Simpson, Edward (1824-1888) Letters U.S.S. Passaic S. Atlantic squadron from July 20, 1863 to May 13, 1864 and U.S.S. Isonomia N. Atlantic and Gulf squadron from Augt 17th 1864 to October 11th 1864

Majority of letters written and signed by Simpson, though several are clerically written and signed. Battle action of the Passaic off Charleston and battle reports of the steamer frigate U.S.S. Isonomia off Alabama and Western Florida. Also includes a typed letter from Charles W. Stewart to Lt. Commander Edward Simpson. The letter, dated 5 February 1906, is in regards to the return of Simpson's father's Civil War Journal. Enclosed with the letter are two circulars discussing the collection of US naval officers' papers and the desire to obtain them from families for public availability. The letter and accompanying circulars have been removed from the journal and placed in a separate folder. Quarter calf, marbled boards.

The USS Isonomia, a newly-built side-wheel steam gunboat, was commissioned in August of 1864. After serving off North Carolina for several weeks, the Isonomia was sent to Key West. She patrolled the Florida coast and the Bahamas for the rest of the war. In May of 1865, the Isonomia captured a sailing blockade runner.

Excerpts:

[10 September 1863] "Previous to the accident to the turret-shaft, & steering gear, which accurred on the night of the 6th inst., the vessel had received 39 hits from the enemy; several of these had wounded the side armor badly and four holes had been made through the deck, one over the bread-room (making it necessary to remove the bread to the provision-room), one (20 inches by 9) over a coal-bunker, and two over the berth deck. As the iron of the deck plates is much roughed up and broken when struck by a shot, it is impossible to make these leaks tight without renewing the plates, thus, whenever the spar deck is awash, the berth deck is wet."

[9 October] On 15 August, while on "close picket, I discovered a steamer of the enemy communicating between Fort Sumter and Cumming's Point. I opened fire on her which had the effect of causing her to move rapidly up the harbor. Battery Gregg opened fire in return but I received no hits...On the 17th of August I joined the squadron in the attack of the forenoon on Fort Wagner, after which I was engaged with Fort Sumter at distance of 2000 yards. In the afternoon of the same day I again engaged Fort Wagner at a distance of 900 yards in company with the ["Patapsew,"] and succeeded in silencing the fire of two guns that had been mounted subsequent to the withdrawal of the Squadron in the forenoon. During the day this vessel was hit thirteen times. I fired thirty shells from the XV inch gun, and 9 from the Rifle, having been ordered to retain the fire of the Rifle for service against the walls of Sumter."