U.S.S. Housatonic and U.S.S. Canandaigua, correspondence group of three covers to Mrs. Mary E. Congdon at Williamsburg, Long Island, comprising circa 1863 "U.S.S. Housatonic" imprint corner card cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) pair tied by "New-York 7 Oct" duplex; circa 1864 manuscript "U.S.S. Housatonic" corner card cover with 3¢ rose (65) pair tied by large grid cancel and matching "Old Point Comfort Va Feb 17" cds adjacent; and circa 1864 manuscript "U.S.S. Canandaigua" corner card cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by partial "New-York Feb 27" duplex, F.-V.F. group. Estimate  $300 - 400. On February 17, 1864, the Confederate submarine "Hunley" sank a blockader, the USS "Housatonic" off Charleston S.C., marking the first wartime sinking of a ship by a submarine. The writer was one of 21 officers and 129 men rescued by the "Canandaigua" following the sinking of the "Housatonic". The February 17th use was posted the day the USS Housatonic sunk and the last aboard the USS Canandaigua after rescue. $0 (Image)