of Daylight Nomere at presant, from your most obt. Wm. T. Cobb U.S.N

[Second Letter]

[Stamped envelope]

11-13-64

[postmark] Norfolk Va Nov 14 ‘64

S. Cobb Esqr Mauricetown Cumberland Co. N.J.

[Letter Pg1]

Page No. 1

On board U.S.S. Senandoah off Norfolk Navy Yard Novbr. 13, /64

Der Father

As I have another oppertunity of writeing I take it in writeing to you. wee left Key west about a week ago and come north wee stoped at Beaufort and then proseeded on to Nofolk whare wee now lay. wee had a vary good passage on, it is vary cold here for the time of year. it is much colder here than it was at key west. when wee come here wee went to coaling ship, and the vessel that wee took coal out of was the Schr.

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page No. 2

Fredrick Tylor. the vessel that Lorenze Ogden sailed and [Fey?] Robines and Whitefield Tropshire sailed her once. I met on board of her an old of mine it is Alfried Harris Hudsons son. wee had a good time to gether. I was on board of the vessel with him untill nine oclock last night. he told me all the news the he knew, he is a comeing home when he comes to Phila this time he is only a comeing home to stay one day. I give him a green coconut and he said that he was a going to take it down home with him to show to some of the maurice- -town folks that never a green coconut. I put my name on it so that if aney one sees it they will know who sent it from

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Page No. 3

the Sunney South. Alfried said that he would try to get over to our house to tell you what I had to say and look. when George wrote last he siad that you wanted to know what I am on board of this ship. I will tell you, I am ordinary Seaman. I get $16 per month, half of which I have alloted to you it begines on the first of September there is two months pay (atlest half pay I should have Said) due you you[crossed out] will go (or send) to Phila for it. I am well and harty, as I hope you all are at home. I would be vary glad to come home to see Mother, yourself, and all the children. George told me that he was a going to sea with Ed. I am vary glad that he can help you, but I am sorry that he has to leave home so soon

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Page No. 4

but as he is under Eds controle perhaps he will do well enough. you must charge Ed vary carefull to be carefull of him, and when my time is out I want to go with him my self and then I will learn George navigation. I will close for the presant by sending my love to Mother, Your self, and all the family. Pleas to write as soon as you get this. Direct as befor. Nomore at presant but I still remain your most obdt Son Wm. T. Cobb U.S.N.

[Third Letter]

[Stamped envelope]

[postmark] Old Point Comfort Va Dec 3 ‘64

S. Cobb Esqr Mauricetown Cumberland Co. N.J.

12/6/64

[Letter Pg1]

On board U.S. Ship Shenandoah Decbr 6 [overwritten with 2nd] /64

Dear Father

I recieved yours day before yasterday and was glad to here from home a gane. I had begin to think that you had forgotten me but I find you have not. you was a speaking a bout the 8$ per month that I allotted to you. I give you the privlage of using it if you wish but in case you you do not want to use it you may keep it untill my time

[Pg2]

is out then I will have some thing to start with, but if you need it use it for I would rather you would use it than to have need for it and not do so. I hope that Ed Compton will make up to you what you have lost on his house. I wish you to write often write as soon as you here from my time. I would be vary glad to help you on the big Schooner, but I have become so acquainted with navigatoin that I expect that I shal go to sea the remainder of my life unless something better affords. I have 10 months and 29 days more to stay

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that is not long to one who gets use to it as I am. wee do not know how long wee will stay here but I hope not long for I want to get into warm weather. I wish you to write to Ed tell him whare I am and to write to me and I will answer it. Also send my love to Ed & George W. I will close fore the presant by sending my love to Mother, Anna, Fremont, Clinton, also your self. I wish you to write soon. Direct as before, Nomore at presant from you most obdt son Wm. T. Cobb U.S.N.

[Fourth Letter]

[Type written cover page]

THE FOLLOWING LETTER WRITTEN ON JANUARY 17TH, 1865, IS AN EYE WITNESS ACCOUNT OF THE BATLE OF FORT FISHER

[Stamped envelope]

[Handwritten at top of envelope]

Fort Fischer letter Historical

[postmark] [...York 31?]

