Arms & Militaria

Union Blockade Archive, ca. 1863

Appraisal: Union Blockade Archive, ca. 1863

Transcript

GUEST: I brought in a British flag that was captured by my great-great-great-uncle Jimmy Hartshorn during the Civil War, the naval engagement off of Galveston. Jimmy was an ensign, and he served off the gunboat the Katahdin and did most of his service up and down that coast. Went to Galveston to try and be involved in the blockade at that time, and he came away with this flag and he wrote lots of letters home, and this is the one that refers to the flag. He did die three months after he captured this flag.

APPRAISER: Really?

GUEST: Very quickly from, they think, malaria.

APPRAISER: So this would've been one of the last pieces that he sent home before he died.

GUEST: Absolutely, yes.

APPRAISER: During the Civil War, they set up a Naval blockade of the South. And basically it was their way to shut down commerce in the South. So your ancestor was serving on one of the ships in the Union Navy, guarding to be sure that the ships didn't make it into the Confederacy.

GUEST: Exactly.

APPRAISER: This one's from 1863, and it talks about capturing this flag.

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: And it's kind of cool because in the letter it says they were chasing him, and it says they were flying the English flag all the way. They ran them aground, the sailors scattered. They were going inland as the boarding party came aboard. They burned the boat, but before he did he took what he could.

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: This flag was part of it, and he states that there was a southeaster coming, and the rain was going and when they made it aboard ship they looked more like drowned rats than they did men. The flag itself is beautifully hand sewn. It's got so much character. You can see the holes, the wear.

GUEST: The wear.

APPRAISER: It's beautiful. Do you know why it has the red field?

GUEST: No, no, I don't.

APPRAISER: They made them three different versions. The red was actually for British merchant ships. And... which goes right along with a privateer trying to get in to Galveston.

GUEST: Sure.

APPRAISER: Flags are one of the few things that when it's bigger it's not always better.

GUEST: Oh.

APPRAISER: This one's the perfect size because it's big enough that it stands out.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: But it's small enough you can still frame it and enjoy it.

GUEST: Hmm...

APPRAISER: This image is of your ancestor?

GUEST: Yes.

APPRASIER: It's a beautiful daguerreotype.

GUEST: Yeah.

APPRAISER: And what's special about it, we have the photographer studio stamp of Matthew Brady in New York. Matthew Brady was the most famous of all photographers.

GUEST: I missed that looking up stuff-- wow.

APPRAISER: And it's in beautiful condition. Detail is wonderful, the case is solid, it's just a nice group all the way around. Since it's an ancestor I assume you would be looking for an insurance value.

GUEST: Absolutely.

APPRAISER: If this were my family's flag, letter and image, I would insure it for $7,000.

GUEST: Oh, my goodness. We'll do it. Thank you so much! Cool. (chuckles) Very exciting.

Appraiser

Rafael Eledge

Shiloh Civil War Relics
Savannah, TN

APPRAISED VALUE (2014)

$7,000 Insurance

Event

Albuquerque, NM (2014)

Theme

Historical Artifacts

Form

2D Art, Photograph, Books & Documents, Letter, Textiles & Needlecraft, Flag

Appraiser Speciality

Arms & Militaria

Material

Fabrics & Plant Materials, Cloth, Paper and Cardboard, Paper

Update: October 5, 2015

Following is a transcript of the first and fourth pages of the letter included in this appraisal. The second and third pages are currently unavailable. According to this archive's current owner, James Henry Hartshorn died from malaria in 1863, only a few months after writing this letter. U.S.S. "Katahdin" Galveston May 17th, 1863 Dear Mother & Father, The U.S. supply steamer "Tennessee" arrived yesterday from New Orleans bringing me a letter from Nellie dated April 18th and one from somebody else. I also received a large official letter which made me jump up for a minute. I thought to be sure that I was to be ordered home but I soon found that there was no such luck in store for me it proved to be a letter from a friend of mine in the Custom House at New Orleans. I guess you would laugh if you could see me now. Yesterday I shaved off my whiskers from my chin leaving them only on the side of my face. I don’t know myself so it is not at all strange that no one else knows me. After I had shaved I changed my clothes and went on deck to the first Lieut and asked him if he would let me have a boat to go on board of my own ship. He looked at e and said in the most earnest manner Certainly sir in a few moments. In a few moments … [end page 1] [pages 2 and 3 not available] [page 4] … like drowned rats than human beings. She flew an English flag all the time we were chasing her. I gobbled that and brought it off together with a few other articles. She was not worth much she was bound in to get a load of cotton I suppose. By the way speaking of cotton tell Nelly that Amanda did not say anything to me about that piece of [illegible] she built for my niece Miss Kitty. I have seen some of Amandas handiwork and know that what ever she does do she does first rate. I saw Capt Bailey again the other day. The Anderson has gone back to New Orleans to repair. I went on board to see him. He gave me a box of cigars that he got from a prize and a lot of reading matter. I gave him a lot of reading matter. I do not think he is very well. The Harriet Lane has not come out yet that we know of. We are keeping a good look out for her all the time. Every thing looks very quiet about Galveston. I think they have sent off all their spare troops to look after Banks. I should not wonder if Banks marched down this way before long. I hope so I would like to go on shore now it looks like a very pleasant place. After this steamer leaves here I don’t expect another down for four or five weeks. So if you should not hear from me for some time you must not worry about it. Remember me to all. write as often as you can. One of you can write every week, I should think. I like to hear as often as I can. Give my kindest regards to Mr. & Mrs. Champney and lots of love to [?] Nelly & Frank. Kiss Miss Kitty for me and tell her to be a good little girl and hurrah for Uncle Jimmie. Good bye for a while. Write often to your affectionate sonny boy, James Henry According to this archive's current owner, James Henry Hartshorn died from malaria in 1863, only a few months after writing this letter.