Holograph letter written by John D. Bates, Sr. in 1863 to his son, John D. Bates, Jr. of Boston, Mass. The letter relates to the capture of the Confederate cruiser FLORIDA. Also discusses briefly France's offer of the Mexican crown to Maximilian. Along with the letter and its envelope, there are two enclosures. One is a holograph letter from Captain William Lull (1863) to John D. Bates, Sr. in regard to his ship. The other is a handwritten sheet of instructions on firing a furnace.
