CIVIL WAR 1864 Letter SINKING OF CSS ALABAMA by USS KEARSARGE Great Content!

Description

2-1/2 pg. letter, approx. 7-5/8" x 9-3/4", dated at
115 Nassau St., New York City, July 8, 1864
, from Jarvis N. Lake, (signed "J.N. Lake"), to Mrs. Patience Thompson, at Hunts Corners, Cortland Co., NY.
Includes the original patriotic envelope, with red & blue illustration of a flag, and "If any one attempts to haul down the American Flag, shoot him on the spot" printed below. The stamp is missing from the envelope.
The writer of this letter,
Jarvis N. Lake
, was a New York City attorney, formerly of Little Falls, NY, where he served as the President of the Village (like Mayor) in 1854.
The letter is to
Patience Church Thompson
, (1799-1876), a twice widowed woman, whose first husband, Jedediah Lake (1795-1834) was related to the writer of this letter. After Jedediah Lake's death, she married Zenas Thompson, (1799-1850).
Great content, writing of Mrs. Thompson's son, Jedediah Lake, (1830-1914),
Colonel of the 27th Iowa Infantry
, and praising her for her being instrumental in the development of her son's fine character.
Of special interest is his writing at length of the destruction of the Confederate Raider, the CSS "Alabama", by the U.S.S. Kearsarge off of Cherbourg, France, which occurred on June 19th, 1864,
referring to the "Alabama as a "Pirate" ship, and noting that its destruction was "mortifying to British pride and arrogance", as the ship was completely British in everything but name.
The letter includes:
"I received a few days since, a most excellent letter from Col. Jed, dated at Memphis, enclosing the Photograph, & I knew he was a noble looking 'boy' by the tenor of his letters, & he does look the man, judging from his photograph. I took occasion on my return from Washington to call his attention to the very loose habits of
drinking
&
smoking
, so prevalent in the Army, & thinking that western men were not all saints (if Mr. Lincoln was), I cautioned him against falling into the bad habits of Military men. His answer was characteristic of the name he bears. Among other things he says,
'Whatever of good habits I have acquired, or whatever faculties of application I may possess are entirely due to the upright teachings of my Mother, & whatever defects there may be in either, are owing to my...neglect of her instructing'. I could not permit so noble a tribute to your excellent teachings to pass unnoticed, & to say what my daily experience confirms, that the Mothers of our Country are altogether
the best men in it
. Our great family owed to our Mother the formation of character. She was a strict disciplinarian, & brought her sons up on the way they should go, & when they were old they did not depart from it...
You will rejoice with me, & the whole loyal Country, at the destruction of the Pirate Alabama, under circumstances so mortifying to British pride & arrogance. The Alabama was a British vessel in every sense; armed with British guns, manned by British Seamen, & every shot she fired was all British. Her men were training on board the British Man of War Excellent, and yet the Alabama was no match for the Kearsarge, because the latter was Yankee all over. If the Alabama had been in the hands of the Yankees & the Kearsarge manned as the Alabama was, the Kearsarge would have gone down. Mr. Bull is no match for brother Jonathan, except in lying. His tory subjects bear off the palm in that respect, & distance all competition..."
Very Fine.
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