Thomaston: The Town that Went to Sea - U.S. Flagship Hartford

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U.S. Flagship Hartford

A recreation of a possible piece of correspondence of a shipman:

Gunboat Kennebec
Off Thomaston Maine
April 23,1862

Dear Kenneth,
I am writing to inform you that I have joined the Navy. I am on The Gunboat Kennebec currently off the coast of Mississippi. We set sail from Thomaston, Maine on October 5th. Our job is to attack Confederate ships and prevent them from trade. Lately, we have been attacking Fort Jackson.
Admiral Farragut has high hopes for success on this voyage. We are hoping to control the fort in order to oversee Mexico and its relations to the Union. There have been many people from Thomaston who have also joined me on this voyage. One of our main concerns is controlling trade to and form Thomaston along the Eastern coast of the US. I am sorry to inform you that I must get back to work, firing one of our five guns that are onboard the ship. I hope all is well back home. Write often and send my love to the family.

Your good friend, Trent
Gunner
Gunboat Kennebec

Thomaston Historical Society

Works Cited
"Farragut's Fleet." 01 May 2009 <http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1862/may/farragut-fleet.htm>. From this source we learned about the duties onboard a gunboat. We also learned about artillery onboard the ship. We also learned more about the captain of this ship. This is a secondary resource.

Haze Gray & Underway - Naval History and Photography. 01 May 2009 <http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/gunboats/kennebec.txt>. From this source we got information about the Gunboat Kennebec and what its mission was. We also found information about people and their duties on board. This is a secondary resource.

Packard, Aubigne L. A Town That Went to Sea. Rockland: Courier-Gazette Inc., 1987. This is where we got background information about ships that were built in Thomaston. We also got the name of the ship used in our story from this source. This is a secondary resource.

U.S. Flagship Hartford
Off New Orleans January 30th 1864
Dear Sister Elira
You will be somewhat surprised when you receive this note, to learn that I am in the navy. I have been on board this ship about six weeks and we will sail in a few days for Mobile to attack the forts. You are aware this is the flagship of the West Gulf Blockading SQ. Admiral Fanagesh, and you know what a name he has won for himself in this war by his superior fighting qualities, but he always deserves all the praise he gets. We will sail next Wednesday with the whole fleet to attack the forts. They are pretty strong besides they have a lot of water batteries and torpedoes but we will whip them, for the admiral is bound to come out victorious. I received a letter from Larimia yesterday she wrote that everybody was well, and she had received a letter from Elvera also photographs of Ada and Melbourne. I should like to have you send me some as soon as you recieve this for you cannot imagine how lonesome it is, in the Navy. I have not told you my position in the Navy yet. I am an Acting Ensign, I get $ 1.309 a year. I don’t like as well as I expected I would but I am in hopes I shall live to see the war close anyhow and then I will be discharged. I think you owe me a letter now, don’t you and I am now in a place where letter come very acceptable and I hope you will write as often as convienient.
The weather is intensely hot tonight and it is almost impossible to write but I must try and fill up this sheet tonight, as the mail leaves tomorrow for NY. I cannot write much news about home because I don’t receive more letters from there then you do Israel has bought the whole of the Jimmy Fitts and and father writes that he (Jerad) is going in her so it is my opinion you will see him in Gal. soon. Give my love to Elvira and children. And be sure and send me the photographs. I can’t think of anything interesting without I give you a little account of my duty onboard ship I am Officer of the Powder Division in action and have charge of 88 men I shall get charge of a division of 6 guns soon and then I shall feel better. Write often and oblige.