William Byrns Letter, 1862 May 15.

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William Byrns Letter, 1862 May 15.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/760314622

This 8-page letter was written by William Byrns to Miss Florence Clark of Mount Morris, New York on May 15, 1862 from the Gosport Navy Yard in Portsmouth, Virginia. Byrns was part of the Union forces occupying the Navy Yard after the Confederate evacuation. In the letter, Byrns describes the destruction of the Navy Yard and the relatively good condition of the Marine Hospital. He also gives his thoughts on booby traps, which he calls torpedoes, and mentions seeing the damaged bow gun from CSS Virginia. Byrns incorrectly attributes to US Steam Battery Monitor the damage to the gun. Significant portions of this letter tell of Byrns's interactions with local residents and the hostility he perceived from them, especially from women. Byrns also describes at length his feelings about serving in the Union army and outlines reasons for which he will not leave the service. The vessel Byrns mentions transporting Union prisoners is the William Kent, built in 1848 as the Ansonia at Brooklyn, New York.

2 items.

The Mariners' Museum Library

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 8148905

The Mariners' Museum Library

Related Entities

There are 5 Entities related to this resource.

Monitor (Ironclad)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w65471q7 (corporateBody)

Virginia (Ironclad)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6s50mdh (corporateBody)

William Kent (Transport : 1861)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w66j1nt6 (corporateBody)

Byrns, William.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6np9qjw (person)

William Byrns was a first lieutenant in Company B, 1st Michigan Volunteers. Nothing else is known of him. On May 10, 1862, the 1st Michigan Volunteers were part of the Union force under the command of Major General John E. Wool that landed at Ocean View, a short distance from the city of Norfolk. From the description of William Byrns Letter, 1862 May 15. (The Mariners' Museum Library). WorldCat record id: 760314622 ...

Norfolk Naval Shipyard (U.S.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6tj3qpk (corporateBody)