Parrott Rifle Document Linked to Burnside's "Coast Division"
This original document refers to orders for "slide carriages" for the 30-pounder Parrott rifled cannon 1n 1861. It seems innocent enough in its language, but much can be learned to attribute it to a particular order for a particular military movement. First, the text states:
New York Nov 12, 1861
John B. Anthony Esq
___Providence Tool Co.
Providence RI
Dear Sir -
I now have an order for 2 more slide carriages for 30 pounder Parrott Rifled Guns which please have the iron work provided for and sent by Friday nights boat if you can or by Saturdays boat certain - This order brings it up to 8 of the 30 pounder slides ordered up to this time.
Yours truly
Wm. Borden
It is helpful to know that a "slide carriage" was used on board ships at this time of the Civil War, a derivative of the "carronade" system. It is also helpful to know that the Providence Tool Co. made muskets and swords for the US Government, among other things, and that they were only doing the iron work on these carriages, presumably as a subcontractor. The Parrott rifles and field artillery carriages were made at the West Point Foundry at Cold Spring, New York, and may just be the contractor for whom Mr. Borden worked. So far, not much substance, but it gets better. Army Parrotts are longer than Navy Parrotts, due to shipboard space constraints. There are no known Army Parrotts with Navy markings, but eight Army Parrotts survive with either Navy shackles affixed to their knobs, or holes drilled in the knobs to accomodate the shackles. All eight were accepted by the Army on November 26, 1861. There is the possibility that the Navy simply wanted to acquire some Parrotts before theirs were ready for delivery, but acceptance by the Army precludes that. Why then, would the Army want eight Parrott rifles with Navy breech shackles attached? The answer begins on September 8, 1861 when Generals Ambrose Burnside and George McClellan met to discuss the future of the war. Part of the discussion centered around the establishment of a seaborne Army unit, tentatively dubbed "The Coast Division". The vision was to have an army amphibious force made up of infantrymen with seafaring and technical skills that operate independently along the Atlantic coast, obtaining lodgements there, and still have the ability to move inland to take the war to the Confederacy. McClellan obtained Secretary of War Cameron's approval in October and told Burnside to move ahead with obtaining men, ships, arms and supplies. The first recruits and all others that followed were housed and trained at Annapolis, and Burnside sought to get his ships with the New York Governor's assistance. The task was undertaken more or less at leisure until November 1, 1861 when McClellan replaced Winfield Scott as the commander of the Union Armies. That day, he told Burnside to push the timetable forward and get the "Coast Division" ready for its first mission. Burnside took the order to heart, and picked up the pace. By December 12, 1861, he had nine steamers armed with 26 cannon, including eight brand-new 30-pounder Parrott rifles, and 20,000 troops, well-drilled in amphibious tactics. The "Coast Division" invaded North Carolina on January 11, 1862 and the rest is history. Incidentally, the eight shackled guns were ordered together on November 3 and delivered on November 26, 1861. Too compelling to be ignored, it is of a high order of probability that the eight slide carriages that are the subject of this letter were for Ambrose Burnside's "Coast Division", which wrested the sounds of North Carolina from the Confederacy.
$195.00
Confederate Newspaper - Winston, North Carolina Western Sentinel
This very scarce Confederate newspaper from Winston, NC is dated June 28, 1861. Very early in the Civil War, much attention was paid to the raising of units, presentation of flags, and the like. This issue contains some good content on the the 3rd North Carolina and a presentation flag ceremony. There is news from other areas of the Confederacy and some slave content. Contact us for more details. This is a hard title to acquire, especially with such an early war date. Some foxing and minimal edge wear, else fine.
$195.00
Another Confederate Newspaper - Winston, North Carolina Western Sentinel
This very scarce Confederate newspaper from Winston, NC is dated November 7, 1862. This issue is completely unique, in that it has a Confederate counterfeit currency detector. In all of the Confederate papers I have viewed or known of, this is the only one I have ever seen that had such a detailed description of how to tell a real bill from a bogus one. Other content deals with death bounties and news from around the Confederacy. Some foxing, else fine. This title is scarce, with very few institutional holdings, and none better in condition.
$245.00
Confederate Newspaper - Lynchburg Virginian "Battle of the Crater"
This very scarce Confederate newspaper from Lynchburg, Virginia is dated August 6, 1864 and contains what is known as a "first account" of this major Confederate victory in this newspaper. The battle took place on July 30, 1864, and the Union army suffered 5,300 casualties, over five times the number suffered by the Confederate defenders. The abortive explosion of tons of gunpowder beneath the defenses of Petersburg was one of the worst debacles in U.S. Army history and provided enough recriminations of the Union leadership to last the participants a lifetime. Particularly hard-hit were the U.S. Colored Troops in Ferrero's Division, who suffered about half of the Union's total casualties. According to one Confederate officer, it was a "turkey shoot". The paper gives a good hour-by-hour account of the battle and tolls the casualties, but they were low on the figures. Fine and scarce title, one page with front and back content. All Lynchburg Virginians are scarce and "first accounts" even scarcer.
$875.00
May 21, 1863 Greensborough Patriot "Death of Stonewall Jackson"
This is a very scarce title containing the detailed report of the death of Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson from wounds received at the Battle of Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863. According to Gregory, this is the only surviving issue carrying this date in existence. Casualty details from North Carolina Troops units and a biography of Henry Clay Gorrell on the front page. He was Captain of Company E, 2nd North Carolina Infantry Regiment (The Guilford Grays) and was mortally wounded on the Chickahominy in Virginia in 1862. Many ads and much news from the Comfederacy and abroad, including the death of Major General Earl Van Dorn at the hands of Dr. George B. Peters on May 7, 1863. It seems the General had been paying too much attention to the good Doctor's wife. If historical journalism is your forte, this truly rare newspaper is a must. Fine plus condition with four pages and no damage. Go find another.
$1,875.00
Daily Carolina Watchman, October 14, 1864 Salisbury, North Carolina
The Camden Confederate, September 5, 1862 Camden, South Carolina
$895.00
$975.00
Gregory's landmark work claims there is no such date in existence for this title. Whatever. In very fine condition, this title is missing from the prestigious Library of Congress collection. Contains a dispatch from General Lee on Grant's repulse in Virginia, as well as a piece on "Grant's Atrocious Villiany" (sic). Articles on the pursuit of Nathan Bedford Forrest and Longstreet vs. Sheridan. Salisbury was the site of a Confederate POW camp, and the city passed an ordinance prohibiting "Sutlers and Hucksters from speculating." You won't find another.
With only two known institutional holdings of this date, this is probably the only one in private hands today. Content includes the victory at 2nd Manassas, John Hunt Morgan's victory against General Richard A. Johnson's forces and other early Confederate war news. A couple of tiny tape repairs and pin holes and some water staining are all that keeps this issue from the fine category. Given its rarity, I'd say it's not a big deal to any serious collector.
