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Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891 [Deposition of Judy Taylor against Joseph Coombs]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03508 Author/Creator: Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891 Place Written: s.l. Type: Document signed Date: circa August-September 1863 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 34 cm, Width: 20.7 cm Order a Copy

Written in clerical hand and signed by Porter as Acting Rear Admiral commanding the Mississippi Squadron. Deposition where Judy Taylor accuses Joseph Coombs of being a Confederate supporter. Says she was hired as a chambermaid to Coombs, who was the captain of the "Louisville," from July 1861-September 1862. She was then hired again in December 1862 and was under his employ until the ship was captured by U.S. forces. She was hired for $20/month. Claims she was last paid in April 1862. Taylor also said that Coombs always hoisted the rebel flag when coming to a landing. She also reported that Coombs would say "that the north was a set of robbers and theives and that people should fight for the southern Confederacy." She also said he used his ship to "assist the rebel forces, in planting cannon at Isenberg." Taylor could not sign her name and used an "X" to make her mark. Date was taken from the collateral file.

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