Tybee Lighthouse, Used (1 results)

Pen & ink with watercolour. Measuring 145 by 225mm. Previously mounted with tape residue to verso along ms. ink description. [Savannah, Ft. Pulaski, c. April, A lovely watercolour illustrating an important location in the Civil War. Tybee Lighthouse was occupied by the Confederates until 1862 when, after a gruelling 112-day siege, they were overwhelmed by Union troops and forced to seek refuge at Fort Pulaski.   The description on the verso, written by a Union soldier on the eve of the attack on Fort Pulaski, reads thus:   "The Tybee Lighthouse is situated upon Tybee Island at the entrance of the Harbor of Savannah and about eighteen miles from Savannah. The light has been for a long time until & the light house itself used as a barracks for the Savannah [i.e. Republican] Blues it is now however as well as the island in our possession. The town is situated near the light house and was built during the War of 1812 over this the Stars and Stripes now waves and with a few determined riflemen can be held against a strong force with out artillery. The rebels deserted this place taking with them all their artillery - in possession of this island Ft. Pulaski may be shelled & taken during a reconnaissance today by Gen. Sherman and others."   General Sherman's troops attacked Fort Pulaski on 10 and 11 April of that year and retained it for the remainder of the war.