S. Cobb Esqr Mauricetown Cumberland Co. N.J.

1-17-65 11/10/63

[Letter Pg1]

On board U.S.S. Shenandoah Under Fort Fisher N.C. Jany 17th 1865

Dear Father

As I have not written to you for some time I take the presant oppertunity in writeing you a few lines to notify you that Fort Fisher the Key to the so called Confederacy, is ours wee took it. this you may rely upon for I was an Eve witness to the same. when you read the papers yiou may read an account of the sailors and how they showed their bravery when chargeing on the Fort. I was in the

[Pg2]

charge, now to the detales of the affair. wee left Beaufort on the 12th and come down here. wee arrived here that night and come too, off the Fort untill morning when we began the engagement. wee bombbarded the Fort all that day (the 13th) and all day on the 14th and on the morning of the 15th at 9 Ock wee was ordered to man all boats, armed and equiped, (previous to this all the men that was to go on shore was picked out,) wee was called the stormeing party. at 10 Ock wee landed and started up the beach towards the Fort and from this time (out) wee was under fire. our ships kept up the bomb- bardment. from whare wee landed to the Fort was a bout 2 1/2 miles. wee crawled on our hands and knees

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untill we got within a half a mile of the Fort. when the signal was given to charge and then wee started on a full run. wee run untill wee come up to a stockeade that they had a long the beach when wee lay flat uppon the beach, (the instant we started on the charge the Rebs let fly grape, canister, and shots from small arms, and wee had to facte it all with nothing in our hands but a saber and revolver, but wee did not stop wee kept on untill wee reached the stackade but that did not afford aney protection to us for the beach was so level and the fort so high that they could shoot down uppon us whilst wee had to lay and take it as fast as they could shoot. Father I have bin in a grate number of battles but for the space of time I never saw men fall so fast in my life. I cannot discribe it with pen and paper but I will do the best I can, for, example, there was 1 shower of canister come through the ranks whare I was running up the beach and out of about twenty that stood with in 8 paces of me there was but four of us that come out of that shower. I had not gon twenty feet farther when another shower come and gone, the same as the first

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and so on untill we got clear of there fire way down the beach. after wee got to the stockade wee lay there some time. when wee bagan to cher and tride to get to the Fort but there was a ditch about fourty feet wide, and the size of the Fort was about fifty feet high so wee saw that there was little use of us trying to get in to the Fort in that way. so wee lay still for a few minutes longer when the signal was given for us to fall back, wich wee did. in our falling back is when wee lost the most men for the Rebs let loose Grape and Canister faster then ever. whilst wee lay under the Fort wee could see the Rebel General on the Fort a waving his sward and wee could here him telling his men to give it to them (meaning us) and well they did give it to us. wee fired several shots at him but our revolvers would not reach him. He was a bout fourty yards from us, but one sailor got a dead marines musket and fired at him. the first shot mist him but the next time he fired he hit him and woonded him. whilst wee was makeing the attacked on the Fort in front there was two thousand soldiers come up in rear and got into the Fort befor the Rebs knew it. the had gained three mounds when the (Rebs that had bin drawn over to the side whare wee was ) found out that they was our witted.) I understand

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since wee come back that it was only intended for us to go up on the sea side of the Fort and charge so as to draw the Rebs to whare wee was so that the soldiers could have a chance to get in to the rear of it. the reason why the Rebs did not mis trust the trick was on account of, on the side whare the soldiers was they onley presented a small skirmish line in front the main body laying behind some rifle pits and as soon as wee got the signal to charge the soldiers done the same. So the Rebs was all on our side and none whare the soldiers was (but wee Blue Jackets had to suffer the penelty, the Rebs say that they never saw a braver piece of work done in their lives.) by this time it was sundown. wee reformed and went to help the soldiers which wee did with a will, wee fought untill a few minutes before 10 Ock at night when the Fort was surrendered to US, as soon as the Fort was surrendered wee signaled to the fleet and such another noise you never hered,, of men huzaying, steam whistles screaming, rocketts, the air was a live with rocketts of all collars,. I have seen a grate many Forth of Julys celebrated but this beat all that I ever did see. it done me mor good to see it for I had an active part in gaining the Fort. wee remained on shore all night picking up what ever wee could from the fort, a bout 9 Ock on the

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morning of the 16th the magazine in the fort exploded I would not under tak to discribe the senes after explosion but it was awful to see, up to this morning they have dug 150 out which was covered up in the sand from the explosion. there was a bout 2,000 blue Jacketts there and about three Regiments of soldiers that took the fort (the storm- ing party) there was about 300 Blue Jacketts killed and woonded bout how maney soldiers I am not able to say. there is about 70 guns in the Fort, wee took 25,000 prisinors besides the munitions of war. wee found wires leading to tarpedoes on the the beach and in fact all a round the fort but the had no time to blow us up. also wires leading to tarpedoes out in the river. I will give you a more minute account of the affare some other time, as a trophy I have a Revolver which I brought off with me. there is a grate maney wants it but I will not let it go. I will say for myself that I did not get hert, but I was awful hungry after being on shore 36 hours a runing through sand, with no water and nothing to Eeat. I will close by sending my love to mother and all the family your self included Read this to all who it may consern. Pleas write soon Direct as befor. No more at presant from your most abdt Son William. T. Cobb U.S.N.

