(1812-1865) Southern-born Union naval officer, brother of Confederate General Thomas Drayton. He commanded the West Gulf squadron and the Farragut’s flagship USS HARTFORD during the Battle of Mobile Bay. Fine content, war-date A.L.S. ‘P. Drayton’, 7pp. 8vo., New Orleans, April 5, 1864, to a female relative. In part: ‘…I left my ship at Pensacola two days since in charge of the first Lieut, to come here with the Admiral [Farragut], on fleet business, which as I have the principal control of it, could not be conveniently managed in my absence, for although I command the Hartford, I am also still fleet Captain… I am very much relieved from most of the ordinary detail duty, which owing to the ignorance of the clerks, I was formerly obliged to take on myself… With the exception of about two weeks when I was with the Admiral bombarding a small fort at one of the entrances of Mobile Bay, I have been since writing last, either off the Mobile blockade or at Pensacola. The attack alluded to was I think more to cause a diversion in favor of Sherman’s movement into Alabama, than for anything serious in itself, as the water was so shallow that we could not approach nearer than two miles of the fort, and at that distance it was almost impossible to do it much harm, although had northern rifle guns burst after a moderate number of fires almost invariably, this could not be said by us. We shall I suppose remain here a few days, then communicate with the Texas vessels, and afterwards return to Pensacola, in which neighborhood I shall want probably to remain until the time comes for doing something against Mobile. The Admiral is very fond of visits and amusement in general, and when here I have to go out a great deal more than is pleasant… They sent us some tickets last evening to a complementary benefit of a Mr Barnet at the theatre, where as we fell in with Ms [Nathaniel] Banks and party, I could not get him off until near midnight. I broke however pretty well into the tedium of the performance by paying a visit to Norman Jacksons wife, a very nice creole and quite pretty and piquante, and whose baby I believe it is understood I am to stand proxy godfather for, if we remain long enough for the christening dress to be furnished without which it seems that it would be impossible for the act to take place… This place is full of pretty women whose husbands or other relations are down here after cotton, so that were I so disposed, I would find no lack of society, but honestly I don’t think that under present circumstances, the game would be worth the candle, amusement besides does not seem to belong to these times. I would rather take all mine in a lump when the cruise or war is over…’ He signs at the conclusion in black ink, adding several post scripts, in part: …My direction is always U. S. S. Hartford W[est] G[ulf] B[lockading] Squadron New Orleans…’ Shows original mailing folds, with a single one-inch split thereto, otherwise in fine condition. The letter is accompanied by its original transmittal envelope, on which Drayton executes his surname a second time in addressing his correspondent. The lot is rounded out by a carte de visite photograph of Drayton in civilian suit, 2.5 in. x 4 in., backstamped ‘Rintoul & Rockwod’ Broadway, New York.