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THBBay Fight, By Ensign H.H. Brownell, Presented to Fleet Surgeon James C. Palmer by the Author, Inked With Important First-Hand Testimony to Farragut's
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About Auction
LiveJun 13, 2014 - Jun 14, 2014
Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
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- Lot Description
Bay-Fight, by Henry H. Brownell, Acting Ensign and clerk to Admiral Farragut on the Hartford during the Battle of Mobile Bay. Originally published in Harper's Monthly, published here in a 4 x 7 in. gilt-embossed green buckram pamphlet, pages numbered 175-193. Inscribed on FFEP, To Mrs. Palmer, Jas. C. Palmer, with Bible verse Luke 17:33, inked above the first line of the poem, Acting Ensign H.H. Brownell to Fleet Surgeon J.C. Palmer / Mobile, 1864, and initialed below the final line H.H.B. Also inked with Palmer's recollections throughout, the longest and most noteworthy being an explanation of Admiral Farragut's most famous line, usually repeated "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!" In the printed poem, Brownell writes "Go on!" - 'twas all he said - / Our helm was put to starboard, / And the Hartford passed ahead., but in this edition Palmer has inked an asterisk next to "Go on!" with the following explanation:
*All Mr. Brownell heard. Or, perhaps, the Admiral, who was not a profane man, told him to suppress one phrase. When the pilot reported from the [?] that we were edging down the torpedo-field, Admiral Farragut called, from under the maintop, in these words: "Damn the torpedoes! Go on! Put the helm a-starboard, Captain Drayton!" So we held our breath, and [?] over the bank. -J.C.P.
Also, below the final line (and Brownell's initials), Palmer has written:
This Mr. Brownell, one of the clerks to Adm. Farragut, was on the poo, watch in hand, and coolly(?) taking notes by the minute, from first to last. This record is absolutely true, without even poetical exaggerations. -J.C.P.
The final page is pasted with a printed clipping, presumably from Harper's, of Browning's addendum to the poem, praising the brave men who fought the battle, including a mention of Palmer. When talking of the bloody and wounded on the decks, Brownell says:
...I can not but remember, with high respect, the admirable skill, the patience, kindness, and efficiency of our medical corps: of Fleet-Surgeon Palmer, Doctors Lansdale, Gibson, and Commons, and one or two volunteers from other vessels. It is an honor to have known such men.First six pages of poem with several spots in the lower half of the page (see photographs).Condition
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