[Pg7]

[Depiction of Bombardment of Fort Fisher}

[Fifth Letter]

[Stamped envelope]

2-22-65

[postmark] [Boston Mass Mar 7]

S. Cobb Esqr Mauricetown Cumberland Co. N.J.

[Letter Pg1]

Charleston S.C. Febuary 22nd /65

Dear Father

As I have not written to you for some time I thought as long as wee have taken this place I would write you a few lines. wee lay with in two hundr- ed yards of the wharf. I [hahve?] not bin on shore yet but wee expect to get liberty to go on shore to see the place in a few days. by what I can see from the ship, the lower part of the City is pretty well tore to pieces but the upper part is not distroyed much. the Rebs has not distroyed much of there earth works. they left them as they stood. I will give you the plan of attacked. Sherman

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made the attacked on the South west side the monitors on the South East side and wee (with 800 soldiers on the North East side). there was about 150 sailors. wee went around in a bay on the N.E. side caled Bulls Bay. wee landed the soldiers in the day time and when night came wee would take them off agin and land them a gain the next day and wee kept on at that untill the Rebs thought that wee had ten or twelve thoursand troops and they began to think that wee would cut their retreat off so they made good their retreat while they had a chance. while wee was on the expidition wee liveed on the country. wee had fresh mutten, fresh port, beef and maney other [articales?]. wee was a whole weeke on the Expidition and wee had

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to live on what ever wee could pick up. the people here day that if it had not bin for us a comeing up in there rear that the rebs would not have left as soon as the did. the people here say that they are vary glad that wee have taken posesion of the City. I do not know how long wee will stay here but if the Admeral goes to Washington wee will stay here for some time for our Captn is Senior Captn of the fleet, and wee my stay here for a long time. when you write to me send me some stanps if you pleas for I am out. I try to make my grog money keep me in stamps but while I was on that Expiditoin some one took all that I had so I have to go a beging now which I do not like.

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tel mother that I would bee vary glad to see her and the children but they will have to wait a while yet befor I can come home. tell them that I am now at the place whare the first gun was fired on the flag. Tel them that wee celebrated Washingtons birth day here in Charleston. wee have a grand display of flags all the ships in the fleet is dressed in flags and each ship fired twenty one guns in honour of Washington and to night there is to be a grand display of lights and rockets is to be throwen also. give my love to Mother the children and your self in cluded. Pleas write soon nomoer at presant from your most obt son Wm. T. Cobb U.S.N

[Sixth Letter]

[Stamped envelope]

4-25-65

[postmark] [Old Point Comfort Va Mar 5]

Mr Samuel Cobb Esqr Mauricetown Cumberland Co. N.J.

[Letter Pg1]

Fort Hatterras N.C. April 25th 1865

Dear Father

Having a few leisure moments, which I don’t have always, I will write you a few lines to let you know how we are getting along. On our voyage down we ran into Fts Monroe for a harbor & then come on down having a splendid [row?][crossed out] run here. We have not got to Newberne as did the rest of the fleet being detained here to supply the army tugs & vessels here & we will not get to Newbern I dont reckon. We [dragged?] ashore here on a shoal which made us

[Pg2]

leak pretty bad about [100?] strakes per hour but not so much as she has been. The have begun to unlaud us having taken 70 tons leaving 100 in but that may not be taken out in a month or six weeks yet. We have been to work very hard since we been here to get our work[s][crossed out] done of which we got considerable to do yet. You really must excuse this miserable [senard?] as I am in a most uncomfortable [postiton][crossed out] position for writing & very tired besides. You must write soon & direct [Ft?] Hatteras N.C. Schn. [?] [G...?] to yours [?] G.H. Cobb

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[Top of page]

Tell Will to write to me.

[Bottom of page]

([..en?] ([?] you for send me 10 stamps & I will give my love to all hands. This item is currently being transcribed by a volunteer. We look forward to making the full-text of the document available soon.-Gil E