Fabulous Content Letter Regarding
The Historic Search For The Confederate President Fugitive “Jefferson Davis”
EDWARD Y. McCAULEY Signed Letter, 1865

EDWARD Y. McCAULEY, Civil War Union Naval Commander.
Autograph Letter Signed, “E.Y. McCauley” on board the gunboat “U.S.S. Benton,” May 6, 1865, Natchez, Mississippi, 4 pages, 9.75” x 8”, Choice Very Fine. To Rear Admiral T. Bailey, at the U.S. Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H. Excellent content, in part:

“The Brittania claims a share in the prize ‘Swallow’ most unjustly... the Brittania had nothing to do with the ‘Swallow’s’ capture.... I do not think the Tioga’s loss of speed was attributable to the lining of her engines... One of the last things Mr. Hopper did... was to line the Engine accurately, done after the Metacomet poked us.... They anticipate having the yellow fever here this year. I have now about 30 cases of miasmatic fever.... We are at present hard worked trying to prevent Jeff Davis and the other Booth-ites from getting across the River. I have about a dozen vessels in my division, strung along the stream, with boats in the intervals and pickets of men at crossings... but I can hardly hope for his capture. We have some 800 miles of river to watch, and there must be some place where he can get a mile of unwatched ground... Mismanagement on his part, or good luck on our side alone can do it. The proceeds of our prize taking in the Gulf has furnished a very comfortable little house for Mrs. McCauley.... I travel up & down from Vicksburg here...& play Lord high admiral on a very small scale....” Faint soiling; otherwise, neatly and boldly written and signed in dark brown ink. Jefferson Davis was captured on May 22 near Irwinville, Georgia.



Edward McCauley entered the Navy in 1841. He participated in the attack on pirates in the China Sea in 1855 and in the laying of the Atlantic cable (1857-58), During the Civil War, he served in the “Flag” in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron (1861-62), commanded the “Fort Henry” in the Eastern Gulf blockading squadron (1862-63), commanded the “Tioga” when it took part in the attack on Bayport, Florida, and was in charge of the gunboat “Benton” of the Mississippi Squadron (1864-65). He made Rear-Admiral in 1885.