Letter signed "C. Manigault Morris Commander Geo[rgia] navy" to Colonel Henry C. Wayne describing the purchase, outfitting, officers and crew, of what would become the CSS Savannah.
"Naval Rendezvous," Savannah: 28 February 1861. 1 p. (260 x 203 mm). Condition: lightly toned at margins. superb letter from the earliest days of the short-lived georgia navy. A month prior to this letter, Morris resigned his commission in the U.S. Navy. Morris here writes to Wayne, the adjutant general of the Georgia State forces at Milledgeville, about the first vessel in the navy of Confederate Georgia: the Savannah. A 406-ton, side-wheel steamer formerly named the Everglade, the Savannah was re-commissioned at the outbreak of hostilities. At the time of writing, Morris was the ranking officer of the Georgia Navy in the port of Savannah. He writes: "Your Telegraphic Dispatch, 'Don't take Everglade [i.e. Savannah] until repairs to boiler is made, further by mail,' was not received until after Commander Kell had taken her from her owners. My object in hastining [sic] the matter was that I might get her ready for Sea as soon as possible, as I have now 49 Men Shipped, and could get her off in a few days if her Amriment [sic] was here." The letter continues by naming the various officers on board. He then continues: "If I had another Boat, I think I might get a crew for her in a week. I would recomend [sic] the 'Gordon' or the St. Mary's, the former can be had at any time, the Latter will be here on Saturday. The Gordon I think the better boat of the two…" On 7 March, after making a number of repairs, the Savannah was ready for active service. John McKintosh Kell took her on her first cruise the following day. He was then ordered to Fernandina, Florida, in an unsuccessful attempt to obtain two guns for Fort Pulaski. Upon arrival back in Savannah on 22 March, Kell learned that Georgia had ratified the Confederate Constitution and the Georgia Navy was to be absorbed into the Confederate Navy. The C.S.S. Savannah (sometimes referred to as the Old Savannah so as not to be confused with the ironclad of the same name) served as Commodore Tattnall's flagship during the battle of Port Royal Sound. In November 1861, Tattnall led her in an attack on Union vessels guarding the Savannah River. The vessel was renamed the C.S.S. Oconee in 1863 upon the completion of the ironclad ram Savannah. The Oconee became a blockade runner, but fell victim to a storm in August 1863.
Letter signed "C. Manigault Morris Commander Geo[rgia] navy" to Colonel Henry C. Wayne describing the purchase, outfitting, officers and crew, of what would become the CSS Savannah.
"Naval Rendezvous," Savannah: 28 February 1861. 1 p. (260 x 203 mm). Condition: lightly toned at margins. superb letter from the earliest days of the short-lived georgia navy. A month prior to this letter, Morris resigned his commission in the U.S. Navy. Morris here writes to Wayne, the adjutant general of the Georgia State forces at Milledgeville, about the first vessel in the navy of Confederate Georgia: the Savannah. A 406-ton, side-wheel steamer formerly named the Everglade, the Savannah was re-commissioned at the outbreak of hostilities. At the time of writing, Morris was the ranking officer of the Georgia Navy in the port of Savannah. He writes: "Your Telegraphic Dispatch, 'Don't take Everglade [i.e. Savannah] until repairs to boiler is made, further by mail,' was not received until after Commander Kell had taken her from her owners. My object in hastining [sic] the matter was that I might get her ready for Sea as soon as possible, as I have now 49 Men Shipped, and could get her off in a few days if her Amriment [sic] was here." The letter continues by naming the various officers on board. He then continues: "If I had another Boat, I think I might get a crew for her in a week. I would recomend [sic] the 'Gordon' or the St. Mary's, the former can be had at any time, the Latter will be here on Saturday. The Gordon I think the better boat of the two…" On 7 March, after making a number of repairs, the Savannah was ready for active service. John McKintosh Kell took her on her first cruise the following day. He was then ordered to Fernandina, Florida, in an unsuccessful attempt to obtain two guns for Fort Pulaski. Upon arrival back in Savannah on 22 March, Kell learned that Georgia had ratified the Confederate Constitution and the Georgia Navy was to be absorbed into the Confederate Navy. The C.S.S. Savannah (sometimes referred to as the Old Savannah so as not to be confused with the ironclad of the same name) served as Commodore Tattnall's flagship during the battle of Port Royal Sound. In November 1861, Tattnall led her in an attack on Union vessels guarding the Savannah River. The vessel was renamed the C.S.S. Oconee in 1863 upon the completion of the ironclad ram Savannah. The Oconee became a blockade runner, but fell victim to a storm in August 1863.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
