Hollingsworth, William T. (fl. 1861-1862) to James H. Hollingsworth
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00653.20.05 Author/Creator: Hollingsworth, William T. (fl. 1861-1862) Place Written: South Mills, North Carolina Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 10 March 1862 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 25 x 18.5 cm. Order a Copy
Writes to his brother. Discusses the Confederacy's "brilliant naval victory" in Hampton Roads, between the Merrimac and the Monitor. Also reports the damages inflicted on the Union frigates, the Cumberland, the Congress, and the Minnesota, noting the Congress was sunk within the first thirty minutes. The Battle of Hampton Roads, also known as the Battle of Monitor and Merrimack, was a naval battle that took place on 8 and 9 March 1862, off Sewell's Point, near Hampton Roads, Virginia. Envelope includes a green or blue ten cent postage stamp. Draft transcript is available.
[draft excerpt:]
"Before this reaches you - you no doubt will have heard of our brilliant naval victory in Hampton Roads one of the most extraordinary perhaps in the annals of naval warfare - The long talked of Iron Steamer (Merrimac) but now called the "Virginia" moved down on Saturday last about eleven o'clock A.M. There were three of the largest size war frigates in the roads or near Old Fortress Monroe on the look out for her Viz. the Cumberland, the Congress & the Minnesota - The first was sunk in thirty minutes or less time after the Virginia engaged them the second was driven aground and burnt by hot shot to the water edge. The third the Minnesota was run aground and completely hulled and riddled so she is rendered perfectly useless besides several small boats & schooners were sunk and captured & all the batteries but one at Newport News were silenced and the yankees driven from them. The blockade of James River opened so that the Patrick Henry and the James Town came down in an hour or two after the action began and took an active part in the engagement besides the two small steamers the Beaufort and Raleigh that accompanied the Virginia. The Virginia came out without any material damage but two of her crew were killed & six or seven wounded and that was caused by one of the guns of the Va being struck by a ball from the enemys ship. Our whole loss in killed on the different boats was seven & fourteen wounded. The loss of the enemy will probably never be known but it must have been several hundred. So much for the first trial trip, enough to immortalize herself & crew..."
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